May in books
May. 31st, 2007 09:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eveglassContinuing the tradition I began at the beginning of the year, here are the books I read in May, and my reviews thereof. Numbering starts where I left off last month.
27. A Mind of its Own: How Your Brain Distorts and Deceives, Cordelia Fine
A surprisingly interesting book, all about how the mind distorts raw data, both at the time it is initially processed and after time has elapsed, so that what you think and remember might bear very little relation to what actually occurred. Much of the time, this distortion is completely unconscious; you don't even know you're doing it. The research is well-documeted and thorough. Final verdict: a very interesting read for anyone interested in this sort of topic.
28. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Pretty much exactly what it sounds like, this book is a primer on the various sorts of alternative medicines out there. It's got pretty pictures, too. One nice thing about it is that it actually gives you the editors' thoughts on whether each type of therapy is likely to be beneficial, neutral, or detrimental. Though not particularly detailed in terms of actual medicine, it is at least written by doctors who are not universally on-board with all forms of alternative care. Final verdict: an interesting first introduction to alternative medicine, but must be supplemented by other materials.
29. Wiped!: Life with a Pint-Size Dictator, Rebecca Eckler
This book chronicles the life of a new mother for the first two years of her baby's life. Eckler actually has a very engaging writing style: so much so that I found myself reading through the book even though I had no initial intention of doing so. Eckler is not shy about showing the dark side of parenting; she deals with post-partum depression, hair loss, and viciousness in "mommy and me" circles. This is supplemented by the "up" moments, but Eckler never lets us forget that parenting can be hard and demanding. She writes in a neurotic, self-demeaning style reminiscent of Woody Allen. Final verdict: a fun read if you like neurotic humour or are interesting in the realities of parenting. Otherwise, skip it.
30. Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56, Rafe Esquith
Written by an actual fifth-grade teacher in an inner-city school, this is probably one of the most insightful teaching books I've read all year. Esquith tells us how he takes children who in any other class would probably only be mediocre and builds a classroom atmosphere of respect, creativity, and dedication. Esquith deals with each subject he teaches, from literature to math, science to art, and gives concrete examples of how he tackles each one. He even talks about field trips. Though Esquith himself is a fifth-grade teacher, his mentality can apply to any level. Final verdict: a must-read for any teachers or aspiring teachers.
31. 50 Artists You Should Know, Thomas Köster
This books is essentially what it sounds like: an art book of fifty of the most influential artists from the early Renaissance to today. I knew most of it already, but it has been about five years since I last took a formal art history course and I wanted a refresher. This book was well-suited for the task. It doesn't have nearly as much text as most art history books, preferring to devote about two pages for each artist (some very influential ones have more), mostly given over to the paintings themselves. Final verdict: very nice as a first introduction to art history or as a refresher, not so good for in-depth knowledge.
32. Too Far From Home: A Story of Life and Death in Space, Chris Jones
I first heard about this book on CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks, their weekly science show. It sounded interesting, so when I saw it at the library, I picked it up. It chronicles the lives of the three astronauts left aboard the International Space Station when the Columbia shuttle exploded in 2003. However, Jones also manages to tie in the back-stories of these astronauts, a history of space exploration and extended space voyages, details of daily life on the station, and astronaut psychology. Through it all, Jones writes in a highly engaging, readable voice. Final verdict: highly recommended for anyone interested in space exploration or space travel.
33. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett
This was one of my childhood favourites, and I pulled it off my shelf when I had a few hours free and not much to fill them with. The story is set in the early 20th century and chronicles the life of young Sarah Crewe at a private girls' boarding school. It traces her initial reception as a star (read: incredibly rich) pupil and her fall into destitution as her father's wealth is thought to be lost. It ends happily, as Sarah's fortune turns out to be far greater than she had ever imagined. Final verdict: a lovely children's story, and one that I may read again, even as a grown-up.
34. How to Read a Painting: Lessons from the Old Masters, Patrick de Rynck
Continuing in the "art refresher" theme, this book also presents famous paintings, from roughly 1400 to 1800. However, while 50 Artists You Should Know focuses on the artists themselves, this book focuses on the artworks. For each painting, it gives the general background, the story (if there is one) behind the myth or Biblical verse, and detailed descriptions of certain elements. I especially like this last feature: it allows you to identify saints and mythological figures based on the items they carry or wear, certain key elements of a painter's style, and popular concepts and themes in genre paintings. Final verdict: an extremely useful book for anyone with an interest in looking at the iconographical meaning of paintings.
