1001 Things You Didn't Know You Wanted To Know

I love facts.  I do.  I love finding out little tidbits of information.  This book was read during a party.  If you know me at all......you know this is pretty probable.  The book was laying about when picked up by another guest.  She started in on all of the fact telling.  It got to be a bad habit.  By the end of the party we had read the whole book.  It was like a sick compulsion to share every fact we read.  When you read this book make sure there is at least one other person with you.  You will be so compelled to tell someone what you just read that you will not be able to contain the urge.  If you are alone I swear to you......you will be speaking aloud to thin air.

There were some things that we already knew (ex.  A female gives only X chromosomes and it's up to the male to give an X or Y......determining the gender of the offspring.  Please......if you are in any way sexually active....please, please tell me you know this.)  There were some things that were too boring to mention.  But most of them were interesting and fun.

Rating 4  Fun book to read with other people.  Great introvert tool for conversing with the enemy (anyone else you don't know).
Rating PG 13 There is a section on sex, which my little party friend tried to skip........but I went right for it as soon as she let go of the book.

The Council of Dads

The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler

New York Times Best Selling Author Bruce Feiler is known for his books on walking.  'Walking the Bible' even being turned into a PBS documentary.  His livelyhood having very much to do with walking.  Then an astonishing blow.  A cancerous tumor on his femur.  Not only could he lose his leg, his ability to walk, his livelyhood, Bruce could lose his life.  As the father of 3 year old twins he was heartbroken.

This book is Bruce's attempt at making a safety net if he should succumb to the cancer.  He gathered men representing stages of his life and characteristics that he wanted his girls to know about him if he could not be with them.  Fantastic idea.

I found myself interested more in the medical aspect of the book and his day to day life with his wife and children.  The Council of Dads was a great idea and the men had wonderful ideas about what they would do and say for the girls.  But somehow I found myself not wanting to have anything to do with the council.  Bruce seemed like a great father.  I resented the fact that he might die and leave his wife and daughters.  I didn't want him to die and I didn't like that he was making any kind of arrangements should events turn in that direction.  I'm not saying he shouldn't have because as a good father he was doing something awesome for his daughter's future.  I just didn't want him to die and I refused to be party to his planning for a dim future......so there.

At one point he and his wife go to visit the place where he will someday be buried.  I think this was the saddest part for me.  He writes........."Tears were streaming down our cheeks, salt trickling into our mouths.  The rain was matting our hair. My crutches tumbled to the ground. And in the darkened cathedral of  a Bonaventure thundershower, we clung to each other, pressed our foreheads together, and kissed on the land where we would one day rest forever. "

Rating 4  Great writing, good idea, smart articulate men.
Rating G  Clean but a grave situation. 

Exploring the Connection Between Mormons and Masons

Exploring the Connection Between Mormons and Masons by Matthew B. Brown

Brown tidily lays out why LDS temples and temple ordinance work is not founded or copied from Freemasonry.  The book, as non-fiction is informative, especially the footnotes, but not a wild and intense read.  Much of the information you probably already knew if you are LDS.  Also, because Brown did not want to leak or slander the sacred LDS ordinances or Freemason rituals, there was actually little he could say......which is probably why you picked the book up in the first place (to get all of the nitty gritty!). 
Brown does a good job of laying out the facts in a timeline fashion so that they are easy to understand.  And he proves his point well.....if you already agreed with the point he was making. However, if you are not LDS, you probably don't really care about what he has to say.  He assumes that the reader will count revelation, visions, and other spiritual activity as a plausable way of gleening information.  While I do.......not everyone does.  So, you could be left saying.........'Well, the whole shebang could have just been lied about or made up."

