“A government that truly represents these Americans–that truly serves these Americans–will require a different kind of politics. That politics will need to reflect our lives as they are actually lived. It won’t be pre-packaged, ready to pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past. We will need to understand just how we got to this place, this land of warring factions and tribal hatreds. And we’ll need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break.”–from The Audacity of HopeIn July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided ...

#Presidential (2008-11-23) An Enlightening insight into our new president. Agree or disagree, the throngs who claimed during his campaign that he offed no specifics simply needed to crack a book. Showcasing his unusual ability to fairly and accurately include other opinions in defining his own, Obama s comprehention of contrary philosophies shines forth in a distinguished and diplomatic prose. Well grounded in common sense, candor and hard work, Mr. Obama brings us into his world and his thought processes. One comes away with the distict feeling that even if you don t agree with th...

#The real Barack Obama? (2008-11-19) For anyone out there wondering who the real Barack Obama is, The Audacity of Hope will give you one clear idea. It is part memoir, part political manifesto, encompassing his comprehensive vision for America. The book reveals him to be very smart, well read, compassionate, and sometimes quite funny. I think few people reading the book will agree with him on every policy issue, and no one is really prepared to take on the problems facing our country. But, reading this book gave me faith that the American people have elected a very capable public s...

#Good Read (2008-11-18) Though not as good as Dreams from my Father, a well written book. The book talks deeply about Barack s ideals and issues with the current state of politics. Though you may not agree with his political views, Barack is an undeniably intellegent person who is not afraid to express his political views. The message was powerful, it is now just a matter of executing.

#Great Book! (2008-11-17) After reading this book, all I can say is, I m so glad I voted for him. This book is inspiring, thoughtful and hopeful. Read it. I would also recommend highly his other book: Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

#President Barack Obama (2008-11-17) It was after reading this book that I realized that I had to do everything within my power to ensure that Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. There are two kinds of people in the world - those who know how to dream, and those who donot. For those of us who do, this book was a set of important guidelines on what this country could be. It took dreamers to create this great society, and it will take a dreamer and a man of action to get us out of the quagmire we re in today. It was a long shot, but just like millions of other Amer...

In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of outliers--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band. Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.

#We are wrong about things a lot ... but I could be mistaken (2008-11-23) My first impression was that Gladwell s latest book has a price:weight ratio significantly pricier than any recent sure-to-become NYT best seller. My genetic frugality was overcome by the desire to read it and I plucked out my cash . . . proving, at minimum, that Malcolm does understand capitalism for starters. I was betting that Outliers was going to be cocktail party discussion fodder, not to be missed. Outliers = those people and groups that are statistically, 6 sigma-like unique in accomplishment within th...

#Good, but not as good as The Tipping Point or Blink (2008-11-22) Outliers is an excellent book about some of the often overlooked factors that drive success. He investigates factors other than the personal meritocratic view of success. You may not agree with all of his conclusions, but the book does help bring to your attention factors that may not always be taken into account. Malcolm Gladwell argues through a variety of stories that structural factors often drive who becomes a success - who becomes an outlier. For example, Canadian superstar hockey players are often born in the...

#The end of the myth of the self-made man (2008-11-22) Gladwell s third book (after The Tipping Point and Blink) has the same recipe: the author has the curiosity to study social phenomena and draw unusual conclusions. This time he tries to figure out why out-of-the-norm successful people (smart people, rich people, or even geniuses), like Bill Gates, The Beatles, Mozart or Robert Oppenheimer, get where they get. He reckons that accidents of birth, childhood, family, culture, friendship or geography are the best indicators of a person s success. It is a blow to the great American myt...

#RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECIES (2008-11-22) I found this book to be totally engaging with highly entertaining discussions of success. . . failure. . . near misses. . . and what might have been. The author s discussions include historical figures who made it. . . and enigmatic figures who missed. Discussed are the required combinations of pieces needed to complete a *SUCCESSFUL-PUZZLE*. . . as the pieces for some people float by each other as if they are minute particles in an infinite galaxy. . . while other people who achieve success. . . are blessed wit...

#Success is Complex (2008-11-22) Malcolm covered a lot in the book, but here are my quick takeaways:Cutoff dates matter - The artificial cutoff dates for athletic or scholastic dates do matter. There is a distinct advantage to have a birthdate as close as possible to the cutoff date. In general, older children are bigger, faster, stronger and smarter than their age group peers. The error is that in many cases, we confuse maturity with ability - and then compound these differences until adulthood. My son is an example of this. He is a second grader but he started kindergarten a...

The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

#Just Amazing (2008-11-23) One of the most touching books I have read in a long time. It is just amazing how much we can do with a little bit of financial help to these NGO s like CIA. I have decided to become a regular contributor of these noble cause, just because of this book. You have to read it, you will never regret you did.

#Inspiring (2008-11-22) What an inspiring book! This is a great read about what one person can do with a vision and very little resources. His tenacity is incredible. Hooray for Greg Mortenson!

