Ryan – Page 23 – Ryan’s Book Blog

Alex Trebek. The Answer is…

October 5, 2022 by Ryan

Background

Published in July of 2020, Alex Trebek. The Answer is… is the autobiography of the host of Jeopardy and many others, Alex Trebek.

My Thoughts

This was a great read. I was a little nervous starting in because I really liked how Alex Trebek handled himself in several situations. For example, I love that he came on SNL to be roasted for their “Celebrity Jeopardy” skit.

However, this book made him out to be a well-rounded, hard-working, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. I was glad to read it!

Recommendation

One of the better biographies.

Everybody Fights so Why Not Get Better at It

September 30, 2022 by Ryan

Background

Published in March of 2021, Everybody Fights so Why Not Get Better at It is a book about marital relations and how to talk to each other.

My Thoughts

I actually really liked this book and it had a lot of really good ideas in it. Of course, I identify more with Penn but I think they did a good job of balancing out the crazy. Kim and Penn Holderness are known for their YouTube songs and the like so I didn’t have much faith going into it.

It’s hard not to draw parallels to the Hollis couple before they split. I identified with Dave and was bothered with how Rachael treated him. Kim doesn’t take herself quite so seriously but she still bothers me. (As I type that I can picture my daughter, “That seems like a you problem.”) Anyway, I wish them all the best and I did enjoy the book.

Recommendation

I liked it. If you want to communicate better with your spouse, I would recommend it.

Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen

September 29, 2022 by Ryan

Background

Published in October of 2021, Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen is the biography of possibly the greatest guitarists in history.

My Thoughts

I was initially pretty nervous while reading this. Sting’s bio was a terrible read and I came away not really liking the guy. I’ve always looked up to Eddie Van Halen since I first was introduced back in my high school band days. (Our lead guitarist would hit the roof of his car and say “Hail Eddie” everytime we went through a yellow light.)

You have to respect him even if you don’t like him. He certainly had his ups and downs but he bucked the entire production industry and just did what he wanted to do. A true artist.

I felt the write up was balanced with people that really knew him. It didn’t seem to pull any punches and the reader sees who Eddie Van Halen really was, warts and all. However, I came away with a new respect for him but that may be due to my rose colored glasses.

Recommendation

A very enjoyable read.

Live Long and What I Learned Along the Way

September 21, 2022 by Ryan

Background

Published in September of 2018, Live Long and… What I Learned Along the Way is an autobiography of William Shatner interspersed with ruminations and his own brand of humor.

My Thoughts

A very fun read. Shatner never comes off like he is more important or takes himself overly seriously. He seems like a great guy that has had some very interesting experiences.

Recommendation

A fun read.

Robin

September 16, 2022 by Ryan

Background

Published in May of 2018, Robin is the biography of Robin Williams. Larger than life and tragic in death, Robin Williams was and will be an enduring legacy for generations to come.

My Thoughts

What can I say? I love Robin Williams in pretty much everything he did. I didn’t know him from Happy Days but I was a fan of Mork and Mindy, his stand up comedy, and his amazing career all the way to the end. It was so sad when he left us.

Recommendation

I really enjoyed this book.

Extreme Ownership

September 12, 2022 by Ryan

Background

Published in October of 2015, this was Jocko’s first book in the realm of translating his experience as a Navy Seal into business and life in general.

My Thoughts

I read this back before I started this blog and enjoyed it just as much this time around. If you are looking for some motivation, order, disapline, or just need a good old fashion kick-in-the-butt. This is the book for you.

Recommendation

A little too military for some but I imagine it landed just right for others based on the book sales.

The Pioneers

August 30, 2022 by Ryan

Background

Published in May of 2019, “The Pioneers” is a history of a handful of white men who settled “the Ohio” (future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin) during the American expansion.

My Thoughts

For a more modern book, I was surprised that it mentioned relatively little about the native Americans who were already in the area. This history is very much written from the perspective of the American citizens who were moving West in what may be called “the Midwest”. (That term always cracked me up. If you look at a map of the United States, no one would have called that area the MidWest…)

Not having grown up in that area, pretty much all of it was new to me so I really enjoyed it. It gave me a view of American culture that I hadn’t been aware of and and understanding of what happened in the area.

Recommendation

Worth the read.

A Wrinkle in Time

April 19, 2019 by Ryan

Background

A Wrinkle in Time is a 1962 science fantasy novel by Madeleine L’Engle. The story follows Meg Murry, a young girl who, along with her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin O’Keefe, travels through space and time to find her father, a brilliant scientist who has been missing for five years. Along the way, they encounter three mysterious beings—Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which—who help them on their journey. The novel explores themes of love, courage, and self-acceptance, and it has been praised for its innovative use of science fiction and fantasy elements.

My Thoughts

Honestly, I wasn’t that taken with the story and don’t remember that much about it.

Recommendation

I will have to re-read it.