Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 6 Dec 2010
*****
The Non-Designer’s Design Book by Robin Williams
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 13-28 Nov 2010
*****
What He’s Poised to Do: Stories by Ben Greenman
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 9 Oct - 3 Nov 2010
*****
Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform by Nancy Duarte
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 26-31 Oct 2010
*****
The Hundred-Foot Journey: A Novel by Richard Morais
Fun fluff for foodies.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 22-26 Oct 2010
*****
Presentation Zen Design by Garr Reynolds
I liked this book better than Reynolds' first book, Presentation Zen, because it seems more focused. Reynolds' writing style is very easy to follow, although some chapters had abrupt transitions between the subsections (the teacher coming out in me). He does a particularly nice job of explaining the color wheel (and Powerpoint and its ilk use it) and summarizing the strengths of different types of graphs. In addition, he doesn't seem to repeat himself as much or summarize as many people's books. Like his previous book, Reynolds includes useful sample slides in the back - including bullet-less slides from a biology journal club and a TED talk by Bonnie Bassler.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 19-22 Oct 2010
*****
Emotions Revealed (Second Edition) by Paul Ekman
This book may be revolutionary, but it was too long. The main reason to read this book is to learn facial features of emotions (sadness/agony, anger, surprise/fear, disgust/contempt, enjoyable emotions), but Ekman spends most of the time talking about when people feel these emotions - not very interesting reading. If I get a chance, I'll list the features, if they're not on Ekman's website.
Although I generally had to force myself to read the book, there were other interesting tidbits. The features are universal, e.g. they are displayed by people with no contact with Western culture. Darwin actually proposed this years ago, but nobody believed him. Learning these features could help us improve our communication with others, as long as we remember that the features convey emotion, but not the reason behind the emotions. Finally, I found it interesting that not much research had been done on differentiating "enjoyable emotions" such as amusement or ecstasy. As Ekman said, we know more about mental disorder than mental health. But that probably has changed since the 2003 publication of the version I read.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Dates: 25 Sept - 19 Oct 2010
*****
Story by Robert Mckee
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 17 Sept - 9 Oct 2010
*****
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Dates: 24 Sept 2010
*****
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
I often complain about how many contemporary novels are not justified in being more than 400 pages. Collins's book (at 600 pages) does not fall into this category: the plot is engaging and fairly well-paced, but more importantly, the characters are well-drawn - particularly the modern Marian Halcombe and the evil Count Fosco. With such strengths, I was perfectly happy to suspend my sense of reality.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 1-15 Sept 2010
*****
The Adventures of Johnny Bunko by Daniel Pink
This career guide disguised as a manga comic book is a throoughly enjoyable way to spend 30 minutes. No, I'm not looking to change jobs again, but I know a number of people who are. For these people, Daniel Pink offers 6 secrets to a satisfying career:
- There is no plan.
- Think strengths, not weaknesses.
- It's not about you.
- Persistence trumps talent.
- Make excellent mistakes.
- Leave an imprint.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 11 Sept 2010
*****
Beyond Bullet Points by Cliff Atkinson
Another quick read, a lot of it familiar - but this is the third book on presentations I've read in a month. Still, I learned some good tips: a story template to help create a presentation in three acts (I particularly like the set-up as a who/what/where/why/how story) and structure a talk in various lengths; the "Send to MS Office PPT" command in MS Word; and the "Hide Slide" command in PPT. There were a number of other features of PPT that I already knew, and I thought Atkinson's treatment of Act III was shallow. Still, this book helped me develop my first bullet-less PPT.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 7-8 Sept 2010
*****
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
This is probably the densest comic book I've ever read. Scott McCloud's dissection of what makes comics work is fascinating because the principles he comes up with not only apply to comics, but to many written and visual art forms as well. I particularly like his definition of art: “Art, as I see it, is any human activity which doesn’t grow out of either of our species’ two basic instincts: survival and reproduction.”
McCloud's book design as a comic is genius. I sometimes found myself wondering how the words and pictures worked together - and how this can be applied to oral presentation. I'll definitely have to return to the book because I'm sure I didn't absorb everything.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 29-31 Aug 2010
*****
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The more I read Dickens, the more I think he belongs in the mystery genre. The other thing that strikes me about Oliver Twist is how poorly the protagonist is defined and developed. Dickens seems to have much more interest in Fagin and Sikes, which is fine with me, but then he should have changed the title of the novel. Still, I enjoyed reading the book; I didn't even mind the coincidences that bring together unlikely people. Dickens' use of language lets me enjoy the suspension of belief. Still, I think my favorite Dickens to date is David Copperfield.
