You have no idea how nice it is to be able to read whatever you want for as long as you want. It’s a luxury I wish upon everyone. Except for you, Ted.
The Wise Man’s Fear: The Kingkiller Chronicle Day Two by Patrick Rothfuss
This is book #2 in the Kingkiller Chronicle. I think the only reason this series isn’t as mainstream as the Harry Potter saga is because Kingkiller is comprised of two enormous books and not several shorter ones. It’s kind of scary picking it up knowing it’s going to take up so much of your life. At almost 1,000 pages and so well written, it’s hard to put down. You lose a couple of days quickly. It’s a pleasant couple of days though.
Although, come to think of it, the Game of Thrones books are enormous and mainstream, so maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Regardless, this book is one of the highest rated books on Goodreads and I know why. The detail, the characters, the world-building are all done extremely well. Plus, the title of the book is great. It perfectly suits the story.
I don’t recommend you run off and read it though. It’s not done. The author published the second book in 2014, but there’s no release date for the final (?) book and no satisfaction in sight. I can’t get me no satisfaction. Not cool.
The Slow Regard of Silent Things (Kingkiller Chronicle) by Patrick Rothfuss
This is a tiny book set in the Kingkiller Chronicle universe I just told you about. It focuses on one small character. It would be like if JK Rowling wrote a book about Dobby. It’s a lightning fast read after the first two, but there’s no real story. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t like it either. This character believes that every single object has traits and preferences. That idea kind of makes me queasy.
Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy – Until You’re 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge
The authors (one doctor and one retired lawyer) are speaking to men who are older and retired, so I had trouble connecting, but this book has some good advice. Exercise every day and old age doesn’t have to be uncomfortable physically. He harps on the importance of cardio for fending off aging. It’s all about circulation. I think his words make sense, but dang, I hate cardio.
Use your body or it will decay. If you use your body, it won’t decay. Being active, getting up and moving and checking in with your muscles (your heart is a muscle) will keep you young. Do this every single day and, with a bit of luck, you can live with vigor into your 80’s and 90’s and 100’s.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
The author lays out a persuadable case that homo-sapiens are long-distance runners in our bones. Running, if done correctly, can be pleasant and joyful and excellent for our overall health.
He profiles several long-distance runners, those souls able to go hundreds of miles with little rest. They all seem to love it. I guess you couldn’t do it if you didn’t love it.
There was one point he made that made me cheer. Most of the injuries from running — shin splints, plantar fasciitis and the like — are actually from running shoes. The cushions and arches and springs and foams make your foot unable to do its thing. The bones in your feet are so intricate and putting them in a straitjacket is bad for them. I’m totally convinced that barefoot is the most blissful state of being. I really want a pair of these five-fingered shoes, but just can’t get over how ridiculous they look.
It’s a very good read that made me want to go running outside barefoot. Not enough to actually do it though.
I love this quote:
“Let us live, so that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry.”
The author is quoting Mark Twain here. Take care of your body. Make it look healthy and alive. Make the undertaker feel sorrow. I think that is an excellent approach to life.
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams
The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu get together and discuss joy.
There’s a lot in this book. Life is suffering, but if you can assign your own meaning, that adversity will make you stronger. If you can make that meaning about others and not yourself, you’ll find joy. Joy is different than happiness, but I’m not sure I’m able to articulate exactly how. Joy isn’t dependent on outside circumstances. Maybe?
The eight pillars of joy are perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion and generosity.
Perspective and gratitude are my favorite pillars and ones I’ve already been focusing on for a while. I love their words on perspective:
A healthy perspective really is the foundation of joy and happiness, because the way we see the world is the way we experience the world. Changing the way we see the world in turn changes the way we feel and the way we act, which changes the world itself.
Humility means remembering you are one of billions of humans and one of countless beings. You are not the key to anything, but perhaps you are a piece.
Humor means laughing at life. Are you having fun? That’s the point of it all.
Acceptance means not wasting any brain cells obsessing over what you can’t change. Don’t waste your precious time and attention.
Forgiveness means remembering that we’re all flawed.
Compassion means trying to see life from someone’s point of view besides your own. I think.
Generosity is giving your energy, time, hope, love, positive perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, and compassion to others.
They both recommend meditating. I’ve tried meditating in the past more times than I can count. It’s a frequent resolution on my chart, but it’s never one I do well on or enjoy while I’m doing. This book has several specific meditations I plan to try though. It’s an interesting read.
P.S. I don’t actually know a Ted. If you’re a Ted and you’re reading this, my apologies for making you the object of my humor.
Younger Next Year is AWESOME. I’ve read it twice and gave my Mom a copy. She’s 88. I told her that everyone can get wisdom and advice from that book.
Born To Run has been on my Amazon wish list for a long time. Waiting for my library to get it but they haven’t come through. Might need to bite the bullet and buy that one.
I want to give Your Next Year to my parents, but I’ve never seen them read a book, so I don’t think they would read it.
Born to Run is almost never in libraries, I agree! I don’t know why. I lucked out.
Off the topic of this particular post, and perhaps addressed elsewhere on your lovely blog…but I’m curious (if you’re open to share) if you’ve ever taken one or more personality tests, such as one measuring the “big five” personality factors, or some others? And if you have, if you would share your thoughts on their usefulness as a tool to guide one’s life choices? I respect your analytical mind and self-improvement focus and thought your insights might be of worth… Cheers!
