The Magicians by Lev Grossman My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’m a huge fan of this book! For me, reading is very much a cerebral activity (even with SF/F), but the author was somehow able to bypass that. More often than not, I *felt* what the protagonist was feeling...
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold My rating: 5 of 5 stars You know how Dr Larch reads ‘David Copperfield’ to the orphans every night in ‘the Cider House Rules?’ I think, if I were to choose just one book to be read to me every night, ‘A Sand...
Why Men Are the Way They Are by Warren Farrell My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book, while clearly imperfect and a product of its time, is on my very short list of ‘Things I Wish (as a Husband) that My Wife Would Read (and Re-read).’ (Fun aside: as...
The Poetry of Zen by Sam Hamill My rating: 3 of 5 stars Poetry isn’t really my thing, and the alienation is a bit compounded when it’s a form and aesthetic that I’m not fully acquainted with. Still, it’s a nice little collection. In case you’re wondering: – Favorite Poet:...
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene My rating: 4 of 5 stars Nothing groundbreaking as far as techniques go. But the author presents a framework for *thinking about* unruly behavior (e.g.- expectations, skills, innate motivation) that I find particularly enlightening. View all my reviews Share:ShareClick to share on Facebook...
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach My rating: 3 of 5 stars Not too bad, though not my favorite format (i.e. – principle followed by multiple in-depth examples). Still, some valuable insights to be had and useful meditations. View all my reviews...
What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada by Walpola Rahula My rating: 4 of 5 stars A quality book that is understandably dense. One I’ll definitely be revisiting. Pleasant surprises: 1) the book is far more academic than anticipated 2) nearly all explicative...
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More by Roald Dahl My rating: 4 of 5 stars I haven’t read this since I was 12 or so, and it was amazing to be reminded of where some of the most evocative imagery that has persisted with me throughout the...
The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams My rating: 5 of 5 stars The whimsy of ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ + the framework of ‘the Dresden Files’ + the plot device of ‘American Gods.’ What’s not to love?! View all my reviews Share:ShareClick to share on...
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury My rating: 4 of 5 stars An impressive work. I don’t often read collections of short stories, so having a unifying thread makes it much more palatable for me. My only real complaint is that Bradbury prose is often-and-unnecessarily ‘literary’ (read – excessively purple)....