A Brilliant Book

The Creative Brain: The Science of Genius by Nancy Andreasen

I really enjoyed this book.  It's not that long and worth a second reading to really apply the book to my life and my kids' lives.  At the time of this books publishing Dr. Andreasen, a highly respected and honored doctor, worked as the director of the Mental Health Clinical Research Center at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.  In this book she explores what makes people creative.  She makes this exploration easy to understand and exciting to learn.  This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the brain, creativity, or a parent or educator.  As a homeschooler, I found many of her discoveries and insights helpful in how I plan my children's education.  Dr. Andreasen examines several creative geniuses.  I remember that most of them had a childhood that was unstructured, allowing them to explore, experiment, play, and observe.  It seems our society is going in the opposite direction in educating our youth.  Dr. Andreasen also touches on the link between genius and mental illness, a topic I would love to read more about.

I feel this book as appeal for most readers, who will find it educational and enjoyable.  I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading her other books.

You Should Re-Read This Book Until it is Tattooed on Your Heart

TATTOOS ON YOUR HEART: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Fr. Gregory Boyle

Booker...

I noticed this book last month on a display at work.  One of the best parts of my job as a bookseller is being exposed to so many books through different displays, receiving books in, shelving them, sorting them, and so on.  As is often the case, the book's cover caught my eye.  I have a special fondness for Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is pictured on the candles on the cover of the book.  Then I noticed the word tattoos and I like tattoos, so I figured I'd better pick up this book and see what's it's about.  Well, thank goodness for that display because it lead me to a great book.

The author, Gregory Boyle, is a Jesuit priest who founded Homeboy Industries.  All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Homeboy Industries, an organization providing training, tattoo removal, jobs, and more to those formerly involved in gangs or who are at-risk.  Fr. Boyle works in a Los Angeles parish with the highest concentration of gang activity in America.  But Father brings his compassion and persistence to the young people in this area to show them they are valued, they have a choice, there is a different future.  I think Fr. Boyle is a hero.

And...he has written a fantastic book.  Each chapter has a theme.  Father Boyle expounds on each theme by telling us of different experiences he has had working with gang members and their families.  Some stories make you laugh, some make you cry, some make you smile, some make you sigh.  All of them make you think.  Fr. Boyle deftly combines these stories together to exemplify or guide you toward the chapter's theme.  There is much wisdom to be found in this book. 

It's so interesting I wanted to just speed right through the book, yet some of the insights it gave me forced me to pause and contemplate what I had just read.  This is definitely a book I will have to read again and again so I can be sure to get all from it that I can.  I do so wish I could tattoo these pieces of wisdom onto my heart, to be able to recall them at once anytime.  They may not be on my heart permanently, but I know for sure a deep impression is definitely there.

To learn more about Homeboy Industries go to http://homeboy-industries.org/ .

Jesus as the Ultimate Man

BE A MAN! Becoming the Man God Created You to Be  by Fr. Larry Richards

Blogger...

Father Larry Richards' book was the handout at this year's local Catholic Men's Conference.  Fr. Richards is the Keynote Speaker at the 2012 conference, and if his book is any indication, he is going to let us men have it!

Be a Man is a very challenging read.  All throughout the book Fr. Richards uses very straightforward language to get the reader to face the fact that he is most likely not living the life that God intended him to be living.  From a man's relationship to Jesus, to his role as spiritual leader of the family, to his duty to change the world, Be a Man covers it all.

I really enjoyed this book and was challenged by it.  Fr. Richards starts off the book by telling us that we're all going to die...it ends the same way for all of us.  When we die, we have 2 options for eternity, and the good news is, we get to choose where we spend it (unless you believe in Predestination, but that's a topic for a different blog).  The problem is, too many men are leading lives that indicate that they are choosing the wrong option. 

Fr. Richards makes the case for Jesus being the ultimate man, and then spends the rest of the book providing ways to live out the life God intends for you.  Each chapter focuses on a new area to work on, and contains practical tips.  Some of the tips are very challenging, such as devoting 1 hour every day for the rest of your life to prayer...I find that one very challenging, but one that I'm also going to pray that I can someday commit to. 

At the end of each chapter, there are study questions, so I think this would be a great book for men's groups looking for something to study.  I highly recommend this book for all men, not just Catholic men.  I think it has the potential to change your life.  I look forward to hearing Fr. Richards speak more on the topics in Be a Man! and next year's conference.

An Insightful Read

MY STROKE OF INSIGHT: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.

I just finished reading this book.  I'd put off reading this book for almost a year.  I wish I hadn't.  I learned a lot from Dr. Taylor's journey.  In the book, Dr. Taylor first introduces herself, her career, and professional activities.  She is a nueroanatomist who also served on the board of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) with a specific interest in schizophrenia, which her brother suffers from.  On December 10, 1996 this brain scientist has as a serious stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain.

Dr. Taylor first takes us on a tour of the brain and it's workings before telling us the story of her stroke.  This information aids in the appreciation of the rest of her story.  I think part of the reason I put off reading this book was because I felt I already know about the brain because I'm fascinated by it and I didn't want to go through a prolonged lesson of brain anatomy.  However, this is not what Dr. Taylor gives us.  She gives us an interesting overview to help our understanding of what was going on in her brain/mind during her stroke and subsequent recovery. 

