100 Simple things you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s and age-related memory loss

By Jean Carper

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Things-Prevent-Alzheimers-Age-Related/dp/0316086851

Book review by Richard L. Weaver II

You must buy this book!

I have reviewed over 200 books, but this one — among them all so far — is one that should be read by everyone.

If you believe the title, Carper’s book is about Alzheimer’s and age-related memory loss, but when you read the book you quickly realize it is a book about healthy living, having a healthy lifestyle, and following a regimen that will bring you strength, vitality, and wellness.

100 suggestions seems like a lot; however, when you get going (each suggestion only takes up two or three pages) in this small, 294-page book.  She has over 200 references for the book, and she gives you the web site where you can go to check out her sources:

What I especially enjoy is finding a book that underscores and supports the lifestyle that I have already adopted.  I found that many of the suggestions by Carper are things I am already doing.  Most healthy readers will find the same thing; however, most healthy readers (like myself) will also be interested in obtaining just a little more, going for that extra edge (the extra mile), and not just getting their current lifestyle reinforced but finding something that pushes them a little harder, a little farther, too.

A couple of the suggestions I have highlighted include #24, “Build ‘Cognitive Reserve’—Fill up your brain with lots of fascinating stuff.”  That idea delighted me because of the book reviews and essays I write.  I think loving school, too, helps anyone build a cognitive reserve right from the outset.  Getting immersed in information, learning, knowledge, and experiences builds a useful lifelong benefit.

In addition to writing about the importance of higher education, Carper also upholds the value of reading and writing in her #56, “Learn to Love Language — Linguistic skills build bigger, smarter, stronger brains” (p. 168).

There are so many of her ideas that are just smart and worthy of adoption.  Whether you have heard much of this before, Carper offers the research to support her ideas.  We all need reminders to live properly and to be concerned about good health.

Two parts of the book need highlighting.  First, within each chapter Carper ends with “What to do?” where she translates what she has said in explaining the idea of the chapter into practical, down-to-earth, specific kinds of things readers can do to achieve the results they want.  For example, in #80, “Get a Good Night’s Sleep,” she writes as the first sentence of “What to do?”: “Don’t think of sleep as an inconvenience but as a legitimate way to subdue some of the brain’s most devastating enemies.  Take naps. . . . (pp. 233-234).

Also, the second part of the book that needs highlighting, I thought her section at the back of the book, “Putting it all together: Your anti-Alzheimer’s plan” was especially good for it underscored what everyone can begin doing right now — or, in other words, what the absolute, bottom-line, essentials are that can be started immediately: 1) surprise your brain, 2) get physical activity, 3) eat the right stuff and take supplements, and 4) take care of yourself.

You must buy this book!  (I’m encouraging my wife and my other family members to read it.  It’s that good!)  We purchased copies of the book and gave it as a gift to each of our four children.

100 Simple things you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s and age-related memory loss can be purchased at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Things-Prevent-Alzheimers-Age-Related/dp/0316086851

Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage

By Hazel Rowley

http://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Eleanor-Extraordinary-Hazel-Rowley/dp/0374158576

Book review by Richard L. Weaver II

I had no idea what a terrific book this was until I gave it to my 98-year-old father-in-law.  Not only does Edgar Willis know history, but he lived through the Roosevelt era and even had the opportunity to shake Eleanor’s hand at one point.  His impression of her was extremely positive.  She wanted to know where Edgar was from, and Edgar remembered that she was very tall (5 feet 11 inches).

Edgar was thoroughly pleased with Rowley’s book (as most of the reviewers at Amazon.com were).  First, he thought Rowley’s writing was smooth, flawless, and engaging.  Edgar, having written a number of books himself (including several college textbooks), is a language guru.  By that I simply mean that one of the first things he looks for in another’s writing, is that author’s language: grammar, sentence construction, word choice, and vividness (or verbal flourishes).  He was very impressed.

Although this book is nonfiction, it is written much like a novel.  Edgar began reading it not thinking that he was even going to spend time with it), and he was quickly caught up in it.  I have brought him a number of books, and because he has several available to read, often he chooses to read those he already has rather than take on a new one.  This book by Rowley was truly an exception.  (He gives me back many that I offer him to read.)

Edgar wrote the book Civilian in an Ill-Fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II (And Then Some Publishing, 2009), and for that book he did a great deal of research and reading of history books.  For this reason, he was able to find several minor historical inaccuracies in Rowley’s book.  It should be clear, however, that Edgar is an expert on this period of history; thus, it is unlikely that most readers would be as astute, perceptive, and historically knowledgeable as he is.  (As an aside, he relished sharing those inaccuracies with my wife and myself as he cradled the book in his lap.)

Another element that both Edgar and I like in the nonfiction books we choose to read is the resources authors use.  The substance or text takes up 302 pages.  There are 8 pages of black and white pictures (19 pictures total).  There are 24 pages of notes — a total of 302 references (average of one note per page).  Also, her sources are outstanding.  She has really done her homework, and not only are her comments throughout the book well documented, but she has uncovered a number of sources that previous writers about the Roosevelt’s have either missed or not used.

One of the remarks Edgar made about the book, just after reading it and as he embraced it in his hands, is that he learned a number of new details about the Roosevelts that he did not know before.  For those who know little, they will learn a great deal.  It is not just about the Roosevelts, too.  One of the things you learn is the history of the time and the way the president and his wife impacted that history.  Thus, if you are a history buff, this is a great read.

One other positive aspect of the book is how well Rowley describes the relationship that Franklin and Eleanor had.  Not only does Rowley beautifully explain their humanity and their strengths and weaknesses, but you also get a clear picture of how the two respected each other, grew as a couple throughout their lives, and experienced an unusual and unconventional marriage.  

Dr. Wayne S. Swift wrote the following as a portion of his short review of this book at Amazon.com: “Cutting through myths and unfair characterizations, [Rowley] confidently portrays a much stronger and more flexible marriage than previous biographers had dared to see. I love and admire the authority and courage with which [Rowley] guides [readers] through [the Roosevelt’s] complex and fascinating world.”

Because of her engaging writing style, thorough documentation, and ability to bring Franklin and Eleanor’s relationship to light in a resonant, meaningful, and interesting manner, I give Rowley’s wonderful  book the full five stars it so richly deserves.

Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage can be purchased at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Eleanor-Extraordinary-Hazel-Rowley/dp/0374158576

Soulpancake: Chew on life’s big questions (Speak your mind, unload your questions, figure out what it means to be human)

By Rainn Wilson

http://www.amazon.com/SoulPancake-Chew-Lifes-Big-Questions/dp/1401310338

Book review by Richard L. Weaver II

This is an impressive book — not a great one — but it is striking.  The artwork throughout is awe inspiring.  You can just sit back, turn the pages, and be mesmerized by stunning impressions.  Each page (or every-other-page) is full of astonishing, colorful, provocative, thought-inducing, and, in some cases, shocking images.  What I had fun doing with each image was to simply try to imagine how the artwork related to the quotations on the page.  In some cases this was easy; however, in some it was, indeed, a challenge.  In many cases, the relationship was remarkably creative.

What I found most unique in the entire book were the first six-and-a-half pages where Rainn Wilson introduced himself and his life’s journey.  I found it honest (as honest as a reader who doesn’t know Rainn Wilson at all can determine), straightforward, attention-grasping, and interesting.  If you are wondering how Rainn Wilson determined life’s essential questions, or what he reads and what he has experienced, or even how he became a spiritual being, he tells you.  

If you want a taste of his humor, he talks about the time when he and Phil (a friend) were watching a Mets game in Phil’s ramshackle apartment and Rainn told Phil about his “recent conversion to a belief in Wakan Tanka.”  They wanted to put his new belief to the test and the Mets were down 5-4 at the bottom of the ninth inning.  Rainn held up his arms in prayer and said, “Oh great spirit Wakan Tanka . . . If it is your will, please allow Darryl Strawberry to hit a home run and win the game.”

As soon as Rainn finished his prayer, THWACK, Darryl Strawberry “hit a two-run homer, and the Mets won.  Phil and I looked at each other, jaws dropped. . .” (p. iv).  Now, that’s enough to make just about anyone a believer (in Wakan Tanka!).

If the artwork doesn’t spellbind you, then the quotations will.  They are delicious, to say the least.  On average, there are about two or three quotations per page in this 205-page book.  The range of authors (for quotations) is broad including Mahatma Gandhi, Ambrose Pierce, Benjamin Spock, James Joyce, Aristotle, Viktor E. Frankl, Albert Schweitzer, Alexandre Dumas, George Santayana, Coretta Scott King, Eric Hoffer, Adolf Hitler, Buddha, Franz Kafka, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Bill Maher, William Shakespeare, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Elbert Hubbard, and many, many others.

But, here is the interesting thing about this book.  The artwork and the quotations are really not what this book is all about.  Surprise, surprise!  This is a workbook, and the artwork and quotations are there as catalysts.  That is, they are there as agents to assist in and speed up your reaction to the overall thought on the page.  On page 164, for example, the thought is “Gyrate Your Genius,” the artwork is amazing (objects designed to symbolize storage, tuning, sawing, and massaging), and there is a blank (on p. 164), for your reaction to this: “If the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can sign off on Chia Pets and the Beerbrella, then what’s stopping you from throwing your idea into the mix?  Step 1: Think of a problem that irritates you.  Step 2: Channel your inner inventor. Step 3: Create a solution.  No matter how far-fetched it seems, sketch it out and name it.”  

On most pages, the questions occur under the heading, “Dig Deeper.”  On page 63, the overall thought is, “What one eye-opening experience should every person have?”  And, on the previous page, the third “Dig Deeper” question is, “What single experience most transformed you?”

I am not claiming this book is one of heavy substance; however, it is, more than anything, exactly what you make it.  You, as the reader/thinker/analyst, bring the “heavy substance” — or not!  If you simply want to look at the pictures and read the quotations, then it will likely perceived as lightweight.  It is as philosophical as you want to make it.  It is as spiritual as you want to make it.  It is as challenging or “deep” as you want to make it.  That is, indeed, what makes this book so fascinating, intriguing, and personal.

I liked Rainn Wilson’s own sales pitch for the book (p. xv).  He said, “The book is fun.  And cool to carry around.  Or put on a handsome shelf.  Or casually leave out on a coffee table as a conversation starter.  Or throw like a discus at the side of the head of an attacker” (p. xv).  How often are you likely to read such a paragraph by the author of a book?

So, where do I stand on this book?  I like artwork, quotations, and challenging questions.  Of course, I prefer more substance; however, I am willing to foregoe my quest for more substance (since I’m unlikely to answer all the questions and fill in all the blanks — bringing the “heavy substance” myself) just to experience such a unique book as this one.  If nothing else, it is just plain fun!

Soulpancake: Chew on life’s big questions (Speak your mind, unload your questions, figure out what it means to be human) can be purchased at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/SoulPancake-Chew-Lifes-Big-Questions/dp/1401310338

The laws of charisma: How to captivate, inspire, and influence for maximum success

By Kurt W. Mortensen

http://www.amazon.com/Laws-Charisma-Captivate-Inspire-Influence/dp/0814415911/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

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

When you see the 30 ingredients of charisma listed and discussed by Mortensen, your first question may be the same as mine: Who decided these were the main ingredients of charisma?  First, the author says, “I have spent my life studying persuasion, motivation, and influence.  People often ask me what is the most important tool or skill in the entire influence toolbox? . . . If there were one skill to master out of all the tools of persuasion and influence, it is charisma” (p. 2).

Of course, that doesn’t answer the question: From where did these 30 ingredients come?  “While I was doing research for this book, I conducted extensive interviews.  I asked people how they would describe a person whom other people love to be around and want to be influenced by . . . ? The word ‘charisma’ came up the most . . . “ (p. 6).

Then, the answer magically appears: “Research on charisma shows that you must learn and master certain skills, traits, and attributes.  I have determined that there are 30 in all, and each has a chapter of its own” (pp. 7-8).  The answer is simple: We must trust the author’s ability to select the right, proper, or appropriate ingredients.  There is no single other source that supports the choice of these 30, and the research Mortensen cites, like Bernard M. Bass, in Bass & Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership, 3rd ed. (New York: Free Press, 1990), p. 190.} — which is often cited — simply makes comments like “Charismatic people project a powerful, confident, dynamic presence” which Mortensen uses as his reason for selecting a title, like that of Chapter 2: “Confidence: Conviction Is Contagious.”  In other words, there is no research that supports the overall selection of ingredients.

Now, I don’t want to suggest that I disagree with Mortensen’s selection of the ingredients that make up charisma.  One could say that his selection is as good as any other.  And when you look at the ingredients (passion, confidence, congruence, optimism, positive power, energy and balance, humor and happiness, self-discipline, competence, intuition, purpose, integrity, courage, creativity, focus, presentation skills, people skills, influence, storytelling, eye contact, listening, rapport, inspiration, esteem, credibility, motivation, goodwill, vision, empathy, and respect), you wonder if there couldn’t be others that are not mentioned or if there are some mentioned that don’t matter as much as others.  It would have been good to have them discussed in the order of importance determined by the research on charisma — if such research exists.  Are some of them universal?  If I wanted to develop charisma, should I be the one to determine where to place my emphasis, or should I place my emphasis on those ingredients determined to be the most important in charisma — as it is perceived by others — according to the research.  This is not an indictment of Mortensen’s work; however, these are some of the questions that a curious reader might ask.

