Mojo: How to get it, how to keep it, how to get it back if you lose it

Book Club... And Then Some!

Mojo: How to get it, how to keep it, how to get it back if you lose it  
        

by Marshall Goldsmith




Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D. 

“Mojo” is, “That positive spirit toward what we are doing now, that starts from the inside and radiates to the outside.”

In this book, Goldsmith gives readers examples from both business and personal life.

There are four sections in the book: 1) You and your mojo, 2) The building blocks of mojo, 3) Your mojo tool kit, and 4) Connecting inside to outside.

The second section is the most theoretical of these four sections.

I found the third section most useful and practical.  In this section, Goldsmith discusses 14 tools that are both simple and profound: 1) Establish criteria that matter to you, 2) Find out where you are ‘living.’  3) Be the optimist in the room, 4) Take away one thing, 5) Rebuild one brick at a time, 6) Live your mission in the small moments, too, 7) Swim in the blue water, 8) When to stay, when to go, 9) Hello, good-bye, 10) Adopt a metrics system, 11) Reduce this number, 12) Influence up as well as down, 13) Name it, frame it, claim it, and 14) Give your friends a lifetime pass.

The book is clearly written and Goldsmith uses an accessible verbal style, the examples come often and are engaging, valuable, and to the point, the concrete recommendations and tools are solid and alone are worth the price of the book, the simple exercises for improving the workplace (both behavior and productivity) are key elements, and he offers anyone (not just those in business) who wants to be successful—anyone who wants to live a good and happy life—novel, useful, and valuable tools and lessons to achieve their life goals. 

----- 

This book is available from Amazon.com: Mojo: How to get it, how to keep it, how to get it back if you lose it.

The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays

Book Club... And Then Some!





The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays 

Edited by Michele Clarke and Taylor Plimpton
 
Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


I am not a regular reader of any of these writers (John Waters, Calvin Trillin, Chris Radant, Jonathan Ames, Corey Ford, Jay McInerney, Billy Collins, Mark Twain, Robert C. Benchley, S. J. Perelman, Roy Blunt Jr., Lewis Lapham, Daniel Blythe, Scott Horton, Dave Barry, George Plimpton, James Thurber, John Cheever, Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Simic, David Rakoff, Charles Bukowski, Greg Kotis, P.J. O’Rourke, Fiona Maazel, Augusten Burroughs, Alysia Gray Painter, or David Sedaris), although I was familiar with the writing of some of them—whether or not they are some of today’s best humorists or classic writers.  Thus, it wasn’t because of my familiarity that I picked up The Dreaded Feast.

If you are looking for a short book (only 208 pages in 5 1/2 by 7 1/2-inch format) that is well-written and highly entertaining, this is a great choice.  Makes a great gift as well.

Although every story in the book can be found elsewhere, it is highly unlikely anyone would have found most of them, even if they were searching for them.  I found the choices excellent, and even if you did not agree, each is short; thus, that problem can be easily and quickly surmounted.  Writing styles vary, writers from different genres are mixed, and topics, too, vary, but, overall, this is a quick read.

Our family (all 18 of us) get together for all the big holiday celebrations, and we all enjoy (seemingly) getting together, sharing stories, eating food, and playing with the kids.  I’m not saying that ours is an ideal family situation; however, I think it comes pretty close.  But, you don’t have to have the “ideal” to appreciate the stories found here.  As-a-matter-of-fact, if you have something less than the “ideal,” you are likely to find the insights and revelations in this book sufficient enough to make you feel better regarding your own celebrations.
----

Get this book at Amazon.com The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays

You are not a gadget: A manifesto

Book Club... And Then Some!

You are not a gadget: A manifesto 
        

by Jaron Lanier



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

There are at least two characteristics of this book (and Lanier’s approach) of which you should be aware before selecting this as one to read.  First, it is a philosophical rant (a manifesto) (which I enjoyed immensely!) That celebrates humanity by contrasting technology (in all its various forms) with personhood and the limitations that “automatically” take place.  One reviewer at Amazon.com wrote, “Lanier eloquently and passionately refutes this entire mindset [that technology can produce better results than individual perspectives] while demonstrating the subtle, often unforeseen, yet pernicious effects this software design choices have in restricting the ways we are able to think about our relationships to information, the world around us and, most importantly, other people.”

The second characteristic of this book results from Lanier’s technology-driven background.  This book is full of computerese.  One unfamiliar with technology will find this book difficult to comprehend.  One reviewer wrote that the book is “a compilation of jargon filled columns and short bits written for other outlets mashed into a book.”

Despite this, and if you haven’t read Lanier’s work before (as I have not), this is, as another writer on Amazon.com said, “This is the most thought-provoking, human and inspiring critique of the computerized world of information that has yet been written.”

I want to add my own evaluation to these: I found the book interesting, if not fascinating, well-written (easy-to-follow) and wonderfully provocative.  There is so much meat here to digest and absorb, and although I agree with his essential premise, I don’t think it will make any difference at all in the larger scheme of things.  That is, the dehumanization that is occurring and that has taken place already will continue unabated and with complete abandon, and there is nothing that can be done about it except, as Lanier has offered, observe it, detail it, write about it, even rant about it.

Lanier’s reminder is simple, as a reviewer of the book has noted: “ . . . knowledge is much more than information and that being human is something that no machine is meant to approach.”

I highly recommend this book because it forces you to think deeply, and it clearly delineates where the digital world is leading us.    
----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: You are not a gadget: A manifesto. 

Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe

Book Club... And Then Some!

Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe   
        

by Greg M. Epstein



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Greg M. Epstein, humanist chaplain at Harvard University, writes in his introduction, “If you identify as an atheist, agnostic, freethinker, rationalist, skeptic, cynic, secular humanist, naturalist, or deist; as spiritual, apathetic, nonreligious, ‘nothing’; or any other irreligious descriptive, you could probably caount yourself what I call a Humanist” (p. xii).  If you are any one of these, or, perhaps, call yourself a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, or Jew, and enjoy a challenging, interesting, well-written book, then I recommend this one.

