The Third Twin by Ken Follett. Fawcett Crest, 467 pages.
This book has some science in it, so I suppose it could be called science fiction, but it is all current science. It was published in 1996, so I should say it is current science now, and was cutting edge then.
I enjoyed the book - but I wouldn't call it great literature. It's a beach book, or an airplane book. It moves along well and keeps you entertained. I liked the central theme of "nature vs. nurture". In many ways a satisfying book.
I have read at least one other Ken Follett book, "The Pillars of the Earth" but I don't believe I've reviewed it here.
I think "Pillars" has more heft to it, and not just because it is long.
I recommend "Pillars" for a vacation book - where you have a bit more time to invest, and "Twin" for an airplane ride.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
PostSecret by Frank Warren
This is the first of (four at this time) Post Secret books. There is a corresponding web site. If you haven't seen this site, I think it is worth a look. The contents are updated every Sunday morning, so it varies from week to week.
www.postsecret.com
Frank Warren has asked people to share a secret, anonymously, usually via postcards sent to an address in Germantown, Maryland. The instructions are simple - tell a true secret about yourself, that you have not shared with anyone.
The results go far beyond what you might imagine. Initially, you might just be curious what is going on in other people's lives. Instead you find that other people often have the same secrets you have. For me, that takes away a lot of the power such secrets hold. If other people struggle with the same things, then in a sense, we're all in this together, right?
Some of the secrets are disturbing, others seem somehow petty - but at the same time you realize that the thoughts being expressed may be all too common. For me, that gives me some empathy for other human beings, and perhaps some admiration for the way people seem to keep on trying.
It's worth a look.
www.postsecret.com
Frank Warren has asked people to share a secret, anonymously, usually via postcards sent to an address in Germantown, Maryland. The instructions are simple - tell a true secret about yourself, that you have not shared with anyone.
The results go far beyond what you might imagine. Initially, you might just be curious what is going on in other people's lives. Instead you find that other people often have the same secrets you have. For me, that takes away a lot of the power such secrets hold. If other people struggle with the same things, then in a sense, we're all in this together, right?
Some of the secrets are disturbing, others seem somehow petty - but at the same time you realize that the thoughts being expressed may be all too common. For me, that gives me some empathy for other human beings, and perhaps some admiration for the way people seem to keep on trying.
It's worth a look.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Book Review - Welcome to Your Brain - Aamodt and Wang
This book is sub-titled "Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget How to Drive, and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life".
The authors are two Ph.D. neuroscientists.
This book is right down my alley. By that I mean it has plenty of good solid science, but not a lot of complex verbiage that just slows down the reader. It is arranged in 31 chapters that tackle the typical myths and misunderstandings that pervade popular culture.
One of these misunderstandings or myths is the idea that we only use 10% of our brain.
Unfortunately, this is not true. If it were true, then 90% of car crashes involving head injury would result in no harm done to the person involved. Perhaps my logic is slightly flawed, but I think you see the point. Even minor head injury seems to result in permanent consequences in terms of lost memories, lost coordination, motor skill defects, or personality changes. So, I think we can clearly see that we use all of our brain.
The authors debunk a large number of myths, but they also give a lot of good information based on thorough research, such as how to best avoid jet lag (the opposite of what I did on my recent trip to Manila) or how to make dieting easier.
Just to whet your appetite, here's what to do to make dieting easier:
1) make sure you keep your metabolism up high, through diet or careful food choice
2) do something to keep your stress level down - yoga, massages, a hobby
3) spread your eating out as much as possible - six slices of pizza eaten at six different times is much better for you than eating six slices all at the same time
4) eat breakfast - this kind of goes with #3, but basically it kick starts your metabolism first thing in the morning
In the book, the authors go through the hormonal and metabolic reasons that these strategies work. All of the bodies hormones are controlled by the brain and its mechanisms.
There are plenty of additional valuable insights in this book - for this reason, I recommend it to everyone. It is easy to read, written for the lay person, and fun as well.
The book is published by Bloomsbury USA, and distributed by Macmillan.
The authors are two Ph.D. neuroscientists.
This book is right down my alley. By that I mean it has plenty of good solid science, but not a lot of complex verbiage that just slows down the reader. It is arranged in 31 chapters that tackle the typical myths and misunderstandings that pervade popular culture.
One of these misunderstandings or myths is the idea that we only use 10% of our brain.
Unfortunately, this is not true. If it were true, then 90% of car crashes involving head injury would result in no harm done to the person involved. Perhaps my logic is slightly flawed, but I think you see the point. Even minor head injury seems to result in permanent consequences in terms of lost memories, lost coordination, motor skill defects, or personality changes. So, I think we can clearly see that we use all of our brain.
The authors debunk a large number of myths, but they also give a lot of good information based on thorough research, such as how to best avoid jet lag (the opposite of what I did on my recent trip to Manila) or how to make dieting easier.
Just to whet your appetite, here's what to do to make dieting easier:
1) make sure you keep your metabolism up high, through diet or careful food choice
2) do something to keep your stress level down - yoga, massages, a hobby
3) spread your eating out as much as possible - six slices of pizza eaten at six different times is much better for you than eating six slices all at the same time
4) eat breakfast - this kind of goes with #3, but basically it kick starts your metabolism first thing in the morning
In the book, the authors go through the hormonal and metabolic reasons that these strategies work. All of the bodies hormones are controlled by the brain and its mechanisms.
There are plenty of additional valuable insights in this book - for this reason, I recommend it to everyone. It is easy to read, written for the lay person, and fun as well.
The book is published by Bloomsbury USA, and distributed by Macmillan.
Book Review - Dreams from My Father - Barack Obama
This is Barack Obama's first book, written before he became Senator, while he was in law school, and after he had become the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.
He talks about his childhood and teenage experiences, and his trip to Kenya. He also talks about his experiences as a community organizer. I was reminded of another book that I've read - "The Color of Water", by James McBride.
I don't know what to say about this book. It made me uncomfortable - with how much race has divided us as a country and a planet. It made me more comfortable with Mr. Obama - with how his experiences have helped prepare him to be President, and more importantly, with how they have prepared him to be a good leader.
I think I understand race better as a result of reading this book. I think I understand why people feel divided and discriminated against even when they aren't. And, I can see how they are discriminated against extensively.
And the book has a number of episodes that I can relate to, such as the one of page 104-105, from Mr. Obama's first year of college at Occidental:
I can relate to this quote. I think all of this envy others, or feel left out for one reason or another. In this case, Mr. Obama didn't feel like he fit in with whites or blacks, because he didn't share their experiences, when in some cases others envied him for his experiences.
