Bill
For some readers, like me, this will be old hat. I've felt like the either/or view of right-/left-brained thinking has ben insufficient for years. That being said, this has some great reinforcement of ideas that I held in soft focus previously, and some decent application ideas for become more “whole-brained” (along with a few stinkers. Well worth the read, especially if you are just getting started with these ideas.
If you've been living these ideas, it will still be a good read, but won't necessarily challenge or revolutionize your thinking.
The ideas and practices are 5 star. The book written by a software engineer makes it a very sterile read, to my mind.
Someone pitched this series to me as “sci-fi Game of Thrones.”
Eh. Maybe. And that is a good thing. It is a rich, well-built world that is consistent with its own rules. The story is solid.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, plan to read the rest of the series.
Good enough to be an enjoyable read. Lacks the social commentary that made Hunger Games compelling.
Reasons I loved it:
- immersive universe. Some novels I read spend so much time explaining how things work that they read more like a technical document. Others get so tangled up in their specialized terminology that a reader can't keep it straight. This was a brilliant mix ... I was scratching my head with new terms like “spren” and “shardblade” at first. But, by the end, I felt like I lived there.
- Smart characters. People are true to themselves. I love that.
- Imaginative. It's a universe that works.
Not my favorite Artemis book. Plot of the book felt like a sub-plot that didn't make it into a previous book. A little too easy to predict events, etc.
Still a fun read, but not my favorite.
An eye-opener of a book. The danger lies in reading it, but not doing any of the activities within. I have yet to “read” this book in that sense; I haven't worked through a chapter a week actually doing the recommended exercises.
Working on it, though.
This series is starting to lose me in some ways. It feels like every additional book is yet another twist and yet another “50% through before you understand what is going on†… I loved that about the first book, appreciated it in the second book because of the payoff, but this one tested my willingness to invest the time … again.
It wasn’t bad. Many parts were good. It’s just becoming less and less my cup of tea.
Part of my Wellspring School of Leadership curriculum - Year Two
Typical business lesson via allegory book. Essentially some solid advice about managing change, as told by penguins.
Great book that takes you out of cookbooks and into the science of cooking. I'm just growing into the understanding that cooking is not as mysterious as it feels if one understands the role each ingredient, procedure, and treatment plays. It's why I love Alton Brown ... reading his thoughts on bake/broil/steam/fry gives you insight into WHY you'd choose a procedure. So does this book.
I feel like this is the stuff that Iron Chefs know. The basic ratios. Master these and the variations become easier to understand.
Great read. Great info. Great book.
Bullet Journaling has recently been the “new hotness” and with that comes a multitude of remixes, recaps, and spin-offs. I really appreciated this view into the “WHY”s of bullet journaling, more than the “How”.
That isn't to say that the book is not an excellent primer/tutorial on setting up a BuJo, but, for me, the gold in this book comes with the reminders why bullet journaling could work for you as a system, reminders about the modular nature of the system, including the welcome reminder that art and creative inking can be considered a module.
My bullet journal is simple - the pen color I am using that day (frequently black, blue, or the occasional blue/black) and a “wall of text” ... and I liked the reminder that this approach is as legitimate as the pinterest/tumblr driven layouts that are gorgeous, but that i have neither the time nor inclination to implement.
Like any productivity book, this may or may not fit into your life and mindset, but if you find yourself pulled toward analog solutions, I highly recommend this book for its thoughtful look at why analog is still a viable option today.
I was delighted to re-enter the Firefly universe again and I got what I went in for: another adventure with Mal and the crew. Was it my favorite adventure? No. Was it awful? No.
In some ways it seemed a little bit too much like a lost episode ... a novelization of one, maybe two episodes of the show. It went far enough, but had plenty of room to go farther.
You get what it says on the tin.
Truly enjoyed this book as it handled so many different social issues well and accurately. That said, I find the American history on social issues to be overwhelming and utterly depressing these days. I am glad for a book like this that hopes for and strives for better.
This was a fun exploration of alternate history fiction based on what I can hardly believe is an actual historical idea that was considered ... importing hippos. My main critique is that some of the more progressive(?) ideas felt forced sometimes. I wasn't offended by them, but there were moments that felt “token” ... this scene is here to prove a point or make a statement, not because it necessarily helps the story. At the same time, there were plenty of scenes that DID move the story along, so I wouldn't let it through you off. All that being said, it was a REALLY fun read and I'm glad I picked it up.
For me, this was a good book that read fairly easily and had some good reminders for me about goal-setting. Was it revolutionary? No. If you are familiar with self-help literature, this is just another organized view into concepts you will already be familiar with. Is it a well-organized and motivational presentation of those ideas? Absolutely. This is a good “kick in the pants” or “where do I start” read, but don't expect it to revolutionize your worldview.
My favorite bits/takeaways:
- concept of a military After Action Review, and how that can be implemented
- distinction between Achievement Goals and Habit Goals. How to consider them differently.
- Recommendations for managing a collection of goals - # of goals, # of concurrent goals, review process
Solid, entertaining read. Would continue the series.
My Star Ranks:
â˜... - I didn't even finish it
â˜...â˜... - I finished it. Would not recommend
â˜...â˜...â˜... - It was good. Would not necessarily re-read, but would continue the series. May recommend.
â˜...â˜...â˜...â˜... - I really like this book. Would recommend. Would reread.
â˜...â˜...â˜...â˜...â˜... - I adore this book. Will actively recommend, re-read multiple times, and frequently quote.
Good page turner
This is an action, detective novel in space. And for that genre, it is a good read. Kept me turning pages. There were twists I saw coming, and a few I didn't.
Just don't misinterpret 4 stars as putting it into “essential reading”
It's a decent enough book, but the tropes run deep. (The wacky original characters really weren't ) And, honestly, this period was imagined better in the books that were “disavowed”. Still, it kept me turning pages and reads like a Star Wars novel.
I was nervous about this book. Quitter was such a great practical handbook to follow your passion without starving and Start ... Start lacked the authenticity that made me want to read Acuff in the first place.
Do Over is a lot like Quitter, which was a very, very good thing. Most valuable when you aren't in a career transition, most relatable when you are. Totally worth the read.
This was one of those books I am supposed to love, as a geek. “You didn't read this in high school?!?”
It's decent. Got a little hand-wavy at the end when it came time to resolve some plot pieces, but it's good enough. I suspect that the next book will either lock me in, or be my excuse to walk away
I may not fully understand why this has me so hooked, but it truly does. Only 4 stars because even though I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I'll reread it.