Anatomy of a Book Binge

Posted by IcarusPassion | 4:04 PM | , | 0 comments »

Here's what my most recent book binge looked like. This round is a little light on the fiction and heavier on good intention.

I've been guilty in the past of buying books that sounded like a good idea at the time, and then never reading them. I hope not to make that mistake again by taking a page from Dawn's reading habits and not dwelling too much on a book, not reading it as though there will be a quiz later. There isn't any reason, for example, to read the acknowledgments, or the edition's preface, or even the introduction unless you're really that interested. It isn't necessary to dwell on "filler" content when you come across it, for fear of missing some life changing nugget of knowledge.

I remember when my lung collapsed for the first time. I was in college and missed two or three weeks of classes. Ordinarily I would have simply canceled my classes for that semester. Unfortunately I had just canceled the previous semester of classes due to the drama of moving out of my parent's house and living on my own for the first time. I forget the details, but dropping a second semester of classes would have gotten me kicked out of the honors program or some such thing. So I went to each of my teachers, told them why I'd been out, and asked if I could try to catch up. One of the classes I was taking at the time was Calculus, which brings me to the point of this story. I read the stupid thing like it was a fiction book instead of a reference. (Though I did get end up getting a 'B'.)

Anyway, I'm curious to see if I actually make it through the negotiating book and two grammar books. I think I will though; they're written by the same people that write the Grammar Girl podcast, which I enjoy a lot. --In fact if you listen to podcasts, I can recommend this one to you. It's produced well and very educational. I could do without the sponsor announcement every single episode, especially sine they're rather short, but that's my only complaint.



Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In


Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious  Character) Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)


Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing (Quick  & Dirty Tips) Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing (Quick & Dirty Tips)


Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking


Emotional Intelligence 2.0 Emotional Intelligence 2.0


What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a  Curious Character What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character


Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose



Darkness at Sethanon Darkness at Sethanon

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