Rating 3 It didn't rot.  I was interested.  I understand why this wasn't some 'Enquirer' expose...BUT it did leave you wondering why you really read it.  The footnotes were probably some of the best parts.
Rating G

Me Talk Pretty One Day

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

     The second book I've picked up by humorist David Sedaris, was funny and easy, but this time I didn't weep with hysterical ecstasy.  I had a good time reading it like I would have a good time eating a cheeseburger.  It was good........but not the best thing ever.
     The funniest parts for me where when Sedaris is half heartedly learning French.  His translations made me laugh outloud.  Even giving this book a three.......I still wish that I were Sedaris funny enough to write wee vignettes about random parts of my dull life.

Rating 3
Rating PG 13 language, sexual content, homosexuality

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

Hello.........I just laughed so hard I wept.  I'm not kidding.  When I first heard of this book.....and it came highly recommended.....it sounded less than 'meh'.  I was uninspired by the title.  But I figured my girl knew her stuff and so I read it anyway (even my librarian looked at me like my time would be better spent elsewhere).

There were some giggles as Sedaris described his family relationships and silly vignettes of childhood happenings.  Then I get to the chapter 'Six to Eight Black Men'.  My husband heard my hysterics from the other room.  He asked me to read aloud what I thought was 'so funny'.  I couldn't do it.  I couldn't hold it together.  I laughed until tears leaked down my face.  Now I will grant you that I was under abnormal stress and the hour was late....but I stand by my opinion......David Sedaris is a riot.  I am beyond slightly disappointed that he is gay because that leaves very little room for me to marry him, live in a foreign country, and laugh the rest of my life away.

Rating 4.5
Rating   um I laughed so hard I don't remember anything else that happened.....I think there may have been swearing, oh yeah.......there was a masterbation scene and homosexual content......so erm...maybe R.

Common Sense

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

In 1776 Thomas Paine published his pamphlet 'Common Sense'. It was an informative and well written argument for Independence from Great Britain.

This was a short read. His opening paragraph was so true it was poetic. I am going to include some quotes.

"Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher."


"Time makes more converts than reason."

"The present state of America is truly alarming to every man who is capable of reflexion. Without law, without government, without any other mode of power then what is founded on, and granted by courtesy. Held together by an unexampled concurrence of sentiment, which, is nevertheless subject to change, and which every secret enemy is endeavoring to dissolve. Our present condition, is, Legislation without law; wisdom without a plan; constitution without a name; and what is strangely astonishing; perfect Independence contending for dependence."

"When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary."

He may accomplish by craft and subtlety, in the long run,, what he cannot do by force and violence in the short one."

Rating 5 for content. Very inspiring and informative.
Rating G

The Templars

The Templars The Secret History Revealed by Barbara Frale

In recent years the mystique surrounding the templars has become popular thanks to author Dan Brown. The Templars is not another fictitious book. Frale is well educated in templar, papacy and crusade history. She works in the Vatican archives. Frale was able to use old and forgotten documents to put together this insightful book.

She explains how and why the templars were formed, to whom they answered, how long they supposedly lasted, their secret rituals, and how they finally came to an end.

The book read like a text book. The information was good and considering this was non fiction it did get dry. I had a hard time following the people and the time. She jumped around on the timeline because her layout was more topic based. Also at times I felt like a needed a diagram to figure out where the people belonged. I am not entirely familiar with far reaching Catholic history so I spent some time confused over what seemed like quick change of papacy and other leaders.

By the time I reached around pg. 150 I was able to keep it all straight but I think that is because the book stayed to mostly one time period and there were fewer historical players.

Rating 3 for the information but I would have to rate it lower for the confusion.

Rating PG Rituals include homosexuality and hazing.

