Non-Fiction – Page 32 – Ryan's Book Blog

Keep Moving

October 25, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

“Keep Moving and Other Tips About Aging” is a non-fiction book by journalist and author Dick Van Dyke, which offers practical advice on how to maintain a healthy and fulfilling life as one ages. The book covers a range of topics including physical fitness, mental health, diet, and social connections. Van Dyke draws from his own experiences as a performer and his personal journey with aging, as well as from the expertise of medical professionals and other experts in the field. The book offers a message of hope and optimism, emphasizing that aging is not a time to give up on life, but rather an opportunity to embrace new experiences and perspectives. “Keep Moving and Other Tips About Aging” has been praised for its practical and engaging approach, as well as for its positive outlook on aging.

My thoughts

Dick Van Dyke is simply delightful. That hasn’t changed in his 90s. So was this book. Delightful! I felt better just listening to him. He has the air of an older gentleman and makes you want to be a better person. You can’t really beat that.

It was interesting to hear about his struggles with smoking and alcohol but not really much of a surprise as an actor. That seems to be something they are known for and the only surprise is if they managed to stay out of it.

His love life also was pretty refreshing. He was married for more than 30 years until she died of cancer. He then met and married someone 40 years junior to him. He made a pretty good case as to why this shouldn’t be anything really to remark on. You’ll have to read the book to understand I guess. I can’t really explain it as my wife would tell you.

Recommendation

Surprisingly, I wouldn’t rate this suitable for anyone under 14. There is some blue humor in it and I don’t know anyone younger would understand much of it. But for those 14 and older, I would consider this a must read.

Seriously… I’m Kidding

October 24, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Ellen’s book number 3. “Seriously… I’m Kidding is a lively, hilarious, and often sweetly poignant look at the life of the much-loved entertainer as she opens up about her personal life, her talk show, and more.”

My Thoughts

This was really a book about Ellen’s thoughts. Her thoughts were largely unfiltered and meandering in that off hand way she speaks. It really is her. Just her talking n’ stuff. How much you can take as gospel is anyone’s question. She riffs and then riffs on her riffs. I really enjoyed it but then again I find her very likeable.

Recommendation

If you like Ellen you will like this book. If you don’t like her, you really won’t get much out of it. It will seem like a waste of time… Which it may well have been.

Wishful Drinking

October 23, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The autobiography of Carrie Fisher who is best known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars. She was the daughter of famous people and became famous herself. This is the story of her life, largely trying to escape from it.

My Thoughts

Ah, Princess Leia. As a boy growing up in the 80’s, she was pretty much the top of female desirability. (Well her; Belinda Carlisle, Kelly LeBrock, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daryl Hannah, Erin Gray, Elisabeth Shue, and a dozen others that made the 80s so fantastic.) Of course, I didn’t really care for the real names of these characters. I saw them as their on screen personas. After reading this, it is pretty hard to see Carrie Fisher in the same light.

I knew she had had her struggles with drugs and mental illness. However, I really didn’t know much about it. I wouldn’t do it justice by talking about the particulars here. Suffice it to say, she is very open. What a tragety that she passed just recently and her mother (who is very prominent in her life and her book) passed away as she was planning her daughter’s funeral.

Recommendations

This book is not for the weak in heart nor for children. If you want to keep Princess Leia pure in your mind then leave it alone.

Books that Matter: The City of God

October 20, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Yet another of the Great Courses lectures. This one was by Charles Mathewes, Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

To steal from the Great Courses page “Augustine of Hippo’s magnum opus The City of God is one of the greatest works of the Western intellectual tradition—so powerful, in fact, that one could argue all of Christian theology has been a series of footnotes to Augustine. Written during the transition from antiquity to the rise of Christianity, it is one of the key texts in defining our ethical framework into the 21st century. Yet even serious readers can be intimidated by a book that spans over 1,000 pages.”

My Thoughts

This was a pretty time consuming listen though I feel it was worth it. Pretty much most of the “ah hah” moments I’d had were discussed by Augustine of Hippo or “Saint Augustine” as we’ve likely heard of him. This lecture points out that not much is “new under the sun”. The ancients were pretty bright and most of the drama that we take on a daily basis had all been done before.

Recommendations

This work left my mind reeling a few times. If you can understand it all then you should start your own church. (You won’t be alone out there…)

Pandora’s Lab

October 9, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This book is about how science has gone wrong. How usually well meaning people have created something that can’t quite be put back into the box. “These unwitting errors add up to seven lessons both cautionary and profound, narrated by renowned author and speaker Paul A. Offit. Offit uses these lessons to investigate how we can separate good science from bad, using some of today’s most controversial creations—e-cigarettes, GMOs, drug treatments for ADHD—as case studies. For every “Aha!” moment that should have been an “Oh no,” this book is an engrossing account of how science has been misused disastrously—and how we can learn to use its power for good.”