He talks about his childhood and teenage experiences, and his trip to Kenya. He also talks about his experiences as a community organizer. I was reminded of another book that I've read - "The Color of Water", by James McBride.
I don't know what to say about this book. It made me uncomfortable - with how much race has divided us as a country and a planet. It made me more comfortable with Mr. Obama - with how his experiences have helped prepare him to be President, and more importantly, with how they have prepared him to be a good leader.
I think I understand race better as a result of reading this book. I think I understand why people feel divided and discriminated against even when they aren't. And, I can see how they are discriminated against extensively.
And the book has a number of episodes that I can relate to, such as the one of page 104-105, from Mr. Obama's first year of college at Occidental:
Her voice evoked a vision of black life in all its possiblity, a vision that
filled me with longing - a longing for place, and a fixed and definite history.
As we were getting up to leave, I told Regiona I envied her.
"For
what?"
"I don't know. For your memories, I guess."
Regina looked at me and
started to laugh, a round, full sound from deep in her belly."What's so
funny?"
"Oh Barack, " she said, catching her breath, "isn't life something?
And here I was all this time wishing I'd grown up in Hawaii."
I can relate to this quote. I think all of this envy others, or feel left out for one reason or another. In this case, Mr. Obama didn't feel like he fit in with whites or blacks, because he didn't share their experiences, when in some cases others envied him for his experiences.
I think it is impossible to sum up this book, for you need to read it to really absorb the message in a way that will stick with you. Mr. Obama does a good job of summarizing, or at least concluding, in his epilogue, page 439:
"In my legal practice, I work mostly with churches and community
groups, men and women who quietly build grocery stores and health clinics in the
inner city, and housing for the poor. Every so often I'll find
myself working on a discrimination case, representing clients who show up at my
law firm's office with stories that we like to tell ourselves should no longer
exist.... at some point both plaintiff and witness decide that a
principle is at stake, that despite everything that has happened, those words
put to paper over two hundred years ago must mean something after all (referring
to the bill of rights - my comment inserted). Black and white, they make
their claim on this community we call America. They choose our better
history."
That, I believe, is what leadership is all about - all of us choosing our better history, and making our better future. Choose what is right about our history, and choose to carry that right forward into our own future, and our children's future.
Mr. Obama is a good writer, and the book is easy to read, but thought provoking. It is published by Three Rivers Press, a part of Crown Publishing, http://www.crownpublishing.com/, which is in turn a part of Random House, Inc.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Dan Brown - Angels and Demons
Here's a quick book review of the book I just finished.
"Angels & Demons" is the first adventure of Robert Langdon, who is familiar to most readers and movie goers as the hero of "The Da Vinci Code".
I thought this was a quick read, and very accessible, even though it was over 700 pages.
The plot got a little muddy at the end, with, I thought, more twists than necessary. It almost seemed like a science fiction story to me, except that the author made a couple of classic mistakes when including the science.
One classic mistake you often see a mainstream writer make when they attempt to include science in a story is to bend the science to fit the plot, instead of the other way around. In this case, the design of the "containment vessel" was needlessly complex, in a way that no practical scientist would have done. However, it was needed for the plot, so that is how it was written.
There were a couple of neat themes that Mr. Brown included, such as a sideline discussion of why there is a conflict between faith and reason. The plot gives us several answers.
He also had the odd way of including some ideas in a prominent way, that didn't seem to advance the story at all. The high speed airplane was one such idea. I don't see how it advanced the story at all.
I think this was a good book but not a great one.
The paper back is published by Pocket Books.
"Angels & Demons" is the first adventure of Robert Langdon, who is familiar to most readers and movie goers as the hero of "The Da Vinci Code".
I thought this was a quick read, and very accessible, even though it was over 700 pages.
The plot got a little muddy at the end, with, I thought, more twists than necessary. It almost seemed like a science fiction story to me, except that the author made a couple of classic mistakes when including the science.
One classic mistake you often see a mainstream writer make when they attempt to include science in a story is to bend the science to fit the plot, instead of the other way around. In this case, the design of the "containment vessel" was needlessly complex, in a way that no practical scientist would have done. However, it was needed for the plot, so that is how it was written.
There were a couple of neat themes that Mr. Brown included, such as a sideline discussion of why there is a conflict between faith and reason. The plot gives us several answers.
He also had the odd way of including some ideas in a prominent way, that didn't seem to advance the story at all. The high speed airplane was one such idea. I don't see how it advanced the story at all.
I think this was a good book but not a great one.
The paper back is published by Pocket Books.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Making Stuff Up
In the past few weeks, my wife and her sister have suggested that I make stuff up, and pass it off as the truth.
Of course, from my perspective I don't do this at all, but as I think about it, I think I know what is happening.
Sometimes I come up with an observation, or an opinion, and I don't say it very clearly, and it comes off like a statement of fact.
Other times, I am passing along something I read in a book, and agreeing with it, so I'm making someone else's opinion sound like a fact.
For example, in the book "Freakonomics", the authors make a case for legalized abortion having reduced the crime rate in the United States. They quote from detailed studies which analyze several economic and social factors, and which show a correlation between the rate of abortions in a large number of urban areas, and subsequent drops in crime rate 10 to 20 years later. The curve of drops in crime closely correlates to the curve of abortion rates.
I won't go into the idea further here, since I couldn't do a good of job as the authors, Steven Levitt, and Stephen Dubner, but mostly because that's not the point I'm discussing here.
I've discussed this idea with several friends, and I can see from the benefit of hindsight that I talked about the idea as if it were a fact, instead of an interesting correlation. I think that the idea has merit, and that it is a likely phenomenon that seems plausible, but neither of these observations means that it is a fact. I also believe the authors made a convincing argument, and I am convinced that there is some sort of link between the two phenomena. Again, that doesn't make it a fact.
My sister-in-law suggested another occurrence of this recently. I made some comments about calculating global carbon emissions. As I remember it I was just making an observation based on some ideas that had occurred to me just then. I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was something about a way to measure carbon emissions by inventorying all sources of carbon emissions. I must have made it sound like this was an obvious and easy thing. In reality it is tedious, uncertain, and incomplete. In essence, my statement was a hypothesis, and not meant to be fact.
I will be more careful in the way I speak in the future.
Of course, from my perspective I don't do this at all, but as I think about it, I think I know what is happening.
Sometimes I come up with an observation, or an opinion, and I don't say it very clearly, and it comes off like a statement of fact.
Other times, I am passing along something I read in a book, and agreeing with it, so I'm making someone else's opinion sound like a fact.
