All Consuming : raschema

Consuming "The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:11:25 GMT

The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World

by A. J. Jacobs

fascinating and interesting (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:09:29 GMT

by Alan Weisman

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.

Consumed "The World Without Us"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:09:29 GMT

The World Without Us

by Alan Weisman

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:04:28 GMT

Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House

by Valerie Plame Wilson

WORTH IT!

Consuming "pax americana?"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:59:41 GMT

pax americana?

by alfred herrhausen society for international dialogue

Consuming "Witsec: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:37:50 GMT

Witsec: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program

by Pete Earley

Consumed "My Spy: Memoir of a CIA Wife"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:40:33 GMT

My Spy: Memoir of a CIA Wife

by Bina C. Kiyonaga

A story about "My Spy: Memoir of a CIA Wife"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:40:10 GMT

My Spy: Memoir of a CIA Wife

by Bina C. Kiyonaga

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.

A story about "Love Always, Petra"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:28:00 GMT

Love Always, Petra

by Petra Nemcova

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.

Consumed "Love Always, Petra"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:28:00 GMT

Love Always, Petra

by Petra Nemcova

A story about "Julia's Mother: Life Lessons in the Pediatric E R"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:02:12 GMT

Julia's Mother: Life Lessons in the Pediatric E R

by William Bonadio

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.

Consumed "Julia's Mother: Life Lessons in the Pediatric E R"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:02:12 GMT

Julia's Mother: Life Lessons in the Pediatric E R

by William Bonadio

WORTH IT!

Consuming "The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value Is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness (P.S.)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:26:58 GMT

The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value Is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness (P.S.)

by Virginia Postrel

Why I recommend "Absolutely Faking It"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:15:11 GMT

Absolutely Faking It

by Tiana Templeman

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.

Consumed "Absolutely Faking It"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:15:11 GMT

Absolutely Faking It

by Tiana Templeman

WORTH IT!

Why I recommend "Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 15:47:49 GMT

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior

by Temple Grandin

This is a delightful book packed with a lot of information. Grandin does a good job of explaining how she views animals and thus, how they view the world. She does this by comparing the autistic brain to that of an animal in some regards. She goes into great detail particularly with cows, horses, dogs, and cats.

Thanks to her autism she is very insightful and able to give readers a glimpse into her life and decisions she makes to help animals. She is also credited with creating humane slaughter houses, although her favorite animals are cows.

This isn’t a book that’s easily digested in one sitting, however it is a terrific collection of stories and accounts categorized into topics.

This book is an inspiration that does a great job of demonstrating just how much people can learn from animals and how selective bredding for certain traits adversely affects others.

Consumed "Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 15:47:49 GMT

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior

by Temple Grandin

WORTH IT!

Consuming "Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:44:26 GMT

Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

by Jen Lancaster

A story about "Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:25:07 GMT

Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant

by Daniel Tammet

This is a tale of the life of Daniel Tammet. It is interesting how he relays his feelings of growing up with Asperger’s Syndrome, a highly functioning form of autism.

He explains how he thinks in visual imagery and how numbers are second nature to him. I was very fascinated by the ease he has of learning languages (yes, he speaks 10 fluently).

While there are many aspects of his mind that other people would appreciate having, there are also aspects that people take forgranted such as social norms that Tammet struggles with.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when he talks about love. He is so intriguing!

Consumed "Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:25:07 GMT

Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant

by Daniel Tammet

WORTH IT!

A story about "Early Bird: A Memoir of Premature Retirement"

nobody@allconsuming.net (raschema) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:34:35 GMT

Early Bird: A Memoir of Premature Retirement

by Rodney Rothman

This is an interesting take on elderly and retirement. Rothman is a former writer for David Letterman and he decides he wants to see what the fuss is about retirement.

He moves to Florida to live in Century Village – a retirement community and attempts to fit in. Along the way he meets some interesting characters and learns a lot about life, people, and how age doesn’t change people.