Bill Bryson answers questions you never thought to ask. He is a genius. And yet, I have yet to finish any of his books...It probably says more about m...moreBill Bryson answers questions you never thought to ask. He is a genius. And yet, I have yet to finish any of his books...It probably says more about me than it does about him. (Shut up.)
For having read 15% of this book (according to zee Kindle), here is what I learned:
Favorite Quotes
The Old English word for a slave was thrall, which is why when we are enslaved by an emotion we are enthralled.
The dining table was a plain board called by that name. It was hung on the wall when not in use, and was perched on the diners' knees when food was served. Over time, the word board came to signify not just the dining surface but the meal itself, whis is where the board comes from in room and board.
People in the distant past were not in fact all that small. Doors were small for the same reason windows were small: they were expensive.
For several decades, ice was America's second biggest crop...
In 1859, an American named John Landis Mason solved the challenge that the Frenchman Nicolas-Francois Appert had not quite mastered the better part of a century before. Mason patented the threaded glss jar with a metal screw-on lid. This provided a perfect seal and made it possible to preserve all kinds of foods that would previously spoil. (less)
Nothing groundbreaking here for me. Most of the places mentioned I've either heard about or been to.
Mentions the elusive Moonville Tunnel with the sa...moreNothing groundbreaking here for me. Most of the places mentioned I've either heard about or been to.
Mentions the elusive Moonville Tunnel with the same directions that had me and my fellow campers lost for a good bit of time back in the summer of 2012. Hmmph. (less)
I love books, but this is one of those times where I think the format fails. The maps are REALLY tiny and the book is organized alphabetically by the...moreI love books, but this is one of those times where I think the format fails. The maps are REALLY tiny and the book is organized alphabetically by the name of the trail and not regionally. There's no great sense of how everything connects.
Having said that, I would definitely use this in conjunction with other sources, such as an actual printed map, websites and photos. It's obvious that there is a wealth of knowledge here, it's just hard to digest.
One exciting tidbit: The Ohio to Erie Trail, which connects Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland is going to be 335 miles long once complete. Now THAT would be one long ride. (less)
Some stories might as well be written with invisible ink, for how little they affected me, while others jumped off the page and ran out the door, clin...moreSome stories might as well be written with invisible ink, for how little they affected me, while others jumped off the page and ran out the door, clinging to my coattails.
Mostly just flipped through for container ideas. Might try to find a pocket system online; not too interested in making my own. Also like the idea of...moreMostly just flipped through for container ideas. Might try to find a pocket system online; not too interested in making my own. Also like the idea of wire mesh baskets that I could hook to the edge of the deck railing...(less)
Tried reading in ebook format on my computer, but the handwritten type was almost illegible at times.
Crude humor, but still funny in parts. Basically...moreTried reading in ebook format on my computer, but the handwritten type was almost illegible at times.
Crude humor, but still funny in parts. Basically, how I feel about The Oatmeal in general. (less)
To self-helpish for me, but not totally without merit.
I appreciated the sense that people can decrease their dependence on medication simply by recog...moreTo self-helpish for me, but not totally without merit.
I appreciated the sense that people can decrease their dependence on medication simply by recognizing stress factors and then altering the habitual ways that they reacted to those stresses.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I have the necessary time and energy to devote to commitments that I don't feel strongly about, or are they causing me substantial and unnecessary stress in my life?
Am I following my innermost feelings when making decisions, or an I afraid of the consequences? Am I making my life less enjoyable and more stressful by not following my innermost feelings?
What do I currently tell myself in my daily life? What patterns do I reinforce by the words that I say to myself? Are these reinforcements helping me, and if they are not, how can I reprogram them? (less)
I wanted to know how to make pasta from scratch and didn't trust the Internets to tell me.
The Upside
The fresh egg pasta recipe (and the whole-wheat p...moreI wanted to know how to make pasta from scratch and didn't trust the Internets to tell me.
The Upside
The fresh egg pasta recipe (and the whole-wheat pasta variation) included a simple, full description of how to make and roll the dough that was perfect for my needs.
Also gives clear instructions based on whether you're hand-kneading or using a food processor as well as whether you're hand-rolling or using a hand-cranked pasta machine.
And it includes drying instructions.
The Downside
Man, this book is snobby. Rules for cooking pasta include not breaking the pasta before cooking, throwing out soft or mushy pasta and warming up dishes in the oven before serving. Um, no. I've broken all of these rules and have lived to tell the tale. (less)
I picked this off the shelf hoping that it would be serendipitous, that I would love it, that I could be the one to discover the next big thing.....moreUgh.
I picked this off the shelf hoping that it would be serendipitous, that I would love it, that I could be the one to discover the next big thing...
Instead, it's another whiny chick lit fluff book. Oh, well. Guess I'll stick with Goodreads recommendations from now on.
Disclaimer: I only read 3 pages. But it was a painful 3 pages. (less)
I want to be this green, but I'm just not. I'm probably never going to raise bees or get myself a wind turbine. Maybe if I knew a lot of other people...moreI want to be this green, but I'm just not. I'm probably never going to raise bees or get myself a wind turbine. Maybe if I knew a lot of other people who could get me started, but it's just too far outside my comfort zone.
This book would be helpful in the "Where do I start?" and "I want to read about others who have made it work in order to build up my courage to take the leap" sort of way, but it doesn't read like a full instruction manual. There are a lot of gaps that you'd need to fill in.