For example, in the book "Freakonomics", the authors make a case for legalized abortion having reduced the crime rate in the United States. They quote from detailed studies which analyze several economic and social factors, and which show a correlation between the rate of abortions in a large number of urban areas, and subsequent drops in crime rate 10 to 20 years later. The curve of drops in crime closely correlates to the curve of abortion rates.
I won't go into the idea further here, since I couldn't do a good of job as the authors, Steven Levitt, and Stephen Dubner, but mostly because that's not the point I'm discussing here.
I've discussed this idea with several friends, and I can see from the benefit of hindsight that I talked about the idea as if it were a fact, instead of an interesting correlation. I think that the idea has merit, and that it is a likely phenomenon that seems plausible, but neither of these observations means that it is a fact. I also believe the authors made a convincing argument, and I am convinced that there is some sort of link between the two phenomena. Again, that doesn't make it a fact.
My sister-in-law suggested another occurrence of this recently. I made some comments about calculating global carbon emissions. As I remember it I was just making an observation based on some ideas that had occurred to me just then. I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was something about a way to measure carbon emissions by inventorying all sources of carbon emissions. I must have made it sound like this was an obvious and easy thing. In reality it is tedious, uncertain, and incomplete. In essence, my statement was a hypothesis, and not meant to be fact.
I will be more careful in the way I speak in the future.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green
I was looking for something fun to read this morning, and found this book on the shelf. I've read it before and enjoyed it, and thought enough of it to keep it, instead of consigning it to Goodwill, or the Library book sale.
It's a quick read, at least the second time through, only about three hours counting breaks to grab some food.
This is part of a series, and usually I don't like to jump into the middle of a series, because it often seems like you miss some of the subleties. In this case, the series is "The Nightside". The author doesn't spend any discernible time bringing you up to speed either, which is a clever trick. He uses his description of the Nightside as part of the description and setting of each scene, so you learn about the world as you go. However, I never felt like he was springing something on me because he just realized he needed a plot twist.
Instead, it is almost as if he is giving you the picture one piece at a time, so that you can get used to each idea as he builds up your picture of the Nightside. The ideas that make up this story are pretty big - the agents of light referred to in the title are agents of good, as in Good with a capital G. That in itself may not seem very big - but he goes to significant effort to show you a glimpse of the power that the supernatural really would be.
I have read several stories of the supernatural, and this is the first one that seems to live up to the "super" part of the term. By "super" in this context I mean "beyond" or "exceeding" the natural.
I won't spoil the story by saying more, except for this: Normally in a novel the character undergoes a transformation or growth. In this novel, a character in the story other than "our hero" undergoes a growth, and it is only our understanding of the main character that evolves.
I recommend this book strongly.
It's a quick read, at least the second time through, only about three hours counting breaks to grab some food.
This is part of a series, and usually I don't like to jump into the middle of a series, because it often seems like you miss some of the subleties. In this case, the series is "The Nightside". The author doesn't spend any discernible time bringing you up to speed either, which is a clever trick. He uses his description of the Nightside as part of the description and setting of each scene, so you learn about the world as you go. However, I never felt like he was springing something on me because he just realized he needed a plot twist.
Instead, it is almost as if he is giving you the picture one piece at a time, so that you can get used to each idea as he builds up your picture of the Nightside. The ideas that make up this story are pretty big - the agents of light referred to in the title are agents of good, as in Good with a capital G. That in itself may not seem very big - but he goes to significant effort to show you a glimpse of the power that the supernatural really would be.
I have read several stories of the supernatural, and this is the first one that seems to live up to the "super" part of the term. By "super" in this context I mean "beyond" or "exceeding" the natural.
I won't spoil the story by saying more, except for this: Normally in a novel the character undergoes a transformation or growth. In this novel, a character in the story other than "our hero" undergoes a growth, and it is only our understanding of the main character that evolves.
I recommend this book strongly.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Now I understand
Now I understand what my parents were feeling when they would talk about Kennedy's assassination. They would say, "I'll never forget what I was doing when I heard Kennedy had been shot."
For me, 9-11 is one such moment. I'll never forget when I first heard about it. I had just arrived at work around 10 to 8 Iowa time, and a co-worker said a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. We happened to have a satellite based training system in our conference room, and it had Bloomberg on it, so we turned that up and watched for the next hour, transfixed by events.
I remember thinking and talking about how it was such a freak accident. We were all pretty complacent, and could not even conceive of being attacked. In fact, until the second plane hit, we didn't even have an inkling that it was an attack. And we questioned it then. That tells you something about how America felt about itself at the time.
I remember feeling sad later that day, when I realized what had happened. The terrorists had used our own planes, and our own freedoms, against us as a weapon.
They had entered our country, trained as pilots, bought plane tickets, then hijacked the planes and turned them into weapons. I felt sad that our freedoms had been perverted in such a way.
Until 9-11 I didn't really understand my parents. Now I understand them better.
For me, 9-11 is one such moment. I'll never forget when I first heard about it. I had just arrived at work around 10 to 8 Iowa time, and a co-worker said a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. We happened to have a satellite based training system in our conference room, and it had Bloomberg on it, so we turned that up and watched for the next hour, transfixed by events.
I remember thinking and talking about how it was such a freak accident. We were all pretty complacent, and could not even conceive of being attacked. In fact, until the second plane hit, we didn't even have an inkling that it was an attack. And we questioned it then. That tells you something about how America felt about itself at the time.
I remember feeling sad later that day, when I realized what had happened. The terrorists had used our own planes, and our own freedoms, against us as a weapon.
They had entered our country, trained as pilots, bought plane tickets, then hijacked the planes and turned them into weapons. I felt sad that our freedoms had been perverted in such a way.
Until 9-11 I didn't really understand my parents. Now I understand them better.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Can Iowa Catch A Break?
Here are some of the challenges that have faced our state in the past year:
1) a winter with near record high snowfalls, and
2) a flood that damaged hundreds of city blocks in Cedar Rapids, and
3) widespread flooding that damaged crops throughout the state
4) high oil prices that doubled and in some cases tripled fertilizer and other costs for farmers
So, guess what?
Tonight's low temperature is predicted to be nearly freezing.
This is at least four weeks early, and is likely to stunt crops that are already expected to be later than normal at reaching maturity.
Can we catch a break?
1) a winter with near record high snowfalls, and
2) a flood that damaged hundreds of city blocks in Cedar Rapids, and
3) widespread flooding that damaged crops throughout the state
4) high oil prices that doubled and in some cases tripled fertilizer and other costs for farmers
So, guess what?
