Published in April of 2021, Madam Speaker is the biography of the first female Speaker of the House in America, Nancy Pelosi. The story begins with her grandparents, parents, and finally through the events of her life.
Madam Speaker
My Thoughts
I am not a Nancy Pelosi fan. I find her politics to be far too partisan and left leaning for my tastes. However, I was surprised to hear a number of facts about her. For example, I didn’t know she grew up on the East Coast and that her father was the mayor of Annapolis Maryland. The book made a point that most folks believe she was a product of her district (San Francisco) and I have to admit I was one of them.
I can respect she is the first female speaker of the house and that she is a hard worker. However, not much else was endearing to me. (I did enjoy reading through the section when “the Squad” showed up and caused all kinds of issues.) She strikes me as a busybody social elite who thinks she knows how the rest of us are supposed to live. Unfortunately, she has the power to make that happen.
Recommendation
It wasn’t a bad read and had some surprises. However, I suspect it won’t change anyone’s mind about who she is. Read if you are interested.
Published in 2006, The Audacity of Hope was then Senator Obama’s start for his bid to the Presidency. The book lays out his political opinions and reads somewhat like a speech. To say it was popular would be an understatement. It was a best seller for 30 weeks, endorsed by Opra, and even won a Grammy for the best spoken word book.
The Audacity of Hope
My Thoughts
Remembering the groundswell at the time, I recall thinking, “who is this guy?” He pretty much came from nowhere and people loved him. It turned out that wasn’t a flash in the pan response.
I was struck by how similar some of his statements were to President Trump and how others would be deeply unpopular today. (Emphasis on families, and so on.) He seemed forthright and honest in his communication. However, it was very interesting to compare what he wanted to do in this book and with what actually happened in his presidency.
Published in October of 2015, You Are Worth It is the story of the youngest medal of honor recipient, Kyle Carpenter.
You are Worth It
My Thoughts
This is an inspiring story of a Marine who never gave up. The book is simply his story told in a forthright and honest way. Kyle Carpenter is a clean cut, honest, thankful, and all around good person. He is someone to look up to in this world.
Published back in 2005, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, is a compilation of information of American life before the Europeans started visiting.
1491
My Thoughts
My thoughts are all over the map on this book. The narrative is so different from that which I was taught that I find myself questioning the sources. However, if true, the information is pretty amazing. The notion of the Americas as a completely settled land and that it was domesticated by the native peoples is pretty amazing. After confirming with my sons in High School, this is indeed what is being taught in the school curricula. I will have to find some supporting information but I did enjoy the book.
“The 6 Keys” is a book written by Jillian Michaels that explores the six essential pillars of health and wellness. In this book, Michaels draws on her years of experience as a fitness expert and life coach to provide readers with practical advice on how to improve their physical and mental well-being. The six keys include nutrition, hydration, sleep, mindfulness, movement, and community, and Michaels provides detailed guidance and strategies for how to optimize each of these areas in one’s life. The book is designed to help readers achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle, leading to increased energy, vitality, and overall well-being. Published in October of 2018.
The 6 Keys
My Thoughts
I was looking for a book that would help me motivated to lose some weight and exercise. This one did pretty well. While I’m not particularly a fan of Ms. Michaels, I thought she had some good ideas in the book. (There were some things over the top as well such as replacing your furniture with only solid wood due to the harmful effects of “off gassing” from pressed wood.) She attempts to make cellular functions and nutrition understandable and her general approach is close to my personal beliefs of moderation in all things.
Recommendation
A good book for motivation but can be long in places.
Published back in 2008, McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld is a look at the criminal elements going on throughout the world.
McMafia
My Thoughts
Very interesting book and definitely shined some light on when I lived in Bulgaria in the 90s. While I believe much of the book, it almost seems too much and it just kept on going. Criminality is everywhere but I hate to think it is going on at such a scale throughout the world.
Recommendation
A good book that will give you 2nd thoughts about ever leaving the United States.
Jim Morrison was the lead singer of “The Doors” but he also considered himself a writer. This book is his collective works. Published in June of 2021, it is largely put together by his friends and children.