The details of what her brain was going through and what she could and could not do during her stroke was very interesting, as was the story of her recovery.  She talks about what she really needed immediately after her stroke and during her recovery.  She gives suggestion on how to treat and help stroke victims based on what she as experiencing.  This was very enlightening and I hope the medical community studies her story and insights.

The most powerful reason for Dr. Taylor to write this book was to show people how they could access the joy and peace residing in the circuitry of our brain's right-hemisphere.  Her stroke basically incapacitated her left-hemisphere for some time, so she was left with a deep feeling of peace and oneness with the universe while she resided nearly wholly in her right-hemisphere.  She gives us practical advice to help us limit the stories our left-hemisphere tells us that cause us to worry and relive emotional baggage and instead to tap into the peace of our right-hemisphere.

Even before I finished this book, I started to use some of her advice and found it really did help me.  I have depression and I get caught in my left-hemisphere loops of chastising and hopelessness so many times each day.  Sometimes I would recognize a negative thought loop, but I didn't know what to do about it.  I felt like there was nothing I could do.  Dr. Taylor guides us in many ways to end this left-sided brain chatter. 

Maybe sometimes this book was a little repetitive, but I found this book extremely interesting as an exploration of the purpose and power of our brains and inspirational as a guide to a more peaceful personal experience. 

I would be remiss not to mention two of Dr. Taylor's messages she works passionately to get out to the public.  They are the importance of helping individuals and their families who have a mental illness and the request that people donate their brains to Harvard's Brain Bank.  Advancement in treating those with mental illness can come more rapidly if scientists have brains to study.  For more information call 1-800-BrainBank.

I personally hope, the more information scientists call learn about the brain can also help those who have autism.  I found it extremely interesting when Dr. Taylor talked about what strengths or weakness she had with the different hemispheres of her brain.  I once saw a theory that an autistic brain was just an extreme "male" brain.  I think it would be an interesting line of investigation to look at the dominance/balance in autistic brains of the left and right hemispheres.  It's seems many people on the autism spectrum excel at activities associated with the left-hemisphere and lack abilities normally associated with the right-hemisphere.  I wonder if there is an imbalance of development or ability in the two hemispheres or problems with the corpus collasum  (the connection between the two hemispheres).

This is not a long book, so it will be well worth your time to read this remarkable story.  (BTW, you can get the hardcover of this book in Barnes and Noble stores for less than $6.00 right now.)

Are You an Oxymoron?

CHRISTIAN ATHEIST by Craig Groeschel

Blogger...

This book was loaned to me by a friend several weeks ago.  I'm glad they loaned it to me.  It's a fast read, which is unusual for many Christian books.

Written by Craig Groeschel, a Pastor of a fairly large Protestant Church, "The Christian Atheist" tackles the topic that many of today's Christians face.  We say we believe in God, but live our lives as if we don't.  We worry constantly, we rely on ourselves rather than God and we take part in many activities that we shouldn't.  Groeschel points out his own Christian Atheism and then provides practical strategies for overcoming it.

I found this book to be pretty good.  It wasn't overly complicated.  The best part of the entire book was the afterward when Groeschel explained the 3 lines of Christianity.  When you cross line 1, you profess your belief in Christ, but don't really change anything.  Crossing the second line means that you follow Christ and modify your behavior when it is comfortable for you.  The third line is when you give your life completely over to God.  To me, the afterward would make a really interesting book...maybe Mr. Groeschel will take the time to write that book.

I think this would be a good read for anybody who is lukewarm in their faith, or is currently a first liner.  Overall, I don't feel like it was a waste of my time, and it probably won't be a waste of yours.

Bicycling Books

Booker...   Last summer I became more serious about biking.  I have the type of personality where I want to know as much as I can about a subject before I try it.  Sometimes this type is called Competent Carl.  So, I did a lot of looking to find the best bicycling books out there.  I obviously didn't look at every single book, but I looked at quite a few.  Here are my two favorites:

EVERY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO CYCLING by Selene Yeager

Selene Yeager is Bicycling Magazine's "Fit Chick".  She's also written a fantastic cycling book.  This book helps beginners start and veterans prepare for racing competetion.  The subtitle says the book has "everything you need to know, from buying your first bike to winning your first race".  That's no lie.  This book covers things I couldn't easily find in other books such as what to eat and when during different rides, solutions to common biking ailments, bicycle maintenance, essential skills and techniques for riding, an excellent explanation of heart rate and zones and how to use them properly in your training, year-round training plans, and more.  Mountain biking offroad is also covered.  And, there's really no reason why a man couldn't use this book, too, so don't let your husband shy away from refering to your book just because it says woman on it.  I am really thankful I found this book.

