Archive for the ‘Bookclub’ Category

Here we are! I only tackled three books this month. Oh give me a break … I didn’t have vacation this month to load my Kindle for. Anywho, here’s the line-up:

Catching Fire — Suzanne Collins 

As I mentioned in last month’s debrief of books, this series rocked my world. When The Hunger Games movie comes out later this month, I’m going to be one of those crazy creepers with a set of bow and arrows and a freaking Mocking Jay pin I created from paperclips. Like most things, this book wasn’t as great as the first but I still took it out in 2 days. I think the trick to any good fiction book: Put a twist at the end of every chapter. Seriously, slap the reader with something crazy during the LAST SENTENCE so they can’t help but continue reading.

MockingJay — Suzanne Collins

Again, this book wasn’t as awesome as the first, BUT, it still rocked my world and gave me the closure I needed for the relationships I had built with the characters. I’m just as embarrassed as anyone to say that I devoured a popular young adult series as a 29-year-old, but it was totally worth the brain candy. I would HIGHLY recommend this series to anyone who needs to get lost in a good book for a few days.

We Are All Weird — Seth Godin

I’ve talked enough about some of my favorite take-aways from this book in previous posts. So to make it short, I thought this book was a great reminder that embracing who you are not only drives you closer to people you can connect with on a deeper level, but it also has its advantages in the new marketplace. There were so many encouraging tidbits in this book for anyone who resists the status quo!

You all posted some awesome suggestions for great books to read last month. I’m planning on tackling a few that were suggested. If you want to join me, I’ve started Ender’s Game (already very Hunger Games esqu), Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, and likely another business book. Next month … Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Anyone in? If you have any other book suggestions let me know! I still need a nerdy but fun business book to tackle so suggest away!

If you joined me in reading Seth Godin’s We Are All Weird, I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts.

I think the greatest thing about this book is that it proved why owning your uniqueness is so important. I think most of us can apply that to our personal AND professional lives. I resonated most with Seth’s ability to highlight trends that point towards a more focused/personal/niche world as opposed to the currently mass-marketed approach we’ve been used to. I think it’s awesome how he encouraged everyone to consider creating space for both themselves and others to be more “weird.” What I wish he would have done is give more examples of where to begin.

If you’re like me, I read books like this and totally click with what the author is saying. I suddenly feel less alone and more empowered to keep on keepin’ on. But once I’m done reading the book, I don’t know what the first step is in applying the information to my life. Maybe that’s why he created the Weird Domino movement. Either way, I wish there were more tangible suggestions, not just anecdotes.

That said, here are some of my favorite tidbits: (I had about half the book typed into this entry, but wanted to pick things I felt were general to EVERYONE … not just marketing people)

“If you persist in trying to be all things to all people, you will fail. The only alternative, then, is to be something important to a few people. And to get there? To get there you mud disappoint some slightly engaged normal folks, who, to tell the truth, can probably live just fine without you.” 

“It’s not easy to walk away from average, because average represents mass, or the promise of mass.” 

“The challenge of your future is to do productive and useful work for and by and with the tribe that cares about you. To find and assemble the tribe, to earn their trust, to take them where they want and need to go.”  

“If we’re going to demonize, criticize and isolate people who no longer fit our definition of normal, we will fail. The alternative is an attitude based on respect, the respect we accord to someone brave enough to choose precisely what it is they want.”

Gosh those hit home. What rocked your world for the better or worse about this book? Anything?

Via Subvert Magazine. Photo by Brian J. Bloom

If you don’t already, you can follow Seth’s work here. He posts regularly and his thoughts are short, sweet and to the point. I highly recommend subscribing!

Alright my crazy little book worms, the time has come to chat our fingers off about books that rock our worlds.

I’ve chosen a short, sweet and to-the-point kind-of book since we’re already half-way through the month! EEK. Some of you may be familiar with Seth Godin’s work already. If that’s the case, you likely know he’s one of the most brilliant thinkers of our time. That’s a fact. For those of you who don’t know him … get ready to have your mind blown.

So here we go:

We Are All Weird, Seth Godin

If you own a Kindle/iPad, the book is only $7.99 on Amazon. Otherwise, you’ll be able to find it among all of his other books at whichever bookstore in your area hasn’t closed down. Although this is classified as a business book, I can tell you it’s an important read for anyone who feels inclined to go against the status quo. This will be especially helpful for my self-employed friends out there and anyone who has ideas for the world around them that don’t quite appeal to the masses.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE BOOK CLUB:

• This will be SUPER informal.
• Ladies and gents will be gathering here in the comment section from all walks of life and with differing vantage points. That said, don’t be rude to one another.
• This won’t be a gossip club. (can I get an AMEN?!)
• If you’re someone who loves to read and craves good dialog with people who have their noses buried in the same material, this is for you.
• There’s no specific pace.
• Add your comments whenever you have something to say or want to talk something that struck you.
• I’ll try and spark specific conversation based on what I found most applicable to my life, but I’d love for you all to take the lead on anything I missed!

Is that cool with everyone?

Awesome.

If you’re down for this month’s book, leave a comment, introduce yourself (name, the city you reside, what you do for a living and what makes you weird), and tell us what has already rocked your world or why you think this book is already stupid. I’ll go first:

________________________________________

Hello! I’m Krysta. I live in the great city of Los Angeles, California. I run a little company called B!G DEAL BRANDING and I take notes when I watch movies and T.V. shows. Some of my favorite tidbits already:

“RICH is my word for someone who can afford to make choices, who has enough resources to do more than merely survive … He’s rich because he can make choices and he can make an impact on his tribe. Not just choices about what to buy, but choices about how to live.”

“Are you confident enough to encourage people to do what’s right and useful and joyful, as opposed to what the system has always told them they have to do? Should we make our own choices and let others make theirs?”

Annnd … GO!