My next book review:

What's He Really Thinking?

How to Be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life

By Paula Rinehart

A woman's guide into a man's heart and mind offering invaluable insights, understanding, and the tools for building healthier relationships.

Even in the best of relationships, over time, men and women drift apart because of the communication gaps they naturally possess. In What's He Really Thinking?, author and speaker Paula Rinehart gives incredible insight into these differences. In her conversational, almost poetic style, Rinehart unlocks some of the age-old mysteries of the male mind-set.

With more than twenty years of counseling experience, Rinehart sheds a realistic light on:

* how men think

* why they do what they do

* what they struggle with

She believes women who truly understand men have an ability to make an extraordinary impact on their lives. From scientific research to practical real-life stories, Rinehart removes the guess work and shows women how to become the relational geniuses they have always longed to be.

This Is Your Brain On Joy

by Dr. Earl Henslin

Do you have categories in your library or even in your brain for self-help books you have read? I do. I have three categories for them. The first one is called Profound and in that category I place books which have the ability to profoundly affect the way I look at life. The second category I call Renewing and into that category I place books which contain insights and knowledge that isn't necessarily new to me yet somehow renews my vigor and encourages my heart, mind and soul to persevere. The third category is sort of a catch-all which I call Visit Often and into this category I place books that don't strictly fit into either of the first two AND have content that I need to revisit and rethink periodically. There should be more categories, but my brain has limits to how many categories it can remember!

After the first chapter or two of This Is Your Brain On Joy I thought it might go into the first category because of the nature of the material as it applied to me. Not being a specialist in anything like this, or having much background in human anatomy, I was a little intimidated by the technical aspects and how much detail Dr. Henslin goes into in explaining the various brain functions and locations. While he obviously puts forth a lot of effort in his writing style to keep the medical-speak to a minimum, there is still some new concepts and terms to grasp and this takes a couple of readings for the first few sections. Still, the knowledge was very new to me, and its impact on me of how I would look at people's behavior, from a Christian worldview, was going to be profoundly affected.

But the middle of the book became much more practical in its application oriented content and at that point, there wasn't so much new information, as it was refreshing, allowing me to more clearly understand how the scientific discoveries explained in the first section were able to affect real changes in how we treat and help people dealing with life's difficulties. I began to see how my own tendencies and behavior could be more effectively managed and understood; how exercise and diet would affect my outlook; where meditation on Scripture and various types of passages would be able to help and why... perhaps this book is really a book to RENEW my hope and give me greater empathy toward others?!

Finally, after reading and re-reading the first few sections and the middle, I got to the last chapters and it all fell into place. This book is one of those few, along with the Bible, that go into the Visit Often category. The principles and the ideas presented here, along with the supporting materials and recommended readings, make this book one to keep a handle on. In all my 30+ years as an adult Christian, 25+ years as a husband, 20+ years as a father, I am embarrassed to say that I have never really examined the concept of Joy beyond a few of the passages in the Bible where the apostle Paul tells us to count it all joy when we encounter various difficulties. I never asked myself what Paul's secret was? There's even a very popular book and video out these days called The Secret which is really no secret at all; just a way for some people to generate a lot of money for themselves, in my opinion. In This Is Your Brain On Joy I discovered that not only is the human brain a marvelous organ created by our magnificent God, it is discoverable and knowable, if perhaps never fully. That knowledge gives me freedom to hope and experience real joy

Life continues to come at me each day with unexpected turns and new challenges. I think I've found a survivor's manual kind of resource in this book to pull out of my back pack as needed in order to survive with my joy and hope intact.

One of the quotes in the book by Charles Spurgeon is worth repeating: Fits of depressions come over most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise may not always be ready, the brave not always courageous and the joyous not always happy. It is my opinion that This Is Your Brain On Joy is an effective resource training us with understanding how to establish patterns of living and thought that will increase our joy and effectiveness in our lives and work.

Same Kind of Different as Me

“I heard that when white folks go fishin they do somethin called ‘catch and release.’”

Catch and release? I nodded solemnly, suddenly nervous and curious at the same time.