The Holy Secret

The Holy Secret by James Ferrell

By the author of 'The Peacegiver' (rating 5) comes the next instructive parable. I hate to lay it out there like this.......but it wasn't quite as good. Basically the book is a conversation between two adult men about learning to love things that are holy including the temple and the scriptures. A younger family man comes to an elderly ward member looking for answers after hearing him speak in sacrament meeting. He comes to realize during the talk that he doesn't love the temple or the scriptures. He wants to learn how.
It felt to me like the book began strong. It had a good break down of how to go through the scriptures asking questions in order to participate or have a conversation with the scriptures....thus gleaning more than merely buzzing through them just to gain another tally mark. The elderly man spoke about finding similitude's of Christ in other scripture stories. This is something I may have EVENTUALLY come up with, but I liked having it pointed out. I suspect for those of you who were either active as youth or didn't skip institute to make out with your boyfriend may have known these things already. So this book could be a great reminder.
Another aspect of the book that may have been one of the best parts, was the break down of the sacrament prayers. I took notes.
By the end, when we were getting to the temple parts......which is what I was truly interested in, it began to fade a little for me. I am on board with the vicarious work thing so I guess this part was just reminder for me. But who doesn't need a refresher? And then it ended......and I mean abruptly.
Rating 4 Some great info. made easy to read. Some of it was just refresher. Not up to par with Ferrell's first book.
Rating G

Eve And The Choice Made In Eden

Eve And The Choice Made In Eden by Beverly Campbell

This was not my first reading of this book so I may be more critical this time. There was nothing wrong with the book first off. I am just not a go get em' feminista. I have never thought that one gender was any more important than the other. I do believe that each gender has some unique and specific roles better played by them. I do not want to be a man. I have never thought Adam and Eve made a mistake. I have never thought it was all Eve's fault (although I have had a poorly educated religious leader tell a group of young women that......boo hiss! I promptly corrected his male chauvinist attitude.).

The back cover states, "Understanding what happened in the Garden can change your life." I guess that is possible if you have any misconceived notions such as the ones stated above. Considering that I don't.........my life is still the same.

The book does try to pump up Eve which I don't have a problem with. She certainly rocked or she wouldn't have been Eve. I would only hate for anyone to read and feel superior. Adam and Eve were equal in intelligence and power. They were just different.....which is why it is so great. I feel like hopefully Campbell put this across.

I do however LOVE that Campbell explains through doctrine the difference between sin and transgression AND the fact that there was transgression in the Garden......not sin. She also hits on mercy vs. justice which is a topic I always enjoy. And the information also covers the thought that Adam and Eve probably had a trying time contemplating what to do. This may have taken years, not like one afternoon. The author also delves into the difference in ways that men and women assess morality, decision making and risk taking. To round it all out she makes us aware that this was all part of the Plan and not a mistake or whim. Adam and Eve had to use their own agency to leave the Garden and the presence of God. God made a Plan whereby this would take place and then there would be a way already in the works to be able to return. Campbell also puts forth the thought that although Satan tried to thwart the Plan, he really just helped the right thing to happen.

In all I really enjoyed the book especially the points with doctrine to uphold it. My life wasn't changed because I already believed I am divine in my own right......and that women are just as great as men. I do like that this may strike a chord with those thinking that women of our faith submit like a beaten puppy. Not so. We make our own choices and only follow men of faith.

Rating 5 I give it a five because I feel like this is something you could read every few years. Mostly my favorite parts were the ones about the difference between transgression and sin. This is something I like to keep straight in my mind and I need to brush up on the specifics.

Rating G

Standing For Something

Standing for Something by Gordon B. Hinckley

This is not a first time read for me. If this book were ever timely when first published, is now extremely timely. President Hinckley lays out the road less traveled. A road that he professes can save humanity if we will all begin the journey in our own lives and homes. Only can we change the world if we start with ourselves.
Although written by the former President of the LDS church, the book is one that should hold great value for all Judeo/Christian sects. Hinckley simply lays out ten virtues that he believes should be our ground work. These virtues may seem to many of us, now lay by the way side in modern society. The ten virtues are love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness and mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism, and finally faith. He goes on to talk of the guardians of these virtues which are marriage and the family. Hinckley has it right when he says that 'we can save our nation by saving our homes'.
Standing for Something is uplifting although it speaks of serious topics and brings to mind our duty to make life better in a time where virtue and morality seem to be quickly fading from our forethought's.
I would recommend this book to anyone whether LDS or not. I didn't feel like any religious sect was at the forefront, only basic Christian principles.
Rating 5 I spent a lot of time underlining thoughts since this was not my first reading.
Rating G

Freakonomics

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Ha ha! Where to even start. I actually heard of this economist a few years ago on the news, then I stumbled upon the book the other day. I knew I had to pick it up. I love math, numbers and statistics and even though this book is chock full of that, it is not by any means boring.

