Before You Say Anything

Background

Published in April of 2022, Before You Say Anything is a good on how to write, prepare for, and deliver a good speech.

Before You Say Anything
Before You Say Anything

My Thoughts

Such a good book! It even made my Christmas list. Most people don’t have a clue of what to say or how to say it. This book can help!

Recommendation

If you are speaking in the near future, get this book and follow the concepts. It will be worth it.

Abundance

Background

Published in March of 2022, “Abundance: The Inner Path to Wealth” is a book by Deepak Chopra who argues that true wealth comes from within, not from material possessions. He believes that we can all create abundance in our lives by changing our mindset and focusing on our inner resources. He offers a number of practical tools and exercises to help us tap into our inner abundance, including meditation, visualization, and affirmations.

Chopra’s message is that we are all capable of creating abundance in our lives. He shows us how to shift our focus from scarcity to abundance, and how to use our inner resources to create a more fulfilling and prosperous life.

Abundance
Abundance

My Thoughts

In general, it was a lot of pseudoscience BS. I didn’t get much out of this and don’t have too much to say about the book other than it seemed over-hyped for what it was. I agree we all have much more potential than what is realized but it doesn’t come from wishing it so.

However, it did hit at an interesting time as it is just before Thanksgiving. We have so much. It almost seems like an insult to ask or expect more…

Recommendation

Skip this one.

UnDo It

Background

Published in January of 2019, UnDo It is a book by two medical doctors on how diet and lifestyle can improve your health.

UnDo It
UnDo It

My Thoughts

While I agree that diet and exercise are important, I think this book makes claims way beyond what should be expected of both. If the key to immortality were plant based diet and exercise, our ancestors would still be with us today.

Recommendation

Went a little too far.

Age Proof

Background

Published in February of 2018, AgeProof: Living Longer Without Running Out of Money or Breaking a Hip is a book about investing in both your financial well being and your physical body so you can enjoy it!

Age Proof
Age Proof

My Thoughts

I enjoyed the book. It was a fun paring of both the financial and physical knowing we will want both in the years to come. Good advise on both topics were given and the book was in a very readable form.

Recommendation

It was worth the read.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Background

Published in October of 2007, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a autobiographical look at Haruki Murakami and largely centered around his experience with the New York marathon and other races. He is primarily a writer but he has done a lot of running.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

My Thoughts

This was an interesting book to read. Any work from another culture has elements that can surprise you as you go along. Ironically, I listened to this book while running. He mentions doing triathlons as well and I was disgusted that swimmers would kick an old man as he was trying to compete in a race. Particularly in open water…

On the whole, it was an ok book. I don’t know that I grew too much from it.

Recommendation

I wouldn’t read it again.

Alex Trebek. The Answer is…

Background

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

Alex Trebek. The Answer is...
Alex Trebek. The Answer is…

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

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.

Everybody Fights so Why Not Get Better at It
Everybody Fights so Why Not Get Better at It

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

Background

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

Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen
Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen

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

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.

Live Long and What I Learned Along the Way
Live Long and What I Learned Along the Way

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

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.

Robin
Robin

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.