The reason this book is such a refreshing read is because Epstein is not at all concerned with whether or not there is a god.  Many other authors have attempted to answer that question.  David K. Chivers writes in his review, “Refreshingly, Greg Epstein starts a step further down along the line of debate. His premise, stated simply, is this; However they got there, there is now a significant portion of the population who simply do not believe in God. And yet most of them (including himself) live what would be thought of by most as perfectly "good" lives, raising their children, taking care of their parents, helping out in the community, and the like. They are people you would like to have as neighbors. So if they don't believe in God, why do they act in this way? Why aren't they all out marauding, looting and pillaging? If not God, what do they believe in?”

Epstein adds, “The point is that as a Humanist, you’d be in distinguished company, along with Thomas Jefferson, John Lennon, Winston Churchill, Margaret Sanger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Voltaire, David Hume, Salman Rushie, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Confucius, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Wole Soyinka, Kurt Vonnegut, Zora Neale Hurston, Mark Twain, Margaret Meade, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Einstein, Darwin, and more than a billion people worldwide” (pp. Xii-xiii).

Epstein defines humanism as “being good without God.  It is above all,” he writes, “an affirmation of the greatest common value we human beings have: the desire to live with dignity, to be ‘good.’  But Humanism is also a warning that we cannot afford to wait until tomorrow or until the next life to be good, because today—the short journey we get from birth to death, womb to tomb—is all we have.  Humanism rejects dependence on faith, the supernatural, divine texts, resurrection, reincarnation, or anything else for which we have no evidence.  To put it another way, Humanists believe in life before death” (p. xiii).  Now, that is something to celebrate!

So, where does Epstein go from here?  There are 225 pages and six chapters; thus, chapters average about 37 pages each.  Here are the chapter titles:

    Chapter 1: Can We Be Good Without God?
        2: A Brief History of Goodness Without God
        3: Why Be Good Without a God?  Purpose and The Plague
        4: Good Without God: A How-To Guide to the Ethics of Humanism
        5: Pluralism: Can You Be Good with God?
        6: Good Without God in Community: The Heart of Humanism

The book flows well, the ideas are sound, the explanations clear, and challenges to your thinking occur often.  If you enjoy a book of substance and strength that offers clear, well-structured arguments this is an excellent choice.

Barbara L. Warren, at Amazon.com, writes, “This is a well-articulated, thought-out, and respectful (of religious people) book. I have read it twice and gained new insights both times. It's comforting to know I'm not alone in my beliefs, while feeling encouraged to act in meaningful ways. The author is a Humanist without animosity or the kind of hatred I so often feel toward those of us who no longer belive in a supernatural, all-powerful being.”

Another reviewer with whom I totally agree, Ryan Rabac, of Orlando, FL, writes,  “Epstein provides a refreshing approach to living a nonreligious lifestyle that doesn't target or simply try to defend other beliefs. I especially appreciated his broad cultural and literary knowledge, including that of Camus, my favorite writer. His writing style is clear and emotionally truthful. He is a real inspiration.”

-----


This book is available from Amazon.com: Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe. 

The male factor: The unwritten rules, misperceptions, and secret beliefs of men in the workplace

Book Club... And Then Some!

The male factor: The unwritten rules, misperceptions, and secret beliefs of men in the workplace   
        

by Shaunti Feldhahn



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

The bottom line of Feldhahn’s 308-page book is: be aware of your workplace behavior and how it might be perceived.  

Feldhahn is a bestselling author (her books have sold two million copies and have been translated into fifteen different languages copies).  Two of her other books are called For Women Only and For Men Only. She is a nationally syndicated columnist and holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University (from the back flyleaf).

Since I am not a woman in the workplace, I wanted to see how women perceive Feldhahn’s book.  Here is what I came up with:

V. Blankenship writes, “As a woman living in a house full of men, husband and 5 sons, and just entering the workforce for the first time in 20 years, I was completely enthralled by this book. Shaunti Feldhahn definitely gets into the male psyche and reveals things that all women need to know, especially women in the workforce today. Its an eye opening, thought provoking read that really makes you think twice about the male/female relationship in the public work place today.”

Kimberly Martinez, of Seattle, WA, writes the following: “This book is not just terrific, it was incredibly needed. Most of us want to be the best we can be at what God has called us to - sometimes we need new tools. Many years ago, there was a book - Mars and Venus in the Workplace. It kind of did what this book does, but it was written by a man.

“Shaunti has done so much empirical research in order to put this book together. If you ever wanted to know what men really think, this book will tell you. Better than that, this book will give you the tools to help men hear what you are really trying to say without any male/female cultural noise messing up the communication loop. “

Connie Y. Mishali, writes, “Shaunti Feldhahn has done a lot of research to get inside the male psyche to figure out what men think and feel in the workplace, what unwritten codes of conduct they live by, how they perceive women in general and their actions in the workplace, and what women can and should do in order to succeed in their careers.

“The information Shaunti has compiled is sometimes surprising, sometimes almost unbelievable, and always helpful! This book is a must-read for every career or business-minded woman. Incidentally, its insights will also help you with your marriage and friendships because you will have a greater understanding of what men experience at work.”

J. Guyer writes, “This is a valuable book for woman in the workplace. Based on surveys and interviews with men about the unwritten rules and expectations that rule the business world, it gives women a tool to better navigate what can seem like a foreign culture. The insights learned from this book can also be eye opening and helpful for women in general in understanding how men think and view women and the world. The Christian version offers a chapter on applying these findings with a Biblical world view toward interacting with others.”

Most of the Amazon.com reviews were favorable.  A number of reviewers pointed out the length of the book (said it could be shorter), and some noted, too, that it read like a textbook and was difficult to get through.  I found it a bit long, but the research used is interesting, the insights were useful (especially for those new in the business world or for those planning to go into the business world), and the viewpoints are valuable for both males and females.  I became a bit tired of reading this book, but that is why I chose to quote so many reviews above — since I am not in business, have never been in business, and have no plans to go into business.  Those facts can make a difference in how easy this book is to navigate.
 
----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: The male factor: The unwritten rules, misperceptions, and secret beliefs of men in the workplace. 

The genius in all of us: Why everything you’ve been told about genetics, talent, and IQ is wrong

Book Club... And Then Some!

The genius in all of us: Why everything you’ve been told about genetics, talent, and IQ is wrong 
        

by David Shenk


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

For a 302-page book, this is an amazingly short one, and here’s why.  The “Sources and Notes, Clarifications and Amplifications” section is 140-pages long!  140 pages!!!  Then there is a 20-page “Bibliography,” and there is no index.  So, the book ends with a 1 1/2-page “Epilogue,” on page 134!  There are ten chapters; thus, average chapter length is about 13 pages.

Despite its brevity, this is an amazingly interesting, very well written, captivating through stories and anecdotes, seemingly accurately explained and described, and thoroughly documented book. 

All those who might be interested in purchasing this book should be advised to read the reviews at Amazon.com.  Todd Stark’s (from Philadelphia, PA), writes (as part of his review): “In deconstructing talent, Shenk leaves no room to think about what little the scandalously politically incorrect Galton, Spearman, and Terman might have somehow gotten right, what stable developmental trajectories genes might actually provide us under a wide range of environments, and what sorts of things the people Shenk cites favorably might actually disagree with him about.”  Be sure to look at Stark’s list of additional readings while you are there. 

Then, there is Kevin Currie-Knight from Newark, Delaware, who writes (as part of his review), “WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! It is true, of course, that studies deal with groups and averages, not individuals and specifics. But, this does not mean that studies can't be generalized, as that is the whole point of studies with controls on variables, sufficient sample sizes, etc.”

M. A. Glenn, of Santa Cruz Mountains, CA, writes: “Shenk's premise is that there are no geniuses, there are no exceptional people, we just have to work at developing the talent that is latent in all of us. He relies on a marginal branch of genetics that holds that genes don't have much to do with our natural endowments. We are all mostly the same and factors other than our genes shape us. Hence, no need to discuss nature vs. nurture because it's all nurture. 

"No doubt, hard work and drive are important, but Shenk never addresses the source of this hard work and drive. Could it be part of one's genetic makeup? No, Shenk is convinced that genes have little to do with talent and achievement. He uses this premise to attack IQ, the Bell Curve, genius, talent, and even Ayn Rand. Incredible! Of course, if there are no exceptions, then we, as individuals, are not only equal under the law, but equal in all ways. The subtext is that individuality and merit are old notions that we must move beyond. How democratic! I hated it at summer camp when everyone was a winner. Competition drives us and pushes us to our inherited limits. 

"Most troubling is the logical inconsistency in Shenk's argument: if genes play little role in achievement, then what about natural selection. His handling of the Kenyan runners is laughable. After centuries of natural selection to run faster, Shenk concludes that we don't know that genes have anything to do with it. Unanswered, of course, is how this idea relates to such hot topics as homosexuality. If this is gene determined,w hy the exception? If this is part of Shenk's theory, then is he really saying that homosexuality is learned? He's stays far away from any unpopular implication of his premise. This is a shallow, PC argument for mediocrity and a not so subtle attack on individual achievement, written by a popularizer with little, if any, education in the subject. 

"If we just work hard enough, and follow Shenk's suggestions, we might become a mid-life Mozart. Wrong. There is greatness and, yes, you have to inherit the basic stuff for greatness, such as long legs for jumping, before you can practice your way to stardom. If Shenk had been born with talent, it would not have taken him three years to write this thin polemic. Footnoted, but, so what? A waste of time.”

Brazen999, from Florida, writes: “This book sells hope to those that don't measure up genetically and those that wish everyone did measure up genetically. The book can be summed up as "You can do it!", said in the style of Rob Schneider. But he makes a whole mess of oxymoronic and contradictory claims to push that message through though.”

R. M. Smith, another reviewer of the book at Amazon.com, writes, “Sometimes journalists can make sense of complex scientific topics and sometimes they can't. Unfortunately, in this book, David Shenk falls into the latter category. "The Genius in All of Us" is another example of the romantic fantasy that is gripping some realms of popular psychology and all of public education at the moment (think No Child Left Behind). Yes, human nature is plastic, but it is not as yielding as Shenk would like us to believe. In the real world, our genomes impose tighter constraints. For instance, I doubt that David Shenk has an IQ of 85 which he has re-worked through 10,000 hours of writing practice culminating in the publication of a book.”

Now, I don’t want to suggest that all the reviews of this book at Amazon.com are negative as the above selections would indicate.  There are a total (at this writing) of 34 reviews with an average customer rating of four stars out of five.  But, what these reviews indicate is significant.  Some of the positive reviews are rather superficial and don’t look below the surface.  I feel, when you read the complete reviews of those who give the book a negative review (and I have been incredibly selective in the portions I have quoted above), they have some serious—and some quite in-depth—concerns.

If you want a quick-read motivational book, this is a good one to choose, after all, David Shenk’s bottom line is a simple one: all people can do better by working harder.  Who can deny that? — scientific evidence or not!
----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: The genius in all of us: Why everything you’ve been told about genetics, talent, and IQ is wrong.

The Art of Choosing

Book Club... And Then Some!

The Art of Choosing            

by Sheena Iyengar



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Sheena Iyengar is the S.T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia University.  This is important to know because, at the outset, it reveals the degree of research, citations, and qualifications you will get throughout the book.  Ivengar does not disappoint.

In this 329-page book, there is a 12-page index, 16-page bibliography, 22-page section of notes, and 7 pages of acknowledgments—leaving 268 pages of content.  There are seven chapters plus an epilogue, with chapters averaging about 36 pages in length.  I mention this simply to call to your attention the denseness of this book.  It is full of substance, to say the least, but it is readable and full of interesting stories.

To give you an example of Ivengar’s writing style, I offer this from the, “Past Is Prologue,” opening section of the book:

        “In 1971, my parents emigrated from India to America by way of Canada.  Like so many before them, when they landed on the shores of this new country and a new life, they sought the American Dream.  They soon found out that pursuing it entailed many hardships, but they persevered.  I was born into the dream, and I think I understood it better than my parents did, for I was more fluent in American culture.  In particular, I realized that the shining thing at its center—so bright you could see it even if you, like me, were blind—was choice.
        “My parents had chosen to come to this country, but they had also chosen to hold on to as much of India as possible.  They lived among other Sikhs, followed closely the tenets of their religion, and taught me the value of obedience.  What to eat, wear, study, and later on, where to work and whom to marry—I was to allow these to be determined by the rules of Sikhism and by my family’s wishes. . . “ (p. xi).

And, as useful as her background is when considering how she decided to pursue her study of “choice,” is her description of her book:

        “Each of the following seven chapters will look at choice from a different vantage point and tackle various questions about the way choice affects our lives.  Why is choice powerful, and where does its power come from?  Do we all choose in the same way?  What is the relationship between how we choose and who we are?  Why are we so often disappointed by our choices, and how do we make the most effective use of the tool of choice?  How much control do we really have over our everyday choices?  How do we choose when our options are practically unlimited?  Should we ever let others choose for us, and if yes, who and why?  Whether or not you agfree with my opinions, suggestions, and conclusions—and I’m sure we won’t always see eye to eye—just the process of exploring these questions can help you make more informed decisions” (p. xiii).

I found the book insightful, informative, interesting, and valuable—but it is also very long.  You really must want to know the answers to the questions Iyengar raises and have an overpowering interest in the subject, “choice” because, whether you like it or not, and despite the many wonderful stories she shares, Iyengar is an academic, and she writes like one.

J. Powell, of Brooklyn, New York, writes this as his review of Iyengar’s book at Amazon.com:   “This is a very good book that really requires a lot of introspection, and a high level of reading comprehension.

For myself anyway, this is not light beach reading that you can blow through, but an interesting, deeply reflective tool that will help you understand yourself and others just a little bit better.

The author uses numerous scientific studies from industry and her own studies and observations to bolster her work.

The book helps the reader take a more global perspective on how various cultures and our upbringing help to influence how and why we make certain choices.

Very good book.”

John Laughlin, of Frederick, Maryland, writes, “I came across this book while doing extensive reading in Behavioral Economics. It is truly excellent. Not only does it fill in some holes on the "business" side of choice, but -- more importantly -- it adds considerable depth to the area of "personal" choice, which is lacking in most economics-focused books.

The power of the author's insights become even more apparent when the book is read in conjunction with books like Blink, Outliers and The Long Tail (all of which the author refers to).

The book is especially helpful for those of us in the US who have limited experience with the cultures of other countries in which choice is less valued and more curtailed. Finally, anyone who is coping with end-of-life decisions will appreciate the final chapter on choosing your own end of life.”

I think these two reviews will help you make your decision as to whether or not this is the right book for you.  I agree with both of these reviews.  

----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: The Art of Choosing. 

Power of 2: How to make the most of your partnerships at work and in life

Book Club... And Then Some!

Power of 2: How to make the most of your partnerships at work and in life         

by Rodd Wagner and Gale Muller


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

One of the reasons this book caught my attention was simply that I have written extensively on interpersonal communication—relationship partnering.  My Understanding Interpersonal Communication college textbook (designed for freshmen and sophomore students) went through seven editions, and had this book become available during any of that time, it certainly would have been used throughout that book as a competent, highly relevant, well-written addition.  I used sections from books like this one in my “Consider This” boxes scattered in all the chapters.

One of the strengths of this book is their use of original Gallup polling research to identify “the dimensions of partnership.”  The authors “analyzed the responses of thousands of people in search of the variables that are best at differentiating between a great partnership and a poor one.  People from all walks of life scored their working relationships with their coworkers, fellow volunteers, other students, managers, and hundreds of others with whom they regularly interact[ed]” (p. 7).

The research the authors conducted reveal eight elements of a powerful partnership: 1) complementary strengths, 2) a common mission, 3) fairness, 4) trust, 5) acceptance, 6) forgiveness, 7) communicating, and 8) unselfishness (pp. 28-30).  Brief definitions and explanations are offered in the introduction to the book, then there is a separate full chapter on each one with a final chapter, “In Closing: Looking Within,” summarizing them.  There is a section “Additional Insights for Businesspeople,” and an appendix, “How the Gallup Research Was Conducted.”

Let me, through a quotation from the book and the chapter on “Communicating,” provide an example of their writing as well as a demonstration of the power that partnerships offer (as revealed, of course, throughout the book):

        “To solve the puzzle [trying to find the structure of DNA], required a tremendous amount of conjecture.  The ability to bounce ideas off each other proved to be the principal strength of the collaboration between [Francis] Crick and [James D.] Watson.  The American admired that Crick ‘never stops talking and thinking.’  The two men ate lunch together almost every day.  Afterward, they would exchange ideas while strolling along the grounds [at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, where Crick was already working].  They shared coffee in the mornings and tea in the afternoons.  When the group in Cavendish was offered an extra room, two of Watson and Crick’s colleagues announced they were going to give it to them ‘so that you can talk to each other without disturbing the rest of us’” (p. 147).

The demands that great partnerships require of each participant are extreme and well described in the chapter, “Looking Within,” toward the end of the book.

The stories and anecdotes are arresting, the writing style is straightforward, comfortable, and engaging, and the insights, research, and substance of the book make this a “must read” selection for everyone involved in, interested in, or moving into an essential and necessary partnership.  All those who are beginning a relationship should read this book as well.  A great book!
----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: Power of 2: How to make the most of your partnerships at work and in life. 

It’s not rocket science and other irritating modern cliches

Book Club... And Then Some!

It’s not rocket science and other irritating modern cliches


by Clive Whichelow and Hugh Murray


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
 
This is a 5-inch by 7 1/4th-inch, 194-page book full of cliches and their explanations.

There are general cliches as well as cliches from the arenas of the media, entertainment, commercial, and business, and those in the political, and social areas, too.