Tonight's low temperature is predicted to be nearly freezing.
This is at least four weeks early, and is likely to stunt crops that are already expected to be later than normal at reaching maturity.
Can we catch a break?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Bloodsucking Fiends, by Christopher Moore
This isn't the first Christopher Moore book I've read, so I was prepared for some of the recurring characters, and I enjoyed the San Francisco setting, since I've recently traveled there.
He clearly studies the history of any topic he takes on, and then twists it to his own particular humorous bent. In this case, the topic is vampires, and love stories. There are plenty of twists and twisted humor in this book. And, perhaps it is hard to believe, but there are poignant moments in this book as well, such as the end of chapter 20.
There are also moments where you find yourself thinking: "He couldn't have made these characters up out of whole cloth, could he? He must have known some people like that, or worked at that job, or something."
One of the strengths of Moore's writing, especially well done in this book, is the depth of characterization. These characters are full of dimension, and idiosyncrasies of their own. And they behave in such a human, and humorous way, without even trying to be funny.
The book is published by Simon & Schuster, and they have a web site at http://www.simonsays.com/, where you can get more information about this and other books.
I highly recommend this book, I laughed out loud several times, and it is a fast read.
He clearly studies the history of any topic he takes on, and then twists it to his own particular humorous bent. In this case, the topic is vampires, and love stories. There are plenty of twists and twisted humor in this book. And, perhaps it is hard to believe, but there are poignant moments in this book as well, such as the end of chapter 20.
There are also moments where you find yourself thinking: "He couldn't have made these characters up out of whole cloth, could he? He must have known some people like that, or worked at that job, or something."
One of the strengths of Moore's writing, especially well done in this book, is the depth of characterization. These characters are full of dimension, and idiosyncrasies of their own. And they behave in such a human, and humorous way, without even trying to be funny.
The book is published by Simon & Schuster, and they have a web site at http://www.simonsays.com/, where you can get more information about this and other books.
I highly recommend this book, I laughed out loud several times, and it is a fast read.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Lamb, by Christopher Moore
This is a humorous alternate gospel of Jesus Christ, as told by Biff, Christ's childhood pal.
If you are a person who views the Bible as the literal Word of God, inerrant in word and spirit, to the extent that the contradictions in the Bible are mysteries, instead of typographical errors, you will be unlikely to enjoy this book.
If on the other hand you realize that God, after all, does have a sense of humor, then you should pick up this book and read it. In fact, there is a quote from Voltaire at the beginning of Chapter 1 that expresses this idea better than I could:
"God is a comedian playing to an audience that is afraid to laugh."
This was the first Christopher Moore book I had ever read, and I was a bit skeptical that such a book could be respectful to the spirit of Jesus' life while still being humorous. I found that in fact, it is possible to be respectful while being side-splittingly humorous.
The story framework is that this book attempts to fill in what Jesus was doing between his famous visit to the temple and his public ministry in his 30's. It is told through the viewpoint of his childhood pal, Biff, who is the 15th apostle, depending on how you count. Biff's real name is Levi, and he met Jesus at age six, and stayed with him until the end.
There are many things that amaze me about this book. The first is how believable it all is, even the stories of the boys' misadventures in their younger years. The second is how poignant it all becomes. The third is how it illuminated my faith.
The author has a web site at www.chrismoore.com. The book is published by Harper Perennial.
If you are a person who views the Bible as the literal Word of God, inerrant in word and spirit, to the extent that the contradictions in the Bible are mysteries, instead of typographical errors, you will be unlikely to enjoy this book.
If on the other hand you realize that God, after all, does have a sense of humor, then you should pick up this book and read it. In fact, there is a quote from Voltaire at the beginning of Chapter 1 that expresses this idea better than I could:
"God is a comedian playing to an audience that is afraid to laugh."
This was the first Christopher Moore book I had ever read, and I was a bit skeptical that such a book could be respectful to the spirit of Jesus' life while still being humorous. I found that in fact, it is possible to be respectful while being side-splittingly humorous.
The story framework is that this book attempts to fill in what Jesus was doing between his famous visit to the temple and his public ministry in his 30's. It is told through the viewpoint of his childhood pal, Biff, who is the 15th apostle, depending on how you count. Biff's real name is Levi, and he met Jesus at age six, and stayed with him until the end.
There are many things that amaze me about this book. The first is how believable it all is, even the stories of the boys' misadventures in their younger years. The second is how poignant it all becomes. The third is how it illuminated my faith.
The author has a web site at www.chrismoore.com. The book is published by Harper Perennial.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Six Prayers God Always Answers by Mark Herringshaw & Jennifer Schuchmann
I was browsing at Barnes and Noble's and came across this book. I picked it up and read it a bit while sipping my Cafe Mocha.
Heather and I often do this - going to the bookstore, picking out a tall stack of likely looking books, then reading a few pages of each while drinking foofy coffee or creme' drinks, leaving the losers behind to be reshelved and taking a few winners with us.
Religious books are a small category for me, but I've read more than a handful over the years. It always takes something meaningful to me before I'll make the effort to read a religious book. This time it was no different. I started reading and found something that caught my eye.
The thing that caught my eye was that somehow the authors had qualified what makes a "bona fide" prayer. They talked about what prayer is, and what prayer is not. They talked about it in such terms that it triggered a memory for me. It's odd that I can remember the experience exactly but not what year it was, although it was probably 2001.
At the time, I was living with my first wife east of Marion, and we had just returned from Wisconsin where she had purchased some lambs of a rare breed. While they weren't terribly expensive it was money and we didn't have a lot of money. While we were unloading them, one was terribly scared and started running around the yard. My wife told me to go catch it so that it wouldn't hurt itself. I suggested that we should just leave it alone - that trying to catch it would be more traumatic for the lamb than just leaving it alone.
She told me that we had to catch it, even though it was in a fenced enclosure. So I dutifully went to catch it, and spent several minutes making it more and more scared. Eventually it butted its head against the wire fence until it broke through, and ran the 100 yards down the lane and across the busy highway into the quarry across the road. Remarkably it did not get hit by a car.
My wife (at the time) asked me to go over and get it. So I went over and found it easily enough, but couldn't get close to it. I waited half an hour, and called it with a lamb's bleat until I was within six feet of it, then it made a break for it and went down by the lake. Remember, this was a large quarry so there was a large lake. I wandered down there and it jumped in the water. So, to add nonsense to nonsense, I peeled off my shoes and other leather items and jumped in to swim after it. Unfortunately, I should have peeled off everything except my briefs, so about 20 yards out in the lake I discovered that my wet clothes were literally dragging me under.
