Biography – Page 12 – Ryan's Book Blog

Becoming

May 25, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Former first lady Michelle Obama’s book about herself from birth through the White House. She details her childhood growing up in the South Side of Chicago, her time in college (Princeton and later Harvard) her work at a law firm (where she met her husband), their dating and early marriage, being a working mom, and then becoming the first lady.

My Thoughts

I enjoy a look into people’s lives. Particularly if those people are not much like me. Mrs. Obama is not much like me. We both grew up poor but I didn’t go to Princeton or Harvard. I don’t feel my race has that much to do with who I am but I guess that’s the point…

Whatever the political feelings toward this book, Michelle Obama is a competent capable person who accomplished a lot in her life. As impressed as I am with her accomplishments, I’m most impressed with her mother and her ability to be the rock of the family and still stay out of the way of the limelight.

Recommendation

This book was very long and it felt like I had to plod through it. It was good to hear a few things I hadn’t before and was reminded of events I had all but forgotten. I’m mixed on the recommendation.

Dare to Lead

May 17, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in Oct of 2018, Dare to Lead is Brene Brown’s latest book. This one is centered toward leaders, whether they be in the boardroom or on the battlefield.

My Thoughts

This book really spoke to me. I still have a hard time listening to Mrs. Brown with her remarks of “listening to the data” and so on… Having been through a bit of education, I know that people lie with data (plural) all the time. Still, she makes a lot of salient points and has a really good message.

What I took from the reading was that I don’t have to be a prick at work. I can listen, be vulnerable, be open, and sometimes even be completely wrong as a leader. In simpler terms, I can be human. What matters most is that I don’t get too blinded by others or their titles. I should pay attention to everyone and their needs. I should be responsible with my charges and act with honesty and integrity. All the stuff we all knew but seem to keep forgetting.

Recommendation

A good read. It may even be a good reference when I lose perspective in the future.

Crazy is My Superpower

May 14, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This is the autobiography of AJ Mendez Brooks who gained fame as a professional wrestler. She grew up poor and fighting both her own mental illness and that of her family.

My Thoughts

It was an interesting read. I heard of the book on one of the podcasts I listen to and she handled herself very well. All that said, I hadn’t ever heard of her before and know practically nothing about professional wrestling these days. I watched when I was a kid with my dad back in the 80s so I had some experience. However, that was a long long time ago.

Recommendation

It was a good read for inspiration. I would recommend it.

Educated

April 30, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Educated is a memoir by Tara Westover, published in 2018. The book tells the story of Westover’s childhood and young adulthood, growing up in a survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho. Westover was not allowed to attend school, and her parents did not believe in doctors or hospitals. She was educated at home by her father, who was a self-taught scholar.

When Westover was 17, she decided to leave home and attend college. She had no formal education, but she was determined to learn. She went on to earn a degree from Brigham Young University and a PhD from Cambridge University.

My Thoughts

As a practicing “Mormon” or, more appropriately, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, This was not a fun book to read. My ex-wife was from Idaho and I didn’t meet anyone who would fit the description of the Westover family. However, I have run into quite a bit of fundamentalists and it is always interesting to hear their theories on the world and their place in it.

The book is an important read. We all need to “leave home” and do a little bit of examination of our foundations. My daughter is leaving soon for college and I sincerely hope she takes the time to learn about other people and other ways of living. I believe she is a good person and while I doubt I will agree with all of her decisions, she is going to do fine.

Recommendation

This book wasn’t comfortable but I’m glad I read it.

Braving the Wilderness

April 9, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Braving the Wilderness is the 2nd to latest book by Brené Brown which came out in Sep of 2017. It touches on the feelings of belonging and the stories we tell ourselves.

My Thoughts

I was glad of the reminder to keep my mouth shut when I have nothing good to say and of how rare a good friend is in our world. I also enjoyed her comments on the polarization of politics and how people react to “hot button” issues.

Although there is clear value in much of what the author is trying to get across, I found myself put off by the internalizing of seemingly every concept through the life of the author. I don’t feel it is needed or even wanted to empathize and find parity in your own life with every plight. Reading it felt sort of like talking to someone who is always one upping your story. You think they hear you but they are clearly put more value on their experiences rather than your own. It was hard to push through it.

Recommendation

Ms. Brown puts forth some very good concepts and I appreciate her work. If you enjoy her style of storytelling, you will likely enjoy this book.

The Secret Lives of Wives

March 25, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This book on how to stay married by Iris Krasnow was written to counter the focus on divorce. It is a collection of stories of women who have stood by their man and made the best of what they had.