Jim Morrison
My Thoughts
When I started reading this book, I thought it was a autobiography. It really wasn’t. It was so much worse… It starts by telling you he considered himself a writer more than a musician. That may be true but if you can imagine the poetry of a drugged out 60’s post teenager, you have a good idea of what this book was like. But wait there’s more!
The folks that put out this book recycled some of the same material. I guess they figured the reader would have given up some time ago and wouldn’t notice. That would be a fair strategy except apparently I enjoy a good train wreck and just can’t look away.
Published in March of 2021, “The Beauty of Living Twice,” by Sharon Stone is an autobiographical look at her life, career, and the profound experiences that have shaped her. With raw honesty, she recounts her near-fatal stroke in 2001, the challenges of recovery, and the impact on her personal and professional life. Stone reflects on her journey through Hollywood, her advocacy work, and her path to healing and self-discovery. The memoir offers a deeply personal and inspiring narrative of resilience, reinvention, and the beauty of second chances.
The Beauty of Living Twice
My Thoughts
I liked her style of writing and she presented herself as very authentic. As I really haven’t followed her career, I really had no expectations from the book. I remember someone saying she was very smart so it was confirming to hear she was in special programs in school and the like. I suppose like many, my only memory of her was that scene from Basic Instinct and I haven’t even watched the movie. My hope was to learn a bit more about her so she wasn’t such a 1 dimensional character in my mind.
I thought some of the examples of poverty to be a bit of a reach but I’m sure there was a stark contrast in her life as compared with the kind of money she has made. I’m glad of her activism and I hope the index of helplines at the end of the book has been helpful to people who need it.
Several of her comments were directed at the “me too” movement and her experiences along those lines. She talks about the “boys club” of Hollywood and how she had to scrap her way to stardom and didn’t get much respect along the way. Honestly, most of that doesn’t really resonate with me as I haven’t seen it and have no experience with it. No one should have to go through those things and I hope these stories are empowering to people to be able to say no and seek help if needed.
I was raised to respect women and I try my best to raise my sons with the same ethic. However, I’ve seen examples of it going too far the other way as well. We live in such a litigious society now that it’s terrifying to interact with people. Anyone can accuse someone of wrongdoing and they are automatically demonized by the media. Somewhat like what happened to Bill Cosby. That seemed to go down like a witch hunt. It’s true I don’t know if he was guilty or innocent but neither did all the people who were happy enough to trample his name, take away his honorary doctorates, and so on without the benefit of a trial. We are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. That really doesn’t seem to be the case.
Recommendation
The book was enlightening. If you are interested in her story, you will likely enjoy it.
Published in Sep of 2020, Think Like a Monk is the quasi-autobiographical experiences of a man who left relative wealth and success to join the Vedic monk lifestyle at an ashram in Mumbai, India. This book gives some of his story, some life lessons, and his thoughts in general.
Think Like a Monk
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed the book. In fact, I was on several long plane flights with a nasty case of poison ivy and I found his breathing techniques very helpful.
The real gem I found in the book was the perspective on introspection. What do we really need and what do we really want? I believe it is a very good idea to sit down and really think about your life from time to time.
Recommendation
It was a fun read. I would recommend it to anyone.
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain was published in 2013. The following was taken from Barnes and Noble.
Drawing on important new research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology, Siegel explores exciting ways in which understanding how the brain functions can improve the lives of adolescents, making their relationships more fulfilling and less lonely and distressing on both sides of the generational divide.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brainstorm-daniel-j-siegel-md/1116149182 taken 5 June 2021
Brainstorm
My Thoughts
I was surprised by this book in that I didn’t get that much out of it. It’s true Dr. Siegel spends some time talking about adolescents but none of it was really a revelation. Perhaps I’ve read too much of this kind of literature but it seemed like this was more about how the brain works than specifically how the adolescence brain works or what to do about it. The author peppers the book with personal stories and observations. Most of which seemed to be effective in getting across his message.
Recommendation
It was okay. If you are unfamiliar with how the brain is organized and how it changes through normal development, this may be a good book for you.