I finally made a good decision, and turned to head for shore. Each stroke was harder and harder, and I realized that I had not swum for years, so I was out of shape, and probably poor form to boot. Soon the water closed over my head and I was swimming under the surface, rapidly approaching that point where I would black out from no air. I redoubled my efforts, only to find I was still slowing down, and going farther below the surface. I could barely see the sun through the black water. I said to myself, "I don't want to die here, now, chasing a stupid lamb." Then I made a bargain and said: "God, if you will make it possible for me to reach shore alive, I will make a change in my life."
At that point, it could have gone either way. But I resolved that, if God would make it possible, I would do my part. I stroked as hard as I possibly could with my leaden arms and cramping legs, and the sun became closer, bit by bit until I broke the surface and could take one desperate breath, then a few more strokes and my feet touched the sandy bottom of the lake and I stumbled forward into a half-standing position and just breathed heavily for about five minutes. I could see stars and black spots in my vision and knew just how close it had been.
I knew that I would live, and would begin to make the necessary changes in my life. I looked over, and saw the lamb gasping for breath on the opposite shore. I shook my head, making the first decision of my changed life, and began to gather my things to stagger across the road and return to the house.
This was a huge turning point for me in my life, and it was the result of a bargain I made with God, in that life changing moment. I may share more about that life changing moment in the future. But for now, this book had reminded me of that life changing moment, so I picked it up and kept it.
In the book, the authors describe six types of prayers that God always answers. One of those types is the bargaining prayer that I had made. The example is given of the Biblical story of Abraham bargaining with God against the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, with Abraham hoping to save Lot and his family.
I'm not sure I enjoyed this book, but I think it did me some good. The authors use examples that are much more accessible than most of the usual religious books out there. The typical religious book will take a Bible verse and analyze it to death, saying a variety of things about it that are frankly difficult to understand and sometimes difficult to believe.
In "Six Prayers" the examples are drawn from movies you have at least heard of, if you haven't seen them; from popular TV series like "The Simpsons"; from classical mythology, and from popular science. So, this is a much more effective book in many ways. I was left understanding prayer in a more personal way, and also understanding more deeply how that swim in the lake had affected me.
The authors have a website at www.sixprayers.com, and the book is published by Tyndale House Publishers. At 277 pages it is not a long book, but I think it will take you a while to get through it, at least if you stop to think along the way.
Heather and I often do this - going to the bookstore, picking out a tall stack of likely looking books, then reading a few pages of each while drinking foofy coffee or creme' drinks, leaving the losers behind to be reshelved and taking a few winners with us.
Religious books are a small category for me, but I've read more than a handful over the years. It always takes something meaningful to me before I'll make the effort to read a religious book. This time it was no different. I started reading and found something that caught my eye.
The thing that caught my eye was that somehow the authors had qualified what makes a "bona fide" prayer. They talked about what prayer is, and what prayer is not. They talked about it in such terms that it triggered a memory for me. It's odd that I can remember the experience exactly but not what year it was, although it was probably 2001.
At the time, I was living with my first wife east of Marion, and we had just returned from Wisconsin where she had purchased some lambs of a rare breed. While they weren't terribly expensive it was money and we didn't have a lot of money. While we were unloading them, one was terribly scared and started running around the yard. My wife told me to go catch it so that it wouldn't hurt itself. I suggested that we should just leave it alone - that trying to catch it would be more traumatic for the lamb than just leaving it alone.
She told me that we had to catch it, even though it was in a fenced enclosure. So I dutifully went to catch it, and spent several minutes making it more and more scared. Eventually it butted its head against the wire fence until it broke through, and ran the 100 yards down the lane and across the busy highway into the quarry across the road. Remarkably it did not get hit by a car.
My wife (at the time) asked me to go over and get it. So I went over and found it easily enough, but couldn't get close to it. I waited half an hour, and called it with a lamb's bleat until I was within six feet of it, then it made a break for it and went down by the lake. Remember, this was a large quarry so there was a large lake. I wandered down there and it jumped in the water. So, to add nonsense to nonsense, I peeled off my shoes and other leather items and jumped in to swim after it. Unfortunately, I should have peeled off everything except my briefs, so about 20 yards out in the lake I discovered that my wet clothes were literally dragging me under.
I finally made a good decision, and turned to head for shore. Each stroke was harder and harder, and I realized that I had not swum for years, so I was out of shape, and probably poor form to boot. Soon the water closed over my head and I was swimming under the surface, rapidly approaching that point where I would black out from no air. I redoubled my efforts, only to find I was still slowing down, and going farther below the surface. I could barely see the sun through the black water. I said to myself, "I don't want to die here, now, chasing a stupid lamb." Then I made a bargain and said: "God, if you will make it possible for me to reach shore alive, I will make a change in my life."
At that point, it could have gone either way. But I resolved that, if God would make it possible, I would do my part. I stroked as hard as I possibly could with my leaden arms and cramping legs, and the sun became closer, bit by bit until I broke the surface and could take one desperate breath, then a few more strokes and my feet touched the sandy bottom of the lake and I stumbled forward into a half-standing position and just breathed heavily for about five minutes. I could see stars and black spots in my vision and knew just how close it had been.
I knew that I would live, and would begin to make the necessary changes in my life. I looked over, and saw the lamb gasping for breath on the opposite shore. I shook my head, making the first decision of my changed life, and began to gather my things to stagger across the road and return to the house.
This was a huge turning point for me in my life, and it was the result of a bargain I made with God, in that life changing moment. I may share more about that life changing moment in the future. But for now, this book had reminded me of that life changing moment, so I picked it up and kept it.
In the book, the authors describe six types of prayers that God always answers. One of those types is the bargaining prayer that I had made. The example is given of the Biblical story of Abraham bargaining with God against the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, with Abraham hoping to save Lot and his family.
I'm not sure I enjoyed this book, but I think it did me some good. The authors use examples that are much more accessible than most of the usual religious books out there. The typical religious book will take a Bible verse and analyze it to death, saying a variety of things about it that are frankly difficult to understand and sometimes difficult to believe.
In "Six Prayers" the examples are drawn from movies you have at least heard of, if you haven't seen them; from popular TV series like "The Simpsons"; from classical mythology, and from popular science. So, this is a much more effective book in many ways. I was left understanding prayer in a more personal way, and also understanding more deeply how that swim in the lake had affected me.
The authors have a website at www.sixprayers.com, and the book is published by Tyndale House Publishers. At 277 pages it is not a long book, but I think it will take you a while to get through it, at least if you stop to think along the way.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen
This is the first book I've read by Carl Hiaasen. I wanted something light to read on the plane ride to Louisville, since I figured the business meeting I was going to was not going to be pleasant.
