review - Jason’s Feed

Book Review | The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault of Our Stars by John Green is an insanely popular book, with just shy of 3 million ratings on Goodreads. The book came first but soon became a major motion picture.

The Fault of Our Stars Movie Trailer

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

After I read the book and really enjoyed it, I decided to watch the film. I would say if you are a reader, you don’t need to watch the movie, it in no way adds to the book you have already read. The acting was okay, but the story in the book is so much more, as usually is the case with books.

Initially I didn’t really want to read this book. Mostly because it was so popular and all the reviews say that the book made them cry. I’m not super emotional, but I don’t want to read books that are sad just because they are sad.

I want to read books that give me something to take away. I want to read books that make me better in some way. We don’t have a lot of time why read or do anything for the matter that doesn’t benefit us in some way.

I did learn to value the things and the people in my life much more than I was currently doing. We all know this is important but sometimes we need a reminder. This is a very good book and a great reminder that what we have in life, whether it is a lot or a little is more than some and we should celebrate and be thankful for that instead of being depressed and always wanting more.

Because of this lesson and really great writing I would recommend this book to most everyone. The story and lesson earned 4 stars out of 5 from me.

Book Review |The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian

I thought The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer, was going to be a history book but instead, it turned out to be historical fiction. While real people are used some of it is the authors best guess at what happened. I would assume he has also embellished.

Like many, I have always been fascinated by the sinking of the Titanic. When I learned that there was a boat that was very close to her but never came to her assistance, I had to read and find out what happened. This novel follows a fictional writer for a real newspaper. The newspaper that did follow and publish stories about the Titanic at the time. The fictional reporter is out after the truth and follows around Lord and Stone, the captain and first mate of the Californian, the boat that was just miles from the Titanic saw its distress rockets and choice to do nothing. Why???

https://youtu.be/XrqdZVO7K4c

The Titanic Inquiry: Crew of the SS Californian

That is exactly what Dyer tries to answer with this novel. A great way of approaching this question is with historical fiction. I’ve never really been a fan of this genre because I like the facts of things and this genre interweaves fact and fictional storytelling so closely, that is is hard to tell them apart and you can’t trust what you have read as truth, even if some of it is.

Stanley Lord, Captain of the Californian
Herbert Stone, Second Officer
SS Californian

Having said this, I think for this book the genre works in Dyer’s favor. For those interested in the story behind the story, I think they will enjoy the book. For my part, I would have been just as happy with a non-fiction book that presented the facts and the author gave us his best guess as to what actually happened. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review | The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything

For managers at my company, there is a one-day class that is a requirement for any people leaders. If you have direct reports you have to take this class. The class is based on The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey.

Last year I knew I would have to take this course and I was looking forward to it as I have read some of the other Covey books. This book is written by Stephen Covey Jr. His father is the one who wrote the 7 Effective Habit book that is huge and most everyone knows or has already read.

Before taking the class I bought the book and read the thing from cover to cover. A few months later I got to take the course and among the other goodies that come with the course package (flash cards, a workbook, etc.) we recieved a copy of the book. This was a welcome surprise since the copy I had previsouly obtained was digital. Now I had a physical copy and would keep this in my library as I think it will be great for my children to read when they are old enough.

This book is filled with gems. Everything he says is pretty much common sense the thing is we usually don’t sit around thinking about trust and how good trust works well for us, and all the ways we can damage a relationship be not having trust or not trying to building. Covey also discusses how to re-build trtust with someone you may have lost it with.

If you are a working professional or in a relationship I think you can find something to take from this book. I got a lot out of it. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review | The Journey That Saved Curious George Young Readers Edition: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey

Okay for kids or adults this story follows the two creators of Curious George as they fled Europe like some many others during WWII. Well written with great illustrations.

This was a gift for my children from a family member. I saw it in the house and before it disappeared into one of the kid’s rooms, never to be found again, short of moving to another house, I grabbed it and finished it quickly. I think the shortness of this book also attracted me since I was in the middle of the summer reading program at my local library. This short book would help me get another book on the list and another entry into the contests they were running.

This was a fun read and I would recommend it for kids that are mature enough for the story. Nothing really scary here but it will lead to difficult questions about the Nazis and WWII. The Journey That Saved Curious George earned 4 stars from me.

Book Review | The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga: 8 Weeks to Strength, Awareness, and Flexibility

I grabbed this at my local library after seeing it from the corner of my eye. I’ve been doing yoga since last year at least twice a week. It has really helped with some chronic pains in my back and other places that I thought were just older age setting in. But after regular yoga these pains are gone for good. I feel a bunch better after a quick 30 minute session and complete rejuvenated after a good 60 minute session.

The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga is an excellent primer. Covers everything in depth. The best part is at the end where the authors have included an 8-week guide including sequences to get you going. This is a great place to start your yoga practice and will answer many of your questions.

This is a book to buy and keep as a reference if you have an interest in yoga. It earned 5 stars from me.