The book begins by telling how the two authors came together and decided they had enough interesting material to make a book on economics. Then they go on to explain why conventional wisdom is many times completely wrong.

The authors put forth some strange questions and then mathematically or economically answer them. Seriously........I love this. 'What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?' 'How is the KKK like a group of real estate agents?' 'Why do drug dealers still live with their moms?' 'Where have all of the criminals gone?' (You will never guess where they went. Fascinating!) 'What makes a perfect parent?' (Harsh findings here. Although they quantified this, I still have doubts about some of it...that is at least the quality part.) 'Perfect parenting, part II; or would a Roshanda by any other name smell as sweet?' (This is about baby naming. These two guys have even put a number on naming trends in correlation with ethnicity, education and socio-economic status. I would seriously use this as a baby naming book.)

Some of the findings are shocking, even down right revolting and hard to swallow. Some of them I figured out on my own before I read the complete chapter. The two authors are hilarious and charming. I am certain if I were a better hostess/cook or enjoyed social gatherings.....I should have them over for dinner.

Rating 4.5 I am sure I will reference this book in conversation for a very long time!!

Rating PG 13 Even economists run into potty mouths while researching. Multiple uses of the F word while deep in gang territory.

Zlata's Diary

Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic

Zlata began her diary as any other fourth grade girl. She liked junk food, music and her friends. She seems incredibly well spoken for her age. Her world quickly changes from what most of us would find in our everyday life to having her home and country torn by war. War is raging in Sarajevo between Serbs, Croats and Muslims in the early 1990's. Friends and family flee the country or are killed during bombings and shellings.
Zlata is compared to Anne Frank. She is afraid her fate may be the same as Anne's. Because Anne had a name for her diary, Zlata decides to name her's Mimmy.
As I read through this diary, I felt like I was reading the stories of my own people. I couldn't fathom having my normal life ripped at the seams over night. Zlata and her family were starving by winter. They lost water and had to haul it in order to have it on hand. Many times electricity was lost for days and then later rationed to those with priority. Her parents went from a well educated happy couple to thin and terrified. Much of their time was spent hidden in the basement of their apartment building as the shelling raged outside. Family and friends fled the country in order to save themselves. As her early tween years passed, Zlata spent her time in the safer parts of her apartment, mostly her kitchen, or in spotty school attendance when there was no shooting. Where she had once had many friends, language and music lessons, she mostly only had her parents and close neighbors while Bosnia Herzegovina suffered under attack as the 'kids' (politicians) played at their games.
Striking and moving blow by blow of daily life in a war torn country. I would recommend for anyone to read this. Because she was so young, Zlata does not cover the reasons behind the war. She admits not understanding, only wishing for peace. During the same years covered by the diary, I was only a few years older. I cannot remember much from the political history of the time and will be reading more to find out. Having had family leave Yugoslavia in the early 1900's I felt like every picture or detail contained people that could have been me.

Rating 4.5
Rating PG The warring and violence although terrifying to Zlata was not greatly described in horrific detail and therefore not rated R. I would let my 9 year old read this.

The Introvert Advantage How to Thrive in an Extrovert World

The Intorvert Advantage By Marti Olsen Laney Psy.D.

Well I'm here to establish myself as an innie in a world of outies. Yes my belly button is inverted but that's not so much what I mean. I have an introverted personality. This is not news to me but it may be t0 you. I have never felt weird or different or like there is something wrong with me although I have been called stuck up, distant, quiet, shy, rude, conceited, indifferent, the list goes on.