#Would have been a great article (2008-11-19) This is a tale about a remarkable man - unfortunately it is not very well written. Even tho the action takes place in different towns, it is basically the same story over and over. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in building schools for the poor in Pakistan and also as an aid to sleeplessness.

#3 and a half stars (2008-11-19) The story itself was quite amazing but I found it difficult to read at times. I think it could have been much shorter. . . I could not keep all of the people straight about halfway through the book. It must have been difficult to write this book with so many stories to tell but it bordered on boring and tedious at times. It would pick up for a while and then I d be bleary-eyed again a few pages later. I really liked the beginning of the story and felt connected to his mission and promise but then I started to think he was a bit off (good inten...

#No wonder it unanimously gets 5 stars (2008-11-18) Truly one of the most inspirational books I have read in awhile. The beginning of this book is a little slow, focusing on Greg Mortenson s climbing expeditions that eventually leads him to find the people of Korphe, and promising them a school. After coming back to the states and scrounging up funds from philanthropists, Mortenson goes back and builds many schools in various regions through Pakistan/Afghanistan/Waziristan. And the story of his determination and the struggles he goes through are extremely inspirational. There is no o...

A New York Times Bestseller A CBA Bestseller Are you and your spouse speaking the same language? Dr. Gary Chapman reveals how different people express love in different ways. What speaks volumes to you may be meaningless to your spouse. But here, at last, is the key to understanding each other s needs. Learn the right language, and soon you ll know the profound satisfaction of being able to express your love and - feeling truly loved in return.

#The Esperanto of love! (2008-11-14) If this wonderful book has taught me anything, it s that Klingon is not one of the five love languages.

#Wonderful Read (2008-11-10) I have enjoyed this book so much I have sent copies to several friends. I just love the concepts and have used them more with my children than my wife which was the reason for the purchase to start with.

#Awesome Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (2008-11-09) This book is an excellent book for people in relationships. It is an easy & good read.

#a MUST read for anyone in a relationship! (2008-10-27) it was my husband s idea to read this book together when we first started dating. boy did it make a difference! the book actually reads really fast. i would recommend taking the test first to find out your love language and your mate s, then read the respective chapters on those 2 languages first, then read the rest of the book. this should seriously be a requirement for engaged couples. without having read it, my husband and i would be miserable.

#Change your marriage, change your life (2008-10-24) This is such a simple concept and very easy to put into practice. If you have a horrible marriage or just a so-so marriage, read this book to immediately start improving your relationship with your spouse. My husband responded so quickly I was amazed. Not knowing our respective love languages previously was the whole problem for us. Now that is all in the past and we couldn t be happier. (My husband has still not read the book, so he s not sure what hit him, but he is reaping the benefits from me and returning the love to me...

A New York Times bestseller that has changed the way readers view the ecology of eating, this revolutionary book by award winner Michael Pollan asks the seemingly simple question: What should we have for dinner? Tracing from source to table each of the food chains that sustain us—whether industrial or organic, alternative or processed—he develops a portrait of the American way of eating. The result is a sweeping, surprising exploration of the hungers that have shaped our evolution, and of the profound implications our food choices have for the health of our species and the future of our planet.

#Books I wish students would read (2008-11-22) As a teacher and omnivorous reader, I evaluate books in terms of is this something I wish students would read? (or- is the time invested worth the knowledge gained?) This one earns a qualified yes. The qualifier is simply that many of them wouldn t read a non-fiction book of this length without a weapon pointed to their heads. But the combination of easy to understand science and personal example is exactly what can encourage students to begin learning outside of the standards-based curriculum that has come to rule education today. ...

#Food will never look the same again (2008-11-20) The author does an excellent job of explaining how ethics, policy, biology, culture and big business are connected and have shaped the foods that we eat today. Many of our eating habits in the Western diet simply do not make sense and ultimately have global repurcussions. The author raises many good questions without sounding moralistic or judgemental. Why eat imported organic produce from a foreign country if the shipper burns huge quanitities of fossil fuels to deliver it to you? Why continue to feed cattle corn when their stomach...

#Amazing Read (2008-11-11) All of the information in the book is something a well informed person should know. It was an interesting journey though, and quite an easy eye opening read. Highly recommended.

#Thought-provoking and terrifying (2008-11-11) Pollan gives us a ton of information about food production in hopes that we can treat our meals with a little more reverence and understanding. Unfortunately, since I ve read the book, I think I feel more food-related anxiety than appreciation. I can t go into a grocery store without having panic attacks. Sweaty palms and irregular breathing on Aisle 2. Seriously. The truth is, there s a lot to be nervous (and furious) about when you start looking closely at large-scale agrobusiness. And there doesn t seem to be any easy way out. Pol...

#The True Cost of Eating Your Lunch (2008-11-02) Journalist Michael Pollan has written what appears on the surface to be a boring book. He decides to eat four meals and explore the history and consequences of each. He chooses an industrial agricultural meal (fast food), a large-scale organic meal, locally raised farm meal and finally he hunts and gathers his last meal. By capturing the social, economic, and ecological as well as the moral, and ethical consequences of each meal, Pollan has written a modern day masterpiece on a task most people take for granted - eating their lunch. It...