My Thoughts

This really isn’t my normal fare but I was interested in the idea of what makes people stay together. There just isn’t much focus on the majority of people who slog it out year by year and keep their marriage together. Like many, I assume, I thought my first marriage was going to last. It didn’t. There were lines I wasn’t willing to be crossed… This book has stories of women who had all manner of nonsense happen in their marriage and yet they stuck with it.

There is a lot of research on how we become happier with age. How having social connections positively correlates with health and longevity. How a married person is more likely to have long term financial success than their single counterparts. In short, it’s good to get married and stay married.

Getting married and staying married is a daily choice. Sometimes the choice to stay together is easier than at other times. Marriage is constant communication, compromise, forgiveness, and service. I’m convinced there is no one way to do it and it was interesting to hear how others went about it.

Recommendation

An interesting read. I would recommend it to anyone who is married and wouldn’t mind a look what keeps other marriages going.

The Rainbow Comes and Goes

March 5, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Anderson Cooper and his mother Gloria Vanderbilt, talk about their lives and the events which shaped them.

My Thoughts

A great read. Most of the book was a surprise to me. I had no idea Anderson Cooper was a Vanderbilt nor that Gloria Vanderbilt led the life she had. So all of that was very interesting.

However, the real value from the book was the great perspective Ms. Vanderbilt had on her life. She was able to articulate some very deep truths through her experiences. She had a level of acceptance with her life which I find enviable. The title of “The Rainbow Comes and Goes” is such and apt description of the life lessons presented as a whole. Good things will come and go. Why not enjoy them when they are here?

Recommendation

Definitely worth the read

Slaughterhouse-Five

February 26, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Slaughterhouse-Five is a novel written by Kurt Vonnegut that follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II soldier who becomes “unstuck in time” and experiences his life in a non-linear fashion. The novel explores the themes of the destructiveness of war and the inevitability of fate, while also incorporating elements of science fiction and satire. Billy’s experiences as a prisoner of war and a witness to the bombing of Dresden are juxtaposed with his later life as an optometrist and his encounters with aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. Through Billy’s story, Vonnegut challenges traditional notions of storytelling and the linearity of time, ultimately questioning the human capacity for compassion and understanding in the face of senseless violence.

My Thoughts

I wasn’t impressed with this one. Vonnegut is a master writer to be sure. His method of writing comes across as both easy and sincere and the reader is effortlessly transported to the story.

However, the story was very strange. I actually liked that it was disjointed and the concept of time travel through life moments was a very interesting thought. When put in context of when this book was released, it was lightyears ahead of it’s time (pardon the pun).

My Recommendation

This book belongs to a different era and was written for a different audience. It is great for historical perspective but I didn’t enjoy it. “So it goes.”

Yes Please

February 21, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The biography of Amy Poehler. This book takes her from childhood to the publish date of 2015.

My Thoughts

I’m not really sure what I had expected with this one. I mentally link Amy Poehler with Tina Fey in many ways so this seemed like the natural progression in terms of which books to read. I really enjoyed Bossypants so I guess I figured I would enjoy this as well.

There is something frantic about Ms. Poehler’s work that takes away from my enjoyment. She is being herself and that comes through in the book. There really isn’t anything wrong with it in general. Maybe it hits a note that I’m uncomfortable with in myself…

Anyway, I enjoy her work in general and she does make me laugh. That said, I didn’t really enjoy the book.

Recommendation

I wouldn’t recommend this one.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

February 15, 2019 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Marie Kondo shares her love of “tidying” and her life philosophy in this book published in 2015. At the time of this writing, it has sold over 1.5 million copies. She even has a show on Netflix where she helps others “tidy”.

My Thoughts

I had heard of Marie Kondo as a verb from my wife. (As in, “I just Marie Kondo-ed this closet.”) I believe she learned it from our friend Miranda… Anyway, I heard a podcast from the UK which called her “mad as a sack of rabbits” because Marie was advocating getting rid of books. Books! That hit me. I love books. I have a lot of them. Rather, I had a lot of them…

Yes, I drank the KoolAid on this one. In reading the book, I was gradually persuaded that keeping my “Natural Disasters” textbook from college, which I had never cracked afterward, yet it cost me than $100, wasn’t really the best idea. I drug that book, and boxes like it, over 2000 miles when I moved a decade ago! After reading this book, I just couldn’t figure out the why behind that decision.

My closet is clean, my clothes are folded in neat little squares, Goodwill got a major donation and I’m happy about all of it. Next, is my filing cabinet…

Recommendation

This book changed my mind on something. That doesn’t happen often. I would suggest reading it so you too can brag about how many bags of clothes you removed from your drawers.