Bullet Point Book Reviews

Monday, June 1, 2015

I rarely read self help books. I find few of the self help book I do manage to read useful. This is the exception.

The 5 Choices offers simple rules to categorize work into one of 4 quadrants.
The authors help the reader in identifying the most important work, regardless of urgency.
The examples provided in the book are life-like. Often self help examples are simple and nearly see-through. These aren't. They are like real life and complex.
This book isn't only about what you do in the office, it addresses a balanced life including healthy life style choices.

If you loved The Da Vinci Code and want to experience it all again, this is the book for you.
There is some library/RFID nerd stuff that librarians will appreciate.
The main character is compelling. He is an outcast who wants to make the world a better place.
It is unclear who to trust from the start.
Mid-way through it begins to feel formulaic.
In summary, this is a much belated read-a-like for The Da Vinci Code.

Extremely detailed descriptions and arguments, as is expected by any Dawkins follower.
Specific to the audiobook: two readers are used for the this audiobook, and the text switches between them. Most of the time this is an effective way to highlight types of arguments, but at times can become confusing.
As an American it is refreshing to hear Dawkins take on the foothold creationism has on the American public.
This book does not delicately handle the strong religious beliefs that oppose this belief. As would be expected from Dawkins, his arguments are cutting and convincing.
This is a much needed no holds barred argument for evolution.

This novel is about colliding worlds: ultra-conservative cult-like church members, a rising legal star, a well-intended cop, a struggling alcoholic, and three degenerate brothers.
The isn't a breather in the fast-paced plot.
The novel feels real given recent news headlines.

Labels aren't important. Paying more for an item doesn't mean it will look better, fit better, or be well made.
Tailoring makes a huge difference. We shouldn't expect clothes off the rack to fit our individual bodies perfectly.
I was surprised by the lack of photos. There are some sketches, but the book is nearly exclusively text. This may be an advantage since without pictures the book doesn't capture a specific trend. Instead, the content is timeless and not dated by specific trends.
My main takeaway is that fit matters more than selection.

I can best describe this as a cozy adventure novel. While there is risk, it feels extremely safe.
Character dialogue is overly labored.
Appeals to readers with an interest in historical fiction.
Engages the reader by jumping between past and present day with two separate plots.
Kearlsey manages to romanticize Asperger's Syndrome.

This is essentially a novel about a small town.
Anyone who has lived in a small town will identify with the economic trends at the heart of this novel.
The numerous interconnections of characters is realistic of living in a small town

Overall, this is a comfortable novel about small town life.