The organization of each chapter (an opening story, core information, the major mistake readers make with respect to the ingredient (“blind spot”), application, example, and the key to developing the ingredient along with a rating scale for determining your own ability or skill on the factor discussed in the chapter) is tight, valuable, predictable, helpful, and practical.

The book is well-written and direct.  I enjoyed how the author talks to readers in a conversational and helpful manner.  There are 19 pages of “Research,” and much of it is quite good.  I do not question the statement I am going to quote here, “The top predictor of professional success and upward mobility is how much you enjoy and how good you are at public speaking [I agree!]; however, the citation for this speech is a motivational writer and speaker: Tony Alessandra, Charisma: Seven Keys to Developing the Magnetism That Leads to Success (New York: Business Plus, 2000).  It would be a little like quoting me saying the same thing — with no research to back up the statement.

There is a great deal of (recent) research to back up a statement like “The top predictor of professional success and upward mobility is how much you enjoy and how good you are at public speaking” [I cite it in my textbook Communicating Effectively, 10th ed.  (McGraw-Hill, 2012], and it would be great to see studies cited to support such a comment.  

Bernard M. Bass’s book, Bass & Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership, is over 20 years old; the issues of American Salesman cited to support the importance of presentations were 20 years old.  Once again, this is not an indictment of Mortensen’s “research” for this book; however, there are so many more recent, varied, reputable, and primary sources that could be used that would make his conclusions (regarding public speaking or presentations) stronger.  (In some cases Mortensen cited his earlier books, Maximum Influence: The 12 Universal Laws of Power Persuasion (New York: AMACOM, 2004) and Persuasion IQ: The 10 Skills You Need to Get Exactly What You Want (New York: AMACOM, 2008) to support his points.)

I realize that most people don’t care about the research used in a book.  If you are a person just looking for a book that will help you build charisma — whether you are just starting out or whether you are trying to improve your charismatic presence — this book is likely to provide you with a place to start — especially if you are looking for basic, elementary, essential tools.

The laws of charisma: How to captivate, inspire, and influence for maximum success can be purchased at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Laws-Charisma-Captivate-Inspire-Influence/dp/0814415911/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World

By Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher

http://www.amazon.com/Amish-Way-Patient-Faith-Perilous/dp/0470520698/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294957120&sr=1-1

 Book review by Richard L. Weaver II

Having directed a dissertation on the Amish, I have a good background on Amish ways—especially in Ohio.  Also, I have read other books on the topic as well.

This book is outstanding for a number of reasons.There are at least 14 pages of notes, and 6 ½ pages of references.  Each of the three authors has a Ph.D.  Kraybill is a senior fellow at the Young Center of Elizabethtown College, Nolt is a professor of history at Goshen College, and Weaver-Zercher is a professor of American religious history at Messiah College.  In addition, they are the authors of the very favorably reviewed and successful book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, which describes the response to and reaction of the Amish community to the shooting of ten schoolgirls at Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, in October 2006.  Together, the authors have over 50 years working with the Amish.

All of the above paragraph supports and proves the authors’ credentials—the first reason why this book is outstanding.

The second reason this book is outstanding is that it is superbly written.  The authors tell wonderful, endearing stories that are engaging, insightful, and instructive.  If you have read nothing about or have no experience with the Amish prior to reading this book, you will be enlightened.  If you are part of the secular world, your eyes will be opened in shock and amazement.  Yes, the book is gentle, respectful, sensitive, and understanding, but it discusses a society and a way of behaving that is so contrary to “normal” society that it is scarey.  Fortunately, the authors offer a readable book that is well-crafted and entertaining.

The third reason this book is outstanding is its organization.  It is organized around the topics of spirituality, community, everyday life, Amish faith, and the rest of us.  From the authors’ descriptions and explanations, you get a wonderful picture of the details of Amish life as well as an overview of Amish reality.  Because of the authors’ approach, you come away with a nearly complete look at what it might be like to live in the Amish way.  The rules by which they live, alone, are so specific and detailed that little in their daily life is spontaneous or free.  They are bound by their faith.

The fourth reason this book is outstanding is that it answers many of the questions those who are not Amish ask about them.  For example, do the Amish accept non-Amish converts?  How do Amish adolescents decide to be Baptized?  How are the strict rules of the Amish enforced?  What constitutes infringement of the rules?  Why (and how) is the practice of shunning used?  Why do Amish attend church only every other Sunday? To what degree does the Amish bishop wield authority? How do the Amish view modern society?  Technology?  How do the Amish hold onto their young people who get a taste of the outside world?  What do the Amish do when they move into an electrified home and yet want to strictly follow Amish rules?  So many questions are answered.

The fifth reason this book is outstanding is because it really makes your heart go out for Amish people.  Why?  First, because of the very hard life they live.  Second, because of the many sacrifices they must make.  When you consider all the devices, tools, and equipment we in the secular world have to make our lives easier — with new technology being offered to us on a daily basis — it is just amazing that anyone would or could give it all up to live a simple, faithful life.  

Because of the authors’ manner of presentation, as well as the positive features of this book discussed above, readers cannot help feeling a profound, whole-hearted, and compassionate tenderness regarding the Amish commitment to faith, family, and frugality.  This is a sensational book.

The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World can be purchased at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Amish-Way-Patient-Faith-Perilous/dp/0470520698/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294957120&sr=1-1

Manthropology: The science of why the modern male is NOT the man he used to be

By Peter McAllister

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003P8PEI2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0733623913&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1H61SJNMZS9CEA27G7CD

Book review by Richard L. Weaver II

Wow!  I feel totally feminized and emasculated, and if you are a man and read this book, you cannot come away from it without feeling the same way.  One Amazon.com reviewer put it well: WE SUCK!  What a one-two punch in the gut McAllister delivers here.  This book is not for the feint of heart.

I enjoyed the author’s use of alliteration as he chose titles for each of his chapters: brawn, bravado, battle, balls, bards, beauty, babies, and babes.  There are 8 pages of endnotes and 14 pages of bibliography, leaving 290 pages of text.  I thought McAllister’s addition of dark-gray boxed examples were well-selected, informative, and interesting supplements to the text material.

