20. Read 100 Books

1.  Musicophilia. by Oliver Sacks:  This is a book about the psychological impact music can have on people.  Interesting side effects from being struck by lightening, an epileptic seisure, a blow to the forhead...and then beautiful music is heard from nowhere but from within.  The experiences provide the reality of these phenomenon. This book would be perfect for a doctoral level psychology class, particularly one with a music emphasis.  Honestly, I made it through the first 12 chapters and realized that my interest had climaxed given the lack of personal relevance.

2.  Learning from Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success. by Harvey Alvy and Pam Robbins. This book, like the one above, uses stories to develop major themes.  In this case, the stories are about the life and leadership of Abraham Lincoln.

3.  Princess of Glass  While in Oregon for the winter holiday I had a couple hours of free time and decided to pick on of the books from our family eReader.  Caity has a list of several books from which I selected this title.  I was disappointed that it was yet another twist to the ol' Cinderella story (clock strikes midnight, glass slipper falls off, handsome prince matches it with the beautiful maid,  etc.)  The difference here was that they were all at various times under the spells of an evil sorceress.  It ended like the publisher needed the final chapter yesterday - very rushed without near the story development dedicated to the first several chapters.

4.  Maze Runner:  Once again dipping into the intellectual depths of literature, I was offered a book to read for entertainment.  Another teen book, this novel is a cross between Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies.  As you can imagine, there is a maze and the boys are mere mice in a laboratory trying to survive.  I don't think I can credit the author for originality, but its a fast read and keeps your attention.  This is part 1 of ?? sequels, which I probably won't read.  After reading it I realized why I am not a fan of the LOST series, Guilligan's Island, or Harry Potter to some degree.  I don't like how these stories fit into a new literary conflict of Man vs. Author.  It doesn't matter how hard the protagonist fights to resolve the situation the author will always stop him.  This leaves the reader in state of flux, hoping for a happy ending, or any ending, but like the boys in the maze never finding an exit.

5.  5000 Year Leap:  (W. Cleon Skousen)  There have been few books I have read that have actually educated me more than this book.  Throughout my three university degrees (BA, MA, Ed.D.) 99% of the literature was scholarly narrative of the authors' philosophical understanding of the topic.  This book provided factual historical foundations for the establishment of the United States of America.  I was most impressed to learn how the Founding Fathers understood a lot more than today's critics give them credit.  This is a must read for every elected official from local school board member to US Congressmen.  I have a much greater appreciation of how much there is to lose as we stray away from our national origins.  I read this book on Kindle.

6.  The Power of Six: (Pittacus Lore).  This is the second in a series of several.  It picks up from I Am Number Four,  and follows a cast of teen-age super powers from another planet.  It is a light read directed at the adolescent audience.  There is no profound message to be learned, does not contribute to an increase in academic acuity, but probably serves well as a build-interest-in-reading novel.  Once again, it leaves the story unresolved and, if allowed, will drag the ready through countless additional books until, we hope, the entire saga is wrapped up.

7.  Body Language.  (Julius Fast).  I was browsing through the clearance section at Barnes and Nobles and came across this book for $6.99.  I figured that was a pretty good price for some psychological empowerment.  The book is not what I thought it was.  I thought chapter after chapter would explain the various postures, facial expressions, gestures, etc., that people use every day.  Instead it read like a  psychology text book about comfort zones, using body language as evidence.  Yes, there were some sections that talked about how to use body language to manipulate, but it was more a study of the human psyche.  In the end a strong point was made to ensure the reader understood that after all the study of body language, there are way too many variables to assess body language with confidence.

8.  7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  (Stephen R. Covey).  It has been 25 years since this book was first published.  Everyone who has already read it should read it again - not because the latest edition has new insights, but because it is a book of timeless principles and each of us have changed.  We are not the same person who read it 25 years ago.  Our perspectives have changed, and the principles will have new meaning to our current circumstances.  It is very appropriate that Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, wrote a foreword to this edition that pays well deserved homage to Dr. Covey.  Serving both my personal and family life as well a my professional life, this is definitely on the top 10 list of my favorite books.

