Ryan's Book Blog – Page 29 – I read therefore I am.

Inspired. Understanding Creativity. A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul

February 22, 2023 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Written in April of 2022, “Inspired. Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul” is a book about how creativity works, how you can build it, and why that might matter.

My Thoughts

Creativity has been a flighty mistress throughout most of my life. I once really thought of myself as an artist, but these days, think of myself more of a technician. Modesty aside, there isn’t much I can’t do. However, how much can I do well? That’s always the question.

I took a creativity class back in the early college days. I really enjoyed it and still have the book from the course. (One of very few…) However, this book wasn’t looking so much at the practical. Rather it was focused more on the process of how creativity works.

Recommendation

I liked it and would recommend it. However, it didn’t have a ton to offer in terms of practical use.

Barbarian Lord

February 20, 2023 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in July of 2014, Barbarian Lord is a graphic novel of fighter who goes on adventures for honor and revenge.

My Thoughts

My son had read it and said my daughter had said it was basically He-Man in graphic novel form. So I was bound to read it. It didn’t take long at all to finish and I can’t say I’m a better person to have done so.

Visually, my daughter is correct. It is basically He-Man complete with a Skeletor-ish villain. However, there were some very graphic scenes in it which certainly wouldn’t have slipped by the censors of the early 80’s.

The plot was pretty sparce but you can’t really expect too much. It is basically a action movie in book form. (Spoiler alert, Barbarian Lord wins in the end…)

Recommendation

If this gets your kids to read then it’s all good. If not, you don’t need to spend any time with it.

No Time Like the Future

February 11, 2023 by Ryan

Background

Published in November of 2020, No Time Like the Future is a autobiographic story of how Michael J. Fox found out about his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and how it has changed his life.

My Thoughts

I didn’t really know what to expect from the book but I found it hard to get through. It is his experience and there isn’t much I can relate with to his life. It was interesting to see how he reconciles decisions and events and what he thinks about life in general. On the whole, I wish him the best of luck and am thankful I am not in the public eye as much as he has been.

Recommendation

I found this book to be an easy read but a depressing subject.

Humankind

February 7, 2023 by Ryan

Background

Published in September of 2019, Humankind is a book about where humans came from and who they really are.

My Thoughts

An interesting read, the book came to me from my Aunt. Rutger Bregman’s style leads you down a road of ideas and pulls the rug out from under you at the last moment to make his point. He is dutch which makes sense why there are a lot of socialist assumptions throughout the book.

The underlying ideas is that people are basically good. I liked that idea and the examples given…

Recommendation

I’ve found myself recommending this book to a few select people. For example, he does make a compelling argument for social learning with which a co-worker was having trouble. However, it isn’t for everyone and isn’t a light read.

Hello Molly

January 31, 2023 by Ryan

Background

Published in April of 2022, Hello Molly is the autobiography of Molly Shannon of SNL and movie fame.

My Thoughts

After reading this, so much made sense about Molly Shannon. Her energy, her almost reckless self endangerment… It makes a lot of sense now…

It did serve to deepen the divide in how I think verses others.

Recommendation

It wasn’t bad.

The Four Winds

January 26, 2023 by Ryan

Background

Published in January of 2021, The Four Winds is the story of a woman and her kids leaving the farm in Texas during the dust bowl and heading to California. Things didn’t work out like they planned.

My Thoughts

I read this book because our church’s adult women put it out there as their book club pick. In short, I didn’t like it. It was reading the Grapes of Wrath again but this time with an empowerment story complete with a worthless husband.

Recommendation

I wasn’t a fan.

Forgiving What You Can’t Forget

January 13, 2023 by Ryan

Background

Published in November of 2020, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget is a book about moving on from trauma.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book and even referred someone in my church to it. It is so hard to let the Savior in and allow that change of heart to happen. (Particularly when there has been injury.)

Recommendation

It’s worth the read

A Darkling Plain

January 10, 2023 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2007, A Darkling Plain is set 6 months after Infernal Devices. Hester is presumed dead as is the Stalker Fang. The world is getting ready for the last war.

My Thoughts

This was a good resolution and I love what happened to Shrike at the end in particular.

Recommendation

You have to finish it…

Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter

January 6, 2023 by Ryan

Background

Published in September of 2022, Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter is the biography of our 39th President and his wife.

My Thoughts

At over 900 pages, I had been working on this book for some time. Most of it happened well before I was born but it was a pleasure to learn some of the backstory and gaps in my knowledge.

This bio seemed to be pretty balanced and was exhaustive.

Recommendation

If you can stick with it, do it!

The Book of Mormon

January 5, 2023 by Ryan

Background

First published in March of 1830, The Book of Mormon is the cornerstone book of scripture for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is meant to go hand in hand with the Bible to bring all people to Christ.

My Thoughts

I like to put this in here every now and then when I finish the book. I read a little bit out of it every day so I finish it about once every 8 months or so. Love it or not, it has done me a world of good.

Recommendation

Read it! You won’t regret it.