His use of examples throughout the book is superb and easily hold readers’ attention.  How he went about selecting and then researching his comparative examples is fascinating and certainly reinforces his expertise as both a paleoanthropologist and journalist (he’s an archeologist and science writer from the University of Western Australia).  Having taught there myself some years ago, I can vouch for their high standards and academic credentials.

Now, from reading the book, you get the impression McAllister has it in for men.  That’s the basis for my “one-two punch in the gut” comment above.  If one can accept his selections from ancestorial artifacts (and some certainly may make you questions their relevance—in other words, that he selected some simply to make his point), then I think he makes a good case.  Of course, it is a case I already accept, and McAllister simply reinforces my point of view.  Modern man has gone soft!

If you are simply looking for a “smart, informative, surprising, and entertaining” (from the front flyleaf) book, then this makes a good choice.  I have to tell you, however, in advance, that some of his examples are grisly, gripping, bloody, and stomach-turning.  He minces no words (perhaps he did!), but that is truly what makes this book a good read.  I loved his sense of humor and his tongue-in-the-cheek approach.  He’s a fine writer, and this is a fine book.

Manthropology: The science of why the modern male is NOT the man he used to be can be purchased at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003P8PEI2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0733623913&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1H61SJNMZS9CEA27G7CD

The New York Times presents Smarter by Sunday: 52 weekends of essential knowledge for the curious Mind.

By the staff of Elizabeth Publishing (and a group of academic and professional writers.)  General Editor: John W. Wright; Executive Editor: Matt Fisher

http://www.amazon.com/York-Times-Presents-Smarter-Sunday/dp/0312571348/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294948978&sr=1-1

I liked this book.  Any book designed to increase the knowledge and information of readers is to be encouraged.  Also, The New York Times is a trusted source of information throughout the world. (As is always true with knowledge and information, facts may need to be checked but, in general, the credibility of the source does not require investigation.)

Admittedly, I did not read every one of its 550 pages.  Also, there was a great deal of information here with which I was already familiar and a great deal, too, with which I had no interest whatever.  For example, I really had no interest in a brief history of Japan, a political and cultural history of Ancient Egypt, a brief history of physics, the European novel, painting in the 19th century, ancient Rome, or mathematics.  Many of these cover subjects I took in high school or college, and I don’t need a summary/review of previous course work.

There was a great deal of information I found interesting such as “The Computer Revolution,” “The Written Word,” “The Renaissance,” “Great American Writers,” “American Popular Music,” “Philosophy: The Life of the Mind,” “Modern Thought,” “Languages of the World,” and “American Film.”  What I enjoyed as much as the review of information and ideas is how the material would make me stop and think.  I wasn’t particularly challenged as much as simply engaged.  (Whether or not I can actually make use of the knowledge/information in the writing I do is yet to be determined.)

I am not suggesting that it would not have benefitted me to have read the information on subjects that held no current interest, but as in all things in life, I simply have to devote my time to things of interest.

I found the information throughout this book well presented and clear—better, in fact, than most of my classroom teachers presented their information.  Remember, it is the editor’s objective “to present our readers with essential information on a variety of subjects that together make up the basic elements of what is commonly called a ‘well-rounded education’” (p. x).  The format of the book “is based on the 52 weekends in a calendar year.  Each weekend is centered on a single topic (‘The Universe,’ ‘Rome,’ ‘The Renaissance,’ ‘The Novel,’ ‘American Popular Music,’ etc.) . . .” (p. x).

What I found most interesting was that readers could pick and choose among topics.  One does not build on any other.  If someone were to read everything in this book, however, they would surely possess rudimentary knowledge in art, music, literature, history, religion, economics, philosophy, and science.  Because most of the readers of The New York Times live in North America, the book is overly devoted to matters that concern Western history, art, literature, and science.

This book is a “must read” for high school or college students, and I think it could be a source book (reference work?) for a capstone seminar (or workshop) on “Essential Knowledge.”  Why not make the command of knowledge/information such as this a requirement (with attendant examinations) for graduation?

The New York Times presents Smarter by Sunday: 52 weekends of essential knowledge for the curious Mind.can be purchased from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/York-Times-Presents-Smarter-Sunday/dp/0312571348/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294948978&sr=1-1

The Mammoth Book of Best New Jokes

By Geoff Tibballs



Book review by Richard L. Weaver II


One thing I don’t do is purchase joke books to memorize jokes and share them with others.  Sometimes, I buy them to find jokes to use in my speeches, essays, and other writing that I do — such as in the writing of my college textbooks (but I have found very few that I could use in this manner).


Tibballs had compiled jokes under close to 80 categories.  In 597 pages there are thousands, and many of them are from contemporary comedians and a number of them, too, deal with contemporary politicians such as Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, the Clintons, and George W. Bush.


There are six jokes in the Sarah Palin category.  Wyatt Cenac, an American stand-up comedian, writes, “The governor of Alaska is so dumb she thinks the capital of China is Chinatown and that soy milk is Spanish for “I am milk’” (p. 418).  Jokes by Jay Leno and Conan O’Brian are mentioned here as well.


There are seven jokes listed for Barack Obama.  My favorite is, “A lot of voters mistrust Barack Obama because they say he’s not a real American.  You can see what they mean—after all, he’s slim” (p. 409).


Nine jokes appear under the category “The Clintons.”  In my view, the best one (all are pretty bad!) Is: “Hillary went to a fortune teller who revealed: ‘I have some bad news.  Bill is going to die a horrible death.’
    Hillary said: ‘Just tell me one thing.  Will I be acquitted?’” (p. 130)


There are more than 14 jokes in the category, “College and University.”  I found this one to be the most relevant and incisive: “When a university student returned home for Christmas his mother asked: ‘How’s your history paper coming along?’
    ‘Well, my history professor suggested I use the Internet for research, and it’s been really helpful.’
    ‘Oh, that’s good.’
    ‘Yes.  So far I’ve noticed fourteen people who sell them’” (p. 133).


Of the 8 jokes in the category “Donald Trump,” all but one discuss his hair—which I find a bit disappointing.  That is, it’s such an easy target and requires no imagination whatsoever.


Under the subject, “Vacation and Leisure,” there are nearly 25 jokes.  There was one Steven Wright joke I hadn’t heard: “I want to hang a map of the world in my house.  Then I’m going to put pins into all the locations that I’ve traveled to.  But first I’m going to have to travel to the top two corners of the map so that it won’t fall off the wall” (p. 551).