Aww, thanks. I’m an INTJ, but I honestly haven’t spent much time figuring out what means. I’ve not heard of the “big five” personality factors Is that in Briggs Meyer too? It’s something I get asked a lot though, so I should probably do some research on it!
I’ve also had trouble getting started meditating. I’m sure you’ve heard of this app and probably even tried it, but I finally gave Headspace a shot and have been hooked for almost 30 days now! It’s totally not for everyone, and I don’t like that it costs money, but it’s been really helpful for me personally and helped with getting into the habit. Just a recommendation from a fellow non-meditator!
Many people have recommended Headspace to me, but I’m kind of an idiot when it comes to technology and avoid putting new apps on my phone at all costs. And a paid app? That seems to go against every fiber of my being. But I’m probably being too stubborn, especially since you seem to love it!
I loved that Barefoot book too…..and then I remember how my feet are strange and I usually pound pavements, so maybe not too realistic to run barefoot now. But maybe next time I am somewhere with a beach or a grassy park in summer I might give it a try.
Yeah, I don’t think they recommend running barefoot on the pavement. But beach and grass are apparently wonderful. 🙂
The Kingkiller Chronicle was awesome! It is always a toss up between waiting for more books to come out or to read them as they arrive. Any other fantasy book recommendations?
Fantasy is not a genre I have spent much time in, to be honest! I do have The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson on my list that many people have raved about.
I waited to read Harry Potter until two weeks before the sixth book came out and then read them all in the space of those two weeks. I think that’s the way to go.
I have those shoes and while I haven’t become a total convert (it doesn’t feel any better or worse than heel striking in padded shoes, but it will work your calves a lot more), they’re nice for a lighter feel while running, and you’ll get lots of strangers asking you about them. Actually had a couple in an SUV slow down and give me 20 questions last week on a Bronx off-ramp(!) and we all had a laugh.
If you’re willing to wait, they’ll go on sale on 6pm.com or Nordstrom Rack for $20-$30 and if you don’t like them, you’re not out much.
Oooh! Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve seen Nordstrom Rack places. I’ve heard that you shouldn’t buy your first pair online, that you need to try them on to get an idea of sizing and fit. $20-$30 is very reasonable to try them out. Thanks!
The shoes are interesting, and definitely take a minute to get used to. My toes curl a bit too much for toe shoes to ever be comfortable.
They are also topics of conversation, because of how funny they look, my husband has had conversations with complete strangers who notice them. But really, it’s only noticeable to the person wearing, and those who look down. Another option would be the Furoshiki shoes (also by Vibram) that use the barefoot tech. without the toes.
I think it’s always a good things to have more conversation-starters for people to approach you, right? 🙂 I do like the idea of the Furoshiki shoes that I’ve never heard of. That is something I will definitely check out. Thanks!
Been using the 5-fingers for some years. I call them ape feet. A small positive I haven’t seen mentioned is that when I am wearing them, no lower-back pain. I don’t like them in the snow and mud and while they are fine on irregular rock surfaces, even sharp surfaces (I have worn them running the Middle Fork Salmon and the Grand Canyon), I don’t much like them around cacti.
In the grocery line:
Young teen daughter: Mom! Do you see that guy’s feet!
Mom (mortified): SSHH! He’ll hear you.
YTD: But MOM! They’re SO COOL. (Points at my feet. I wiggle my toes at her, but subtly.)
Mom: SSHH! (hissing) You’re being rude!
YTD: But Mom. They’re just so cool. I’ve got to have them. I’ve just got to.
YTD and I grin at each other.
Mom attempts to use the God Voice:
YTD, We’ll Talk About It Later.
But the effects of the God Voice, so gratifying and so powerful applied to a toddler, abate with time. Instead of caving in, YTD looks mulish. I murmur,
“REI. Try them on first.” YTD beams and thanks me while her mother tries to give her the look. As with the God Voice, so with the Look; YTD is impervious. Off they go, doubtless to REI. I am left jamming the chip into the reader to pay for my pure organic inspissated gruel and sawdust plus the litle bag of Himalayan sea-salt oven-roasted cellulose chips, thinking, “Weird. Nothing about me or my mode of dress has been cool in decades, and yet the ape feet came through.”
So you’re saying if I buy these, I’ll be cool?
Anybody like me who adjudges himself cool based on a rude teen in a grocery line should certainly not be asked for coolness advice, and if he offers it, should be hooted into silence. Now, occasionally, when wearing those shoes I felt like I was getting in touch with my Inner Ape, but even if that’s true, it may not seem much of an inducement to a young lady such as yourself.
Thanks for another good book review i grabbed The Book of Joy and even though its filled with alot of sad stories its packed full of wisdom. Ill probably have to reread it again.
Im planning out my forrest fenn treasure hunt and was wondering where should I stop for deep dish pizza in chicago?
Pizza is not something I ever crave and can’t claim to be an expert in! Sorry.
No worries, the internet is great for knowledge they suggest that Pequod’s Pizza is what i’m probably looking for. Are there any special places that hit the spot when you do get a food craving?
Taza’s for falafel. Yum!