Urban Thought | 10 Observations There was a time when I would read one book a week. In order to save time between books I would purchase three books at a time just so I could do back to back reading. My purchases of books never took place inside a regular bookstore, it was actually the street vendors that supplied my reading material.
One day while looking for a book to read, I came across an entrepreneur of sorts peddling his own publication. Not something you see often, but something I can say is great. I’d rather see you pushing your own product than someone else’s. The book that was up for sale was “How to Roll a Blunt for Dummies.” I couldn’t imagine myself purchasing the book for literary purposes but it sure seemed like a good coffee table book, something of a conversation piece. Flipping through the pages, I found it amusing. It came with illustrations and recommendations on wraps and snacks (for the munchies).
I have to give it to the brother. When asked how he came up with the concept, he said, “I don’t have many skills but what I do know about I thought to put in a book.” I’m all for that… Share what you know. But, then I thought to myself ‘for dummies?” So, I asked, “Aren’t you afraid that someone may come after you regarding the use of the “for dummies” theme?” “Nah,” he said. “I look forward to the publicity. I may get some extra cash out of it.”
Hey, I won’t knock him.
If you haven’t stopped reading, I need to ask of you… Can you recommend some books to read? I haven’t picked up a book in quite some time, as I’ve been engrossed in my studies for work. However, I want to read at least two books before the year is out. All suggestions appreciated.
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That does look like a fun conversation piece.
What kind of books? I liked Motherless Brooklyn (Lethem) for fiction. Nonfiction - I saw two books I’d LIKE to read but haven’t (& thus can’t recommend) but that looked interesting - The Wisdom of Crowds (Surowiecki) and More Sex is Safer Sex (Landsburg). Both those looked interesting.
Depends on your interest. I read dang, a lot of books of all different kinds (well, haven’t read Sci-Fi or Fantasy in a while). I can’t recall all the ones I read this year and I KNOW I had some I loved.
Non fiction:
I liked “Blink” and “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. Both very readable and easy to put down and pick up in that if you need something good to read in 30 minute bits.
Personal development:
“The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal” by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
“Vital Friends: The People You Can’t Afford to Live Without” by Tom Rath - you could probably read this before the year is out! Very interesting and they have a website.
Probably any of the John Bradshaw books (”Creating Love: The Next Great Stage of Growth”, “Healing the Shame that binds you” etc etc). Not exactly light reading though.
Fun reads: the Jack Reacher series by Lee Childs. I read, “The Enemy”, “The Hard Way”, and “Bad Luck and Trouble” and “Persuader”
Ex-Military Alpha Male who’s the master of the understatement along with the head-butt and various firearms.
“Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden - I read this years ago and it’s amazing how true the voice of a young Japanese girl sounds! I know little about the “floating world” as I think the Geisha reside in and the book draws you right into that time and her life.
“The Shipping News” by E. Annie Proulx - I think it won the Pulitzer. As a writer, I was impressed at how well crafted this book was. This makes it sound a bit yawn but she has a deft use of language and how words sounds to create feelings within the reader. I read this over 10 years ago but I still remember it.
“Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel - I think it’s now a classic! I enjoyed it but it took me years to finally check it out of the library. I think it’s one of those you have to be “in the mood” for.
“White Noise” by Don DeLillo - very different type of book. The observations about mass media and the like still work for today’s world. I didn’t find it an easy read - it really made me think. I do like it. Again, you probably have to be in the mood!
Do you have anything particular in mind?
LOL! Is that the author holding up the book!?
I have not had to to read much. I wish I had a recommendation. I remember the show Reading Rainbow with LeVar Burton. Great stuff.
I just finished reading “How To Lose Friends and Alienate People” by Toby Young. It’s an account of this British guy’s experiences and delusions in New York while working at Vanity Fair and trying his best to be a “scenester”…it was a good read, pretty funny cause the guy was a total loser and didn’t know it for years (which he ended up admitting himself).
Hi,
I was thinking about this and trying to decide what you would enjoy. Then it occurred to me like two years back I read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafon/dp/0143034901/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197386791&sr=8-2
and couldn’t stop telling people to read it! The writing is reminicent of Hemmingway and the story is sort of a story within a story. I think you will enjoy it.
Cheers,
Lit
You know I’ve actually read that book - and it is quite good. . .
Anyway on to the Books:
-Eat, Pray, Love (I’m on the bandwagon)
-Fortunate Son (Walter Mosley - anything by him is a good read)
-Random Family (Growing up in the BX in the cracked out 80’s)
I remember us talking about this. LOL. Great post! I have a book recommendation for you. The book that Russell Simmons put out this past summer entitled, “Do You”. That is a very enlightening book. Also, Iyanla Vanzant has a book entitled, “Acts Of Faith” that is absolutely phenomenal in my opinion. I’m sure you’d take much from this book to aid in your personal growth.
LMAO! This Negroe wrote a book rolling blunts?
Books, I’ll give you four different kind.
Origins of the Civil Rights Movement by Aldon D. Morris
The Great Contreversy by Ellen G. White
The Mugging of Black America by Earl Ofari Hutchison
The End of Work: by: Jeremy Rifkin
ALL: Thank you for the suggestions. I will follow up on what I’ve selected for Q1 2008 in a seperate post.
Ricardo: That is indeed the author of the book. Dude has no shame.
Yobachi: I would have never believed it had I not seen it.
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