Needless to say, I loved this book, not because of all the jokes by Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Homer Simpson, Jerry Seingeld, Sarah Silverman, Amy Poehler, Margaret Cho and many others—including a number of English comedians I’ve never heard of (I guess I didn’t realize the English even had a sense of humor much less comedians who might display it! —Kidding, of course.), but because of the wide variety and range of jokes offered.  There will be at least one to satisfy every reader!


What led me to this book in the first place had to do with my interest in jokes.  Good thing, huh?  I had compiled more than 2,000 which I intended to include a book to be titled, “Laugh Like There’s No Tomorrow!” (a quote from Mark Twain that reflected the 365 days that contained an average of 4 jokes each day).  Tibballs’ book convinced me that such a book as mine would not sell.  That is, why would anyone buy a book with four or five jokes for each of 365 days when they could buy this one with well over 3,000 jokes arranged by categories?  I have even compiled enough jokes for a second and a third edition.  These books of mine did not go out of print, they never saw print.  The jokes, however, appear on Fridays on my blog.


One note of warning about Tibballs’ book.  He is British, and the English spelling of words, use of English references (such as their money), and the use of English comedian’s jokes occur throughout the book.  This really isn’t a handicap; however, it limits the effectiveness of some of the material here.


The Mammoth Book of Best New Jokes can be purchased from Amazon.com   

WRONG: Why experts keep failing us—and how to know when not to trust them

By David H. Freedman



Book review by Richard L. Weaver II


The author is :a science and business journalist.”  Outside of appendices, notes, and index, the text is 230 pages long, and there are 11 pages of notes.


There are a number of reasons I liked this book.  First, it is very well-written.  Second, it covers areas (finance, doctors, relationship gurus, celebrity CEOs, consultants, health, and more) with which I have some interest (although no expertise).


The third reason I liked this book is that it offers great evidence, interesting facts, and fascinating statistics and insights I would probably never gather elsewhere.  The fourth reason is that it produces skeptics.  Whether you accept Freedman’s ideas or not, he certainly opens your eyes and makes you question — something we all should be doing all of the time.  (If nothing else, it is what colleges and universities should be good at promoting.)


I enjoyed Freedman’s examination of the various safeguards that we have to try to root out and address fraud.  As I was preparing this review of his book (on January 6, 2011), the British Medical Journal (BMJ) just pronounced a Lancet study by lead scientist Andrew Wakefield, M.D., that connected the Mumps, Measles, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism as an “elaborate fraud.”  An ironic juxtaposition, to say the least.


On page 120 Freedman writes, “Thank goodness for peer review, the 350-year-old research-journal tradition of sending candidate articles out to knowledgeable researchers for vetting and comments.” — even though he admits that peer review provides only a minimal assurance of quality, and that “lousy research can slip past peer review into journals” (p. 121).  Having been part of a number of peer-review teams during my tenure as a university professor, I have to agree with Freedman; however, I also agree that there is really little other way to prevent lousy research from getting published.  The Internet makes “publication” an easy process.


What Freedman does is open the whole area of fraud and “the fraudulent police” to further discussion.  His chapter conclusions (see page 124) are right on target about scientists.


Freedman’s comment about determining whether or not Internet information is accurate was well taken: “ . . . we’re back to that problem of whether most people in the public are equipped to track down high-quality information on the Internet, as opposed to ending up with advice that may look convincing but is in fact junk” (p. 201).  Of course, with respect to students (and the public, too), this isn’t a new concern, it is simply a much bigger concern with the glut of information at our fingertips.


Every student should be required to read Chapter 9, “Eleven Simple Never-Fail Rules for Not Being Misled by Experts” (pp. 203-230).  Even though the rules are generic, they are important and well explained here.  His “Typical Characteristics of Less Trustworthy Expert Advice,” “Characteristics of Expert Advice We Should Ignore,” and “Some Characteristics of More Trustworthy Expert Advice” is priceless, essential, practical, and incredibly relevant in today’s information-saturated world.


WRONG: Why experts keep failing us—and how to know when not to trust them can be purchased at Amazon.com

Power: Why some people have it — and others don’t

By Jeffrey Pfeffer



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


I found this book incredibly interesting.  The book is well-written, extremely well organized, and well-supported (16 pages of notes) in addition to hundreds of relevant, important, and pungent examples.  I found the information to be honest, forthright, and  right on target.


I tended to agree with Pfeffer’s negative evaluations of other books on leadership (even though it may be a bit self-serving), but after reading Pfeffer’s various suggestions for gaining power, you realize that so many other author’s books lack the force, bite, sharpness, and honesty that Pfeffer delivers.


One thing I felt as I was reading was that I pictured myself in a college classroom listening to a well-informed, interesting lecturer.  There are great examples, and the book is pretty easy to read.  It should be clear that you don’t have to be a college student or an academic to appreciate Pfeffer’s information and insights.


Another thing I discovered from reading this book is something I learned rather early when I was teaching speech-communication classes — especially those sections dealing with persuasion.  At one point I was asked by one of my students (and it occurred several times throughout my career), “Couldn’t someone take the ideas and principles you are teaching and become another Hitler?”  The answer is clearly yes.


The best way (perhaps the only way) I found to counter or address these concerns is to talk extensively about ethics — how to properly and ethically use the information and ideas they were learning.  Also, a unit or section on ethics exists in every textbook on public speaking or persuasion.  There is no way to guarantee that such messages get through to students; however, class discussions, coverage on examinations, in addition to such units or sections in textbooks, is the way we approach the ethics issue.  There is no discussion of ethics in this book; perhaps, there should be.


Pfeffer’s suggestions for gaining power far exceed any of the persuasive strategies I taught in college, and someone bent on using his ideas in a negative fashion could certainly wreak more havoc in a shorter amount of time than they could with persuasion alone.  If anyone, after reading this book, thinks this is all common sense or skills that any opportunist might use, then I beg to differ.  They are not reading Pfeffer closely or they are not understanding his suggestions.  (—or, they are already wreaking havoc!)


I found this to be an interesting statement: “Many studies of the predictors of career success, focusing on both the general population and specific subpopulations such as business school graduates, have found that mental aptitude correlates somewhat with grades in school but has virtually no ability to explain who rises to the top” (p. 55).


I absolutely loved his use of current examples such as Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Willie Brown, Ishan Gupta, Caroline Kennedy, Frank Stanton, Oliver North, Barack Obama, and many others.


His Chapter 7, “Acting and Speaking with Power (pp. 125-146), caught my attention because of my background in speech communication.  This is, indeed, the chapter that traces Lt. Colonel Oliver North’s return to power after being indicted on 16 felony counts, “including accepting illegal gratuities, aiding and abetting the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destroying documents and evidence” (p. 125).  Also, in this chapter, the comparison between North and Donald Kennedy (former president of Stanford University) and the manner in which they testified before a congressional investigating committee is offered. I found it eye-opening, and Pfeffer’s comment about it is rich in meaning: “We choose how we will act and talk, and those decisions are consequential for acquiring and holding on to power” (p. 128).