I just picked up this book that has been recommended to me various times. It's about introverted personalities and their difference from extroversion. Extroversion is the most common personality 3 to 1. Most of the world is geared towards extroversion.Jason always says that I hate people. In fact I have probably said the same thing. What is really hate is groups of people. I can tolerate a few very close friends (like 2) and still feel comfortable. After the group spills over about three people I get anxious and quiet and stop talking. Apparently this doesn't sit well with the extroverts.

Introversion versus extroversion has more to do with how each of us regains our energy. Extroverts like to socialize and do exciting things, go out with lots of friends, be with people most of their down time. They expend energy. Introverts need to recharge with alone time, quiet time or time spent with a select few. They conserve energy.

I laughed my way through the book because even though I feel normal and I like my personality trait, I didn't realize that there were many others that felt the same way. I took the quiz, along with Bob, Superman and Princess Mimsy. I am an extreme introvert. The only extrovert tendencies that I scored were testing well, and I don't blank out too often when speaking. Bob is an extreme introvert. Superman is an extreme extrovert (he gets all of his people time teaching, traveling the state, playing ball, and at work). Princess Mimsy is also an extreme extrovert. She would love to have groups of people at our house all of the time. She is unfazed by social conversation and chit chat.

Besides introversion I am also left brained, shy, and sensitive. I know many people think shy and introvert mean the same thing but they don't. There are shy extroverts (too bad for them!). Shyness has more to do with you thinking about other people thinking negatively about you. Sensitivity runs a large gamut.....sound, light, noise, movement, smell, intuition, emotion, weather, temperature.Also sometimes my short term memory is blitzed if I am nervous when hearing something but I have great long term memory and can remember being as young as 1 year old. My testing is not too bad such as multiple choice or essay (many introverts have short term memory issues because of being overwhelmed and have problems with multiple choice testing) because I can usually recall things that I see.....somewhat photographic memory.

I am protective of my quality and quantity time with loved ones. I prefer to be with just one or two friends having meaningful time or conversation. I am Nazi about my alone time with Superman. I do not like it interrupted or sacrificed to other things. I love time spent with just my family. By the end of the day or when I feel incredibly taxed by external events I need to be alone or with just one person. I usually find myself taking a lot of baths and ripping through books when I am highly anxious. It is the way I zone out.

I think many people could probably recognize that I may have introverted tendencies. Lots of people don't believe me when I say that I am shy. And I don't think that I am seen as sensitive. I have learned fairly well in the last 13 years to live in an extrovert world. I can act like an extrovert if I have to, I just don't FEEL like one. I can teach a group, run a convention, be the boss, talk on the phone, go to large gathering. I may get grouchy after a prolonged time though because feeling anxious will eventually lead to that. I keep my sensitivity to myself because as an introvert I do not like being emotional or sharing intuition with many.

So if you find me curled up with a book, not making idle chit chat, or curled up with a book.....I still like you, but you might have to approach first.

My Innie tendencies!.........................
*When I need rest I like time alone or with one or two people. No groups!
* People think I am quiet, aloof, stuck up .......etc .
* I like to share special occasions with one person or a few close friends. No big parties!
* I notice detail.
* I can feel tension between others easily.
* If I say I will do something I will do it. (I thought more people were like this! I was surprised to find out that they aren't.)
* I feel anxious about deadlines or upcoming events. I lose sleep easily.
* I want to go away and zone out when I am overwhelmed.
* I like to watch activities before I join. I have to scope everything out and will generally stand back unless invited. I will almost NEVER invite myself or join without recognition from the group.
* I form lasting relationships.......but with only a few people. I have an easy time letting go of friends or acquaintances that don't take time to understand or like my personality. Because I am sensitive I take it pretty hard but I don 't chase down interaction......probably appears that I am aloof and don't care. In fact I've had that mentioned to me, but I just read a book and it gets all better :)
* I don't like interrupting. This has a lot to do with why I will not make idle social calls (drop by) and why I hate calling people on the telephone.
* I do not like overstimulating environments. I don't like going out on holidays where many others are out. I do not like crowded theaters where you have to sit next to others you don't know. I do not like large parties or dances. Do I go to these things? Yes. I don't like anticipating them but once I am there I'm okay for awhile....especially if I have someone to hang on to.*I have strong reactions to smell, taste, weather, light, movement.......
* I feel drained after social situations even when I really enjoyed them.
* I prefer to be introduced instead of introducing (one of my rude behaviors.....I will almost never introduce.)
* I am grouchy in anticipation of a social event, even ones I want to attend. It drives my family......Superman, crazy.
* I like people in my home but am overwhelmed by numbers and extensive time.
* I HATE making telephone calls.......still do it, getting better, still HATE it.
* I will not show my work or ideas until fully formulated much of the time. Uber perfectionism is a huge downfall of mine.......and I expect the same thing from others.......bad, bad, bad.