One last thought: I would have loved to have heard Dickens reading of the murder scene.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 19-25 Aug 2010
*****
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
This book came highly recommended by two of my colleagues, and I liked McCann's Dancer and Zoli, but this book did not live up to my expectations. It might have been unfair to have read Ueland's book right before this one, but I felt that McCann could have been more economical in his use of language. Or at least, the language wasn't beautiful enough for me to be swept up by it and there wasn't enough time for the characters to be developed well. There were some scenes that were beautifully written - I particularly liked the Godfather-like juxtaposition of scenes that described Corrigan's death - but I was annoyed by one of the stories that seemed to be in the Junot Diaz style of writing. Indeed, despite the short length (370 pages), there were many times when I just wanted the book to end.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Dates: 7-19 Aug 2010
*****
If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 9-11 Aug 2010
*****
The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton
A charming book. Will have to chase the other books in the series.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 6-7 Aug 2010
*****
Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds
More touchy-feely than Duarte's book, but still has useful information, particularly about books to read (although he gives summaries) and websites that offer free or low-cost stock photography. Surprisingly repetitive at times for a book with the word Zen in its title.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 30 July - 6 Aug 2010
*****
Slide:ology by Nancy Duarte
I had heard about this book last year, but was prompted to read it after hearing a fabulous presenter who was influenced by Duarte. To be honest, this book was read in about 4 days, widely spaced apart. I learned a lot, and eager to incorporate some of the ideas in my teaching.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 10-29 July 2010
*****
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
When I told my FB family that I was reading this book, I was surprised at the praise from some of my friends. Perhaps more surprising is that the praise is truly deserved. Despite it being the longest book written in the English language (about 1400 pages), I did not want this book to end. Seth's writing reminded me of why I love to read, and at times reminded me of Jane Austen. Not only because of the main plot (a mother searching for a suitable boy for her daughter), but because of Seth's lively yet realistic characters. My only complaints about the book are Lata's final choice and the fact that the story came to an end. And really, how many books can you say that about?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 4 June - 20 July 2010
*****
Sweater Quest by Adrienne Martini
Fun light read about a woman making an Alice Starmore Fair Isle sweater. I guess this would be my version of Eat, Pray, Love (which I probably will NOT read), except I actually learn some stuff (cool patterns and Alice Starmore). I'm shocked, however, that the author doesn't actually try to contact Starmore.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 30-31 May 2010
*****
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman
Very quick read, but interesting. Pullman's atheism is well-known, but it's interesting to see what he does with the story of Jesus. I was particularly struck by his rendition of Jesus's fast in the desert, and his portrayal of the resurrection reminded me of "The Life of Brian". In essence, I believe that Pullman is urging us (if we haven't already) to think more about "how stories become stories", including those in the Bible.
The most arresting passage was Pullman's description of an ideal church (if he can be said to believe in one):
Lord, if I thought you were listening, I'd pray for this above all: that any church set up in your name should remain poor, and powerless, and modest. that it should wield no authority except that of love. That it should never cast anyone out. That it should own no property and make no laws. That it should not condemn, but only forgive. That it should be not like a palace with marble walls and polished floors, and guards standing at the door, but like a tree with its roots deep in the soil, that shelters every kind of bird and beast and gives blossom in the spring and shade in the hot sun and fruit in the season, and in time gives up its good sound wood for the carpenter; but that sheds many thousands of seeds so that new trees can grow in its place. Does the tree say to the sparrow "Get out, you don't belong here?" Does the tree say to the hungry man "This fruit is not for you?" Does the tree test the loyalty of the beasts before it allows them into the shade?Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 28-29 May 2010
*****
Breakfast with Socrates by Robert Rowland Smith
Well-written book on a cool concept: showing how philosophy can be applied to mundane tasks such as brushing your teeth and lunch with your parents. Although some chapters are better than others, I would still recommend this book as a good light read.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 15-29 May 2010
*****
The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum
Engagingly written, and chock full of interesting facts about the 1920's. I was shocked, actually, about the amount of poisons that could be so easily obtained. The information is organized according to poison (one per chapter), which got monotonous after a while.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 16-23 May 2010
*****
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Somehow, this book was not on my high school reading list. And to tell the truth, I'm not sure I would have appreciated it back then. In any case, I can see why this book is a classic: deceptively simple language to tell a horrific story. Although the ending kind of made me feel like the whole thing was a dream, this is one book I might actually read again, especially since it's so short. I do wonder, however: what would a Lady of the Flies be like?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 24-28 April 2010
*****
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Rating may be unfairly low because I'm not the target audience (9-13). But a welcome break from the adrenalin-fueled Larsson book. And I'm rather impressed by the resourcefulness of the children.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 17-24 April 2010
*****
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Lisbeth Salander rocks. I find it funny how Mikael Blomkvist attracts women like a magnet. And the book is quite a page-turner. But I'm not going to continue with the series because it's too adrenaline-fueled. I feel like I need to read a good children's book.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 10-15 April 2010
*****
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Fascinating story, but I think the best part is the Afterword, where the author talks about the issue of tissue rights.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 28 Mar - 4 April 2010
*****
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
My first Margaret Atwood book. I really enjoyed reading it - Atwood's a good storyteller - but I felt shortchanged at the end.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dates: 13 Feb - 27 Mar 2010
*****
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
A very good book. For me, stops just short of being overly sentimental. And now I want to get the recipes for some of the cakes mentioned in the book.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 1-5 Feb 2010
*****
Drink This: Wine Made Simple by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl
Excellent book: everyone should get it. I particularly love the suggestions for wine tastings. And Grumdahl's writing is very witty, though sometimes overdone.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dates: 24 Dec 2009 - 9 Jan 2010
