Status report

So, it's the last day of April, and I have finished 18 books. No, I haven't blogged about each and every one that I've read (although that was my original goal)... some books just don't seem to be worth the time and effort, I'm sorry. I also just forgot one or two and will try to go back and review them at some point, but once I've moved on I find it very easy to not look back... 

That being said, on my reading goal I am exactly on pace, which is impressive only because I inadvertently read nothing through both February and March (biggest excuse: an intense playoff push for my favorite hockey team, which did NOT result in a playoff run... fortunately, for me =P).  Usually I'll take a week or two off, a month at the most, but after losing almost a solid two months I did have to consciously get my head together in April. It's always interesting to evaluate the areas of your life that sap the majority of your resources... as it turns out, sleep, work, and hockey eat up most of mine... it could be worse. 

The one thing that I hate about New Year's Resolutions-or any goals that are set, particularly with time tables-it makes the year feel so much faster! Here we are, five months into 2017, and I feel like I've done nothing more than read 18 books... which seems incredibly insignificant, in the big scheme of things. 

So that's pretty much the situation. I think that from here on out, I'll probably dedicate one large post to group together all of the books that feel like they aren't worth the effort of an entire post of their own. And now if you'll excuse me, the one single advantage of not having a team in the playoffs is that you can enjoy the best of hockey without feeling anxious or uptight. I'm gonna go do that...  

The Reason I Jump

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

Link to purchase from Amazon

Title: The Reason I Jump
Author: Naoki Higashida
Publisher: Knopf Canada, Hardcover
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Genre: Memoir, Biography, Parenting and Relationships, Health, Fitness and Dieting, Special Needs


Written in a Q&A style, with a handful short stories also included, this was a really great read! It's a very short book and easy/quick read, but still manages to pack a punch. If you didn't get it from the extended title, this is the behind the scenes look into the mind of a child with autism. Naoki Higashida writes the book at 13 years of age using a unique method that his therapist/instructors have developed to help this child who is unable to speak due to his disability.

There isn't a whole lot to say about this book, other than it is a productive read for essentially anyone. Although there seem to be endless varieties of learning disabilities on the spectrum, and a plethora of different symptom combinations on top of that, this memoir does answer a lot of the questions that parents/families/teachers etc always have concerning their child who cannot adequately communicate their thoughts and feelings (for example, why autistic kids often jump). Higashida comes across as incredibly intelligent, which is a good reminder of the level of maturity that often resides in the mind of special needs kids... at one point, he begs people not to talk to him like he's a child.

So yes, I would recommend this book to anyone. There isn't much to it, but in the interest of understanding and being well-informed, this one is very useful. Four stars only because it did feel somewhat incomplete (but an entire 5 stars to the final short story at the end of the book!).  

Quite: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Link to purchase from Amazon

Title: Quite: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Author: Susan Cain
Publisher: Broadway Books, paperback 368 pages
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Genre: Psychology and Counseling, Creativity and Genius, Behavioral Science, Relationships


There are exactly three books that I can say I have and always will recommend to basically anyone who can read: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, Outliers: The Story of Success, and now Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

With over 4,400 five star ratings (and only 600 "critical" reviews) on Amazon.com, my expectations going into this book were pretty high. I can't remember exactly how I got my hands on this one, but I'm pretty sure this was an Amazon recommendation for me based on other books I've purchased through them (cheers, Amazon, you nailed it!). I blew through the first half of the book in the first sitting (maybe two hours?), not because it is an easy read, but because every point introduced is thought-provoking, interesting, and very well presented. Susan Cain has a very fluid writing style that is easy to follow, and more than anything, the topic is captivating.

Admittedly, as the poster child for introversion, I did connect with this book on a personal level. Coming across someone or something that you can actually closely relate to is always refreshing, and although I've never actually walked in someone else's shoes, I feel like finding these connections is a rarity for me and is possibly more difficult for me than it is for other people (in particular, extroverts!). If I created a list of all of the things that I enjoy (or hate), it wouldn't be difficult to see why I feel this way.

So, things that I liked about this book:  

1) Cain debunks misconceptions (for example, there is a difference between being "shy" and being "introverted"-as an introverted person who would not consider myself to be shy, this was refreshing).
2) She explores the biology and the genetics of introversion (super interesting material that I have yet to come across elsewhere).
3) There are a lot of cultural implications when it comes to introverts/extroverts and how they play together in the world (at the office, in relationships, etc)-Cain provides history and sociology lessons while simultaneously giving useful tips and advice to people on both ends of the spectrum on how to cooperate with each other and find the best ways to maximize the benefits of different personality types.
4) Although I only perused the portions on parenting because I don't have children, Cain does offer advice on how to relate to an introverted child (haven't read it, but she also has a book that focuses on children Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids).
5) Seriously, this is a condensed list.. I literally loved everything about this book.


The one thing that I think other people may dislike about this book:

The only negative or critical thing that I can say about this book is that-thinking about it from the perspective of an extroverted person-Cain has the potential to come off as a little self-righteous or conceited, or maybe just anti-extrovert. For an introverted person, this book is a breath of fresh air! We can relate to it and feel far more validated and comfortable with those God-given traits that normally make us stick out like a sore thumb. I have recommended this book to several people, and up until this point only my fellow introverts have read it (and loved it!), but my next victim is a highly extroverted friend/coworker... I am anxious to see how she perceives the tone of the book. If you read to completion, you will see that Cain does consistently stress the importance of finding and working towards a healthy balance. More than once she points out the fact that-although it is important for extroverts to begin to pay more attention to their introverted counterparts-the introverts really couldn't do it alone.


I haven't written about the other two on my list of books that I always recommend (Elon Musk, Outliers, and Quiet), but I do intend to at some point. The three do have some things in common; they are all non-fiction, most obviously. They are also all VERY well written in a conversational, informative, and easy-to-follow manner. And most importantly, out of all the reading that I do (excluding the Bible), these three are the books that have had the most impact on me and my perception of the world and people around me. Elon Musk (among other things) was a friendly and necessary reminder that there is a lot to look forward to in the future of America and the world. Outliers was an informative look at the multiple factors that play in the story of success or failure (note: some people find this book to be sort of a bummer about how you can be talented and work hard but never meet your true potential; I took away a more positive note on how the people that ARE successful always did work hard and perhaps also had natural talent... this was mostly just super informative and interesting, though-it blew my mind!). And then Quiet-the book that more or less explains ME.

So yes, I HIGHLY recommend all three of these books. I want people everywhere to read Quiet in particular because I feel like it sheds light on an extremely important issue that we will all face, but has thus far been successfully ignored or blown over as far as I can tell. Selfishly, I want everyone I know to read the book so that they'll understand why I prefer to stay home and read a book over going out and "having fun". I cannot stress enough how meaningful it feels to be validated on a genetic level.

FIVE STARS, and probably the best book I've read this year.