I have really enjoyed the book though. I wasn't surprised about what I learned.......I was surprised other people felt the same way. So do yourself if you are introvert, or someone else who is, a favor.....read it! If I were an extrovert parent with an introvert child I would definitely read this before another day passed........you'll be doing them a great service if you understand they can't be like you and they are not unhappy because of their introversion.

Awesome innies.......Einstein, Lincoln, Julia Roberts, Hitchcock, Edison, Piglet.

Are you an innie or an outie?

Rating 5 Super enlightening! Fun to find out the truth.
Rating G

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Dr. Laura's newest book is here just in time to give a boost to all full time mommies. This book is not full of statistics and science, just enough emotion to bring realization that there is nothing and no one that can top mommy love.

Obviously I enjoyed the book because it is upon the foundation of the mother relationship that I have built much of my recent life. Dr. Laura's anecdotal ways illustrates the important role mommy plays in the life of her WHOLE family. I felt like I was getting a big old pat on the back. I know the choice I have made is the right one for my family. Do I need validation from anyone else......even if I like you? NO. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I did however like to commiserate with other people by way of reading this book, that feel the same way. My reasons for staying at home are pure unadulterated selfishness. I will not allow the sweet moments of my family to be grasped by the hands of anyone else. I will receive all of the kisses, the hugs, the laughs and tears. I will receive all of the cuddles and diapers and EVERY piece of laundry. I was born to be a mommy and wife first. I have forever to do something else that doesn't matter to me as much. So thanks Dr. Laura.

Rating 4

Rating G

The Heart of the Five Love Languages

The Heart of the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

This seems like a Cliff's Notes version of The Five Love Languages.........which is what I thought I was buying.........oops didn't see the itty bitty writing on the top that said The Heart of.

This book is a nipped down version of the five love languages. Gary Chapman says these are the ways we receive love. The five languages are; quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service and physical touch. The point is to find out what language of love you speak and which one your spouse speaks. Then you will be better able to show you love each other. (Also applicable to children I assume.......although there is another book for that one too.)Unfortunately I think my love language is quality time......................too bad for me.
I think the longer version of this book would be a great read. It was actually recommend to me by a friend and I have had a hard time finding it through the library. I guess I will have to try again since I am NOT going to buy it now......hmph.
Rating 3.5 I really liked it and I can see that it was more of a quick reminder to the original book. I can see that he is on to something though. I would recommend reading it........or at least the longer version.
Rating PG Obviously it says things about sex because it is mostly about marriage.

Measure of a Man

Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier

This book is subtitled a spiritual autobiography. I suppose that Mr. Poitier means spiritual in the sense of an idea like nature since he can't claim to believe in God unless he is 'up against a wall'.

