Criticizing Book Reviewers

Denny Hatch criticizes book reviewers proclaiming they reveal too much information. Whether you agree or not, I follow these rules in writing book reviews: * Honest: I try to provide an overview of the reading experience including the content without the marketing speak you find on the back of the book or inside the cover. … Read more

Hearing Words in Your Head

In talking about speed reading, Scott H. Young mentions a word I hadn’t come across: Subvocalization. He defines it: “Subvocalization is saying the words inside your head as you read them.” I’ve done this almost my entire life and didn’t know there was a word for it. Hearing words in my head is a natural … Read more

Plug Your Book! Book Review

Authors can’t rely solely on their publishers to do the marketing for their book especially self-publishers. They need to take it in their own hands and the Internet simplifies the task. However, are authors making full use of the Internet? Plug Your Book! is a checklist complete with instructions so authors ensure they explore every … Read more

Read Books Fast and Efficiently

lifehack.org has an excellent (as usual) entry on efficient reading. I remember coming across classic book How to Read a Book, which covers the different levels of reading and how to reach them — “from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading, you learn how to pigeonhole a book, X-ray it, … Read more

Two Talented Writers: Sheldon and Ivins

This week, we’ve lost two wonderful writers who had their unique style: Sidney Sheldon and fellow Texan Molly Ivins. Sidney Sheldon’s books gripped me. It’s cliche’, but I couldn’t put them down unless my weight of eyelids trying to go to sleep forced me to. The only book I didn’t like was The Doomsday Conspiracy. … Read more

Emotional Design Book Review

Norman opens the book with a discussion of three teapots he owns. He doesn’t use them, but he loves how each tells a story. One is impossible to use, one is a classy glassy Michael Graves design and one is unusual. Norman says when we like the look of an object; we’re more willing to … Read more

The Intellectual Devotional Book Review

I recently read an article that says executives have higher vocabulary than the average person. Managers, too, but not as high as executives. This book is a great way to expand your knowledge. A devotional is a short religious service. Religious and spiritual devotional books break down religious readings into short chapters to help readers … Read more