"...we have forgotten what life is all about." (Who Will Cry When You Die?, Sharma) (5)

"Who Will Cry When You Die?" is a simple fantastic book.  So many times self-help books are just a restatement of the obvious or the previously heard, and this is just that.  But it is done in a way that makes you want to be improve your life, it makes you want to better while giving you these 101 short tips to do so.


Knowledge has a half-life, what we receive will be forgotten and this book reminds us of those things we may have forgotten while it reinforces that which we know to be true that we have heard before.  I plan on reading this yearly now, each December as I prepare to set resolutions and remember what I have forgotten.

Topics include:

• Get Up Early
• Keep a Journal
• Practice Tough Love
• Plant a Tree
• Take More Pictures
• Don't Finish Every Book You Start
  

This book will be at the top of my list of gifts for this year, it just makes you want to share.  It also makes me want to read Robin Sharma's other books and I shall start with the "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari".


Stars: 5 out of 5
Format: Small Paperback

War has many different kinds of casualties (Ordinary Heroes, Turow) (3.5)

Ordinary Heroes tells the story of a son, Stewart Dubinski trying to find out who his father David Dubin, was after his death and realizing that he really did not know him.  He discovered that during WWII his father had been tried for treason and Court Marshalled, only to have it overturned shortly afterwords for unknown reason.  

Stewart makes it a crusade to find out what happened with his father during WWII and finds a manuscript his father wrote to explain what happened leading up to his Court Marshall, detailing espionage, law, blood, sorrow and death.

Besides what I felt were a few poor transitions between the present and past (WWII) in the narrative of the book, I enjoyed this story, the telling of the story and portrayal of the craziness of wartime.  It was engaging, I wanted to find out about the story behind David Dubin just as much as Steward did.  It's as good of a story about the Ward as I have read, and would recommend  it to others.

Stars: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Format: Audio

"...A tonic to the spirit, a salve to the soul." (The Undaunted, Lund) (5)

The Undaunted is a very powerful, insightful and enjoyable book as one follows David Draper as he grows and develops on these pages from a 6-year old child working in the coalmines of Yorkshire, England to a strong man of body and spirit, assisting the men and woman that left Cedar Cedar, Utah in October 1879 to establish a settlement in the Four Corners region of Utah/Arizona. An expedition that was supposed to take six week, but was so difficult it took six months.

While this incredible expedition to the Four Corners area does not start until page 514 of this 800 page book, the reader is able to enjoy the character development and life of David and John Draper and their journey through life.

Gerald N. Lund, does such an incredible job telling a story, and making "Historical Fiction" one of my favorite genres. I feel like I know the Drapers, the Mckenna's, Jen Neilsen, Platte D. Lyman and George Hobbs and various other in the book as he brings them to life through his story and the real story from the various writings from their journey.

The research and the calling out of the research in footnotes and chapter notes makes the book all the more enjoyable as it all helps you grasp that there really is a Hole in the Rock Trail, that this group of stall-worth people did what many called impossible.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Format: Hardcover

Checking In: The Undaunted

As I read The Undaunted, the story of the Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneers, which I am enjoying very much, I just had to note that finally on page 514 they are leaving on their journey to the four corners area.  Those 514 pages were rich in history and character development though.

The Reading List Queue

Just thought I would throw out some of the books that are currently in queue.  I have started to read, The Undaunted, by Gerald N. Lund,  all 800 pages of it.  I also received Under the Dome: A Novel with it's 1000+ pages for Christmas, so there is quite a bit of reading to do there.

All of these are in no particular order, and I usually read a couple of books at the same time.

Others on the list include:

• ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running 
• Counseling With Our Councils: Learning to Minister Together in the Church and in the Family
• Thunderstruck
• Ordinary Heroes
  

2. The Dog Poop Initiative, Kirk A. Weisler

I met Kirk Weisler and attended a lecture he gave at the Right Now Users Conference last year.  I was excited to obtain a couple of his books to read, as I enjoyed his outlook and theory on business leadership.  A quick read, as it teaches a great principle that we can all apply in our business life, personal life and for sure family life.

A true story of scoopers and poopers,

Of pointers and heroes.

Of those who score real goals,

And those who score zeros.

I have another one of his books, The Cookie Thief, all queued up to read in the next few days.  Again a simple read.  I call it a bathroom book, as it will take only the time of your next bathroom trip to take a few minutes and read while you are doing your thing in there.

1. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

     My first book of the year is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  This was recommended by many people as a good youth read so I wanted to check it out before allowing the kids to read it.  Not only is is fine for them and something I think they will enjoy, but I enjoyed it myself.  It's a real simple read, with like-able characters, and an interesting story.  If you have kids that enjoyed the The Twilight Saga Collection or Harry Potter Series you should enjoy the first book of the Hunger Games.

The second book Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) is out now and I will add to the list but probably won't get to it for a while.  The 3rd book The Hunger Games: Book 3 is due out in August.