Professional Wisdom (Book Review)

It has been said that if you want to be successful, you have to surround yourself with successful people. I had recently joined a site by the name of BookSneeze.com where they (as a Christian-based group) send out limited numbers of newly released books to the bloggers on their site and all they simply ask is for a review in return. I was asked to read and review as my first book from the site "Classical Wisdom for the Professional Life".

"Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life," by Bryan Curtis, a book of quotes from some of the most successful people past and present, allows you to immerse yourself in their way of thinking. The fact that this book held quotes from Aristotle to Obama makes it timeless. The fact that there were quotes from Bill Gates to J.K. Rowling makes it accessible wisdom for all who read it.
I found "Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life" to be informing, inspiring, and convincing. You can see how those quoted knew not only how to dream, but what it takes to fulfill those dreams.

While the book is not organized into chapters or themes, I still find it a great read. One other thing I would like to have seen however is a reference page for the quotes. Organized possibly by a list of those who said them in chronological order by person.


I recommend this book for anyone looking for inspiration and motivation, or as a gift to someone either in collage or just graduated and ready to make a mark on the world!

First Line Friday: Dec. 28th 2012

Again, I am late, I know.
And, although December hasn't quite finished, I'm bringing my First Line this week from another classic author, Miss Jane Austen.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune MUST be in want of a wife."


So starts the first book I EVER read by Austen. She is an author I will go back to again and again.

First Line Friday: December 21st 2012 (Ahh! 4 Days to Christmas!!!!!))

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
THE END OF THE WORLD IS UPON US!!!!!!!!!!

And PLEASE if you believe that.......well, I'll be laughing at you yes -YOU-starting 12:01am tomorrow and I most likely wont stop laughing until I Branson, MO on Sunday to meet up with my littlest brother for Christmas!
And...if it so happens that they were right? I guess I'm SOL and zombie food ;)
But, on a brighter note, I'm ON TIME for FLF for the FIRST time!!!

"The Kettle began it! Don't tell me what Mrs Peerybingle said. I know better. Mrs Peerybingle may leave it on record to the end of time that she couldn't say which of them began it; but I say the kettle did. I ought to know, I hope? The kettle began it, full five minutes by the little waxy-faced Dutch clock in the corner, before the Cricket uttered a chirp."

This blogger highly recommends that IF you choose to read A Christmas Carol, you must also read Chimes and Cricket on the Hearth
! In fact, go to the nearest B&N and pick up the B&N Classics edition of A Christmas Carol. It comes with BOTH The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth as well!
Merry Christmas all!

"And, like Tiny Tim observed: 'God Bless us, every one!'"

First Line Friday: Dec. 14th 2012 (11 more days till Christmas)

Okay okay!
Yeah I know this is NEARLY a whole week late AGAIN! But again I had Wizard of Oz.
That show is done with now however so I'll post at a more pace with FLF.
In keeping with the theme of both the Christmas holiday and Dickens, the nest First Line comes from "The Chimes"

"There are not many people-and as desirable that a story-teller and a story-reader should establish a mutual understanding as soon as possible,I beg it to be noticed that I confine this observation neither to young people nor to little people, but extend it to all conditions of people: little and big, young and old, yet growing up, or already growing down again-there are not, I say, many people who would care to sleep in a church."

Thus starts Dickens'4-part tale based around church-bell chimes at the turn of the New Year. Even though it is among Dickens' lesser known stories and most (including this reader of Dickens) are not familiar with this story's existence, this blogger highly recommends that IF you choose to read A Christmas Carol, you must also read this one.

First Line Friday: Dec. 7th 2012 (18 days to Christmas)

Hey hey hey ya'll!!
Merry Christmas time to one and all! What ever joyous occasion brings you and yours together this season , I hope this Friday and lovely December day finds you happy and healthy.
I had wanted to start First Line Friday sooner. Like the Black Friday right after Thanksgiving. However, I'm in Wizard of Oz as the Wicked West Witch. Therefor, I've been busy last Friday. However, With 18 days until Christmas I've decided to go ahead and base this months FLFs on Christmas stories.

Marley was dead, to begin with. There was no doubt whatever about that. There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.


These lines are the opening lines to THE best Christmas story ever written! I LOVE A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens! Sure, Dickens has written two other short holiday stories. Not to mention MANY other novels! However, when one thinks classic Christmas stories, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Crachit, Tiny Tim, and the Three Christmas Spirits of Past-Present-and Future will forever be the first to come to mind!

Around the World in 80 Books Challenge

I'm off on a voyage of discovery as I travel around the world through the books that I read. With this challenge I hope to broaden my literary horizons and learn more about the cultures and life in other countries. I'll relive my wonderful memories of past travel destinations and prepare for future adventures. If you'd like to join me just grab your passport and a great book and we'll take off for places unknown! Bon Voyage!

RULeS:
1)Five years to complete my journey. Starting Jan 1st, 2013 {but you can join this challenge any time} Ending December 31, 2018. I want this to be fun and not become a burden so with my current average pace of about 50 books a year this should give me lots of time to read the books for this challenge but also other book challenges that interest me during this time.
2) I'm choosing my books that take place in OTHER countries {since one of my primary goals is to learn about other countries} therefor it does not matter to me what country the author is from. If a book takes place in multiple countries then I will count it towards the country that it is mostly set in. However, book CAN'T take plac in USA (for me) as I live there.
3)In addition to reading a book set in a particular country, I will also do some research on that country and will include some "Fun Facts " along with each book review.
4)I will release 80 books "into the wild" via BookCrossing and watch them {hopefully} travel the world.
5)I will attempt to donate 80 books to a charity that focuses on importance of childhood literacy.
Yes, there is a little more to my challenge than most people's but my passions are both reading and traveling so I really wanted to include a little of both into my challenge. And hey, even if I don't get to travel the world in the next five years maybe my books will!

I'll log my progress through my journey with my book reviews and periodic updates on what I've donated and sent out via BookCrossing. I'm not going to preselect any books for the challenge nor am I going to pick countries in advance. I want to be free to travel in my reading as my interests {and hopefully my REAL travels} take me. I'm also going to attempt to do this on as small of a budget as possible. I'm truly a budget traveler at heart so this journey will follow my usual style. I really can't wait to get started!

My Book List:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (England) Start Date: Jan.1st, 2013 End Date:
Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Loruex (France)Start Date:







Travel is best when it's shared with someone so please travel with me on this journey. You don't have to follow my rules to travel with me, please just post a link to your own "Around the World in 80 Books" type reading challenge so we can encourage each other as we go and share possible books to add to our ever-growing TBR pile!

Please also save my button and post it on your own blog to share this challenge if you'd like to. Thank you!

Books for Needy Children

I could NEVER imagine my life growing up without books around. I love them and I love to read! In fact, Barnes & Noble is MY heaven. I'm a BIG advicate when it comes to kids and reading. Unfortunately, too many children don’t have access to resources that enrich learning and encourage reading. A recent study shows that there is only one age-appropriate book available for every 300 children living in underserved communities in the United States. That’s less than 1% of the number books available to children in middle-income neighborhoods..... This knowledge that I discovered at Soar with Reading made me sad. Fortunately, they, along with PBS and JetBlue, developed a grant program back in 2011 to help address this critical shortage. The program is desgined to provide books directly to children who need them most, giving age-appropriate books to THOUSANDS of children in the US, Central America, and the Caribbean. Knowing what I know now, I want to help in my own way..... Does anyone have any ideas?