Been Negligent

I have been away for far too long, been negligent in many ways to my social network (Google+, Facebook, twitter, blogging) and I am on the path to making amends.  I had a rough couple of months in September and October professionally and personally and it took me a while to find my bearings and get back on track.

Now that I am getting traction again here is a quick update, more specifics to follow.

Reading:

I have been slacking and am way behind my reading challenge but the last two weeks I have been working on catching up.  I have read, and soon will review, the following books:

Life – Keith Richards

Dance of Dragons – G Martin

Reamde – Neal Stephenson

Public Parts – Jeff Jarvis

I am still way behind but I am working on catching up.  Will update my stats and reviews for the above soon.

Diet:

Well I had a couple of months of binging and it took a long time to get back on plan.  I am still down over 100 pounds overall but am up from my lowest point.  I am back on plan and starting a work out routine.  I am looking for the best tools to track and measure workouts, progress, weight loss etc.  Trying to find a synergistic suite of tools that will make it far more easier for me to track what I eat and do and share that info and my progress online.  If you have ideas please leave a comment, email me etc.. More of this to come

Music:

Going to see The Airborne Toxic Event in November looking forward to it.  Looking for other shows to see as there are a few upcoming.  Going to pick up a copy of the Arkells Michigan Left this weekend, heard it was good.

That is it for now, it is good to be back.

The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton - Review

With the last book a disappointment I switched gears and grabbed a copy of The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton.  This is a return to his Commonwealth universe, although it was my first visit.  Hamilton presents a well developed universe, lots of sub plots, a great amount of characters all being controlled and manipulated by aliens and human factions and specifically different faction in the Human artificial Intelligence society called ANA.  All of them competing for different hidden agendas.  This is a futuristic space faring adventure in a universe where the void has been discovered.  A mysterious black  hole like rift that leads to another universe where the Skylords live and the humans that have crossed over lead a perfect life and can change the fabric of the universe with their minds.  However, the void has been around for billions of years and has been know to expand, destroying anything in it's path.  This is called a devourment phase.  Many of the other species live in fear of the void and believe it to be evil.  Humans however have created a religion around it based on what has been called the living dream.  This living dream was something that was shared with the rest of the human race by the living dreamer, who dreamed what was in the void and communicated with the skylords.  The living dream followers have declared pilgrimage and plan to take millions of people into the void, much to the dismay of other humans and aliens combined, tensions and fears rise.  There is a lot of action and intrigue.  If you like a good science fiction book pick up this or anyone of Hamilton's earlier books that take place in the Commonwealth universe.
I give it a thumbs up

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 17
Books Read 10 remaining 16

3 seconds: The Power of Thinking Twice review

Caveat: Now to be fair it 6:18 am when I am writing this and I have been up working for 24 hours with another 6 - 10 before I can go home (I won't be able to go get any sleep until at least another 14 hours, so my review might be a little lower due to my foul mood and lack of sleep!

This week I read 3 Seconds:  The Power of Thinking Twice by Les Parrott.  To be honest I have read a lot of similar books recently and my review might not be fair as a result.  Concept of the book, don't go with your first knee jerk reaction, take a breath and wait for alternatives to appear and choose. It also talks about the advantages of being happy and optimistic but is very light on scientific detail (as compared to say The Happiness Advantage which goes into great detail on this specific item).  It ends up with a lot of get off your butt and get stuff done talk.  The book is very basic and is a vary quick read.  It glosses over alot of areas that other books provide better in sight into.  Basically by increasing the space between action and reaction you open a new world of possibilities (sounds like another book again).  If you are looking for a light read on a plane etc, you could do worse but if your looking for something to sink your teeth into look elsewhere.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 17
Books Read 9 remaining 17

Talent is Overrated - Book Review

I finished Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everyone Else by Geoff Colvin.  The book spends what seems like the first half of the book telling you what doesn't separate world-class performers.  This was frustrating.   The main message of the book is that natural talent doesn't exist and only through hard and deliberate practice to people improve and surpass the average.  It does detail what is considered deliberate practice.