Book Review | It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

It’s Your Ship was recommended to me from a former Vice President of my department at work. I finally found a copy available at my local library. It just happened to be a downloaded version of the audio book that I listened to. This was a wonderful book to listen to because the author himself reads the book to you. I really enjoy it when this is done, because you really feel like you are getting the story as it was intended to be told.

Captain Abrashoff tells a wonderful story of his growth as a leader through the Navy with many great examples. I was able to take much of this book and apply it to my team and department. The work he has put into this book and the audio really shows through. It was a great way to spend my commute for a few days. I looked forward to my time listening to this book.

If you are a novice leader or experienced leader I believe there is something from this book that you can take from it. I gave this book my highest rating of 5 out of 5 stars. It is defiantly worth your time. Grab the audio version if you can.

Book Review | From the Age of Discovery to a World at War

This is one of the few books from last year that I read as a hardcover book. From the Age of Discovery to a World at War by William J. Bennett was sent to me by the publisher because I am the host of a history podcast. Or I was… long story. It took me about 6 months to finish this 573 page book.

It is not a dry history book. Bennett writes with feeling and imparts excitement about the events of our great nations history. But its not your high school history book. Bennett knows there are black eyes in our Nations history and they are in display in this book too. Nothing like a Howard Zinn book, but its still there in a way.

Bennett is very patriotic and that also comes across in the writing. The book is an excellent overview of American History. A little slow in spots and if you are a history buff then not much will be new to you, but I was surprised a few times at the detail he got into certain events. Especially when he had so much to cover. I don’t believe anything was left out or missed in the tome. There two other volumes as well that get us into modern history: From a World of War to the Triumph of Freedom and From the Collapse of Communism to the Rise of Radical Islam. Really well-done overview of American history right up into WWI. This first in the series earned 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Book Review |The End of Animal Farming: How Scientists, Entrepreneurs, and Activists Are Building an Animal-Free Food System

I’m reading more and more vegan or animal-free books. When walking through my local library this bright red book cover caught my attention. I wondered if they would discuss Impossible Foods, a food brand that has created meat, that taste very near the real thing. So much like the real thing many people can’t tell the difference. Not only does Jacy dive into this he does a very deep dive in, The End of Animal Farming. There is a lot of work put into this book and polished. Jacy has included many ways that we as individuals can help beyond just changing our diet.

“…technology therorist Tom Chatfield listed “eating mean and factory farming” first in his predictions of what our descendants in centuries to come will deplore about today’s society.”

For those that believe in saving animals, whether you are vegan, vegetarian or not, it doesn’t matter. You can make a difference.

“…the average American consumes far more that the Recommednded Daily Allowance of protien, around 145 percent the RDA for women and 176 percent for men.”

“…vegetarian diet can spare 371 to 582 animals each year.”

“I’d guess it’ll take another ten to twenty years–around 2038 to 2068–for animal-free foods to make up the majority of meat, dairy, and eggs in high0income countries”

As you might be able to tell this is an important topic to me. I hope you take the time to watch the video above and if you want to learn more please give Jacy’s book a try. You will learn a lot. This book earned 4 stars from me.

Book Review |Salt: A World History

I got what I asked for in, Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky. This book is exactly what it says it is. A World History. Much of it bland and boring, but it had its moments.

I downloaded this audio book from my local library. My wife fractured her wrist and she is my usual carpool buddy. We have an hour commute each way. This book was downloaded to fill some of that time. It was on my list of books to read.

I added this book to my to read list, because salt is such an everyday mundane object/food for us, that it is often overlooked. This book embodies the difficulties of being a modern reader of history. If it is not written in an exciting way, then the book is kinda boring. Salt, has some pieces of it’s history that is fascinating, but it is not enough to make the book a page turner.

If I had been reading a paperback of this book, I would not have finished. The fact that I listened to this book on my commutes is the only thing that saved it. However, it did take me a month to listen to this 3.5 hour book.

My GoodReads peers disagreed with me on this book. On the whole they really liked it. 4 stars is what most people gave this book. It just wasn’t from me. I only gave this book 2 stars.

Book Review|The Spy

The Spy by Paulo Coelho is of course about the famous Mata Hari who was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I and executed by firing squad in France.

I picked this up because it is history, with a great twist. An exotic dancer who may have also been a spy. I’m convinced she was a spy, but I don’t know if she ever really understood that she was. She seems to have been very caught up in herself.

The book was difficult for me to follow because of those. The author, Coelho, seems to weave a somewhat confusing story about her. She knows what she is doing, she doesn’t. At times she wants to get away from the man she is with, at other times, she wants to meet another.

As you can see from the below graph, other reviews on goodreads were torn too. It wasn’t amazing and it wasn’t terrible, its somwhere in between, a solid 3 star book.

It is very unlike me to not write a GoodReads review, but on this book I did just that. I finished this back in April of 2017 and I think I was baffled by what I just read, with no way of knowing what to write for this book. Like many of my GoodReads peers I also gave the book 3 stars.