Did you know this?  “Although the research literature shows the interview is not a reliable or valid selection mechanism, it is almost universally used . . . To come across effectively, we need to master how to convey power.  We need to act, and speak, with power” (p. 129).


Using examples of Peter Ueberroth, Andy Grove, Gary Loverman, and Rahm Emanuel (among others), Pfeffer clearly demonstrates how to act and speak with power using interruption, contesting the premises of the discussion, using persuasive language (and Max Atkinson’s linguistic techniques).


Although Pfeffer advocates using “humor to the extent possible and appropriate” and even cites novelist Salman Rushie saying, “If you make people laugh, you can tell them anything” (p. 145), there isn’t a great deal of humor in this 273-page book.  It could use some; however, it is direct, strong, straightforward, and powerful.  I recommend it.



The book, Power: Why some people have it — and others don’t can be purchased at Amazon.com

How music works: The science and psychology of beautiful sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyonce

By John Powell



Book review by Richard L. Weaver II



The idea that someone would have a background (Ph.D. no less!) in physics and, in addition, a master’s degree in music composition sounds like an educational oxymoron.  Then to bring these two areas of expertise together in a book that explains “how music works” is both unique and incredibly interesting.  (And I thought my upbringing in science (an undergraduate minor) combined with a B.A. in speech communication was unusual!)  Not only that, but Powell has taught both physics and musical acoustics.  I mention this simply because these three areas (physics, music, and teaching) are beautifully juxtaposed in this excellent book.


Powell packs so much into this well-written, well-illustrated, well-explained, informative, and entertaining book that it is hard to know where to begin in reviewing it.  Actually, if you have ever dabbled in music, if you play or have played an instrument, if you are a professional disc-jockey (as my older son is), or if you are simply a leisurely, laid-back listener of music, buy this book.  I guarantee: 1) you will enjoy it, and 2) you will learn a great deal from it.  You can then just skip my review of it because all I do is support these two justifications for purchasing it.


There is a question I have often answered for students at the university that becomes relevant once again with this book: “Doesn’t having an education make you more critical of things?”  Actually, the answer is, “No.”  Having an education increases your appreciation of things.  It brings a deeper understanding, more background knowledge, a greater history, and, thus, a better grasp of everything in the world.  It offers a context and frame of reference so that not only can you ask intelligent questions but you can give more informed, thorough, and substantiated answers as well.  I have learned that the more education you have, the more you want to learn: It instills the teacher in you!


Powell was concerned about this as well when he says, “Some people worry that understanding more about music will reduce the pleasure they get from it, but the reverse is true.  Learning how a complicated dish is prepared makes you appreciate it even more, and doesn’t change how good it tastes” (p. 4).


This response provides insight into one of Powell’s teaching abilities: throughout the book, he creates realistic, practical, hands-on analogies with which readers can closely relate, to make his points.


How pedestrian do his analogies get?  After quoting Professor Frederick Corder, who wrote the book The Orchestra, and How to Write for It (1894), and Corder’s disdain for the trumpet, the guitar, viola, and oboe, Powell writes, “ . . . I dread to think what he would have said about the drinking straw oboe.  All you need in order to own one of these magnificent instruments is a drinking straw and a pair of scissors.  The illustration below shows you what to do” (p. 73).   Powell adds to his delightful explanation of how to use it, “You can even cut little finger holes and play dreadful out-of-tune melodies.  The long winter evenings will just fly by” (p. 73).  (I love Powell’s sarcasm.)


Among many other things, Powell explains what perfect pitch is, the difference between notes and noise, how loud is loud, the difference between harmony and cacophony, as well as how long it takes to become an expert, how musicians learn long and complicated pieces, how to select an instrument if you want to learn to play one, and the various elements involved in listening to music.  There is just so much in this 265-page book.  No, you don’t have to read all the detailed sections; choose just those that have interest (knowing, however, that when you do, you will be missing out on some of the author’s humorous asides, comments, and commentary).


This book is priceless — a treasure.  Thank you John Powell for this wonderful experience.  As just a casual, laid back, appreciater of all kinds of music — I do not play an instrument nor do I write music (although I have offspring who do) — I have learned so much, and this book has contributed greatly to the musical portion of my education.


How music works: The science and psychology of beautiful sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyonce can be found at Amazon.com

Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life and the Power of Amall Why Little Things Make all the Difference

Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life
by David Allen

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


I did not read David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done (2001), and there are some people (who reviewed the book) who said it was the better book and even to save your time by not reading this one and reading his former one. I cannot personally support or deny this observation (or judgment). The Sacramento Book Review said this: “This book is actually harder to read, and is less clear than /Getting Things Done/. Promoted as a expansion that will help you focus on the higher level of organizing your life and goals, it really just serves as a rehashing. For those needing encouragement to continue using GTD techniques, maybe it'll work for them. But, for those looking for more, it fails, and those looking at trying the GTD techniques for the first time would be better served using the original book.” Victoria Bean included information in her review that compares the two books: “The book [Making It All Work] illuminates what Allen calls the basics of self-management: namely how to get and how to develop both control and perspective on your daily commitments in order to master them.


While much of the content is included in his previous book [Getting Things Done], there are some new tools that show you how to achieve alignment and balance by changing your perspective on your own commitments and mastering the art of motivating yourself. These tools include:


* How to get immediate control of "current reality"
* How to keep track of the total inventory of your commitments
* What decisions are critical to make, about what, and when
* Why most "personal management systems" don't work
* Why organizational issues are often personal process issues
* How to use procrastination to your advantage
* How to continually self-consult to get back "on your game"
* How to install simple tricks that create profound results ”


This is a well-written, even inspiring book that will help (offers specific suggestions) for maintaining control and perspective. In this book, Allen suggests flexibility and custom-tailoring to make his GTD system operative. I didn’t read his former book, but I found this book extremely interesting and educational. Perhaps it would be a better read if you read his earlier book first; however, this one is well done, to say the least, and because he (obviously) repeats information from the earlier book, it is not a prerequisite that one be read before the other.