I've got to say this book was hilarious! It was just what I needed at the time. There are characters here to despise, admire, relate to, and pity. And most of all, to laugh at.
The humor here was subtle, gross, physical, and puns. Some of the humor was situational, some of it was just laughter at the human condition.
After reading this book, I certainly will never treat a call from a telemarketer the same.
Since I work in telecommunications, some of the fun was stuff I could personally relate to, so maybe that made it better.
The book is from Hachette Book Group, and is 399 pages. It's a fun fast read.
I've got to say this book was hilarious! It was just what I needed at the time. There are characters here to despise, admire, relate to, and pity. And most of all, to laugh at.
The humor here was subtle, gross, physical, and puns. Some of the humor was situational, some of it was just laughter at the human condition.
After reading this book, I certainly will never treat a call from a telemarketer the same.
Since I work in telecommunications, some of the fun was stuff I could personally relate to, so maybe that made it better.
The book is from Hachette Book Group, and is 399 pages. It's a fun fast read.
Red Thunder by John Varley
The Washington Post said it well - "A realistic and funny novel."
John Varley reminds me a bit of Robert Heinlein, and I found out later was influenced somewhat by him in his career.
This book has unforgettable characters, believable plot lines, and a thrilling conclusion.
The best of science fiction, in my opinion, takes the world as we know it, and makes one changed assumption, and then proceeds logically from there. As you can figure out for yourself, how well any given book "proceeds logically" from there is dependent on the author's ability to explain the steps of his reasoning. It also depends on whether he can tell a story without the explanation getting in the way.
Without giving the story away (since it says so on the cover) this is a "trip to Mars" story. The characters in the story do a believable job of making that happen, and give an interesting perspective on the role of technology in space travel while they do it.
The one changed assumption has to do with energy. It takes a while for the author to get there, but the trip includes some very memorable characters, so I didn't mind the wait.
I would say this is a good book for young adults to read. It isn't too cerebral, and there is fun along the way to keep you engaged in the story.
It is a Penguin book, and 411 pages long. I recommend it for your kids, or for a plane flight.
On the book cover the blurb compares it to a "comic caper of Carl Hiaasen", quoted from Science Fiction Weekly. I've recently had the chance to read a Hiaasen book, and would agree.
John Varley reminds me a bit of Robert Heinlein, and I found out later was influenced somewhat by him in his career.
This book has unforgettable characters, believable plot lines, and a thrilling conclusion.
The best of science fiction, in my opinion, takes the world as we know it, and makes one changed assumption, and then proceeds logically from there. As you can figure out for yourself, how well any given book "proceeds logically" from there is dependent on the author's ability to explain the steps of his reasoning. It also depends on whether he can tell a story without the explanation getting in the way.
Without giving the story away (since it says so on the cover) this is a "trip to Mars" story. The characters in the story do a believable job of making that happen, and give an interesting perspective on the role of technology in space travel while they do it.
The one changed assumption has to do with energy. It takes a while for the author to get there, but the trip includes some very memorable characters, so I didn't mind the wait.
I would say this is a good book for young adults to read. It isn't too cerebral, and there is fun along the way to keep you engaged in the story.
It is a Penguin book, and 411 pages long. I recommend it for your kids, or for a plane flight.
On the book cover the blurb compares it to a "comic caper of Carl Hiaasen", quoted from Science Fiction Weekly. I've recently had the chance to read a Hiaasen book, and would agree.
Variable Star by Robert Heinlein and Spider Robinson
This novel has been written by Spider Robinson from an outline by Robert Heinlein.
When I sat down to read it I felt like it was going to be a special experience because I figured it would be the last new Heinlein novel I would ever read. The book cover describes it as a powerful and passionate tale of two young lovers driven apart by pride, power, and the vastness of interstellar time and space. It is that story as well as it is a novel.
To me, a novel is defined as a story in which the protagonist goes through a series of experiences which lead to personal growth or at least change. This story certainly qualifies as that. It also encompasses a lot of of by-the-way ideas, or ideas which at least seem as by-the-way ideas. I think this novel is different from Heinlein's novels in that some of the by-the-way ideas in Heinlein's other books seeem truly to be by-the-way ideas.
In Variable Star, these ideas and observations all seem to be essential to the story, even if you don't know it at the time. Even the small plot elements become important to the story later.
In the introduction and after note, Spider Robinson talks about how he came to know and enjoy Heinlein's books, and how he got to know Heinlein himself. It is interesting to me as a fan to know a little bit more of the background. I don't think I'll ever go to a convention, but I am interested in some of those human elements.
I would venture to say that this is a better book because Spider Robinson worked so hard on it to live up to his opinion of Heinlein.
It's in paperback from Tor, and is 339 pages. It is perhaps denser prose than other Heinlein books, so it read a little bit slower for me. But, I think that is because Spider put more into it, and made it more intricate. I really could relate to the main character, Joel, and feel for his emotions as he went. Spider also references 9-11-2001 and Star Wars. Those references alone are worth the read, and make this a uniquely post-Heinlein take on a Heinlein idea.
I would say this is the best book I've read in a long time.
When I sat down to read it I felt like it was going to be a special experience because I figured it would be the last new Heinlein novel I would ever read. The book cover describes it as a powerful and passionate tale of two young lovers driven apart by pride, power, and the vastness of interstellar time and space. It is that story as well as it is a novel.
To me, a novel is defined as a story in which the protagonist goes through a series of experiences which lead to personal growth or at least change. This story certainly qualifies as that. It also encompasses a lot of of by-the-way ideas, or ideas which at least seem as by-the-way ideas. I think this novel is different from Heinlein's novels in that some of the by-the-way ideas in Heinlein's other books seeem truly to be by-the-way ideas.
In Variable Star, these ideas and observations all seem to be essential to the story, even if you don't know it at the time. Even the small plot elements become important to the story later.
In the introduction and after note, Spider Robinson talks about how he came to know and enjoy Heinlein's books, and how he got to know Heinlein himself. It is interesting to me as a fan to know a little bit more of the background. I don't think I'll ever go to a convention, but I am interested in some of those human elements.
I would venture to say that this is a better book because Spider Robinson worked so hard on it to live up to his opinion of Heinlein.
It's in paperback from Tor, and is 339 pages. It is perhaps denser prose than other Heinlein books, so it read a little bit slower for me. But, I think that is because Spider put more into it, and made it more intricate. I really could relate to the main character, Joel, and feel for his emotions as he went. Spider also references 9-11-2001 and Star Wars. Those references alone are worth the read, and make this a uniquely post-Heinlein take on a Heinlein idea.