So that's it for this month. I'll see you again at the end of June.
27. A Mind of its Own: How Your Brain Distorts and Deceives, Cordelia Fine
A surprisingly interesting book, all about how the mind distorts raw data, both at the time it is initially processed and after time has elapsed, so that what you think and remember might bear very little relation to what actually occurred. Much of the time, this distortion is completely unconscious; you don't even know you're doing it. The research is well-documeted and thorough. Final verdict: a very interesting read for anyone interested in this sort of topic.
28. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Pretty much exactly what it sounds like, this book is a primer on the various sorts of alternative medicines out there. It's got pretty pictures, too. One nice thing about it is that it actually gives you the editors' thoughts on whether each type of therapy is likely to be beneficial, neutral, or detrimental. Though not particularly detailed in terms of actual medicine, it is at least written by doctors who are not universally on-board with all forms of alternative care. Final verdict: an interesting first introduction to alternative medicine, but must be supplemented by other materials.
29. Wiped!: Life with a Pint-Size Dictator, Rebecca Eckler
This book chronicles the life of a new mother for the first two years of her baby's life. Eckler actually has a very engaging writing style: so much so that I found myself reading through the book even though I had no initial intention of doing so. Eckler is not shy about showing the dark side of parenting; she deals with post-partum depression, hair loss, and viciousness in "mommy and me" circles. This is supplemented by the "up" moments, but Eckler never lets us forget that parenting can be hard and demanding. She writes in a neurotic, self-demeaning style reminiscent of Woody Allen. Final verdict: a fun read if you like neurotic humour or are interesting in the realities of parenting. Otherwise, skip it.
30. Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56, Rafe Esquith
Written by an actual fifth-grade teacher in an inner-city school, this is probably one of the most insightful teaching books I've read all year. Esquith tells us how he takes children who in any other class would probably only be mediocre and builds a classroom atmosphere of respect, creativity, and dedication. Esquith deals with each subject he teaches, from literature to math, science to art, and gives concrete examples of how he tackles each one. He even talks about field trips. Though Esquith himself is a fifth-grade teacher, his mentality can apply to any level. Final verdict: a must-read for any teachers or aspiring teachers.
31. 50 Artists You Should Know, Thomas Köster
This books is essentially what it sounds like: an art book of fifty of the most influential artists from the early Renaissance to today. I knew most of it already, but it has been about five years since I last took a formal art history course and I wanted a refresher. This book was well-suited for the task. It doesn't have nearly as much text as most art history books, preferring to devote about two pages for each artist (some very influential ones have more), mostly given over to the paintings themselves. Final verdict: very nice as a first introduction to art history or as a refresher, not so good for in-depth knowledge.
32. Too Far From Home: A Story of Life and Death in Space, Chris Jones
I first heard about this book on CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks, their weekly science show. It sounded interesting, so when I saw it at the library, I picked it up. It chronicles the lives of the three astronauts left aboard the International Space Station when the Columbia shuttle exploded in 2003. However, Jones also manages to tie in the back-stories of these astronauts, a history of space exploration and extended space voyages, details of daily life on the station, and astronaut psychology. Through it all, Jones writes in a highly engaging, readable voice. Final verdict: highly recommended for anyone interested in space exploration or space travel.
33. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett
This was one of my childhood favourites, and I pulled it off my shelf when I had a few hours free and not much to fill them with. The story is set in the early 20th century and chronicles the life of young Sarah Crewe at a private girls' boarding school. It traces her initial reception as a star (read: incredibly rich) pupil and her fall into destitution as her father's wealth is thought to be lost. It ends happily, as Sarah's fortune turns out to be far greater than she had ever imagined. Final verdict: a lovely children's story, and one that I may read again, even as a grown-up.
34. How to Read a Painting: Lessons from the Old Masters, Patrick de Rynck
Continuing in the "art refresher" theme, this book also presents famous paintings, from roughly 1400 to 1800. However, while 50 Artists You Should Know focuses on the artists themselves, this book focuses on the artworks. For each painting, it gives the general background, the story (if there is one) behind the myth or Biblical verse, and detailed descriptions of certain elements. I especially like this last feature: it allows you to identify saints and mythological figures based on the items they carry or wear, certain key elements of a painter's style, and popular concepts and themes in genre paintings. Final verdict: an extremely useful book for anyone with an interest in looking at the iconographical meaning of paintings.
So that's it for this month. I'll see you again at the end of June.
