Posts

Showing posts from 2017

Review: Molly's Game: From Hollywood's Elite To Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Aventure In The World Of Underground Poker by Molly Bloom

Image
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Molly's Game is a memoir of a woman behind one of the underground high-stakes poker game in Hollywood, detailing how she came to the game and the tactics she used to become almost indispensable in that world. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Contrarians of all shades. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT The contents of this book were more outrageous that you would read in gossip magazines. If you already think a Hollywood is a crazy place and runs on different rules than most places in the world, this book would confirm your suspicion. The author did not hold back (she dropped some pretty heavy names too) on some of the excess going on in some celebrity circles. More importantly, she tries to explain the rationale behind some of these weird behaviours and how she dealt with them. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "Eventually Reardon started bringing me to the meetings instead of making me wait outside. I observed him closely. Reardon was a master negotiator. He was able to co

Review: Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Timothy Ferriss

Image
Tribe of Mentors is a collection of answers to some specific life questions that are designed to help people find clarity as well as make better decisions in their personal lives or in business. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? People who love the self-help genre are bound to take to this as a duck to water. Those who are not into the genre might be put-off (or quite pleased) with the diversity or contradictory nature of opinions in this book. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT I love this book because of the differences of view and opinions in it. The things that some will tell you not to do is what works for others and vice versa. Quite illuminating when you think about it - the fact that nothing is guaranteed and that there is no one road to self-actualisation. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "As a competitive chess player, failure is part and parcel of growth. My most important failure came at a tournament in Bermuda where I needed to win a crucial game in order to finally

Review: Photographic: The Life Of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Pena

Image
Photographic is a layout of Graciela Iturbide's childhood background, her past works, and the philosophy behind how and why she takes pictures. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Photographers, writers, painters, and other creatives can benefit from a master photographer's insights about her motivations, how she sees, and her work preparation. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT Learning about what drives us is a lifelong occupation. However, elderly artists have more experience and more valuable things to say about this since they've come way up the road. It is a privilege to catch a glimpse how Graciela perceives herself in relation to she photographs. For me, it is clear see why she's had a long career and still keeps going despite her age. MEMORABLE PASSAGE ....... Photographic: The Life Of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Pena is available to buy from on all major online bookstores. Many thanks to Getty Publications for re

Review: Etiquette Rules!: A Field Guide To Modern Manners by Nancy R. Mitchell

Image
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Etiquette Rules! is a book that seeks to educate on the importance of proper manners in different settings as well as showing ways to acquire such manners. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? CEOs, diplomats, people working in hotel and service industries, Customer Service Advisors... anyone with interest in studying and influencing human behaviour through appearance. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT This is one of the most practical books I've read this year. There are loads of hints on deciding how to appear and conduct yourself when you do not know the situation you are walking into, how to interact properly with a disabled person, the principles of a good handshake, the art of proper listening, and more. If you are in a job or career that deals with people day-to-day, learning the good habits in this book might change people's perception of you as well as take you far careerwise. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "You might be surprised to learn that there is a gauge in

Review: Uberworked and Underpaid: How Workers Are Disrupting the Digital Economy by Trebor Scholz

Image
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Uberworked and Underpaid is an indepth look at the state of digital work place and practices, how it has enriched the few and impoverished many despite its promise of freedom and entrepreneurship for all. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Anyone with a stake or potential stake (work-wise) in today's gig economy. University or college students concerned about getting a job after school would also benefit from having a read. People who get depressed easily should stay clear, there is plenty of sorrow and pessimism to drive a human insane here. There is also a lot of hope and proferred solutions, but the author is quite realistic about the state of jobs in the world at this time. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT The author was thorough in researching various methods that "internet-age" companies like Uber, 99Deisgns, Upwork, Amazon, etc use in avoiding the payment of minimum wage to staff. More importantly, this book encourages the formation of staff-owned pla

Review: Being A Writer: Advice, Musings, Essays, and Experiences From The World's Greatest Authors by Trace Elborough and Helen Gordon

Image
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY Being A Writer is a collection of information and diverse opinions by essayists, fiction writers, and non-fiction writers of different kinds on the subject of writing. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Writers of all kinds and different stages of development. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT The diversity of the collections is impressive. Short story writers rarely feature in a collection like this, but this book has many. Also, this book goes beyond the normal old, dead, white European writers to contemporary African and Asian writers perspectives on the craft - there are many voices to hear from here. MEMORABLE PASSAGE "The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily,  in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself.  I suppose that it begins or does not begin in the cradle. Although I have felt compelled to write things down since I was five years o

Review: The Ghost Fleet: The Whole Goddamned Thing by Donny Cates and Daniel Warren Johnson

Image
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY The Ghost Fleet: The Whole Goddamn Thing is a graphic novel about the adventures of an underworld clique that transports unknown items for underworld organisations and individuals. WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT? Fans of gritty, fast-paced action and fantasy stories will be thrilled with this novel. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT Memorable characters, believable story, exquisite art, nail-biting cliffhangers...this volume has it all. The action never lets up and the dialogue feels natural. I was disappointed when it ended - I wanted more. MEMORABLE PASSAGE ....... The Ghost Fleet: The Whole Goddamn Thing by Donny Cates is available to buy from the first week of December 2018 on all major online bookstores. Many thanks to Image Comics for review copy.

The Trials Of Japanese-American Children During World-War 2

Image
"... explores the love of reading and the life of the librarian who cared enough to keep looking out for children who shared her love of books and have been unjustly segregated." WORLD WAR 2 World War 2 is a popular subject in books, games, and movies. A large proportion of its aspects have been examined and explored - the effects of food, propaganda, weather, weapons, etc have been scrutinised and theorised. Even the exploits and vices of countries involved have been looked at and dissected over and over. However, there still remains few details of that war, especially the consequences, that is not well-known and popular for various reasons. ABOUT THE BOOK In any case, Write To Me by Cynthia Grady and Amiko Hirao is a book (albeit for 4 to 8 year olds) that looks at the treatment of Japanese-Americans at the hands of Franklin Roosevelt-led American government during World War 2. The bombing of Pearl harbour prompted the American government into sending all Japan

Zerocalcare On Life, Politics, And Misconceptions About The Syrian War

Image
UNCOMFORTABLE READING Kobane Calling is a kind of book I wish most people would read, especially those interested in international affairs. However, it is that kind of book that a lot of people won't read; firstly because it is a graphic novel addressing a matter of importance - war. The cartoon medium is still grappling with general acceptance, especially with regards to heavy topics. Also,  Kobane Calling  reads in a way that confronts our perceptions about Muslims, the Middle East, Syrian war and the western countries role in it. These combinations make it an uncomfortable reading at times, but this is what makes the book potent. ABOUT THE BOOK Almost everyone with an interest in politics in today's world knows what is going on in Syria.  Kobane Calling  us a graphic novel exploring the experiences of an Italian cartoonist, Zerocalcare , (real name Michele Rech) who went into the region to experience first-hand what is going on there. Think of this as a journal

The Importance Of Micro-Decisions

Image
I have neither created  nor loved for some time, I swat  at a fly and miss, I am an  old grey dog growing toothless.  I have a typewriter and now  my typewriter no longer has anything to say.  I will drink until morning  finds me in bed with the  biggest whore of them all:  myself. - Charles Bukowski Time, as a concept, is unbiased. You could give two or more people the same period of time to do an activity and you would get different outcomes. Also, two people with the same lifespan and similar life opportunities would often have different tales woven around them at the end of their lives. It seems time, as important as it is, is not as vital as the actions performed within its framework. In this era, we always seem not to have enough time to do all that we want. There is a common feeling that always accompanies the use of time - guilt. The guilt comes from the feeling that we have not used our time wisely enough. For example, there is the feeling of regret at not h

Review: #6 The Change - Noriko's Story

Image
NARRATION/VOICE The style of narration in Noriko's Story isn't for everyone. Some prefer a book's narrator to keep his or her thoughts directed within the page. However, the narrator in Noriko's Story seems to reach outside of it to speak to the reader, telling us what to feel and what it is feeling. This is intriguing but risky. ABOUT THE STORY Noriko's Story is about... well, Noriko. The story setting is that of a dystopian Tokyo where a rogue AI, unsuitably called HA/HA, has taken over the city and running it as humanely as a psychotic AI can. The spine of the story features Torino's quest to find her parents who had been missing since the beginning of HA/HA's coup. Through her eyes, we explore the harsh ways in which HA/HA manages Tokyo and the lives of the people living under its rule. Apart from HA/HA's efforts to capture humans who are outside of its rule (Toriko included), the book also shows us some of the feats of the rebels tryin

Rising Above Epilepsy and Its Psychological Claws

Image
When it comes to illnesses, especially those that feed on emotional reactions to external stimuli, it is wise to not assume too much but listen to its sufferers and do what you can to empathise - even when you do not understand half of what is being said. This is because, unless you have come under the hand of the illness itself or you are close to someone who has, you may never truly understand what its sufferers go through. The graphic novel,  Mis(h)adra , shines a clearer light on this for me, as I realise the emotional and psychological toll epilepsy takes in its sufferers.  Mis(h)adra  is a fictional account (loosely based on the author's own life) of an epileptic patient called Isaac. The book chronicles how neighbourhood noises, insensitive comments, and Isaac's own negative thoughts, contributes to a debilitating anxiety that gives the illness more power to manifest itself. The book also shares how easy it sometimes can be for people suffering from epilepsy to

