Thursday, February 27, 2014

What color is your parachute? 2012


Searching for a job is tough. I've read several self-help books and guides on job hunting but none come close Richard N. Bolles' book What Color is Your Parachute? This book has been revised and updated annually since 1972. I read the 2012 edition.

The author addresses all aspects of finding a job. From career changes to job loss to extended periods of unemployment, Bolles offers practical advice on how to deal with each situation. He also discusses job searching through online postings, networking, and personal contact. He advises that a job seeker should pursue multiple avenues rather than just one. His advice on resumes are practical, helping the reader focus on relevant, transferable skills.

I highly recommend reading this book if you are considering a career change or need to find a new job. While I was not in either situation, I still found the author's positive, up-beat attitude inspiring. I do not know if it is important to read the latest edition. Even one that is a few years old will probably still prove useful.

Book rating: 5 stars


The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Monday, February 10, 2014

The Missing series




I previously enjoyed reading Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series so I picked up this series to try. The first book, Found, starts off rather exciting. An unnoticed plane shows up with 36 passengers on board. Each of those passengers are infants. There are no pilots or flight crew. Each of those children were placed for adoption.

Eventually, those children began to wonder of their origins. Some knew they were adopted. Others did not, but wondered about striking differences between themselves and the rest of their family. Friends Jonah and Chip begin to receive anonymous messages that declare someone is looking for them. Through a series of events, the boys attend a group intended to help adoptees only to discover all the children in the group experienced similar things. There is an evil arch nemesis and time travel.

The first story is exciting and fun. The second story picks up rather quickly after the first but throws the kids into the past. I found the second story rather boring, so I did not continue with the series. There are at least two more books in the series now. Despite that, the kids at the library that have started the series have enjoyed it and asked for more.

Book Rating: 3 1/2 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Monday, February 03, 2014

The paleo solution


The paleo diet has gained in popularity in the last few years. This book by Robb Wolf builds on the previous work of Loren Cordain, the founder of the paleo diet. Loren Cordain endorses this book by Robb Wolf.

Wolf begins by explaining his early experimentation with vegetarianism. He explained how he felt, both in energy levels, stamina, and physical appearance. Because he did not feel good he began to explore other diets and found the paleo diet. The rest of the book explains the origins of the paleo diet, health benefits, and how to start the diet. The last part of the book contains paleo recipes.

The first part of the book was interesting. I liked reading about Robb Wolf's journey to better health. It was inspiring and motivating. The explanation and possible health benefits of the paleo diet was interesting and laid out in an easy to read manner. Some of the presumed health benefits still need to be vetted with time and study as the documentation was mostly anecdotal. As always there is some caution involved with following any diet advice book. The recipe section was the weakest section. It's hard to convince people to try paleo without any color pictures of what the food looks like. Regardless, there are many other Paleo recipe books out there to try.

If you are interested in the Paleo diet, this book would provide a basic overview and guide. I have my reservations on some aspects of the diet from a health perspective, but many people have benefited by eating this way.

Book Rating: 4 stars, for those interested in the Paleo diet.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.