This book is so fascinating and I was truly sad when it ended.

It’s an interesting look into the psyche of various countries and what overriding factors into the happiness of different nations.

His look at Iceland only made me love the country even more. It’s such a stunning place, with an it’s OK to fail mentality.

I’d probably even call this one of my favorite books ever. It’s that good!

I’ve read all of Gladwell’s books, which are very quick reads. I appreciate the books of this genre that encourage the reader to think a little deeper or to question how and why things happen as they do.

My favorite chapter was on the pilots and what are elements for tragic plane wrecks. It’s fascinating and now I’d like to read some of the other books he’s quoted throughout the book.

I recently read he was going to be working on a book about cultures, which I am already excited at the possibility of. Until then I’m reading his blog for updates.

This is an easy book to read on the subway or bus simply because the chapters are very short and to the point. Some of the topics were thought provoking, while others weren’t as interesting.

Overall I appreciated the ideas that were presented that even a seemingly small 1% of the population can at times sway votes, feelings, and sentiments to create large ripple affects.

This book is more about a sister’s journey than the unfortunate story of murder.

Janine Latus candidly writes about what it is like to feel like a victim starting from a young age. She is able to turn her struggles with men, sexuality, and her body, into an empowering tale of knowing that it’s OK to speak up and not to accept abuse as ‘love’. She is very graphic in her descriptions, which really made me cringe. I even considered not finishing the book, however I am glad that I did.

This is a poignant read for anyone that is suffering from domestic abuse or wanting to know why any woman would return to an abusive relationship.

Such a fantastic book! I really didn’t want it to end. Weiner travels the world attempting to dissect what it is that makes people happy (or in some cases unhappy).

I’m interested in visiting some of the places that he mentions. I can attest to Iceland being a wonderful country, as he states in the book.

This book is very easy to read, however it’s something you won’t soon forget. It contains many of the things that interest me (urban planning, abandoned places, and nature). It is very detailed and clearly explained, but it does leave the reader questioning their fate. You can only hope humanity is intelligent enough to change the things they can.

It would make a perfect book for a book club.

This is one of my favorite books.

Bina Cady Kiyonaga writes a beautiful tale of being the wife of a man in the CIA.

As a somewhat unlikely match, Kiyonaga takes the reader through the journey of her marriage and the adventure of work related travels- from Hawaii to South America.

She does a great job of creating a personal memoir, while giving background history on events that affected her life through the late 1970s.

The final pages are quite touching and a perfect ending to an interesting book.

This was an interesting glimpse into the life of a model, who survived a horrible natural disaster and lost the love of her life. Sometimes it was a little too much information.

The book is a quick read, however there were parts that seemed almost juvenile. It was interesting to read about her culture and upbringing in the Czech Republic, particularly the bits about life in a communist country, when she was a child.

She does a nice job explaining the kindness of the Thai people and the devastation of the area. I wanted her to fight more to see the love of her life or find out what happened to him, however this was a place where the answers only come with time. She focuses a lot on energies, directed both internally and to others. This is part of the reason she believes she healed so fast.

I really felt for her ex Donaes, who seemed to get left in the dust after a 4 year relationship. I cannot imagine what she went through with all of the traumatic events.

This is an honest book written by a children’s ER doctor. I appreciated his realness and ability to show his emotion, as well as his philosophies on what it means to be a doctor.

Dr. Bonadio is a sensitive man that spends a fair amount of time considering the bond that parents have with their children. Many of these stories you hope for happy endings, however you are often left dangling (as is Dr. Bonadio), because he shares these brief encounters that simply don’t give all of the answers.

I find it very admirable that he was able to be so open. It takes a lot of courage and selflessness to be a forgotten hero, or to take the blame when things go awry.

The first story of Julia resounds through the book. The descriptions made me feel as if I was right there in the ER. Her mother and Dr. Bonadio share a connection, if only for a few fleeting moments.

I walk away from this book thinking about Julia, her mother, and the doctor. It’s a fascinating web that intertwines humanity and the strength and help that we are able to give one another.

This is a light hearted tale of an Australian couple that wins accommodations at many of the world’s finest hotels. The problem is they are quite low on cash and struggle to fit in to this new society. They deal with things such as whether or not to tell other hotel patrons they are staying free, how to avoid tipping, and where to wash clothes.

My only complaint was not seeing photos! – This book made me want to go online and search to see what the hotels looked like and to see images from their trip.