Kristina

A great refresher course on the U.S. presidents

Revisado: 09-02-17

There was a lot of material to cover and I will definitely need to review this book again. The book approaches the information in a condensed but detailed way with great antidotes. I am now a more educated person for having listened to it. There were some dry pieces, especially in the appendix. But overall the approach was engaging by using multiple ways of telling each president's story. Some of the grading system seems off and based mainly on public opinion polls.

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Will re-read! A great listen for those who love linguistics

Revisado: 08-30-17

I discovered John McWhorter through the podcast Lexicon Valley and was immediately impressed by his relevant and current approach to language as well as his grace when discussing controversial subjects. This is the first book I have read/listened to from him and I believe he makes a compelling case for accepting language's ever shifting nature. He is places no judgment on these changes but rather recognizes and embraces them. It was great to hear examples of how words have changed their meaning since their inception. The book is formatted in a similar way to his podcast with great mentions of classic movie clips which I find a charming attribute in his style of storytelling. John McWhorter has to be the coolest linguist alive. The only thing I am left curious about is how these trends catch on and over what period of time is normal and how has that changed in recent years.

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Odd but motivational

Revisado: 07-24-17

This book read like a very amateur podcast. There were strange analogies and over-the-top motivational weight lifting motivational style of speaking. But there were good antidotes and did "pump me up" to want to start a business. Their mentality is extremely narrow to the supplement industry but it is what they know. I will say I have never read/listened to a book that kept telling me to stop reading. They kept using reverse psychology like "you can't handle the next chapter" constantly which I found comical given it was so repetitive and hyperbolic in its usage.

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A good short story

Revisado: 10-23-16

This was a different sort of story. It was more rough than a usual coming of age story. Themes pervaded from other stories like West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause. It was definitely a book of its time as well with slang and musical references of the time. The narrator did a pretty good job with the various voices but made the main character seem a bit more simple than I think that character as written.

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An absolute must read

Revisado: 10-21-16

This is a classic which many kids are required to read in school and after hearing it, I can absolutely see why. It is a beautifully written story full of complex issues and wisdom seen through the lens of a child who is intelligent and packed with personality. The town is beautifully painted through quirky tales and descriptions that are not overly detailed but just enough. The dialog is fantastic and the moral lessons are quite strong but not patronizing. I wanted to keep in contact with these characters after the book ended because they were so relatable and cherishable. Also the narrator was fabulous with a great southern accent which took on many voices to reflect accurately who was speaking.

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Absolutely stunning and deeply personable

Revisado: 07-02-16

The story as very compelling and characters while predictable were also lovable. This book made situations that we read about or briefly imagine really come to life. The actors was great but my husband, an Englishman, pointed out that the narrator's voice was too posh when playing the main character since a girl that poor wouldn't have spoken like she did. Oh the English and their accent caste system. But apart from that mundane aside, I truly cried listening to this story. It touched upon how we all can do more with our lives and how much we can change other lives. I will be forever changed and inspired by this book to do all that I can with the gift of life.

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A great philosophical work of our current time

Revisado: 03-06-16

This book was a well thought out commentary of the complex issues we face brought about by technology. It as though 1984 were re-written and the control factor was fueled by a google meets Facebook world. What is scary is how real this could be and is already becoming.

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Odd but I learned a few things

Revisado: 10-10-15

I was recommended to read this book because this year I have focussed on items that I really need and realized that I am a compulsive consumer and a pack rat. Now I don't buy as much and want to dedicate time to my future and being productive. But I can't do this until I clean up my space and a colleague told me I must get this.

I learned many great ways to think about tidying in order to stay tidy from this book. I have already started implementing the KonMari practice and the transformation of my living space is enormous. I am envisioning what I want and it is happening. She helps people overcome their views of themselves as being messy. It is indeed a great book. I must say the writer is a bit odd with her obsession of tidying and acknowledgement that of objects as animate. But I did get used to this by the end of the book and even started to change my perspective. I am seriously going to buy a copy for everyone for Christmas to share the joy of tidying with my loved ones!

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Title should be Boredom

Revisado: 08-11-15

The title should be boredom for many reasons. The main character is bored and boring and the plot is tough to feel connected to mainly because the characters aren't developed. They are cardboard cutout representations of people who only serve the purpose of relaying the author's philosophical ideas and not present to create a dynamic and engaging plot. The most interesting parts of the book were learning about Swiss landmarks, their political system and culture and musings on the books Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde. But one doesn't need to read this book to learn about those topics. Skip the book and read a Wikipedia article about those subjects instead of reading this book. I didn't feel connected to anyone because the characters are very disconnected from each other and the world. By the end, it did get a bit better but not a good book overall.

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Beautifully written and enticing

Revisado: 05-16-15

The story of Coco Chanel is captivating. It is written as though in the first person which adds depth and personality to the characters in her life. The accents were well done if even sometimes dramatic.

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