The shelves that serve two purposes, such as the lamp/page holder bookshelf (p150), the cat staircase bookshelf (p186) and the bik...moreSubtitled: Eye Candy
The shelves that serve two purposes, such as the lamp/page holder bookshelf (p150), the cat staircase bookshelf (p186) and the bike mount bookshelf (p185) are my favorite, but the "defying gravity" shelves are pretty sweet too.
Is it terrible that I want this to be a Pinterest board instead of a book???
Meh...Maybe if all I did was write PowerPoint presentations for a living, I would want to read this book. I was really just looking for a "Here are so...moreMeh...Maybe if all I did was write PowerPoint presentations for a living, I would want to read this book. I was really just looking for a "Here are some great example presentations that you can try to emulate" book. (less)
If I taught on a regular basis, I'd probably want to read this in more detail.
Instead, I was just a little thrown because I took the word "design" to...moreIf I taught on a regular basis, I'd probably want to read this in more detail.
Instead, I was just a little thrown because I took the word "design" to mean "graphic design." Instead, it more meant how to design your class/teaching style to help people learn...(less)
A lot of the same concepts as other green books, but with a wedding slant. Covers all of the basic elements (food, decorations, jewelry, location, tra...moreA lot of the same concepts as other green books, but with a wedding slant. Covers all of the basic elements (food, decorations, jewelry, location, transportation, flowers, invitations, etc.)
Was hoping for pictures and more crafty decor ideas, but for anyone looking to plan a wedding with an eco-friendly slant, this would be a good starter book. (less)
Lots of ideas for adding "charm" to your container garden. More focus on non-edible plants & flowers, but some food-related plants are included.
L...moreLots of ideas for adding "charm" to your container garden. More focus on non-edible plants & flowers, but some food-related plants are included.
Definitely more of a "read it" than a "flip through it" book.
Includes mockups for gardens, but nothing that can be translated for a container garden....moreDefinitely more of a "read it" than a "flip through it" book.
Includes mockups for gardens, but nothing that can be translated for a container garden. Would be better for people with large plots of land to work with. (less)
Well-organized. Descriptive pictures. Describes containers, than soil, then veggies. I might try carrots this year.
The most helpful tidbit: Use bucke...moreWell-organized. Descriptive pictures. Describes containers, than soil, then veggies. I might try carrots this year.
The most helpful tidbit: Use buckets as containers. You can usually find plastic buckets (like those that store drywall compound or litter) for free with some scrounging. (less)
Eye-opening. Compares the carbon-footprint of common items/actions.
A text message < A banana < A bottle of water < A steak < 2lbs cheese <...moreEye-opening. Compares the carbon-footprint of common items/actions.
A text message < A banana < A bottle of water < A steak < 2lbs cheese < A computer < A car crash < A space shuttle flight < A war.
Of course, one can always argue with numbers and this doesn't take into account other environmental factors such as waste and non-carbon pollution, but still...
Two Examples:
Bananas. I've always considered bananas to be on the evil side of the carbon spectrum because of how far they must travel. But taking into account that they travel by boat more often than air, that they require little-to-no packaging, that they provide "fuel" for humans with little side effects, that they are most often grown outdoors and not in hot-houses, they're actually not so bad at all.
Bicycling. I've only ever thought of biking in terms of the alternative, i.e. cars. But biking in and of itself has a carbon footprint, as you need to eat food in order to power a bicycle. If you eat asparagus flown in from California to power your bike, you are doing a lot of harm. Also, the equipment you use to bike (helmet, bike rack, etc.) also needs to be taken into account.
Favorite Quote:
Strictly speaking, dying can be classed as a carbon-friendly thing to do, but needing an operation couldn't: see page 129. (less)
Split up into two parts: 1. Lists of careers based on certain criteria (such as educational requirements, job prospects, age groups, etc) 2. List of jo...moreSplit up into two parts: 1. Lists of careers based on certain criteria (such as educational requirements, job prospects, age groups, etc) 2. List of job descriptions
Useful way to peruse non-traditional jobs with an active and/or social slant. (less)
Wrong book, wrong time? Got to page 75, but it just never quite clung to me.
The premise is an intriguing one: a man follows a friend to a dinner part...moreWrong book, wrong time? Got to page 75, but it just never quite clung to me.
The premise is an intriguing one: a man follows a friend to a dinner party and then locks himself in the hosts' guest room for days (weeks? months?) for no discernible reason.
Favorite Quotes
She had not expected, out in the world, to find herself quite so much the wrong sort of person.
No one had yet solved the way of communicating with the dead. But when they did solve it, the boy thought, what would be the point anyway? All the dead would ever probably say, no matter what you asked them, would be, "Ah! once!"(less)
Only read 3 stories before needing to return it to the library. (Under the Rug, A Strange Day in July & Mr. Linden's Library) Definitely has the f...more Only read 3 stories before needing to return it to the library. (Under the Rug, A Strange Day in July & Mr. Linden's Library) Definitely has the feel of j fiction.
The illustrations are like the best of the Polar Express, soft and mysterious and a bit fantastical.
Favorite Quote:
And then there are books - a few books, I would say - that capture more of the mind than one would want to surrender, books that are better off never read, never opened.
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