The storyline kept me curious to the very end, but it often felt contrived. The ending was weak. It wDisappointing after reading "The Handmaid's Tale"
The storyline kept me curious to the very end, but it often felt contrived. The ending was weak. It was an ok read, but disappointing after "The Handmaid's Tale". ...more
For anyone who needs an introduction to positive psychology and its benefits, especially in organisations, buA brilliant book and very quick to read.
For anyone who needs an introduction to positive psychology and its benefits, especially in organisations, but also for anyone wanting a quick reminder, this is a must-read.
The parable covers so many fundamentals of positive psychology, from choosing to be happy, to happiness coming before success, to the crucial importance of altruism, as well as gratitude and exercise, to name but a few. It took me less than an hour to read the book, and it also helpfully explains the metaphors and key concepts at the end, for those that want to learn more about the science behind it all.
I'm a huge fan of Shawn's work and was delighted to meet him at this year's IPEN (International Positive Education Network) Festival of Positive Education, where he also gave away copies of this fabulous little book. My signed copy takes pride of place on my bookshelf!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough!...more
I was expecting to love this book because I am a bit of a social media geek, but this is truly a book that anyone who loWow! What an enthralling read!
I was expecting to love this book because I am a bit of a social media geek, but this is truly a book that anyone who loves books about power struggles, corporate intrigue, friendships and betrayal will absolutely adore.
From the very first sentence, I was hooked. The book took me on a rollercoaster ride and I didn't want to ever put it down. Nick Bilton needs to start working on the post-IPO sequel as I now feel I *need* to know the continuation of the inside Twitter story.
Whether you use Twitter or not, whether you 'get' social media or not, this is a must-read. ...more
Ok, I may be slightly biased because I am what the two Andy's would call 'a 2%er"...but this book really was a delighI loved, loved, loved this book!
Ok, I may be slightly biased because I am what the two Andy's would call 'a 2%er"...but this book really was a delight to read.
The authors managed to convey scientific information, research findings and their experiences in a clear, simple and quick-to-read format. They avoided jargon at all costs, used cute cartoons and brilliant fables/stories to illustrate their points.
Best of all, they did all this with great humour throughout the book. I don't just mean gentle humour to make you smile, but proper laugh-out-loud funny stuff!
A fantastic book that I cannot recommend highly enough to anyone wanting to understand a bit more about this thing we call 'happiness'. ...more
This book was recommended to me by a friend, given my interest in all things 'happiness'.
I hadn't seen the film - and I must say, it's odd: at no poiThis book was recommended to me by a friend, given my interest in all things 'happiness'.
I hadn't seen the film - and I must say, it's odd: at no point in the book could I picture Elizabeth as Julia Roberts!
It too me a very long time to properly get into this book - I can't blame the book entirely for this as I was writing my own book when I started and also found myself reading multiple books at once, so I picked up 'Eat, Pray, Love' from time to time to read a bit more.
This book is split into three sections: The first one is an account of Elizabeth's time in Italy, where she does a lot of eating. The second, her time in a remote Indian Ashram, where she does a lot of meditating and the final one in Bali, where she finds friendship, wisdom and love.
Strangely, I found the first section, based in Italy, the most difficult to get into. I did love Elizabeth's description of her love and enjoyment of my native food, especially the stunning language she used to write about food, but some of her descriptions of her experiences felt contrived, somehow. Maybe I'm just very picky when it comes to anything relating to my native country and the city of Rome, which I adore.
The middle part of the book, where Elizabeth describes her experiences in the Indian Ashram, was very interesting for me to read as it described situations I had no prior knowledge or experience of. I enjoyed reading about her spiritual journey.
The final part of the book was the one I really found myself engrossed in and is the reason, along with Elizabeth Gilbert's beautiful use of language, that I have given this book 4 stars, despite finding some parts a bit difficult to get into. This final section was full of humour - sometimes gentle, sometimes pure laugh-out-loud humour. It moved at a faster pace and was full of different and colourful characters. Elizabeth's friend, Wayan, in particular, was highly entertaining and the descriptions of how she helps infertile couples conceive were delightfully witty.
If you enjoy books about enlightenment and want to read something that will make you feel good and want to become a better person, then this book is definitely for you. Take your time over it, relax into it and give it time to grow. ...more
I hadn't read any Jeffrey Archer books for years and I really enjoyed this one. The only reason it got 4 stars and not 5 is that I felt, all the way tI hadn't read any Jeffrey Archer books for years and I really enjoyed this one. The only reason it got 4 stars and not 5 is that I felt, all the way through, as if I was reading the background story to something that was about to happen or be unveiled, and it kind of felt 'unfinished' at the end.
Very enjoyable read though and beautifully constructed. The pages kept on turning themselves and I couldn't put it down, even late at night when I really needed to sleep!...more
I thought I'd read all of Tess Gerritsen's books and was therefore delighted when I found one I hadn't read yet!
This was true Tess Gerritsen. From theI thought I'd read all of Tess Gerritsen's books and was therefore delighted when I found one I hadn't read yet!
This was true Tess Gerritsen. From the first sentence, I was hooked! The book starts with a disturbing episode from the past and leaves the ending of that event on a cliffhanger...then picks it up again much later in the book, in the present.
The story is dark and disturbing and full of the usual twists and turns you expect in Tess's plots.
It took me ages to read it, but that is in no way a reflection on the quality of the book. I go through phasesAnother fantastic read by Lisa Gardner.
It took me ages to read it, but that is in no way a reflection on the quality of the book. I go through phases when I just can't focus on reading for more than a few minutes...the strength of this book is that it got me back OUT of such a phase and gripped me to the point where I couldn't put it down. I fell asleep while desperately trying to read a few more pages every night!
The story grips you from the very beginning and the change of perspective from 3rd person when following the investigation to 1st person when following the ordeal the kidnapped family is going through, from the mother's perspective, adds to the great pace of the novel.
As you would expect from Lisa Gardner, there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, and she keeps you guessing until the very end.
A must read for all Lisa Gardner fans and lovers of the crime fiction genre in general!...more
Having read previous Andrew Gross / James Patterson collaborations, I was expecting this book to be a page-turner, but I actually found it to be far bHaving read previous Andrew Gross / James Patterson collaborations, I was expecting this book to be a page-turner, but I actually found it to be far better than I expected!
Starting with the excellent and very clever bit of marketing: I saw it advertised on a group on Facebook; you could download part 1 for free from Amazon, then parts 2 and 3 separately for a very low price. The book, however, was so good from the very first page, that just a few pages into reading it, I bought & downloaded the full book from Amazon, because I didn't want to have to even interrupt my reading to switch from part 1 to part 2 to part 3.
The plot jumps effortlessly between the two parallel stories that will eventually intertwine, the characters draw you in and the energy flows through the entire book, taking the reader on an exciting and heart-pounding journey through government conspiracies, Mexican drug cartels and a woman's desperate attempts to clear her name and claim her life back.
My only criticism would be that, throughout the book, an almost-one-night-stand is mentioned in almost puritanical terms over and over again and as I read it, I kept thinking "really, with everything else going on in this woman's life, is that really what she'd be focusing on?!".
That aside, a thoroughly enjoyable read that I struggled to put down....more
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