If you are starting out in ‘journalling’ you might want to put this book on your ‘to read’ list. The book outlines and discusses various topics, suchIf you are starting out in ‘journalling’ you might want to put this book on your ‘to read’ list. The book outlines and discusses various topics, such as ‘Be your own alchemist’ and ‘Widen your comfort zone’ along with hints and tips to help you on your journalling quest. At the end of each chapter there are questions to ask yourself, a choice of thoughts to concentrate and, in some cases, exercises to do....more
This is an informative book, so much so that you wonder how they do get away with it; but get away with it they do. It is not about characterThis is an informative book, so much so that you wonder how they do get away with it; but get away with it they do. It is not about character assassinations or bringing people to book per-se; it is about 'The Establishment' and Owen Jones does a good job of exposing the inner workings of this behemoth that protects and nurtures itself at the expense of everyone else. I have no idea what can be done about it, Owen Jones offers no solution and rightly so, because I don't think there is one - if you cut off the Establishment's head another would soon grow in its place; it may be a different colour or shape and have 'Now even more chocolatey' on the wrapper, but it's the same old confection inside and elected into power by the same electorate, beguiled by the tried and trusted methods that never fail - ensuring that the 'Establishment' will continue sailing on by as everyone else flounders in its wake....more
Brilliant idea to put the novel first, which takes you to the 'launch' and then the actual account that fills in all the missing bits. An enjoyableBrilliant idea to put the novel first, which takes you to the 'launch' and then the actual account that fills in all the missing bits. An enjoyable and interesting (if you like this sort of thing) read....more
This book caught my eye at a supermarket that had a ‘for charity’ used book section. Initially, I had it in mind for someone else - until I startedThis book caught my eye at a supermarket that had a ‘for charity’ used book section. Initially, I had it in mind for someone else - until I started reading it, that is. If you have an interest in pendulums and such in the ‘whoo whoo’ sense this book may disappoint - written as it is by an archaeologist, psychic researcher, dowser and explorer. That said, it is not scientifically ‘stuffy’ or incomprehensible, but it is written in the most engaging prose that is not trying to convince you one way or the other; in fact the tone is 'this is what I have discovered, take-it or leave-it'.
My favourite quote from this book is: Actually it is quite devastating to realise how few people ever think at all. They mostly take their ideas from what they are told on the wireless, television, or in the newspapers, from people who are prepared to take a reasonable fee. To suggest anything different makes you tread on many corns of vested interest. No professional pathfinder likes you for doing it....more
This is a very readable book, not at all heavy or preachy in any way – no “eat this, don’t eat that“; it is not that kind of book.
It is a book ofThis is a very readable book, not at all heavy or preachy in any way – no “eat this, don’t eat that“; it is not that kind of book.
It is a book of well-researched information laying bare the tricks of the trade that are used to get the consumer ‘hooked’ and coming back for more. I knew that such went on but never realised the magnitude of the science, the bio-psychology, the testing, the targeting et-al that goes on behind the scenes to get us to buy their products.
The book points out that a food company's aim is to make the most profit it can and to sell more of its products than their rivals. It is not interested in peoples health. In this quest, it has a powerful arsenal at its disposal – salt sugar and fat.
Yet we are not helpless victims, as the closing paragraph states “They may have salt, sugar and fat on their side, but we, ultimately, have the power to make choices. After all, we decide what to buy. We decide how much to eat”.
If knowing more about the food you buy is important to you then I heartily recommend reading this book....more
This is an easy to read and understand book that challenges many long held ideas in the field of diet and nutrition. This is a lifestyle-change bookThis is an easy to read and understand book that challenges many long held ideas in the field of diet and nutrition. This is a lifestyle-change book rather than a diet book and I think the most compelling aspect of it is that Dr Mcdougall 'eats his own words' as it were. If ever there was a case of 'Physician heal thyself' this is it - because he did and may do the same for others seeking to "Eat the Foods You Love, Regain Your Health, and Lose the Weight for Good!"...more
This was an interesting and insightful read and though it was written some eighty years ago it is remarkably current, timeless in many ways. There isThis was an interesting and insightful read and though it was written some eighty years ago it is remarkably current, timeless in many ways. There is much to stop and ponder over; for example:
Here you come upon the important fact that every revolutionary opinion draws part of its strength from a secret conviction that nothing can be changed.
Orwell pulled some things into all-too-sharp a focus for some tastes back then, which are just as challenging and eye-averting today in our so-called 'inclusive-all embracing-anything-goes' society.
This book is well written and Orwell's descriptions and turns of phrase do not disappoint; one (amongst others) that amused me was:
Generally the crumbs from breakfast were still on the table at supper. I used to get to know individual crumbs by sight and watch their progress up and down the table from day to day.