“That really bothers me,” Denver went on. “I just can’t figure it out. ’Cause when colored folks go fishin, we really proud of what we catch, and we take it and show it off to everybody that’ll look. Then we eat what we catch . . . in other words, we use it to sustain us. So it really bothers me that white folks would go to all that trouble to catch a fish, then when they done caught it, just throw it back in the water.”

He paused again, and the silence between us stretched a full minute.

Then: “Did you hear what I said?”

I nodded, afraid to speak, afraid to offend.

Denver looked away, searching the blue autumn sky, then locked onto me again with that drill-bit stare. “So, Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon’ catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend.”

This true, biographical story, written in the first person from the perspectives of two men, may seem stranger than fiction, but then, fiction has to make sense, does it not? The truth, on the other hand, is what it is. As one of the authors puts it:

"What must befall thee, must befall thee, what must pass ye by will pass ye by!”

I almost didn’t pick this book up, but did so on the recommendation of others. I am so happy I did. The tag line for the story is a good one. Ron Hall, wealthy art dealer, father and husband, through the influence of his service minded, Christian wife, Debbie, is reluctantly admitted into the sphere of another, equally reluctant, homeless vagabond named Denver, in what turns out to be a miraculous series of events ordained in God’s timing in ways no one would choose on their own had they the power to do otherwise.

While the story begs to be featured in a Hall Mark Hall of Fame series, I encourage you to not wait for the movie version, if there should be one. Buy the book and read it, and I dare you to try and put it down once you get started. It is not only a fascinating story, but extremely well written and marvelously unfolds itself to the reader.

Mechanically, the book is a back and forth narration by Denver and Ron as their respective timelines take them through their childhood into their adult years and onward through the the point where their lives intersect, then merge into friendship, and then eventually become a triple braided cord that will never be broken. As the book begins, the reader is introduced first to Denver’s narration of his early years, and then to Ron’s. Then the thread passes back and forth between Denver and Ron without letting you know who is telling the story. It’s not hard to discern when the story switches between Ron’s telling and Denver’s, but it forces the reader to be watchful for the change. Sometimes it catches you off guard and you have to go back a few sentences and start over when you realize you were reading what you thought was Denver’s telling but was actually Ron’s. The effect of this is that the reader gradually begins to realize the amazing truth in the title: that although one man is white, from southern white middle class stock, and the other is black, from poorer than poor black share cropper stock, they really are as much the same as they are different.... and thus so are we all!

Same Kind of Different as Me deals with prejudice, crises in faith, moral lapses, heart-wrenching tragedy, and true, abiding, love. It does so honestly, not preaching or moralizing, and without apology. Their lives are living proof that the love of Christ conquers all.

I recommend this book for any U.S. citizen, teen or above, or any person regardless of nationality who is familiar with the history of slavery and civil rights movements in North America and would like to read a first hand account. There is an abridged audio version, which I have heard and is done well, but get the book, first, and read the entire thing.

The book has a Q&A section at the end for class discussions, as well as a brief interview bringing the reader up to date with Ron and Denver’s lives. The reader will be emotionally affected by the story, and hopefully, motivated with a new understanding of the plight of homeless people around them and what they can do to make a difference.

Ron and Denver's website:

Same Kind of Different as Me

Thomas Nelson Publisher's website:

Same Kind of Different As Me (Hardcover): A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall and Denver Moore | Book | Thomas Nelson | Top Titles

Book Review: The Truth About You

I mistakenly assumed a relatively small book (less than 10,000 words) dealing with a specific topic would be easy to review. I suppose it’s a little like giving a speech. It takes as much, if not more, effort to make a good five minute speech as it does a good hour long speech. Marcus Buckingham’s The Truth About You intrigued me by its philosophical title and by the reputation of the author/speaker. Since first laying hold on the book back in early December, 2008, I have read and reread it a dozen times, watched the included DVD alone and with family and friends on 8 separate occasions, and spent several hours at the marcusbuckingham.com website watching additional videos and studying the resources. In addition to reading and watching, this book requires actively exercising a set of daily routines in order to accurately identify and assess two or three true strengths and true weaknesses.

