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April 13
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Jerry
gave
 
to:
Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis (Paperback)
by Jimmy Carter
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my rating:
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read in July, 2007
Jerry said:
"Something deep on the need for tolerance among good minded folks that may disagree on fundamental truths yet need to live together. Chapter 1-7 and 14 are an excellent review of society and politics and the historic perspective of how society and go...more
Something deep on the need for tolerance among good minded folks that may disagree on fundamental truths yet need to live together. Chapter 1-7 and 14 are an excellent review of society and politics and the historic perspective of how society and government work best when they remain in their own spheres. Something more than a rehash of the separation of church and state.
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December 26
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Jerry
marked as to-read:
The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World (Hardcover)
by Alan Greenspan
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Jerry
gave
to:
Love the Life You Live: 3 Secrets to Feeling Good Deep Down in Your Soul (Hardcover)
by Les Parrott, Neil Clark Warren
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in December, 2007
Jerry said:
"This is excellent practical advice with just the right mix of an easy read and thoughtful analysis. The manner and depth of presentation reflects the best the authors have to offer from their combined talents as both highly trained professionals eng...more
This is excellent practical advice with just the right mix of an easy read and thoughtful analysis. The manner and depth of presentation reflects the best the authors have to offer from their combined talents as both highly trained professionals engaged in individual counseling, and mass consumption authors. One of the authors is the founder of eHarmony.com – you must have seen the incessant ads on T.V.
The book starts with the deep and simple plan that you need to have “profound significance, unswerving authenticity, and self-giving love to achieve happiness. One thing I really liked were the “tests” it offers to see how well you rate on different dimensions that can have an impact on your happiness. You answer a series of multiple choice questions and then look at the answer key to see how you rate. These are good tools for judging the areas you are doing well in, or the areas that need improvement, in the safety and comfort of your home. If you are brave enough the text also offers several exercises you can engage in with others to see the difference between how you perceive yourself, and how others perceive you. Remember we can never see our own dark spots. .
It does not offer any one “Secret” that can change your life, but it does offer good discussions of key areas you can focus on to improve things. I liked how it talked about moving past your past, tuning into your self-talk, discovering you blind spots, and harnessing your wild side/passions. I enjoyed the discussion of the need to not simply destroying or choose not to act on our passions. We need to harness them, recognize they can be used for both good and bad, and learn to direct them towards the good that can bring us happiness.
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Jerry
gave
to:
The Secret (Hardcover)
by Rhonda Byrne
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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recommended for: Folks looking for some practicle advise
read in November, 2007
Jerry said:
"It’s a good, short, synthesis of lots of other discussions of the efficacy and importance of positive self talk and goal setting. There are two reasons I think it is worth the read. The first is the one really new and important thing it added tha...more
It’s a good, short, synthesis of lots of other discussions of the efficacy and importance of positive self talk and goal setting. There are two reasons I think it is worth the read. The first is the one really new and important thing it added that I had not picked up from others. The discussion of feelings in chapter entitled “The Secret Made Simple”. What you are feeling is the conscious manifestation of your subconscious thoughts. I’ve learned in other places that the subconscious is so very important to how we act. Being able to focus on feelings as a key to what it going on in the subconscious may be a huge benefit. Second is, I really really really liked the summaries at the end of every chapter. Want a quick fix of the real meat of the subject or a chance to spend just a few minutes reviewing? Just skim the end of the chapters that pack lots of wisdom onto just a page.
This book shortens the subject, and eliminates the need to discuss what can be some pretty dry info, by eliminating any discussion of the how or why positive self talk and goal setting impacts what we achieve. It eliminates any discussion of the how and the why by calling it the secret, and focusing on the magical power of how we act as a transmitter/receiver of good or bad energy. This was a little too much mumbo jumbo for my liking, but it does allow the author to spend all her time on just offering advise without having to get bogged down in explications.
All in all it’s a good flashy presentation of subject matter that has been well plowed in other places. If you’re looking for some good practical advise without any deep discussions, this is a great book. Having studied other material along this vein, I think the chapter summaries alone are worth the purchase price of the book.
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November 25
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New comment on Heather's review of
A Christmas Carol (Great Stories)
(see all 2 comments)
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October 05
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New comment on Kristen's review of
The Secret
reply to this comment
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October 03
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Jerry
gave
to:
Democracy in America (Perennial Classics)
by Alexis de Tocqueville
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in September, 2007
Jerry said:
"I read this in response to my frustration with what I saw as our inability to bring democracy to other places in the world. Chapters 1-42 and 55 - 57 are the most insightful. Others tend to drag. In 1830s de Tocqueville comes to America to figure ...more
I read this in response to my frustration with what I saw as our inability to bring democracy to other places in the world. Chapters 1-42 and 55 - 57 are the most insightful. Others tend to drag. In 1830s de Tocqueville comes to America to figure our why a democratic revolution in France lead to anarchy and despotism, while a democratic revolution in America lead to freedom. What he finds is still relevant to our trying to bring or give democracy to others.
Two things emerge- first there were many natural advantages that America had that the French or any other European nation would never have the good fortune to posses. Other places in the world seeking democracy similarly lacks these natural advantages today. Second and more to the point - regardless of your natural advantages - you cannot "give" democratic institutions to a society that has no practical experience with democracy. Democratic society must precede democratic governments if the institutions are to succeed. If you want to move to democratic governments you must begin with a government that provides order, and begin change on the social level.
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Jerry
marked as to-read:
The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Rapport--And Leave a Positive Impression (Audio Cassette)
by Debra Fine
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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Jerry
marked as to-read:
The Power of Focus (Paperback)
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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Jerry
gave
to:
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York (Vintage)
by Robert A. Caro
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in May, 2007
Jerry said:
"Although many folks know he is responsible for parks, bridges, roads, and tunnels - did you know that he reformed the budget system for the state of New York? Did you know that he was an Ivy League do gooder that never had a real paying job until he...more
Although many folks know he is responsible for parks, bridges, roads, and tunnels - did you know that he reformed the budget system for the state of New York? Did you know that he was an Ivy League do gooder that never had a real paying job until he was more than 30 years old? Did you know that he spent his entire young adulthood trying to reform government? Did you know that the man most responsible for the highway, bridges, and tunnels of NYC, never had a driver’s license? He was chauffer driven all his life.
Interesting study of a mulit-faceted man who points out the dangers of judging folks that do great things on either only one dimension or the same scale we use to evaluate our private lives. Interesting to see how men that do great things also make great mistakes, commit great sins, and have great personalities. A great example of how to make a great omelet you have to break some eggs.
A huge intellect
A huge reformer
A huge ego
A huge bully that believed in quashing any disagreement (important and unimportant), so that others would fear to disagree and therefore not impede his progress.
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