My Comments

This was a very interesting book. I was particularly interested in the examples from history; how mustard gas was created, why DDT was banned and so on. Similar books make me want to do a lot of fact checking. I didn’t agree with a few of the examples such as e-cigarettes as I don’t think the verdict is in just yet with what their influence will be. Still it was a great read.

Recommendation

Great book. It includes stuff everyone should know but should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Music

October 5, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This is yet another of the Learning Company’s “Great Courses”. It takes a learner through the very basics to some fairly advanced theory while giving a history of Western music along the way.

My Comments

There are over 23 hours of content in this course and I had to slow my listening down so I could hear the music properly. I LOVED IT! I can’t say enough good things about this course. I kept bothering my family about something I learned that day or something I thought was hilarious. Great, great, great course.

Recommendations

Everyone should listen to this course by Robert Greenberg. Play it for your spouse, neighbors, friends, distant relations, and children (including in utero).

A Child Called It

September 22, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This is the story of David Pelzer and how he grew up as an extremely abused child. This book tells the story of his daily life as a child and the things that happened.

A Child Called "It" — A Child Called “It”

My Comments

This was a grueling read and anyone reading it may think they had a perfect childhood! Mr. Pelzer lived through things that bordered on the unbelievable and the longer I sit and think about it, I am in the unbelievable camp. Still, there is evil in the world…

Recommendation

I wouldn’t read this book. Truthfully, I prefer innocence.

Supernormal

September 20, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Supernormal by Meg Jay is a non-fiction book that explores the concept of resilience and how it develops in individuals who have experienced significant adversity in their lives. The author draws on her extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and her research on the subject to provide a nuanced and insightful look at how individuals can overcome adversity and develop resilience.

My Comments

This book was hard to read. I had put it down a couple of times but resolved to finish it. I was glad that I did. It wasn’t something I’d suggest others read. It reminded me of much of my childhood and what I considered unfair or wrong. I made my peace with that a long time ago but this book brought back a number of memories. I truly believe each of us have had to endure hard times. Each of us are impacted by our surroundings. Some may be better than others but we each have those moments that define us. They make us “us”.

Recommendation

I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you have a strong interest in the subject matter. It was a solid read but painful for me at times. I was left feeling I needed to fact check a number of citations. (Studies I hadn’t heard of and the like.) Still, there was enough “truthiness” to it that I didn’t bother.

No One Cares About Crazy People

September 14, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Ron Powers, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, novelist, and non-fiction writer. He also lost a son to suicide and almost lost the other. Both were impacted with mental illness. This book documents their family’s journey through the events and brought them through to today. It also gives a history of mental illness in America and the policies and politics shaping how we react to them.

My Comments

Mr. Powers is a great writer. His style is engaging and his story telling is first rate. I empathize with his plight and, as a father of 4, I can’t imagine losing one of my precious kids.

That said, I didn’t enjoy this book. I put it aside a number of times because it would upset me. Part of my being upset was at the system in general as Mr. Powers intended but, only part… It is my belief he gave a one sided Micheal Moore style view of so many things. So much rhetoric… He ran the gamut of what is wrong without giving much in the way of what could be right.

To declare my bias, I have worked in the mental health industry. I hold a BS in sociology with a minor in psychology and my studies were with criminality and deviance. From my experience, there is so much more to the issue than this book presented. Mr. Powers paints with a very broad brush and dismisses nearly everyone with whom he doesn’t agree.

Recommendations

I wouldn’t recommend this book. While there is some value in understanding his families plight, I think the book was cathartic for Mr. Powers. I can’t recommend it.

The Happiness Curve

September 9, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This book is another volume of work on the subject of the psychology of happiness. It deals with specifically the happiness trajectory over the lifetime and makes particular mention of a statistical “curve” during what we may call “midlife”.

Comments

I am in the bottom of the “U Curve” (as the author puts it), meaning that I am statistically in the unhappiest part of human life, my 40s. Interesting really. I’ve considered my forties to be a great time so far. However Mr. Rauch makes a particular point to say this curve is an average and isn’t predictive. I did enjoy the book and found comfort in many of the concepts presented. For example, I have had an increasing unrest in my career. Mr. Rauch’s concept of the Hedonic Treadmill rang pretty true for me. I am reminded to be accepting of where I am and find enjoyment in the here and now. Those are great words and I hope to be able to hold to them. The thought of my not being alone in this regard is comforting.

Recommendation

I would recommend the book to other folks in my age group. Although Mr. Rauch paints the picture if everyone understood the happiness of aging we would have a better world in which to live, a well trod path for second careers and much better understanding of the elderly, I believe it will take some time till this dream is realized if the theory bears out. I’m not sure those younger than I would enjoy the book.