Such observations seemed to add a certain surrealness to the work that I liked and did not detract from the serious nature of the book....more
This book is as good a place as any to start reading Krishnamurti, covering a range of topics about the human condition dealing with such things asThis book is as good a place as any to start reading Krishnamurti, covering a range of topics about the human condition dealing with such things as fear, loneliness, anger and freedom to name a few. I found the chapter on guilt particularly insightful, but having said that the chapters are all insightful and there is much that can be taken away from this book that could prove useful to a person in their daily living (as indeed all of K’s writings). If I was to take one quote from this book that gave me pause for thought it is this: “Sirs, if you are listening and are not acting, it is like a man who is always tilling but never sowing. It is better not to listen to a truth than to listen without acting, for then it becomes a poison”....more
This book certainly makes you stop and ponder; even more so when you realise that not much, if anything has changed since it was written over 90 yearsThis book certainly makes you stop and ponder; even more so when you realise that not much, if anything has changed since it was written over 90 years ago. Corporate monoliths are alive and well; advertisers still “... tell people in a bullying way that they must ‘Do It Now’ when they need not do it at all.” - taken from my favourite chapter ‘The Bluff of the Big Shops.’ Written in the usual Chestertonian style it does not have the wit of some of his other works and rightly so; this is a serious work about serious matters close to his heart, which point out in many ways that we don’t have to accept the status-quo and that we easily do. In the aforementioned chapter he writes “... I am merely pointing out that if we came to the conclusion that big shops ought to be boycotted, we could boycott them as easily as we should (I hope) shops selling instruments of torture or poisons for private use in the home.” Chesterton ventures that it is not a “... question of necessity but of will.” I think we have forgotten this....more
This is a fine collection of G K Chesterton’s essays originally printed in the Illustrated London News. Being over 80 years old some of the topics mayThis is a fine collection of G K Chesterton’s essays originally printed in the Illustrated London News. Being over 80 years old some of the topics may be thought of as dated or irrelevant to our modern times and I suppose in the given circumstances that may be true in some cases. However, it is not the circumstance that matters but the thoughts woven through them and it is these that are still fresh and relevant and always will be. I particularly liked the final sentence from the essay On the Young Idea that I think illustrates this point - “We cannot all play like Paderewski or think like Plato ; but we should be a great deal nearer to it if we could forget these little tags of talk from the daily papers and the debating clubs, and start afresh, thinking for ourselves.”...more
Classic Chesterton - always a pleasure to read and although this book was published over 108 years ago, the content is still current. My favouriteClassic Chesterton - always a pleasure to read and although this book was published over 108 years ago, the content is still current. My favourite chapter in this book is entitled 'The Fallacy of Success' and I am in full agreement with it; the sad thing is that no-one was listening then and they still aren't - our bookshops remain crammed with books on how to be successful. Chesterton writes, and rightly so, that “...there is no such thing as Success.” and states that “... there is nothing that is not successful ... That a thing is successful merely means that it is; a millionaire is successful in being a millionaire and a donkey in being a donkey.” With various other examples and observations it is hard to refute his logic or his advice that those who have purchased such books have a “moral if not legal right to ask for their money back.” The other chapters on various subjects are all treated to the hallmark Chesterton wit and insights, by which the reader cannot fail to be impressed, amused and edified....more
As the editor of Renée Paule’s books I declare an interest in Stepping Out of Time and have not and will not be paid for my services.
Stepping Out ofAs the editor of Renée Paule’s books I declare an interest in Stepping Out of Time and have not and will not be paid for my services.
Stepping Out of Time is not your usual ‘self-help’ offering. I’m not sure where to place this book for, like Renée’s others, it doesn’t fit exactly into any particular pigeon-hole, but rattles around disconcertingly in the mind making you take notice of it. I think that is exactly what it should do for Renée writes in her Introduction ‘There’s nothing in any of my books that we don’t already know...’ and she is quite right, but we have forgotten so much or have allowed it to be pushed out of sight and mind by more ‘important’ things. What you will find is a book written in what Renée calls ‘plain English’ (no jargon) with many delightful illustrations, a book that is a clarion call to stir ourselves; to take note of what is happening around us and to realise that we can effect change in our lives if we really want to. I heartily recommend this book to you. ...more
I picked this book up in a shop, opened it at random and starting reading. I hadn't gone halfway down the page when I had to stop reading as II picked this book up in a shop, opened it at random and starting reading. I hadn't gone halfway down the page when I had to stop reading as I couldn't see through the tears that laughing had produced. I knew I had to buy this book. But it isn’t all laughter; the abject poverty and hardship that Frank McCourt and his family endured is heart-rending and you can’t help but feel angry at those whose scraps from their tables of plenty were doled out to the lines of the poor and hungry at their door. A moving memoir worth reading....more
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