The Power of Small: Why Little Things Make All the Difference
by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval

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


Whether you have many examples from your own life of this title being true, whether you have read it in other books, or whether you think it is a small, commonsensical point that needs no further elucidation, this is a delightful book. The authors write in an engaging style; there are so many wonderful examples used to support their points; and I firmly believe, too, that their point needs to be reinforced and encouraged. I wrote one positive letter about a bank employee, and she was one of ten commended across the nation, won the competition, and will receive a plaque on her office wall marking her success. One letter! I wrote a letter to the Red Cross that changed their procedures to include hand sanitizer at the table where refreshments are served after donations. One letter! That is precisely what this book is all about.


Because of my personal interest in speech communication, I especially liked their discussion in Chapter 3, “Make Small Talk,” which begins with the wonderful quotation from Mark Twain, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” The authors make the point that, “We are losing the human texture in even our simplest conversations. We are becoming more and more cut off from human interaction, from the chance encounters and casual acquaintances that have, until recently, made up a part of our lives and at times changed their course” (p. 27j). Their suggestions for increasing the importance and impact of small talk are excellent and should be adopted by everyone (pp. 34-30).


The book is not only full of examples, but the authors offer regular and consistent encouragement to readers to make small changes like saying “please” and “thank you,” to take advantage of the smallest opportunities (to take advantage of “and then some” situations!), and to become more alert to other people and to their surroundings as well.


Sure, you can write this book off as just a piece of fluff, but do you know what? If everyone in our society made the small changes these authors recommend and practiced them everyday, there would be so much less conflict, irritation, and anger— so much less displeasure, annoyance, and ill-temper. As small a point(s) as the authors make, this book makes a valuable and useful addition to our lives.


These books are available at Amazon.com: (Click the link below)
Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life
The Power of Small: Why Little Things Make All the Difference 

Chicken soup for the soul: Think positive---101 inspirational soties about counting your blessings and having a positive attitude

By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Amy Newmark



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


Before you read this review you must understand several things.  First, I am not a strong advocate for any of the books in the Chicken Soup series.  Second, I am a believer in a positive life, and thinking positive about anything should a natural and automatic part of living, not something saved for a particular illness, problem, or situation.  Third, I find that prayer serves no purpose whatever.  It may be useful to buoy your spirit or give you hope, but chances for a positive outcome because of prayer are 50-50, just as they are in life without prayer.  And there are no such things as miracles.  Fourth, all thoughts and feelings occur in the brain — not in the heart.  You cannot be guided by your heart, have a nagging in your heart, or have a broken heart.  Sorry.  The heart is merely a muscle that pumps blood.


Also, and this is just an aside.  Anecdotal evidence (stories, examples, personal experiences, and illustrations) count for little in the course of life.  There is no doubt that they have persuasive power because of the way they stir the emotions and can rally people to act.  But with respect to proving something (there is no doubt that God exists), or serving as a basis for argument, they have no — zero — evidential power.  The experiences detailed in this book are personal, highly subjective, and told with a bias (slant or angle) that can easily cause readers to question their true veracity.


Then why did I pick up this book?  Curiosity could explain it.  I write positive essays, and even my publishing company, And Then Some Publishing, is based on a philosophy (carefully explained at the website) that is founded on the idea that you must do everything that is required of you in life — and then some.  It is the “and then some” that is most likely to bring you recognition, rewards, riches, and success.


One more answer as to why I picked up this book is simple: I am always in search of additional ideas to write about.  At my blog, I write a 1,000-word essay every week, and this is my fourth year (over 200 essays!) of writing them.  I thought that with 101 inspirational stories in this single volume, surely I would find one or two that would stimulate a unique thought, a useful memory, or a new essay.  I was wrong.


Now, you might think — from this introduction to this review — that I found the essays boring, unnecessary, inappropriate, irrelevant, or worthless.  No such thing.  Most are very well written.  Their writers tell a compelling story in great detail and always with a positive outcome.  Just as in all the Chicken Soup books, if you want short inspirational essays, there is no doubt about it, this is a good choice.  They will cause you to closely identify with the writers and, in many cases, appreciate human determination and perseverance.  (I always think to myself, “Damn! what some people have to endure!”)


On the other hand, I found the essays rather repetitive, so I do not recommend readers read the book from beginning to end without stop.  (It can be read quickly.)  Put it somewhere where you can read it in short segments, just as I think it is intended.


I want you to know that I admire any book that causes readers to feel better about themselves or better about the human race in general.  If a book such as this gives people hope, then it has served a useful purpose.  If it helps people put their own life in perspective (by comparing theirs with others in worse situations than their own), then I think it is valuable.  And, if it makes readers “rage, rage against the dying of the light,” as Dylan Thomas expressed it in his famous poem, “Do not go gentle into this good night,” then, perhaps, it should be read by everyone.


(I have reviewed over 250 books, and I did not realize that I had reviewed this book previously.  On July 23, 2011, (about 8 months after my first review) I reviewed it a second time.  Although there is some of the same information in my second review as there is in the first, there is a lot of additional information.  Without any tailoring or deletions, the following is my second review of this book.)


I have been delighted with many of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, but not in the way many of those reading this review would suppose or imagine.  My first goal in selecting this book was to find potential topics, themes, or ideas to write about on my own positive-oriented blog at http://essaysandthensome.blogspot.com/


For the short, inspirational stories, of course, this is not unlike most of the previous books of this genre (although a number of reviewers at Amazon.com suggest this selection is not as strong as others).  


There was an unexpected byproduct here, however, similar to the one I experienced in reading my father-in-law’s (Edgar E. Willis) book, How to be Funny on Purpose: Creating and Consuming Humor.  What I discovered from reading the Willis book, because of its clear, accurate, and detailed explanation of how to create humor, I found myself engaged actively in the process of writing jokes.  I had never written jokes previously nor did I think myself capable.  What fun I had constructing them!


Well, in reading about “thinking positive,” I went through a number of epiphanies.  I couldn’t help myself.  I thought, for example, about what a positive and pleasant life I have led, and why it has happened.


The life I have led, both by design and positive thinking, fortunate (and lucky) decisions I made along the way, and certainly circumstances that have provided opportunities I never dreamed could happen, has been challenging, exciting, rewarding, and incredibly satisfying.  Many of the results of positive thinking occur because of good choices along the way!


Here is my conclusion regarding positive thinking.  All of life depends on making good choices.  So, if I were to give advice to anyone (as I have done to over 80,000 students during my teaching career), it would be this: Prepare yourself in such a way that you (not someone else) is in control over the decisions of your life.


Now, I fully realize this is easier said than done and, too, that no matter how much we prepare, we cannot be in total control over all the decisions of our lives.  That is true, however, that should not be discouraging.  The point is to prepare as widely, broadly, and thoroughly as possible—stretch ourselves in all possible directions—in order to give ourselves the edge, the opportunity, or the advantage in any decisions that affect (or impinge on) our lives.  We do not (cannot) know what curve balls life will throw at us, but that does not mean we cannot prepare ourselves to meet them.