I loved Whichelow and Murray’s first two sentences of the introduction to the book: “Over 50 years ago the film producer Samuel Goldwyn said, ‘Let’s have some new cliches!’  Well we’ve got shedloads of new cliches—and then some!”  Do you see why I like the first two sentences so much?  No, it’s not the substitution of “shedloads” for a much racier way of saying the same thing.  It’s the last three words: “and then some”
—the name of my publishing company!

Do you want to know what I find most fascinating about this collection?  Being a writer, I am 1) amazed at how many of these cliches I recognize, and 2) how many of these cliches I have used (or continue using), and 3) how many cliches I have never heard.  Now, it must be understood that this book was produced in England; thus, there would be some that are particular to Great Britain.

I have never heard of “gobsmacked” which means surprised, “but perhaps to about the power of ten” (p. 28), “(I nearly) choked on my cornflakes” (p. 14), “going pear-shaped” (p. 29), “schadenfreude” which means “delight in other people’s misfortunes” (p. 86), “z-list celebrities” (p. 100), “shoot the puppy” which means “to consider the most extreme and controversial course of action” (pp. 136-137), “beggars belief” which is “often used by opposition politicians to express their complete astonishment at some piece of government incompetence” (p. 149), and “ring-fence” the building of “dirty great, probably electric, fences around [money] . . . to stop themselves [from getting to it]” (p. 161).

Here is what’s interesting about the list in the previous paragraph: it consists of very few words out of hundreds listed in the book.  In other words, the authors have, indeed, selected highly recognizable, common (by definition) cliches that most readers will recognize.  That makes the book fun, entertaining, and (at least a little bit) informative.

This is an enjoyable, short read.  
----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: It’s not rocket science and other irritating modern cliches.

Intellectuals and Society

Book Club... And Then Some!

Intellectuals and Society
 

by Thomas Sowell




Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This is a 398-page book with 50-pages of notes.

I found this book repetitive, deep, verbose, complex, and extremely difficult in holding my attention.  To provide readers of my reviews a fair shake, I quote here from reviews provided at Amazon.com.

The following are the ideas Sowell covers in this book:
    1: Intellect and Intellectuals
    2: Knowledge and Notions
    3: Intellectuals and Economics
    4: Intellectuals and Social Visions
    5: Optional Reality in the Media and Academia
    6: Intellectuals and the Law
    7: Intellectuals and War
    8: Intellectuals and War: Repeating History
    9: Intellectuals and Society

Robert Kirk of Rancho Cucamonga, CA), wrote the following review of Sowell’s book at Amazon.com, and I’d like to say that it perfectly reflects my feelings about the book: “. . . It's by far his [Sowell's] most difficult book to read because it's subject matter is a bit scattered. However, Mr. Sowell does what many can't do, he makes you think and question ‘conventional wisdom.’ Be prepared to slow down a bit while reading this one since it is a bit more dense than his other books.  It is well worth the effort.”

Callidus Asinus, at Amazon.com, writes this about Sowell’s book: “In his book, Sowell examines the influence intelligentsia (which he defines as all persons who make their living off the production of ideas). Within the class of intelligentsia, Sowell includes such people as university faculty and the media. He excludes people with mentally demanding jobs such as doctors, lawyers and engineers because these people, unlike intellectuals rely on the empirical verifiability of their ideas and practices to survive economically.

Sowell asserts that intellectuals generally have a negative effect on society because their ideas are not subject to the same empirical verification as doctors, lawyers and engineers. Because of this, they can make claims or sweeping judgments on society which they lack the qualifications to make (he cites examples of people such as literature professors making condemnations of the capitalist system without any prior training in economics). Furthermore, he shows that when the ideas of intellectuals are shown to be verifiably wrong, they loose no credibility, and usually use their verbal skills to avoid admitting their errors.”

This lack of accountability among intellectuals causes problems when they begin to sway public opinion in favor of their policies (which are often counterproductive). He cites examples such as the pacifist sentiment in pre-WWII Britain and France which prevented them from taking any aggressive action on Hitler until he had already built up his military. And now we get to the central theme of Sowell's book, which is to have a healthy suspicion of the ideas propagated by intellectuals to mitigate their sway over public opinion. In a democratic nation such as ours, this is an essential quality for the citizens to have so that they can cast their votes more wisely.”

Mindy Rader, at Amazon.com, writes, “Thomas Sowell is a strong critic of intellectuals, traditional and modern, European and American. He specifically discusses definitions of intellectuals and gives us a better understanding of those intellectuals who have for better or worse, had a major influence on society in United States history. He talks about philosophers, government leaders, progressives and intellectual activists. We can learn from the ideas of all those highly respected intellectuals who throughout history have positioned themselves politically on the right or left. The ideas of these scholars, including those of Sowell, are important as they have shaped culture and society. All in all, Sowell's book is interesting and understandable.”

Several reviewers took Sowell to task for concentrating so heavily on liberal intellectuals with whom he disagreed, and if you already know (before reading him) his politics, then you will have some idea of what to expect.  One reviewer even suggested that Sowell should have titled his book, “Liberal Intellectuals and Society.”  I tend to agree. 

----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: Intellectuals and Society

Wisdom: From philosophy to neuroscience

Book Club... And Then Some!

Wisdom: From philosophy to neuroscience    

by Stephen S. Hall


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
 
This is a 333-page book with a 14-page index, 15-page bibliography, 23-page section of notes, and a 5-page acknowledgments section.  This makes it 272-pages of content.  There is nothing negative in noting this; however, be aware that this (comparatively speaking) is a large book.

The front flyleaf clarifies the content: “[The book] is a dramatic history of wisdom, from its sudden emergence in four different locations (Greece, China, Israel, and India) in the fifth century B.C. to its modern manifestations in education, politics, and the workplace.  We learn how wisom became the provenance of philosophy and religion through its embodiment in individuals such as Buddha, Confucius, and Jesus; how it has consistently been a catalyst for social change; and how revelatory work in the last fifty years by psychologists, economists, and neuroscientists has begun to shed light on the biology of cognitive traits long associated with wisdom—and in doing so, has begun to suggest how we might cultivate it.”

There are three parts.  The first discusses the definition of wisdom, the second, eight neural pillars of wisdom, and the third, becoming wise.  The 15 chapters give you a better idea of how well the book relates to people’s lives (after the first three on philosophical and psychological roots): the art of coping, establishing value, judging right from wrong, the biology of loving-kindness and empathy, the gift of perspective, social justice, fairness, and the wisdom of punishment, temptation and delayed gratification, change, the wisdom of aging, and everyday wisdom.

There is a great deal of substance in this book, and clearly it is not of the “pop-psych” variety—full of cute quips, lively anecdotes, and suggestions for improvement and change.  On the other hand, you get an extremely well-written, easy-to-follow book, that includes great illustrations, many historical references and stories, the incorporation of interesting and relevant recent research, insights and revelations that only a science writer like Hall would not just understand but digest and make palatable for readers, and a fascinating—maybe even a landmark—examination of a topic relevant to everyone.

What Hall delivers is interesting discourse, as witnessed when he talks about the content of his book: “The world doesn’t need another book about neuroeconomics, and this doesn’t plan on being one.  But a lot of recent research in neuroeconomics and (in a broader sense) social neuroscience—including related fields like cognitive neuroscience, behavioral psychology, moral philosophy, and the like—strikes me as an immensely fertile area to till for fresh new insights into the nature of wisdom” (p. 16).

Dr. Vivian Clayton offers this excellent review of Hall’s book on Amazon.com: “Stephen Hall's book on Wisdom manages to integrate the empirical research that's been conducted over the last thirty-five years in a style and convivial manner that has eluded the scientific community. I felt the book delivered on its promise: it offered much information about the ways we go about making complex life decisions. It reflected honestly on the real life shortcomings of people who have always been perceived as wise historically, such as Solomon. In my opinion, the best part of the book was delivered by offering examples of how adopting a wisdom based approach can affect how things are done in settings such as the classroom and the boardroom.

This is not a ‘How to be wise’ manual. If you like labyrinths, and recognize that many paths can lead to the center of things, this is the book for you. Like many portraits in an art gallery, you will find yourself pausing at various junctures to look more carefully at this or that quality of wisdom - be it patience, humility or compassion. Fortunately, there is no 'closing time' to this gallery. At the end of my visit, I personally felt a sense of gratitude that a writer could capture such an illusive topic without diminishing its potential for further study in matters both personal and societal.”

With all of this information it should be easy now to know whether this book would be one that would interest you.  I found it wonderful, interesting, insightful, and full of valuable information seldom found elsewhere. 

----- 
This book is available from Amazon.com: Wisdom: From philosophy to neuroscience.

Everyone communicates, few connect: What the most effective people do

Book Club... And Then Some!

Everyone communicates, few connect: What the most effective people do differently 
        

by John C. Maxwell


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

When I lectured to freshmen and sophomore students at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) for more than 22 years (over 80,000 students), about communication, I taught it as a life skill—an essential skill necessary for everything students wanted to do in their lives.  If they couldn’t communicate, they would find it difficult to cope at work, home, school, and in their relationships.  I felt the same way when I wrote the book, Communicating Effectively, now going into its 10th edition.  It is, indeed, these facts that drew me to Maxwell’s book in the first place.

As a side note: I was not—in my lecturing—what Maxwell described as a self-centered teacher, whose philosophy he described as:
            Ram it in—jam it in,
            Students’ heads are hollow.
            Cram it in—slam it in,
            There is more to follow.
I am certain there are some students of the many to whom I lectured, who feel—probably to this day—that that was exactly my philosophy!  You can’t, after all, win them all!

Maxwell has an informed and engaging approach.  He uses the methods in writing this book that he explains in the book itself.

Because of the practical, specific, and well-described suggestions he makes, people who have the desire to improve their communication skills will definitely improve.  Too often, I found during my teaching career, people believe they already communication well (if not well enough).  It is those same people who would/will find little need for this book, let along any book on communication.

Maxwell writes about the basic essentials of effective communication.  It is the foundation or cornerstone of effectiveness, and in today’s world where messages and information (along with the characteristics of effectiveness and accuracy) are absolutely necessary, and where being an effective leader is a given, this book offers surprising, rewarding, practical information for anyone interested in improving his or her communication skills.

Maxwell says it well: “If you are responsible for leading people or communicating with others, it is especially vital for you to find ways to recharge” (p. 91).  This book can be a vital aid in your re-charging.
  
----- 

Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II

by Edgar E. Willis


Book Review by Marlene C. Francis.


 
Edgar E. Willis has written an excellent memoir about his experience in World War II.  Called Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform (what a great title!), the book describes Edgar’s years and adventures in “the strange new world” of the U.S. Navy.  Edgar was a flight director on the battle cruiser Alaska which saw service in the Pacific, including the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  The book has chapters on those battles as well as stories about officer indoctrination and training, shore duty, standing watch, disciplining sailors, and dealing with apparently irrational navy rules and regulations.  This memoir does more than just describe what happened; it includes personal detail and Edgar’s own judgments.  For example, he describes and names the good captain who was as considerate of the crew as he was an effective leader, and the bad captain whose arbitrary decisions made life miserable for the sailors and who himself couldn’t even steer the ship straight (he was promoted to rear admiral and left the ship, to the relief of the crew).  Whether you know the author or not, you will hear his voice through his stories, some funny, some sad, all full of rich detail about navy life as experienced by an “unreconstructed civilian.”

I loved reading this book, and I am sure it will be enjoyed by anyone who served in the military during wartime, students of America’s role in World War II, and those interested in U.S. history.  High school and college students will appreciate the personal stories that bring alive some critical years of our country’s history.  The book is available on Amazon.com, and if you want more information about the book or about Dr. Willis, you can visit his website at edgarewillis.com.

-----
These books are available from Amazon.com: Everyone communicates, few connect: What the most effective people do differently.  Civilian in an ill-fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II.

The Waxman report: How congress really works

Book Club... And Then Some!

The Waxman report: How congress really works  
     

by Henry Waxman (with Joshua Green)



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Waxman’s introduction to his book, which chronicles the April 14, 1994, hearings on the American tobacco industry and tobacco’s dangers (provided in detail in Chapter 9, “The Tobacco Wars”) gives but a hint—albeit a valuable one—about what is to come in his book and how stories like this one can effectively hold the reader’s attention.

Waxman (and Green’s) prose is described accurately by one of his reviewers as “swift and penetrating, and a pleasure.”

Although this book is a political autobiography, it is not the usual kind.  This one, instead, explains the five different laws Waxman worked on (HIV/AIDS and the Ryan White Act, the Orphan Drug Act, the Clean Air Act, Nutrition Labeling and Dietary Supplements, and Pesticides and Food), and the two major oversight investigations of which he was part (the tobacco wars and steroids and major league baseball).  This focus allows Waxman not only to highlight some of the most important health and safety issues of the past 30 years, but to clearly and vividly explain the give and take (horse trading) that goes on in Congress, the obstinate and immovable personalities that are always present, and some of the legislative tricks necessary to get legislation passed.

There is drama, as well as corruption and cynicism.  There is legislative craftsmanship, too, and no matter your political persuasion, here is a template for anyone who has a true interest in making the government serve the people, making the laws of Americans better, and making government—and its elected officials—take responsibility for their actions.

Waxman’s book is highly informative, insightful, interesting, well-written, and a true pleasure to read. 

-----

This book is available from Amazon.com: The Waxman report: How congress really works

Your brain at work: Strategies for overcoming distraction, regaining focus, and working smarter all day long

Book Club... And Then Some!

Your brain at work: Strategies for overcoming distraction, regaining focus, and working smarter all day long  

by David Rock



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
 
This is a 286-page book with 22 1/2 pages of notes.

Rock writes the following about the purpose of his book: “This book will help you work smarter, be more focused and productive, stay cool under pressure, reduce the length of meetings, and even tackle the hardest challenge of all: influencing other people.  Along the way it may help you be a better parent and partner, and perhaps even live longer” (p. xi).

The real value of the book—beyond the practical suggestions and ideas—is the scientific research Rock uses to support his various courses of change.  It is certainly sufficient to convince you that Rock’s ideas are sound and the changes you can make will work.

The fun of this book comes from the way Rock approaches his content.  He presents it as a story: “This story involves two characters, Emily and Paul, as they experience a set of challenges over a single day at work.  As you watch Emily and Paul,” Rock writes, “go through their day, some of the smartest neuroscientists in the world will explain why they struggle with their email, schedules, and colleagues.  Even better, you will also get to see what Emily and Paul might have done differently if they’d understood their brains better” (p. xii).

So we have here a four act play.  The first act, “Problems and Decisions,” has six scenes, and they are activities most readers will find commonplace: being overwhelmed by emails, projects that hurt to think about them, juggling five things at once, saying no to distractions, searching for the zone of peak performance, and getting past roadblocks.

The second act, “Stay Cool Under Pressure,” includes three scenes: being derailed by drama, drowning amid uncertainty, and when expectations get out of control.

The third act, “Collaborate with Others,” includes three scenes: turning enemies into friends, when everything seems unfair, and the battle for status.

The fourth act, “Facilitate Change,” includes two scenes: when others lose the plot and the culture that needs to transform.

Notice throughout that the scenes are experiences with which we can all closely identify.  There is a great deal of information in each chapter, and each chapter includes a section at the end, “Surprises About the Brain,” and another entitled, “Some Things to Try.”

Wendy Ulrich, author of, The Why of Work: How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win, writes the following about Rock’s book: “As a psychologist with a business background, I found this book extremely worth the read. It is not that often that I get a personal ah-ha from a book these days, but this one did the job. I learned several things that were personally extremely helpful and that gave me very specific ideas about how to work more effectively, understand how to work with others better, and stay out of common work traps. I found the style as well as the science approachable and useful. I'll be buying this one for family members and talking about it with friends. Well worth the read.”

I found the information in Rock’s book both interesting and attention-grasping, the suggestions practical and valuable, the revised scenarios (from what Emily and Paul chose to do in the original scenario) excellent, on point, insightful, and worth considering.  This book has the potential of changing many things in your life. 
 -----


This book is available from Amazon.com: Your brain at work: Strategies for overcoming distraction, regaining focus, and working smarter all day long.

Brain sense: The science of the senses and how we process the world around us

Book Club... And Then Some!

Brain sense: The science of the senses and how we process the world around us         

by Faith Hickman Brynie



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
 
This is a 274-page book with 26 pages of notes, two-and-one half pages of “Recommended Resources,” an eight-page index, and a 15-page “Appendix,” on the brain and the nervous system.  The point: the book is to be taken seriously.

There are 218 pages of content and 30 chapters; thus, each chapter averages about 7.3 pages long

Brynie explains her book in the preface: “It’s part memoir because it’s my opportunity to reminisce about some things I’ve learned from science and from life.  It’s part investigative reporting because I’ve delved into the work of some cutting-edge researchers who are designing clever experiments to gain answers to questions that we didn’t even know how to ask a decade ago.  It’s part biography because I want you to know—as I have come to know—what real scientists are like as they work in real labs on real questions that have never before been answered.  It’s part textbook because basic knowledge about how our senses work is important to everyone.  It’s part history because we can’t appreciate where we’re going if we don’t value where we’ve been.  It’s part newspaper because it contains some of the late-breaking stories that are making headlines on a daily basis.  It’s part travel journal because I invite you to fly with me as I visit working neuroscientists . . . . It’s part personality profiles because the scientists I met and talked with are intriguing people, doing interesting work and living full and satisfying lives . . .” (p. xiv).  She also adds that her book is a tribute to courage and to some wonderful people . . . and, too, a love letter to science and scientists.

Here is a warning to future readers of this book: It is so full of interesting details, fascinating anecdotes, findings that you will have trouble believing, personal insights and revelations, as well as a wealth of information about the way your brain works, that you will have trouble putting the book down.  The trouble is: it all relates to us personally and intimately.  I absolutely devoured Brynie’s every word.  (But I have to offer a caveat here: I studied science for five years as a pre-med student thinking he was going into medicine as a career; thus, I have more than just a simple curiosity about the kinds of things Brynie discusses.)

