bookshelves: non-fiction
This is a book that makes running 60 miles sound fun. It's that ripping of a good read. Now, I'm biased, of course, since I love to run. But you won't catch me running over 10 miles, let alone 26, let alone 100. But after reading this book, I'm eager to just get out there again, feel the air in my lungs, get in tune with my primal begettings.
In addition to having all the elements of a gripping sports thriller, there's also some interesting scientific knowledge presented here. I've known about barefoot running for some time, but I definitely did not know the research that correlates advancement in running shoe technology with injuries. Nor was I aware of the evolution of the running man. All I've ever known is that when I run the right way, I feel damn good. Now there's a book that gives me some reasons for why it feels so damn good. And some reasons for trusting the instinct in me that says screw all the fancy expensive toys and just use my feet.
It's well-written, well-researched, and it makes you want to run. What more could you ask for? ]]>
bookshelves: currently-reading, education, non-fiction
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bookshelves: education, non-fiction
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bookshelves: contemporaryfiction
I picked this up from the library because everyone seems to be reading books by Mr. Hosseini. I was disappointed. There is nothing innovative about his writing, and the only thing that seems to be interesting to anyone about reading this story is that it takes place in Afghanistan. I didn't feel invested in his characters at all. They are models for Mr. Hosseini to attempt to elicit compassion and understanding in Western audiences for Afghani women--which is great, that is very noble. But they don't seem to live and breathe on their own, apart from his grand purpose. They are tragic figures that life wreaks terror after terror upon. The small empowerment that they are able to discover at the end of the novel is muted, and if anything, defeats the purpose of eliciting understanding of Afghani cultural differences from a Western audience. What, murder, or a fantasy lover? ]]>
Manderson
took the never-ending book quiz.
| questions answered: | 10 |
| correct: | 8 (80.0%) |
| skipped: | 2 |
| best streak: | 6 |
| questions added: | 0 |
bookshelves: education, non-fiction
OK, so this book is marketed, as indicated by its title, ostensibly for teachers and parents of autistic children. Furthermore, Dr. Siegel states in her foreword that she intends to write "in a conversational narrative manner," so that the book is not simply a "really boring but informative book on autism." Unfortunately, she has written exactly that, and failed to provide much that could be more easily and immediately digestible to those wanting to learn more about effective approaches to managing development in children diagnosed with autism.
Here's an example of the kind of writing you'll encounter in this book: "The term autistic learning is not meant to be a reified construct to be studied as a distinctive entity. Rather, the intention is to use the concept of autistic learning disabilities as a heuristic device for understanding how teaching may need to be modified when a child has certain characteristically autistic ways of processing information."
Huh? Are such ridiculously overwrought sentences really intended for parents and teachers?
If Dr. Siegel is incapable of writing in a conversational narrative manner herself, perhaps she should have hired an editor that could whittle down her sentences and ideas into something more tangible.
Now, there is a lot of good information in this book. But unless you like reading awkwardly stated, overly doctoral language, then I'd suggest avoiding it. ]]>
bookshelves: education, non-fiction
It's always nice to read a book that takes clinical understanding and translates it into everyday language so immediately and clearly. The approaches in this book will not only help the parents of an explosive child, but any adult who is responsible for another human being, whether in the capacity of management, teaching, or otherwise. Learning how to utilize empathy and collaborative problem solving is a life skill that I wish our politicians would have some training in! ]]>
bookshelves: childrensbooks
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bookshelves: childrensbooks
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