false 45 181 121 true 5795530 read 3 true 1829694 currently-reading 9 true 1829693 to-read 48 true 1830976 want-to-read 54 false 4221496 2009 52 false 4221493 2008 40 false 6261624 40-modern-nonfiction-books http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68832889 The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth (Paperback) by M. Scott Peck
bookshelves: 40-modern-nonfiction-books, currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68836032 to: Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream (Hardcover) by Adam Shepard
bookshelves: 2009, 40-modern-nonfiction-books
Scratch Beginnings was conceived as a rebuttal againstNickel and Dimed On (Not) Getting By in America where she stated that we are products of our society. Adam Shepard believed that with enough hard work and dedication, you can work your way up from measly beginnings. So he set out to a random destination in the Southeast selected out of a hat - Charleston, SC - with $25, a sleeping bag and a gym bag. His plan was to have $2500 in the bank, a car and a furnished apartment by the end of the year.

He details the first month or so on a daily basis and including living at the shelter, working from a daily labor company which takes advantage of its workers situation through to his goal, which he accomplished in 6 months instead of a year, and beyond.

The main point Adam makes in this journey is that you can lift yourself up from your bootstraps, but you absolutely need to have a goal and the willingness to delay gratification for that goal. He specifically changes his life and his social opportunities for those things that are free instead of those things that could cost money; he lives on franks and peanut butter crackers instead of going out to KFC, among other things.

But, along the way he also learns that once you're at the bottom, there is not point not to take a chance on things. He details a story where he walks into a moving company and doesn't take no for an answer until he has a job, and learns that you can - and need to be - more assertive than you've ever been to improve your situation.

Unfortunately, there are many people who are living this way of life and have no urge or drive to get themselves out of that situation, and the author doesn't shy away of being honest about that side of things. It is good to see that there are a good number that do have the goals and desire to get out of that situation, but it does take a lot of work and learning skills they may never have learned, like budgeting.

I don't think that I could put myself in that situation. Adam himself says he wouldn't wish the first 70 days of his project on anyone, when he was living in the shelter, but his book has made me appreciate being blessed with my lot in life and the skills I have learned to be able to survive comfortably. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68836219 to: The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance (Paperback) by Josh Waitzkin
bookshelves: 2009, 40-modern-nonfiction-books
If you've ever seen the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer or read the book of the same name, you know who Josh Waitzkin is. What you may not know is that after the book/movie came out Josh slowly started turning away from chess and became interested in Tai Chi, eventually winning the 2004 World Push Hands championship.

This book breaks down how Josh goes about learning and becoming top in his field. What he doesn't mention is the intense determination and drive you need to practice hours and hours a day on something - one character trait I don't exactly have.

That being said, his detailed explanation of his learning algorithm was very interesting, especially his part about "Making Smaller Circles". Throughout the book, he relates stories of chess matches and Tai Chi matches, making this a more interesting read than you might think from a non-fiction book.

I definitely recommend it to anyone who's interested in improving their learning technique, interested in chess, or wants an intriguing read on a plane ride. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67360989 to: Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye! (Paperback) by Cynthia Heimel
bookshelves: 2009
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65348255 to: L.A. Candy (L.A. Candy, #1) by Lauren Conrad
Okay, you can judge me now. 3 chapters in, I wanted to put the book down because the writing was so ... tweeny. So many details were included that just weren't relevant and it felt like my IQ was dropping every minute i read this.

That being said, I've not seen Laguna Beach or the Hills, so perhaps I didn't get all the inside jokes, but I'm still a little ashamed for having actually finished this book - more so than twilight or the like. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68833244 Radical Honesty, The New Revised Edition: How to Transform Your Life by Telling the Truth (Paperback) by Brad Blanton
bookshelves: 40-modern-nonfiction-books, currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67360973 to: If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet?! (Paperback) by Cynthia Heimel
bookshelves: 2009
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68835984 The Joy of Simple Living: Over 1,500 Simple Ways to Make Your Life Easy and Content-- At Home and At Work (Paperback) by Jeff Davidson
bookshelves: 40-modern-nonfiction-books, want-to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68835964 Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials) by Robert B. Cialdini
bookshelves: 40-modern-nonfiction-books, want-to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68835931 Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth (Hardcover) by T. Harv Eker
bookshelves: 40-modern-nonfiction-books, want-to-read
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