When you apply this philosophy to your life, you are always looking for ways to improve, expand, or extend.  You never stop learning or, even more important, looking for ways to increase your knowledge and potential.


This is the philosophy, I believe, that best undergirds, reinforces, buttresses, supports, and strengthens positive thinking, or it is the most likely philosophy to bring positive results from positive thinking.  Positive thinking alone is valuable, but it takes more than just positive thinking to bring concrete results.


I found this Chicken Soup for the Soul book useful and valuable in this regard.  I realize that teachers seldom know the impact—long-range results—of their instruction, but if I instilled this single idea in any of my 80,000 students I taught over more than 30 years in the classroom and lecture hall, I would consider my work successful.  It is more than just a positive message, it is a charge, command, or instruction that, when internalized and practiced, will send you on a mission to take responsibility for your life.


This book is available at Amazon.com: Chicken soup for the soul: Think positive — 101 inspirational stories about counting your blessings and having a positive attitude

Humor me: An anthology of funny contemporary writing

By Ian Frazier, Editor



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


My father-in-law, Edgar E. Willis, who wrote the great book, How to be funny on purpose: Creating and consuming humor, looked at this book.  He had just read and enjoyed Michael Shelden’s Mark Twain: Man in White (Random House, 2010), so his inclination was to immediately turn to Frazier’s Mark Twain entry, “1601.”  Familiar with this essay, Willis turned up his nose saying not only was it a poor choice (from all the Twain essays that could have been chosen), but it was truly distasteful — lewd and bawdy.


What’s interesting about the Twain piece is that it was singled out by Frazier in the “Introduction.”  He said this:  “Start again [after laughing uproariously]: Now let us turn our attention to the anthology itself, and its contents, which include an eminent piece by the eminent writer Mark Twain on the subject of Shakespeare farting.  Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah, oh God why did I start with that one?  There’s no way I can describe the farting piece without breaking up completely, oh God oh jeez.  What now?  Heeheeheeheeheeheehee!  A-hee.  A-ha.  Deep breath.  Breathe . . .” (p. x).


I thought his introduction to this book was childish, juvenile, and completely stupid, ridiculous, and irrelevant.  What is truly “stupid, ridiculous, and irrelevant” is that very few pieces in this book deserve (earn?) the “hilarity or hysteria” the author gives them.  I thought, too, that any editor who would begin a book on humor in this way, cannot be trusted.  It was not just “over the top,” it was outrageous and inappropriate.


With respect to Ian Frazier’s introduction, you’ve undoubtedly heard the cliche, “He doth protesteth too much.”  I found the following quotation at “Sigmund, Carl and Alfred under the title, “He doth protesteth too much,” which speaks precisely to Frazier’s approach in his introduction:  “This is the same sort of phenomenon as the famous “I am not a crook” type of statement. If you have to keep asserting something like that, it is often the case that you probably are a crook. Likewise, if you have to keep mentioning that you are “reality-based”, it becomes more and more certain that –whatever you may be, reality has little to do with it.”

If you have to keep asserting how funny your book selections are — that they keep you laughing uproariously — then it is easy (and proper) to assume the book selections that follow are very unfunny.  Be forewarned.


When Willis returned the book to me, he had nothing to say about it — which speaks volumes about the book, the editor, and the selections.  When he likes a book, it is clear from the quotes he shares, the discussions he engages in (or stimulates), and the specific positive comments he makes.  None of that here.


The three-star (out of five) review of the book by the Sacramento Book Review at Amazon.com said, “It's hard to not be skeptical when reading a book pitched as an anthology of funny writing. Humor itself is highly subjective, but the foreword to the book promised laugh-out-loud, gut-wrenching, funny stories. The ensuing book, however, didn't match what the foreword or the title promised.”  Precisely!  Well said.


Toward the end of the “Introduction,” Frazier says, “There are great pieces in here, so you SHOULD enjoy it.  If you don’t, the problem is with you” (p. xii).  It is true that humor is subjective, but when you pick up a book called Humor Me it should be chock full of “great pieces.”  You shouldn’t have to wade through 50 others to find them.  Second, I thought the problem with this book could be me, but when Willis, a true expert on humor and what it takes to be funny, clearly confirmed my point of view, I realized it wasn’t me at all.  The problem with this book is Ian Frazier and the selections he made for this book.  Don’t waste your time on this one.


This book is available at Amazon.com: Humor me: An anthology of funny contemporary writing

Merchants of doubt: How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming

By Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway


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


In this 355-page book (274 of text), there are 62 pages of notes.  Oreskes is a professor of history and science studies at the University of California, San Diego, and Conway has published four previous books, one of which was Atmosphere Science at NASA: A History.  Their reputations are impeccable.


With respect to “the story of the Tobacco Strategy, and how it was used to attack science and scientists, and to confuse us [the public] about major, important issues affecting our lives — and the planet we live on” (p. 7) — what this book is all about, the authors “trust our scientific experts on matters of science” (p. 272).  And, it appears that trust is faithfully and fairly placed, and readers can trust the authors to present it in the same manner.


This is an extremely well-written expos , and the story it tells about the tobacco industry and what they did to protect themselves from highly scientific studies about the harmful effects of tobacco could apply to any industry or situation (think pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, nuclear development, foreign threats, outsourcing, antiballistic missel systems (ABMs), pesticides, space exploration, climate change, formaldehyde, pollution, environmental changes, acid rain, global warming, etc.) where large amounts of money can be used to influence honest, well-researched, scientific evidence of harm and destruction.


 In the case of smoking, the industry-based goons (scientists who sell their souls) had to counter the claims 1) that smokers lived sicker and died sooner than their nonsmoking counterparts, 2) that early deaths would not have occurred if these people had never smoked, and, 3) were it not for smoking “practically none of these early deaths from lung cancer would have occurred.  “Smoking killed people” (p. 23).  These are scientifically proven, well-established, accepted facts which affected tobacco sales and, thus, had to be refuted.


This is a thoroughly documented, richly detailed, expertly told story about how doubt is financed and marketed, how evidence can be suppressed, distorted, revised, manipulated, and deleted, how counter narratives are constructed, and how those who promote any program that counters large business, industry, or corporate  interests — whatever they are — can have his or her credibility destroyed, professional career undermined, or life threatened. 


This is not only a disturbing book about organized, scientific, disinformation campaigns, it is downright scary.  What a great book!


This book is available at Amazon.com: Merchants of doubt: How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming