books – Page 22

Passive Aggressive Notes…

Published on November 7, 2008January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay10 Comments

Sure… I’ve written them.
I’ve received them.
My entirely cynical self has most certainly made fun of them, as well as made fun of myself for writing them…

This book, put together by Kerry Miller, is a really great compilation of some of the most classic passive aggressive notes I’ve ever seen. The subtitle reads: Painfully Polite and Hilariously Hostile Writings. The entire book is scanned images of actual notes, and some of these notes are unbelievably hilarious. The best part is that, periodically, there will be a small “update” note, in regards to the passive aggressive note of the past.

When I sat down, with my cup of chai in hand, to read Passive Aggressive Notes, my mind instantly thought of about 9 people in my immediate circle of peeps who would love this book. Already, just by leaving it on my ottoman for a few days, it’s cover is bent and it’s been manhandled and thumbed through by a dozen, or so, people who only managed through exclaim (through laughter) that they loved this book…

{Christmas shopping hint: It’s a pretty small and portable book. Although not a great book for kids, as you can imagine, this would make an awesome office party gift, stocking stuffer, etc…)
You can see, buy and read more about the book here…

WFMW- A review, of sorts…

Published on November 5, 2008January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay10 Comments

When this book arrived on my doorstep, via Harper Collins, I practically died and went to Works For Me Wednesday heaven…

Nope, I am totally not kidding!

The subtitle for Show Me How is “500 Things You Should Know. Instructions for Life From The Everyday to the Exotic.” And it is not exaggerating…

I’ve learned how to make a silk screen, a wallet from playing cards, better knitting techniques… I’ve learned exactly how to handle both artichokes and avocados. (Sadly these are tasks in which I was quite ignorant, that is until Harper Collins intervened.)

I learned a totally cool way to peel a hard boiled egg, which works miraculously well… I’ve learned to make my own tortellini, braid a loaf of bread, make amazing cocktails, turn an old computer into an aquarium and signal an airplane… (though likely I won’t want the aquarium and hopefully will never need my new airplane signaling skill. Even so, there is this peace that comes from knowing I can provide homes for fish in need of emergency housing, as well as becoming the most popular cast member of Lost because we would have made it off the island before all of the drama really took off…)

I’ve only told you about 11, but there are literally 489 more…

Aside from the utter helpfulness that this book can provide though, there is the sheer element of fun.

Yes, FUN… This book is a blast to look at. Bound in a semi-hardcover, this book is one of those which easily falls into countless categories, depending on it’s reader. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an awesome coffee table book while also being a popular choice for a gift book. It’s instructions are sometimes intentionally comical, often paving the way for interesting conversation topics…

Over all, I love this book and you should definatly check it out here…

221 Pages of Thought Provoking Motivation…

Published on September 29, 2008January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay6 Comments

When my pre-published* copy of Scratch Beginnings arrived in the mail, I’ll admit I wasn’t jumping up and down with anticipation. Being so consumed in the chaotic daily grind of life lately, I couldn’t imagine sitting down to read a non-fiction book about a guy who radically changed his.

The back cover told the premise of how Adam Shepard, fresh out of college and disillusioned by the apathy he was witnessing all around him, set out with just $25 for a year with no jump start or connection to his past. He was out to prove a point to the world around him, as much as to himself.

A little intrigued, I cracked the cover…

Nearly a week later, I’ve pretty much read it twice. This book is amazing… Not because it’s incredibly written, with literary hooks and vivid imagery, however. This book isn’t one of those first person accounts on how the author is so much more enlightened and evolved then the rest of us. Reading the back cover, I’d wondered…

No- Scratch Beginnings is amazing because in it, Shepard takes a raw and honest look at the world around us. Sometimes he’s speaking about the parts of our world we often choose to ignore like the homeless shelters, ghettos and lower income scenes. Other times he’s talking about us- the shoppers, consumers, managers, employers, diners, drivers and the random people on the street. More than a few times I would read his account of interaction with a person and think “that could have been me.”

The reason I find this book so inspiring is the very reason that Adam set out on his journey to begin with. I don’t want to waste away my days, working towards the house built with grandeur. I want to be happy that I have a home at all. Genuinely happy. I don’t want to live to get by, I want to get by to live. I don’t want to be so wrapped up and consumed by what others must see in and think of my life while I’m swept up in the consumerism tide of fads and trends… In an economy that is tanking more and more, by the second, I think the release of this book is a necessary one. We’ve seen how living beyond our means isn’t helping us acheive contentment or happiness, so maybe someone’s account of the opposite can.

*Scratch Beginnings was origionally self published but is now being released mass market through Harper Collins.