I would say this is the best book I've read in a long time.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Revolt in 2100 / Methuselah's Children / Robert Heinlein
I originally had read these two novels some years ago, perhaps as early as 1985. It has been long enough that I had forgotten the names, but not all of the plot details. Now that I've re-read them I know that they are certainly among the most enjoyable of the Heinlein future history stories, and they are also among the shorter, if an off-hand judgment serves as an indication.
This particular pair of books deals with the post-Prophet period, and the early interstellar space exploration period. As always with Heinlein, there are many sub-texts and these are instructive and interesting by themselves. There are also a few very memorable alien species and swashbuckling characters, such as the remarkable Lazarus Long.
I was at the airport on the way to Manila reading Revolt in 2100, and a fellow traveler said that she had read it, under protest, at the suggestion of her husband, and she had really liked it.
Combined paperback edition from Baen at 480 pages.
This particular pair of books deals with the post-Prophet period, and the early interstellar space exploration period. As always with Heinlein, there are many sub-texts and these are instructive and interesting by themselves. There are also a few very memorable alien species and swashbuckling characters, such as the remarkable Lazarus Long.
I was at the airport on the way to Manila reading Revolt in 2100, and a fellow traveler said that she had read it, under protest, at the suggestion of her husband, and she had really liked it.
Combined paperback edition from Baen at 480 pages.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin
This review is a guest post by my lovely wife, Heather.
This book is the gripping account of the sudden, devastating blizzard that struck the Dakotas in 1888. It is sometimes referred to as the Children’s Blizzard because of the number of children that froze to death trying to get home from school. Some of their bodies weren’t found for months.
I was delighted to find this story as it has special meaning to me. I’ve always had a love of genealogy. My maternal great-great grandparents were homesteaders in Dakota territory in the 1880's. My great great grandpa Samuel was 33 in 1888. His parents had come to America in 1851 through New York. His parents settled in Wisconsin. I would guess that the offer of free land is what drew he and Hettie to Dakota.
I’ve always heard the story of how Sam was caught in the Blizzard of ‘88. He froze his tear ducts and was never able to produce tears again.
Laskin’s story is non fiction but with some liberties in imagining what particular victims may have felt or thought as they were caught in this tragic weather event.
Wessington Springs, SD is featured in the story of May Hunt, a school marm, and her seven students at the country school. The storm hit around noon. By 4 pm the school had run out of fuel. She had to choose whether to stay and freeze or try to make it to one of the farmsteads a mere 140 yards away on the other side of steep gully. An older student offered to scout it out. When he made it back unscathed the eight set out. They were quickly overcome with the freezing temperatures. Their eyelashes, eyes, and nostrils filled with ice. They were finally able to seek shelter in a haystack just a few yards from the invisible farmstead. However, they were not yet safe. You’ll need to read the story yourself to see if they live or die.
The storm hit on January 12. It started as an unseasonably warm day. People were able to come out of their sod houses for the first time in weeks and breathe fresh air. Children went to school for the first time in weeks, many dressed in little more than cotton shirts and pants with no sweaters or jackets.
The Blizzard affected the entire center of North America. The cold front dropped the temperature 18 degrees in 3 minutes. Farmers were caught outside caring for their animals. A single cow or pig might be all these families had to keep them going. It was imperative that the animals be saved. The homesteaders were immigrants from Northern Europe lured to America with the promise of 160 acres and freedom from persecution. Many had no idea what they were getting into on the wide, endless, harsh prairie. But they had spent everything and risked their lives just to get here. Many had nothing to go back to - if there was something for them there was no way they could afford to return to their homeland.
Laskin has done deep research into his subject. He read historical accounts, spoke with victims’ families, scoured old news papers as well as read scientific research about the weather phenomenon.
I suppose this might be a bit dry for some readers. I found it fascinating. Perhaps it’s because of my family connection to the event. I recommend the tale to anyone who has an interest in history or in understanding what the promise of America used to be. It’s relatively short with just under 300 pages.
This book is the gripping account of the sudden, devastating blizzard that struck the Dakotas in 1888. It is sometimes referred to as the Children’s Blizzard because of the number of children that froze to death trying to get home from school. Some of their bodies weren’t found for months.
I was delighted to find this story as it has special meaning to me. I’ve always had a love of genealogy. My maternal great-great grandparents were homesteaders in Dakota territory in the 1880's. My great great grandpa Samuel was 33 in 1888. His parents had come to America in 1851 through New York. His parents settled in Wisconsin. I would guess that the offer of free land is what drew he and Hettie to Dakota.
I’ve always heard the story of how Sam was caught in the Blizzard of ‘88. He froze his tear ducts and was never able to produce tears again.
Laskin’s story is non fiction but with some liberties in imagining what particular victims may have felt or thought as they were caught in this tragic weather event.
Wessington Springs, SD is featured in the story of May Hunt, a school marm, and her seven students at the country school. The storm hit around noon. By 4 pm the school had run out of fuel. She had to choose whether to stay and freeze or try to make it to one of the farmsteads a mere 140 yards away on the other side of steep gully. An older student offered to scout it out. When he made it back unscathed the eight set out. They were quickly overcome with the freezing temperatures. Their eyelashes, eyes, and nostrils filled with ice. They were finally able to seek shelter in a haystack just a few yards from the invisible farmstead. However, they were not yet safe. You’ll need to read the story yourself to see if they live or die.
The storm hit on January 12. It started as an unseasonably warm day. People were able to come out of their sod houses for the first time in weeks and breathe fresh air. Children went to school for the first time in weeks, many dressed in little more than cotton shirts and pants with no sweaters or jackets.
The Blizzard affected the entire center of North America. The cold front dropped the temperature 18 degrees in 3 minutes. Farmers were caught outside caring for their animals. A single cow or pig might be all these families had to keep them going. It was imperative that the animals be saved. The homesteaders were immigrants from Northern Europe lured to America with the promise of 160 acres and freedom from persecution. Many had no idea what they were getting into on the wide, endless, harsh prairie. But they had spent everything and risked their lives just to get here. Many had nothing to go back to - if there was something for them there was no way they could afford to return to their homeland.
Laskin has done deep research into his subject. He read historical accounts, spoke with victims’ families, scoured old news papers as well as read scientific research about the weather phenomenon.