Review - Quackery: A Brief History Of The Worst Ways To Cure Everything

Image
No one is safe from the clutches of experts. From financial matters to medical concerns, we must listen to people with high-sounding degrees who know more than we do. Even modern rulers with huge political power have to sometimes put their lives and careers in the hands of people who profess to have specialised knowledge in a particular area of life. Yet we sometimes forget that experts are people trying to figure out life as well as complicated details of their craft. No one knows all they need to know about their area of specialism. This includes the so-called experts. Quackery is a record of dangerous medical concoctions that were once proclaimed and, in some cases, certified as medicine that would cure common ailments. For example, the authors state that arsenic compounds were once used as legitimate medicine for syphilis. It was also used extensively in beauty products. Though arsenic did its job (when used in small doses), it was dropped in the 1990s when it was discovered t

Stream Of Consciousness As A Path To Consistency In Writing

Image
As a person who uses their imagination to create stories with words and pictures, I rely on my mind a lot. However, after many years of experience, I also know that this important tool of mine can also be a major hindrance in getting work done. The mind, though useful, sometimes seems to have plans on its own. It chatters and wanders and gives you 500 reasons why you should be somewhere else rather than where you are at the moment. During times when life troubles are getting the best of you - your child is ill or the weather is making you uncomfortable, or you are in pain - this is one of the time when the mind completely ceases to be a helpful tool. Unfortunately, this phenomenon gets in the way of consistency. I have come to realise that, to become a skilled writer and illustrator, the mind is one of the frontiers I have to tame. I believe this is why the stream of consciousness technique works for creatives. Stream of consciousness (or freewriting) is a technique where, as a

Subversive Devotional - The Keys To Happiness (II)

Image

Subversive Devotional - The Keys To Happiness (I)

Image

Creativity Is...

Image

Fools

Image

Turning Into What You Once Criticised

Image

Saving Face

Image

Being Successful At What You Secretly Detest

Image

Imagination

Image

Ideas

Image

William Combs On The Spirtual Downside Of Being Good

Image
How do people who perceive themselves to be religious or spiritual decide who is more worthy? We sometimes use spiritual exercises, religious posts, knowledge, or deeds to navigate this slippery terrain. Some criteria are better than others, but William Comb, says in his book,  Who Told You That You Were Naked? , that using good deeds as to judge a person's righteousness is dangerous. The danger lies in the false sense of security we generate when we assume we behave better than other people. More dangerous is the complete oversight of the human nature that this attitude generates. According to William Combs, “By reducing sin to a mere list of offences, we can convince oursevlves that we are becoming better persons because we are commiting fewer “sins” than we once did. This attitude shifts our focus away from the devastating consequences of sin—the inner conviction we do not measure up.” The implication of this attitude is that a Christian who sees himsel or herself in th

Becky Eldredge On Imagination As A Tool Of Prayer

Image
As we go about our busy lives in a technology-driven world, we must craft our inner life in a way that makes it easy to communicate with God where and when we want. Prayers (in a Pentecostal Christian context) has been more of an external performance in recent times. A performance suited to the well-spoken and to those with tastes for the dramatic. There is little time left for silence or prayerful contemplation in our religious gatherings (except for preaching time). The say-what-you-can-in-the-most-evocative-words-you-can-muster exercise is not suitable for all, neither does it benefit all. This is why I am a bit partial to what is called Ignatian Contemplation - a practice that involves the use of imagination to pray and connect to God. Needless to say, Ignatius of Loyola, one of the founders of the Jesuits order, first advocated this practice as a way to keep God actively present in his mind and heart in order to make good decisions in his life among other things.

My Book Of Feelings Encourages Balanced Emotional Development

Image
...a brilliant resource that encourages children to learn about their emotions. Babies are one of the most expressive groups of people on earth. They do not hold back when expressing their feelings. Older children and adults, on the other hand, have societal expectations to deal with when it comes to emotional expressions. As adults, society expects us to hold back certain feelings and be considerate of others. This is understandable, for an adult or teenager with no self-control is dangerous to himself and others around him. Unfortunately, there are some children who cannot control how they respond to their feelings. This might be due to medical reasons or it might just be that they were not shown how to do it by the adults around them. My Book Of Feelings by Tracey Ross and Rosy Salaman tries to remedy this by putting together a brilliant resource that encourages children to learn about their emotions - how to define them, how they arise with different situations, and w