Book Review
8.29.2010 by Colee
Have you ever forgotten to write in your journal for so long that you can't even bother to try and catch up? That is what this entry kind of feels like. August went by in a blur and there were so many fabulous things that happened it would take too long to catch up, so instead today - you are getting a book review. Actually 3 book reviews, since I read 3 books this week. Don't be impressed, they weren't very long ones.
In order of completion
(August Book club) The Great and Terrible. The Brothers by Chris Stewart.. Is the first in a series of 6. The book is set in the preexistence. Talk about going to the beginning of a story to do character development ;) I am pretty sure that's as far back as you can go. The book was actually very thought provoking. I've never really spent much time thinking about what life was like before earth, the council in heaven, how we learned, the choices we made there. For that aspect, I really enjoyed it. I'm not going to say it is 100% true or anything, but it did give me a new perspective and some things to ponder. I have yet to decide if I will read the other 5. They have been highly recommended, but I am not breaking down doors to get a hold of them right now. The rest of them are set in modern day the war in the middle east and America's fall from grace... and well, I get enough modern day as it is.
(What you're reading, work email) Find Your Strongest Life. What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham... was actually much better than I thought it would be. I mean, I obviously got it for a reason, but most self help books are just a little crazy. This one also made me think. He redefines strengths as things that make you feel strong - not just things you do well. Our strengths are different than our performance. Others can judge how well you do something, but only you can know how what you are doing makes you feel strong, or happy. Weaknesses, are then the things that make us feel weak, unhappy, or bored to tears.
His suggestion is that we should base our choices around the things that make us stronger, happier, more fulfilled - and by doing so we then can also help the people around us and those who depend on us. The concept I most appreciated was his approach to balance. AVOID IT. Balance by definition is stagnant. If you move, balance is lost. We must strive for imbalance, tipping towards the things that will help us grow and be happy. The book also comes with an online strong life test. Again, most personality tests I think are bogus- or at the very least, unhelpful. I really liked this one. You can find it for yourself at stronglifetest.com. It's only 23 questions, takes all of about 5 minutes. In case you are wondering my lead role is Equalizer and my supporting role is Advisor. They were both much more accurate than I am used to admitting, but I'm owning it. I like rules, and I like telling people what to do ;)
I know you are laughing, because if you know me at all, you know both of those things are (for better or worse) 100% true.
As I have been considering making a lot of changes in my life, this book has been helpful, mostly in affirming I am on the right track - which might be why I liked it ;)
(September Book Club) The Remarkable Soul of a Woman by Dieter F. Uchtdorf is a lovely little reminder of the talk he gave at Women's Conference a few years ago. I loved it then, and I love it now. Buy the book, read it online, print it out and paste it on the walls... but read it often, and never forget how much your Heavenly Father loves you. You are His child and He wants you to be happy. Joy can be found in doing the things He asks, love Him and love others. I think my favorite line of the talk is when he is talking about the power of creation or creativity. After listing many ways to share in this attribute of Godliness (for those of us who are pretty sure there is not a creative bone in our body), he says, "If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create..." Making someone smile - helps us to be more like our Heavenly Father. It's just... true. So simple, yet it speaks to my heart. Not all of our gifts can be displayed on a stage, or a canvass, or a table, or a book. But it doesn't make them any less amazing or awe inspiring.
For the record, the book I am reading now is Defined By Christ by Toni Sorenson. If this reading kick lasts a little longer, I have stack of fantasy books on my nightstand AND my end table to get through.
In order of completion
(August Book club) The Great and Terrible. The Brothers by Chris Stewart.. Is the first in a series of 6. The book is set in the preexistence. Talk about going to the beginning of a story to do character development ;) I am pretty sure that's as far back as you can go. The book was actually very thought provoking. I've never really spent much time thinking about what life was like before earth, the council in heaven, how we learned, the choices we made there. For that aspect, I really enjoyed it. I'm not going to say it is 100% true or anything, but it did give me a new perspective and some things to ponder. I have yet to decide if I will read the other 5. They have been highly recommended, but I am not breaking down doors to get a hold of them right now. The rest of them are set in modern day the war in the middle east and America's fall from grace... and well, I get enough modern day as it is.
(What you're reading, work email) Find Your Strongest Life. What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham... was actually much better than I thought it would be. I mean, I obviously got it for a reason, but most self help books are just a little crazy. This one also made me think. He redefines strengths as things that make you feel strong - not just things you do well. Our strengths are different than our performance. Others can judge how well you do something, but only you can know how what you are doing makes you feel strong, or happy. Weaknesses, are then the things that make us feel weak, unhappy, or bored to tears.
His suggestion is that we should base our choices around the things that make us stronger, happier, more fulfilled - and by doing so we then can also help the people around us and those who depend on us. The concept I most appreciated was his approach to balance. AVOID IT. Balance by definition is stagnant. If you move, balance is lost. We must strive for imbalance, tipping towards the things that will help us grow and be happy. The book also comes with an online strong life test. Again, most personality tests I think are bogus- or at the very least, unhelpful. I really liked this one. You can find it for yourself at stronglifetest.com. It's only 23 questions, takes all of about 5 minutes. In case you are wondering my lead role is Equalizer and my supporting role is Advisor. They were both much more accurate than I am used to admitting, but I'm owning it. I like rules, and I like telling people what to do ;)
I know you are laughing, because if you know me at all, you know both of those things are (for better or worse) 100% true.
As I have been considering making a lot of changes in my life, this book has been helpful, mostly in affirming I am on the right track - which might be why I liked it ;)
(September Book Club) The Remarkable Soul of a Woman by Dieter F. Uchtdorf is a lovely little reminder of the talk he gave at Women's Conference a few years ago. I loved it then, and I love it now. Buy the book, read it online, print it out and paste it on the walls... but read it often, and never forget how much your Heavenly Father loves you. You are His child and He wants you to be happy. Joy can be found in doing the things He asks, love Him and love others. I think my favorite line of the talk is when he is talking about the power of creation or creativity. After listing many ways to share in this attribute of Godliness (for those of us who are pretty sure there is not a creative bone in our body), he says, "If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create..." Making someone smile - helps us to be more like our Heavenly Father. It's just... true. So simple, yet it speaks to my heart. Not all of our gifts can be displayed on a stage, or a canvass, or a table, or a book. But it doesn't make them any less amazing or awe inspiring.
For the record, the book I am reading now is Defined By Christ by Toni Sorenson. If this reading kick lasts a little longer, I have stack of fantasy books on my nightstand AND my end table to get through.