9.  Crucial Conversations. (Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler).  A good friend in my education circles recommended I read this book prior to pursuing a professional growth opportunity.  I appreciate the topic and could readily relate each model to conversation I have had or have regularly.  The key message is to start with your own habits, then try applying strategies to help others who are conversationally challenged.  I found a very common theme that is highlighted by Stephen R. Covey; "Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood."

10.  The Broker. (John Grisham) This follows suit with the many other Grisham novels.  The plot was intriguing but a slow to develop and too quickly resolved.

11.  Echo (Pam Munoz Ryan) I was walking through one of our school libraries that was set up for a book fair when the librarian suggested I purchase this book.  As a novice harmonica player I was interested.  The story, rather three stories, cover children from Nazi Germany, a New York orphanage, and the migrant farms of California, who each live in a world of uncertainty.  The themes of Holocaust, poverty and immigration are heavy topics for children, but these were very well handled...it is the greater understanding the adult reader brings into each setting that makes the stories so mature.  Definitely worth the read!


12.  Merry Christmas Alex Cross (James Patterson)  A very quick read for a simple story that continues the adventures of a political hero.  It seems like a generic Tom Clancy book.


13.  Threat Vector (Tom Clancy/Mark Greaney) Being biased in my review given my preference for Tom Clancy novels, I was not disappointed by this book.  This is one of the big books, not one the spin off paperback series.  I appreciate the depth of detail, the insight into world politics (yes, you can learn about world politics even in a fictional setting), and the complexity of the plot.  Very sad Mr. Clancy is not here to write more books.


14.  Sycamore Row (John Grisham)  As a sequel to his book, A Time to Kill, this book continues the age-old theme of racism in the South. I did not like how the conflict was never resolved, rather it was dismissed on a legal technicality.  Was this a politically correct way to avoid building racial tension among the readers?  If there is no guilty person, there is no race to blame?

15. The Scorch Trials (James Dashner) After reading comments from Jen Tanner, a follower of this blog, about my review of Maze Runner, I submitted to the trilogy trap and read this next book in the series. OK, fine, I'll give her due credit for her defense of these young men's apocolyptic survival. The writer craftily sucks you into the setting, action and emotions of the story. This type of escapism is fun to read - won't cause a change of heart or advance world peace, but is entertaining nonetheless. 

16. Death Cure (James Dashner) A thrilling conclusion to the three-book series. Some basic rules of literature were broken during the series...namely, don't kill children...(that's not a spoiler since it happened in the first book, too.) You are likely aware the series was made into big screen movies and earned high popularity. I don't think you would have a dramatically different experience if you just watch the movie. Either way, you will enjoy the story if you enjoy teenage thrillers.

18. The End of Average (Todd Rose) I love love love the first half of this book. It unveils societal secrets that are absolutely mind-blowing...things you want to tell other people so they, too, will be rescued from the darkness of ignorance. I'm not going to reveal those secrets (unless we are sitting around a campfire telling stories) but the next time you go to your doctor's office and see the chart on the wall that says how much you should weight, you will thumb you nose at it and say, "I'm not average!"  The second half of the book is much more directive and less informative. 

19. Jack Reacher: Night School (Lee Child) See review above about the Alex Cross series; different character - same formula.

20. 5 Love Languages for Men (Gary Chapman) I'm not sure if this is a introspective book to help men understand why some people (women) make them feel loved and why some don't. Or, is it a diagnostic book for women to assess their men to know how to make men happy? It is interesting information, and could add some sprinkles to a marriage, but it could also cause frustration and disappointment from unmet expectations. If you can get a man to read a book about feelings, and you can get that man to dialogue about his feelings in light of this book, and you can get that man to tell his partner what does and doesn't please him...you might achieve the former.

21. The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins) Female thriller writers have a distinctly good way of telling a story. It is good to be a balanced reader! This story takes you into the mind of a woman who to anyone else is just another passenger on a commuter train. From beginning to end the character is being developed, setting up the reader to fully appreciate the final scene...which could easily be the first scene. Now, every time you look at a stranger, imagine if their life is a thriller? a love story? a comedy? How would a stranger imagine your life?

22. Jack Reacher: Personal (Lee Child) See review 19. 

23. The Hunger Games I, II (Suzanne Collins) Did I mention there are rules about killing children in a fictional story? If you can forgive that, Collins will take the best and worst of today's culture and transform it into a fascinating trilogy. Like Animal Farm, the evolution of pride to power is subtle and dramatic, but ultimately unsustainable.

24. Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins) Book II in the Hunger Games trilogy. The story continues and tension builds between the teenage protagonist and the overly proud adult antagonist. Alliances are developing as inevitable war is foretold. As a typical softening strategy in action/thriller stories, the love triangle is also getting awkwardly tense.

25. Mocking Jay (Suzanne Collins) The last book in the trilogy wraps up the conflict between a teen heroine and the ever-powerful, but overly confident ruler. Robin Hood, Cinderella, Shrek...Katniss Everdeen. Rated #2 best novel series/movies, this was expertly written.

26. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants (Malcom Gladwell) I will say right off, I am a big fan of Gladwell's works. He is a master at bringing thoughtful prospective into your leadership development. In this book, Gladwell tells pairs story with research to show that people really can, and do, beat the odds  - as did biblical David against Goliath.

27. Outliers (Malcom Gladwell) Like David and Goliath, Gladwell uses stories and research to show why the unexpected companies succeed when others don't. When you put everyone on a scatterplot graph, there are always the outliers. Gladwell tells their stories.

28. Room (Emma Donoghue) This novel was made into a movie. It is a thriller because of a woman's years of captivity in a crazy man's backyard prison. Its a drama because it tells the woman's story about raising her son, and subsequent PTSD. Donoghue manages several fairly heavy themes and multiple conflicts...man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society. Because stories like this have really happened, the lines between fiction and nonfiction are a little gray. My wife struggles with these kinds of books/movies because of the subsequent long term drop in safety, fear of strangers, but also deep rooted confidence to fight.

29. Accused (Lisa Scottoline) A law firm run by women immediately adds a fresh sense to an over-baked law genre of literature. This is the first of a series, but not the first for the characters. Did the accused do it?

30. Man's Search for Meaning (Victor Frankl) Perhaps one of the top 50 books of all time, studied in every high school and college, and should be required reading for every human being. How to Survive Anything, could be an appropriate title as Frankl, a Holocaust Survivor, tells his story as a prisoner during the Jewish genocide by German Nazis. After everything has been taken away from you; family, possessions, food, clothes, dignity...what is left? That remaining piece is untouchable and essential to your survival of anything.

31. Refugee (Alex Gratz) The darkest parts of humanity are woven into the shattered lives of three children; each a victim of societal hatred against their kind. In one relatively short book, Gratz draws you into the horrible circumstances of their time and place. The reader will be humbled by the cruelty, but should come away grateful for our own time and place, and perhaps even better aware of the need to extend help to others.

32. Before the Fall (Noah Hawley) A little boy and an unlikely man survive a horrific plane crash over the Atlantic only to be subjected to accusation and conspiracy. Which is harder to survive...nature or man? In the mean time, the two strangers develop a strong relationship. This is a very good book!

33. Saints (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Part I of the history of the church. This book takes the reader on the most un-censored church sponsored version of the church's beginnings. It opens up the frailties and strengths of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It gives the place-in-history perspective of early persecutions against the church while not holding back on the divine origins of the restoration. A must read for every member of the Church to get the story straight!

34. Never Quit: How I became a Special Ops Pararescue Jumper (Jimmy Settle) This biographical story takes the reader through the extraordinary journey of military training, testing, injuries, and successes of America's top soldiers. Motivational, inspiring, and awesome!

35. Five Nights At Freddy's: The Silver Eyes  (Scott Cawthon, Kira Breed-Wrisley) I purchased this at a school book fair with low expectations. Little did I know it was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. I was at Walmart and saw a board game has been made of it. So, apparently it is a bid deal. It was a fun read in the Thriller science-fiction genre for a short journey into escapism. 

36. Imposters (Scott Westerfield). A post-apocalyptic novel about teens who fight against the government machine. It was a little too much like the Hunger Games series to be intriguing. I probably would not read the sequel, if there was one.

37. End Game (David Baldacci) I will be honest and say I read the book, but also listened to the audio book. I am a big Baldacci fan of his more recent books...not so much his earlier ones. There is a repeating formula to his books...a super sleuth brings down the evil players of US government. Each story is a thrilling story from beginning to end.

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