• Designed to stretch your limits 
• repeatable
• no fun
• mentally demanding
• tight feedback loop

All in all I cannot recommend this book.  Work at self improvement and you will get better, but it is hard and required discipline so most people will not do it.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 18
Books Read 8 remaining 18

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War - Review

Last week I finished World War Z : An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks and it was a very fun read.  It is told from the point of view of multiple interviews that re tell of significant events that occurred all over the world from the start of the outbreak to the spread all over the world and how different governments reacted to a new reality and a new enemy.  How certain world powers did against this enemy and which ones were better prepared and why.  I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the Zombie genre.  

I found out after I finished it that they are filming the movie based on this book now with Brad Pitt as the star.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 19
Books Read 7 remaining 19

In The Plex - Review

I just finished the book In The Plex: How Google thinks, works, and shapes our lives.
It was a great read through the history thought process and general process of how Google works. It is the most recent book on Google and it might be the best. Steven Levy has a solid understanding of the significant events in Google's history and why they did what they did. His stories of how things happen at Google give the reader a frank view of things from a Googler perspective.

Of the books I have read so far for this challenge In The Plex and Re Work are my favorites.
Next book will be for fun


Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 20
Books Read 6 remaining 20

The Happiness Advantage - Review

I finished The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. I thought it was going to be a don't worry be happy style of self help book. I was pleasantly surprised by data the author presented. The author presents that the basic thinking on the pursuit of happiness is broken. That success does not lead to happiness but that happiness leads to success.
The science behind this is presented from several studies around the world. The author presents 7 principles to help the reader take advantage of the science behind the Happiness Advantage.
This book is an excellent read.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 20
Books Read 5 remaining 21

The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking

I finished The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking while I was on vacation.
It is an interesting history of quantum physics and the the concepts behind M-theory the current fore runner for the Grand Unifying Theory. It is insightful and gives the reader a layman's understanding of modern day physics, multiverse theory and in the end it points out that new evidence suggest that a Grand Unifying Theory may be unrealistic.

I would recommend it to those who are curious about the subject but do not have a background in quantum physics. If you aren't curious go read something else.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 22
Books Read 4 left 22

- posted from iPad

Getting Things Done

Last week I was on vacation, and got a chance to get some reading done.
One of the books I tackled was Getting Things Done by David Allan. I have used a few organizational systems in the past and the one I use most is the Franklin Planner.  Having read the system I will be spending the next few weeks getting it into practice.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking to build system to organize, de stress and generally get more productive.
I will touch base in a few weeks to give you another set of feedback.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 23
Books Read 3 left 23

Your Brain at Work by David Rock

Just finished Your Brain at Work by David Rock. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Long in parts, the author uses 'scenes' which are work and home place scenarios in which he takes fictional characters through various challenging situations. The first scenario shows several decision points where the character falls into natural human responses, which leads to less then desired outcomes. This is followed by a discussion of basic brain functions and thinking exercises that get you to look at the situation differently. How to monitor yourself from going off track and keeping yourself focused. It then follows with a repeat of the scenario where the main character uses the practices described and how they use the techniques to make better decisions and interact with people better. I did not like the approach at first but later found it giving my mind more to work with then just the concepts.
I would recommend this book to anyone who can be introspective. It will change the way you think and act.
Recommend

Book challenge
2 read 24 to go

Rework

This week I read the book Rework, based on a recommendation I saw a while ago on diggnation, but I digress.
Rework was an excellent and quick read.  It talks about many of the problems that new companies have and how breaking away from conventional entrepreneurial or corporate thinking.  How to really create something.  It will make you re think and may even shatter many of your established thinking patterns.
This book is clearly aimed at starters (some running or starting a small business) and if that is not you wait for my next pick....  (Your brain at work ...)
However if you are and looking for a fresh perspective and something that might just keep you on track pick up Rework

Book Challenge:
Read 1
Still to go 25

Read a book or maybe 26

I read this quote the other day:
"if you read a book a month for the next 10 years, you will only have ready 120 books, choose wisely!"
This soon had me thinking about my commitment to read a book a week (Made earlier this week), and maybe merely reading a book a week isn't enough, maybe I need to read a book a week an post a brief review of the book here afterwards.  Look for the book review coming soon.
This week I am reading Rework by Jason Fried, I have probably an hour of reading left.
Look for my review of Rework this weekend

Book Challenge 6 months = 26 books

Come back often to see the reviews and how I am progressing