Sidney was born to Evelyn and Reggie Poitier on Cat Island in the Bahamas. He spent his first ten years on that island. He had interesting stories during this time of his life, like the time he nearly drown in a canal. He seemed to come from a good family. I liked learning about his parents.
When he was ten they moved to Nassau. This is were his life became a little more of the world where before he had lived mostly outside of the world. He went to about two years of school where he learned enough reading to get by. He also made friends. This is where he begins to learn that his skin has a color and that color makes a big difference in the way he lives and in the way people see him.
Later he moves to Miami which he doesn't really like. He finally ditches Miami and takes a bus as far away as he can get, which happens to be New York City. He struggles here. Takes odd jobs, washes dishes. He tries out for a theater group and doesn't make it. He tries again later and does. He marries young and has children. He opens his own rib joint and barely makes it by.
He finally makes it into theater and then movies. He doesn't give great particulars, he just seems to know the right people and make the right moves. He makes movies during the 50's and 60's.......a time of great turmoil for the nation with Vietnam and race movements.
The factual parts of this book are interesting. I wish he would have stuck to that......but this was more theoretical/emotional/Sidney's personal view kind of memoir. Those are the parts I didn't like. He seemed to ramble and sometimes I had to speed read. He swore a lot. Some of it was warranted but a lot he just wanted to sound masculine and tough and it made him sound foul and unimaginative.
Rating 2 I loved the history and the facts. I would have loved to hear more about his life as a black man crossing many of the race lines as an esteemed actor. The parts where he just rambled about his life theories and views I could do without. There was a story in there somewhere but I think it was probably only 50 pages long.
Rating R F bomb many times. I would say only the language lead me to this rating though, otherwise clean.

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He is dying of pancreatic cancer and decides to give a 'last lecture'. He wants to leave some kind of legacy for his very young children and share some of the things he has learned throughout his life.

For a final farewell this book is uplifting. He had some great advice and nuggets of thought to get you thinking of better ways to live out the rest of your days, no matter how many you have.

Rating 4 I enjoyed Pauch's attitude. He was always an adventurer and seemed to get the most out of life. It made me think of ways I could be different find the more joyful aspects of life.

Rating G

Total Money Makeover

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Okay, I know this isn't a novel. I really don't enjoy reading things I have to work at. Dumb kind of. But reading is almost always purely for enjoyment for me. Well guess what? I enjoyed this book. It was FUN to read. Not only did I learn a lot. I loved every minute. Dave Ramsey got me all pumped up about money. I know I was probably snookered by some psychological something.......but so what.
This book is about how to rethink what money means in your life. Everything is broken down into baby steps. You are shown how to get rid of debt and live a life free of the slavery of credit cards, loans, even a home mortgage. Dave honestly and intelligently points out the myths our society lives by as a religion built on money. Then he breaks them down and shows us how they are so wrong. His motto is "Live now like no one else so later you can live like no one else." Meaning if you sacrifice a little now you can live free and wealthy in the years to come. Dave has included worksheets to help with a budget, debt snowball, retirement and showing how much you are BLOWING in interest on your home loan. (Just for kicks I did a financial calculator on his website daveramsey.com and found that if I go haywire on my finances I can retire with 3-8 million dollars. I was feeling pretty good, considering I am po'. And you aren't so nutty with your money that life sucks until you retire.)
There are 7 Baby Steps..........1) $1,000 emergency fund which can go to nothing but dire emergency, not wants. 2) Debt Snowballing , list your debts from smallest to largest and begin by paying off the smallest. Then take the money you were paying on that debt and move it up to the next one. By doing it this way you feel a sense of accomplishment (yay!) and are able to keep going because you see progress. These debts do not include your home loan. 3) Build Emergency Fund. Build up enough money to cover 3-6 months of living expenses. This doesn't mean 3-6 months of income, but 3-6 months of essentials. Probably around $10,000. 4) Invest. Begin investing 15% of your income for retirement. 5)Save for College. He also shows you other ways to pay for college than just forking out the cash. 6) Pay off the mortgage!!! He also cautions never to get into a 30 year mortgage. Try if you can to only lock into a 15 year. 7)Build wealth like crazy........invest and make your money work for you.
I rate this book a 5. I loved the information. I even took notes. Also, it was a great read for me because it was emotional. That is usually what pushes me from a 4 up to a 5, great emotion. The book is also a G. Clean as clean can be. Good for a 3 year old and up. I recommend it to everyone.