I suppose this might be a bit dry for some readers. I found it fascinating. Perhaps it’s because of my family connection to the event. I recommend the tale to anyone who has an interest in history or in understanding what the promise of America used to be. It’s relatively short with just under 300 pages.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Timothy Zahn - Night Train To Rigel
It would be easy to under-appreciate this book. At first look, it's a classic mystery novel, with a former spy in the lead role, set on a train trip. It's even a bit predictable, in a science fiction plot of a scary alien race bent on galactic domination. What makes this a decent book is the way the author delivers it, and the plot twists along the way. While many science fiction enthusiasts would see this as just a variation on a theme, there are a number of interesting ideas thrown in along the way.
For one, the concept of a network of "hypertubes" or "wormholes" to travel the galaxy has been done before, but to put it in the context of a framework of trains is a neat twist.
For another, the necessary background and experience to be a successful spy in a galaxy filled with fifteen alien empires is neatly realized, and figures in to the realism and pacing of the story many times along the way. Alien empires aren't new, but this is well done.
Finally, he keeps some things about the protagonist hidden until the final quarter of the book, adding to the suspense.
I have read several other Timothy Zahn books, such as the Star Wars (TM) trilogy - Heir to the Empire.
I would say this one is competently done, worth reading once, but I doubt I'll read it again. The others were better, but this one had plenty of neat ideas.
For one, the concept of a network of "hypertubes" or "wormholes" to travel the galaxy has been done before, but to put it in the context of a framework of trains is a neat twist.
For another, the necessary background and experience to be a successful spy in a galaxy filled with fifteen alien empires is neatly realized, and figures in to the realism and pacing of the story many times along the way. Alien empires aren't new, but this is well done.
Finally, he keeps some things about the protagonist hidden until the final quarter of the book, adding to the suspense.
I have read several other Timothy Zahn books, such as the Star Wars (TM) trilogy - Heir to the Empire.
I would say this one is competently done, worth reading once, but I doubt I'll read it again. The others were better, but this one had plenty of neat ideas.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Citizen of the Galaxy, by Robert A. Heinlein
I always consider it a great day when I come across a Heinlein book that I haven't read yet. I think I picked this one up years ago in a library and read a few pages, always meaning to get back to it. I remember the early part of the story where the young boy is being sold at a slave auction for a rediculously small price.
I really enjoyed this book, and found myself rooting for the protagonist. There are two characteristics that are often found in Heinlein's books that are found in great amounts in this one:
First, there are all sorts of observations about the nature of culture, and how arbitrary that our customs sometimes are, and yet how critical they are to proper functioning. Some people have no respect for customs, and act as if it doesn't matter whether they follow custom at all.
Second, there is a strong father figure in this story, not unlike Jubal Harshaw in "Number of the Beast", or "Stranger in a Strange Land". There is also an element of how such a father has to manipulate his son for the sake of the son.
There is also a progression - in a sense that the protagonist can not absorb all of the knowledge about himself all at once, but must accumulate it bit by bit.
I also was struck by the number of times Heinlein comments that people are able to ignore facts that are right in front of them, or even horrific facts if they are separated by enough time or distance.
This book was first published in 1957, and at 282 pages, I would say it is of middling length for a Heinlein story. There are several that are much longer. It is one of only a few books that I've been reading that my son Nick has picked up and read.
It is well recommended.
I really enjoyed this book, and found myself rooting for the protagonist. There are two characteristics that are often found in Heinlein's books that are found in great amounts in this one:
First, there are all sorts of observations about the nature of culture, and how arbitrary that our customs sometimes are, and yet how critical they are to proper functioning. Some people have no respect for customs, and act as if it doesn't matter whether they follow custom at all.
Second, there is a strong father figure in this story, not unlike Jubal Harshaw in "Number of the Beast", or "Stranger in a Strange Land". There is also an element of how such a father has to manipulate his son for the sake of the son.
There is also a progression - in a sense that the protagonist can not absorb all of the knowledge about himself all at once, but must accumulate it bit by bit.
I also was struck by the number of times Heinlein comments that people are able to ignore facts that are right in front of them, or even horrific facts if they are separated by enough time or distance.
This book was first published in 1957, and at 282 pages, I would say it is of middling length for a Heinlein story. There are several that are much longer. It is one of only a few books that I've been reading that my son Nick has picked up and read.
It is well recommended.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
At first the average guy might think this is a "woman's" book, and be unlikely to seriously consider reading it.
Or, if you are skittish of such topics as meditation, divorce, depression, gurus, and so forth, it might scare you off.
But I think it would be a mistake to let any of those things keep you from reading this book. I myself put it off for a while, but once I had read just three chapters, I knew I would finish this book gladly.
For one thing, the author is truly going through an adventure, spending four months each in Italy, India, and Bali. For another, the author is simply a likeable person, and you can derive vicarious enjoyment from her experiences. Further, there is enough good solid heft to this story to satisfy the most demanding mind. In essence, this story is as deep as you care to take it.
Along the way, you learn many interesting details about life in each of these countries, and Elizabeth makes a fun person to serve as the point of view for experiencing these places.
The book has 108 chapters for an interesting reason, and you'll find that out when you read it. I found much to relate to in the book, including her experience with divorce and her joy in travel. My reading of the book was interrupted for a couple of weeks with our floods in eastern Iowa, but I found it easy to get back into and enjoy again.
Perhaps this is a book that only needs to be read once, if you read it carefully, but it was fun enough to enjoy reading again - perhaps on one of our own trips.
My final comment is that this book answers the question of how you can have everything but still be unhappy.
Or, if you are skittish of such topics as meditation, divorce, depression, gurus, and so forth, it might scare you off.
But I think it would be a mistake to let any of those things keep you from reading this book. I myself put it off for a while, but once I had read just three chapters, I knew I would finish this book gladly.
For one thing, the author is truly going through an adventure, spending four months each in Italy, India, and Bali. For another, the author is simply a likeable person, and you can derive vicarious enjoyment from her experiences. Further, there is enough good solid heft to this story to satisfy the most demanding mind. In essence, this story is as deep as you care to take it.
Along the way, you learn many interesting details about life in each of these countries, and Elizabeth makes a fun person to serve as the point of view for experiencing these places.
The book has 108 chapters for an interesting reason, and you'll find that out when you read it. I found much to relate to in the book, including her experience with divorce and her joy in travel. My reading of the book was interrupted for a couple of weeks with our floods in eastern Iowa, but I found it easy to get back into and enjoy again.
Perhaps this is a book that only needs to be read once, if you read it carefully, but it was fun enough to enjoy reading again - perhaps on one of our own trips.
My final comment is that this book answers the question of how you can have everything but still be unhappy.
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