The book follows the DVD, pretty much, and even some of the script seems word for word from the book, or is it the other way around? In either case, the title could better be written: HOW TO IDENTIFY the truth about your true strengths and weaknesses. Marcus gets to the point directly at the outset that he has something else in mind than the status quo assumptions that strengths equal what you do well or where you’ve succeeded, and weaknesses are what you have not done well or where you experienced defeat. He also asserts that our personality and talents are intertwined and may be further enhanced and developed, but won’t fundamentally change. The video portion of the book is extremely persuasive in dispelling a few myths concerning some preconceived notions about career, promotions, job satisfaction, and personal success. The book itself is meant to be read following the watching of the video, and I personally think it is important to do it in that order to gain the full benefit of the author’s skill in conveying his ideas.

In addition to the video and text, there is a Rememo-pad to be used in the daily exercise of recording thoughts designed to help answer the two questions: 1) what are my strengths, and 2) what are my weaknesses?

Marcus brings all these tools to bear with the purpose to 1) dispel myths about strengths, weaknesses, and personality, 2) equip us to better understand and define what our true strengths and weaknesses are, and 3) form a weekly plan that will help us take advantage of our strengths and minimize our weaknesses.

So, how well does the book/video/ReMemo pad do its job? For the target audience: young people trying to figure out their future career direction as well as older individuals, such as myself, who anticipate making a significant shift in their career or job function, this is an excellent resource. I would also encourage anyone in human resources, personnel development, and career counseling to familiarize themselves with the lessons in this book. Marcus Buckingham has crafted a simple, timeless, and highly effective resource. Don’t start or change careers without reading this.

The Truth About You, by Marcus Buckingham

I'm excited to be reviewing this interactive book/DVD toolkit as I have two sons out of high school, both considering their career choices and educational objective. I also am nearing a point in my own life when I will be moving away from the primary role of educator in our home school and want to re-evaluate my own goals and focus on what I can do with my remaining years of productivity.

Here are links to the publisher's site and book preview:

The Truth About You (Hardcover w/DVD) by Marcus Buckingham: Your Secret to Success | Thomas Nelson | Top Titles

Search and Preview | The Truth About You by Marcus Buckingham | Thomas Nelson

Book Review Blogging

I used to review books for mymac.com years ago, generally computer related how-to and instructional books published by companies such as Peach Pit Press. As my life become busier, I 'retired' from that job. In the meantime, my computer expertise and involvement has continued to grow, but my need for bound and printed computer texts has diminished with the success of electronic publishing and, in particular, Tonya Engst's Take Control series of books at www.takecontrolbooks.com.

My own reading has continued to advance in other areas, however, and while I do purchase a number of audiobooks for listening pleasure, I still like the feel of a physical book in my hands such that I can sit in a comfortable chair and give my mind space to run through page after page.

A few months ago I serendipitously stumbled upon "From Where I Sit", a blog by President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Michael S. Hyatt. In fact, the post that caught my attention was called "Creating a Life Plan" and I am still learning from that one.

Michael is almost my age, and has at least as many interests and wears as many hats as I do, so I have relished the opportunity to sit at his feet, in the virtual realm of the Internet, and glean ideas and insights from his life. I've also benefited by the network of bloggers and writers he brings to the digital press and so my world continues to expand in ways I did not foresee.

And this brings me to this new blog: Book Reviews. The name I chose is Dutch for Bookworm Reviews. I wanted something a little out of the norm, and as a reader with interest in the period of the Reformation and subsequent events influenced greatly by the Dutch theologians, 

and the fact that it looked more interesting than German or Swedish, I made my choice.

Michael Hyatt has made it possible to acquire newly published books from Thomas Nelson Publishers with the stipulation that the recipient agree to read and publish a 200 word (minimum) review on their blog and at least one public review site (such as Amazon). I am taking up that offer and will do my best to give informative and insightful reviews, not only of the books I receive from Thomas Nelson, but other books I am reading and will read in the coming weeks and months.

"It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about." ~ Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) American Educator