I’ve been reading, reading, reading for several months now and not reported even once on my book list. In fact, it looks like the last book review I did was last year when I gave my thoughts on The World Peace Diet.
That won’t do.
Reaching back into the files of my brain, I recall a few reads that I want to recommend to you:
Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America
This investigative journalism book by Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America, is a scary tale about what can happen if the wrong person gets put on the wrong drug at the wrong time. If you or a loved one suffers from mental illness, I highly recommend that you read this book. It is tough to read, but insightful and necessary.
The Zen of Social Media Marketing
If you have a micro business, a blog, or any kind of online presence that you want to grow, this book is for you. Shama Hyder Kabani writes with an enthusiastic and warm tone that makes you feel like you’re her best friend. The books provides online marketing basics and then dives into the most popular social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) and explains in detail how to make them work for you. An interesting note is that Shama emphasizes that social media is all about giving. You can’t just go stomping into the social media world and expect to get what you want without giving of yourself and your talents. I think this is a universal rule.
Queen Bees and Wannabes
Raising a teenage girl is not easy. In fact, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. So Rosalind Wiseman’s book about “Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World” has been really helpful. This is an in-depth, no-nonsense guide to the world in which today’s teenagers find themselves. A guide for parents, but also for girls. It covers everything from alcohol, sex, and drugs to how to deal with technology. I love the quotes from girls, parents, and teachers throughout the book. And with statements like “If you have a child between the ages of five and twelve walking around with a cell phone …, you have lost your mind.”, the book is highly entertaining. I would recommend reading this waaaay before your child turns 13.
Water for Elephants
Yes, I do read fiction every now and then. This book got some hype when the movie came out this year. I scored the title on swap.com and thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Working at a circus during the great Depression is better than not working at all, I suppose. The story goes back and forth between present day and memories of an old man. It’s cleverly written and I just *love* the ending. But no, I did not see the movie. Is it any good?
Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World
OK. One more! I just finished this awesome book during my vacation to Sweden. I had never heard of Lisa Bloom until I saw a link to a Huffington Post piece she wrote about “How to Talk to Little Girls.” It was love at first read. When I then saw that she had a book, I just had to get it. The premise of the book is that even though women have made great strides toward equality and all that feministic jazz, we are going downhill as it relates to knowing what’s going on, thinking for ourselves, and doing something about the craziness around us. Yes, the book covers a lot of topics, but it’s all good. I’m a fan.
I’ve always loved to read and always will. I was horrified to learn in Think how few people in this country actually read books. Let’s reverse this trend. Books are transformational, good for you, and fun!
Readers do better in school, earn more money, are better citizens, have happier personal lives, and are more actively engaged in the world around us. ~Lisa Bloom
If you like what you read, please share it with your friends.
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