TRAINING PLANS FOR CYCLISTS by Gale Bernhardt

This book contains information about nutrition (though I found it too intense and rely on Yeager's book) and help choosing bikes and other gear.  But, I use this book for its training plans.  The Every Woman's Guide above does have training plans, but I like the plans in this book much better.  Benhardt's training plans are longer, so you don't have to be in shape or a serious cycler before beginning some of the training plans.  I also like how detailed the plans are while still leaving you some flexibility.  The plans are easy to follow and each type of ride is explained very well.  I don't think I would be trying to rides I am without the training plans in this book.  Last fall, I decided to first try a 30-mile ride.  The plan allowed six weeks of training.  It turned out I did the ride after three weeks of training.  This spring I'm going to do a 50-mile ride.  I'm following the eight week training plan in the book.  I'm confident that if I follow this plan and the nutrition guidelines and heartrate monitoring from Yeager's book, that I will be ready for it in 8 weeks.  The plans covered in this book include: 30-mile, 50-mile, 100K, Century, Multiday Tour.  Moutain bike plans include:  3-houir, 100-mile, 24-hour.

Discovering Catholocism for the First Time or for the Fiftieth Time, this Book Will Help

REDISCOVERING CATHOLICISM by Matthew Kelly

 

Blogger--

This book is a must read for every Catholic, especially those who have left the Church, or are disengaged Catholics (i.e. they go to Mass, but don't participate). Once you read this book, I guarantee you'll be motivated to become the best-version-of-yourself, the version of yourself that God wants you to be. Furthermore, you'll understand why the Catholic church offers you the best chance to achieve that.

The entire theme of "Rediscovering Catholicism" is becoming the best-version-of-yourself, how you can do that, and how that can reawaken the Catholic church. Need an example to help you get started on your journey?  No problem, the Catholic church has the Saints to be our role models. These are people who were driven by a single-minded purpose to be the person God wanted them to be, and they didn't let the world get in their way. Need coaching along the way?  No problem, the Catholic church has the Sacrament of Reconciliation where not only do you receive absolution, but you get advice from the Priest. This entire book is filled with stories and examples designed to help you change your habits and be the person God wants you to be.

I've already started trying to live out what I learned in this book. I've been plugging away at it in 15-20 minute increments for quite a while now. I've been implementing some better habits because Matthew Kelly gave me some some ideas on habits I should be implementing. I'm eager to see the person I will be in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years if I continue to stick with what I learned in the pages of "Rediscovering Catholicism".

Booker--
I, too, really liked this book.  Matthew Kelly points out so many of the wonderful things we have in our Catholic faith and how we can use them better and appreciate them more, thus, enabling us to become the best-version-of-ourselves.  After reading this book, many times when I'm making a decision, I think, 'Will this make me a better version of myself?'  I like that question better than the What would Jesus do? thing.  We've also been able to use that with our children, too.  Matthew Kelly's book is easy to read and gives you practical steps you really can implement in your life.  I'm very glad I read this book.  Some people in the book club where we discussed this book thought the book was a little repetitive; however, I didn't think it was that much and I'm glad for some of the repetition because that's how we are going to get in our heads and start doing what he suggests.

Matthew Kelly also has a kids book out called  Why Am I Here? for kids.  This book does an excellent job of explaining to kids the concept of  the best-version-of-yourself.

Crucial Conversations, Crucial to Prepare For

Booker and Blogger--

CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS: TOOLS FOR TALKING WHEN STAKES ARE HIGH by Kerry Paterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler

Blogger read this books for work and suggested I read it, too.  He thought it could help us communicate better.  I said I would, but didn't have plans to do it too soon.  Then he used two things he had learned from the book (even before he finished the whole book) and really helped our conversations and avoid misunderstandings.  I was convinced, and read it as soon as he finished.  I like it.  I read it faster than I think it's meant to be read because I think you really need to let each skills set revolve around your head a little.  However, the authors give plenty of ways to help you use these skills, remember these skills, and use these skills.  I wish I had read this book before I got married.  I think so many misunderstandings and hard-feelings would have been avoided over the years.  I usually avoid crucial conversations, but now I see the importance of having them, and being prepared for them.  This book will help you communicate better with your co-workers, employer, friends, neighbors, kids, and spouse.  You should really read this book.  --Booker

One of my goals at work this year was to read the book, "Crucial Conversations" by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler. "Crucial Conversations" tackles the topic of how to maintain your cool and progress through meaningful dialogue when the stakes are high and emotions are running higher. This is definitely a talent I could use, and I understand why my boss gave me this goal.

I thought this was a good book, though it did take me more than a month to get through. As with any non-fun book, it read a lot slower than "Harry Potter" or "Percy Jackson." And...well...I didn't read it for 2-3 hours every night like I would those type of books. But, it was good reading. I learned a lot, and I think I picked up some good strategies that I can apply.  I've already successfully applied some of these strategies in conversations with my wife, and these conversations went significantly better than history would indicate they should have gone.

If you think you need to work on your conversation skills because you find you struggle to get your meaning on the table when emotions run high, or you tend to lose control when the stakes rise, I think "Crucial Conversations" would help you. I'm going to get made fun of by a lot of the people I work with who read this blog, but I'm really glad I got assigned this book as a goal.           --Blogger