Annie, a neurology nurse, wrote the following as part of her review of Brynie’s book at Amazon.com: “So, while you're getting the latest and greatest on sensory research, you also somehow come out of it with a lot more than you already knew about the fundamentals of the brain. I do this for a living, and I was still discovering new things on almost every page. I think this is a great recommendation for students, families of people with brain injuries, or just about anybody with a passion for discovering what those crazy scientists have come up with now.”

Well-written, down-to-earth, practical, and yet full of wonderfully interesting substance, this is a valuable book that is just plain fun to read.
-----


This book is both available from Amazon.com: Brain sense: The science of the senses and how we process the world around us

Monday Morning Motivation: Five Steps to Energize Your Team, Customers, and Profits

Book Club... And Then Some!

Monday Morning Motivation: Five Steps to Energize Your Team, Customers, and Profits          

by David Cottrell



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


It appears from the front of this book that this is the sixth book in Cottrell’s “Monday Morning” series.  The five steps he discusses in this 176-page small book are synchronization, speed, communication, customer passion, and integrity.  Prior to discussing these topics, he explains the use of the formula E=mc2—in which E represents energy, m represents mass, and c represents the square of the speed of light in a vacuum.  .He uses it to help explain his “Leadership Energy Equation,” motivation, and the positive energy required to empower people to achieve their targets.

This book, says the author, “is a blueprint showing how successful organizations and their leaders use energy to drive individual motivation in order to survive and thrive in any economic condition” (p. 6).  He goes on to say, “The techniques offered in this book will provide you with the necessary tools to harness the energy of your organization, move it to higher levels of achievement, and emerge from any economic condition stronger and more resilient” (p. 6).

Each chapter ends with discussion questions and blanks that you can fill in to apply the chapter’s content to your own specific business or organization.  This is clearly designed to be used as a workbook, and what Cottrell would like to see is business associates (or teams) getting together on Monday mornings—for the course of the book—to discuss the chapters and write specific ideas to accomplish what he writes about.

The book is well written, the examples are short and to the point, the content appears to be on target (simple and easy to understand), the questions at the end of chapters are useful, and the suggestions Cottrell makes for improving organizations appear sound, practical, and easy to apply.  I think this would be an interesting and useful book for business associates or teams to use, and the idea of gathering on a series of Monday mornings to discuss the topics using the questions, and suggest ways the organization can improve, would be a great way to bring people together, help people move forward with specific guidelines and ideas, and build coherence and unity. 

----- 

This book is both available from Amazon.com: Monday Morning Motivation: Five Steps to Energize Your Team, Customers, and Profits

Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

Book Club... And Then Some!

Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle         

by Chris Hedges



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

“The sky is falling, the sky is falling,” said Chicken Little.  In Hedges’ book, one reviewer—Jiang Xuequin of Toronto, Canada, says, “Chris Hedges writes in the lucid and cogent manner of a powerful intellectual who has become disgusted and contemptuous, angry and frustrated at the lame and stupid culture he finds himself suddenly imprisoned in.  Unfettered market capitalism, corporate interests, and America’s oligarch have conspired to create a ‘brave new world’ of lies and stupidity that everyone hold dearly to be truth and wisdom.”  Now, doesn’t that just sound like Chicken Little—"’The sky is falling,’ has passed into the English language,” says Wikipedia, “as a common idiom indicating an hysterical or mistaken belief that disaster is imminent.”  I am not suggesting that Hedges is mistaken, but what I am suggesting is that his plea is intense and, perhaps, even hysterical.  (Actually, I love it!)

Hedges includes five essays here: “The Illusion of . . . 1) Literacy, 2) Love, 3) Wisdom, 4) Happiness, and 5) America.  Within these categories, Hedges draws his examples from industries as diverse as entertainment, wrestling, pornography, education, testing, wellness, celebrity, news, defense, armaments, health care, infrastructure, transportation, finance, and more.

The overall conclusion by Hedges is captures well by Xuequin in his review, and it’s a position I fully support as well: “People have chosen, and given a choice they have proven to everyone that they will do what human nature dictates and choose to live lives where they can enjoy their laziness and stupidity, and ignore critics who are trying to get them to read books and criticize.”

This is a well-written, meticulous, shocking yet honest, thorough analysis of how the American public is being seduced by advertisements, reality television, infotainment, and the “social” Internet, and how they are pathetic slaves to what they hear (and believe) on television, radio, and the Internet.

Hedges writes, “A public that can no longer distinguish between truth and fiction is left to interpret reality through illusion.”  The book is a relevant, real, sombering wake-up call that everyone should read.  Yes, “the sky is falling,” and Hedges offers a wonderful, captivating, well-researched and documented explanation of where and why it is happening and how everyone will be affected.  Read it.

----- 

This book is available from Amazon.com: Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

Nothing Was the Same: A Memoir

Book Club... And Then Some!

Nothing Was the Same: A Memoir          

by Kay Redfield Jamison



 Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This is a touching, deeply moving, difficult to read (yet difficult to put down), love story in which Jamison, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center and author of the national best seller, An Unquiet Mind and Night Falls Fast, writes about her 20 years with Richard Wyatt, also an important researcher in the area of mental disorders.  As Shalom Fradman, from Jerusalem, Israel, writes in his Amazon review, “She tells the story with taste, restraint, feeling, and unfailing intelligence and wisdom.”

The book is written with care, precision, honesty, reflection, and in beautiful prose. 

Jamison writes about grief, sickness, and dying, but in a profound, simple manner.

How two well-educated, intelligent people could sustain their loving bond through all their adversity is remarkable.  How their passion was sustained through the days and moments of sickness before his death, and how their celebration of life sustained them is amazing.  What a joy!  What an unbelievable testimony for the bond that true love can offer.

As one reviewer said, “‘Drs. Wyatt and Jamison found happiness not in idealized illusions, but in living—with as much integrity and joy as possible—their own imperfect lives.”

This is a unique book that will touch you deeply, move you with passion and intensity, and, thus, will impress you forever. 



-----


This book is available from Amazon.com: Nothing Was the Same: A Memoir