Introducing Environmental Politics - Stephen Croall & William Rankin

I've had this book for years, and I know I've read it before - but I picked it up in between novels and sort of got reading.

Unfortunately it's rather dated, but the ideas and information it puts forward are sound.

Written in 'graphic' form the book introduces the history and ideas behind Environmental Politics, who the main thinkers are (although written before Al Gore, George Monbiot and the more recent political green thinkers), and what might be done about some of the issues.

There doesn't seem to be an updated version available, which is a shame as this is a big, fast moving topic, and certainly an 'Introduction' book for the subject is well worth reading for anyone who gets lost in all the politics, compeating ideas and bad science out there.

But, don't turn to this book - 2000 is too long ago for the information to be of real value now.

Bought in Blackwells March 2003 (the receipt was still inside!)
22-23rd November 2009

Dead until Dark - Charlaine Harris

I wasn't going to bother, I had a feeling that these books would not live up to the hype (or compare favourably with Twilight or the Anne Rice books) - and I was right!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it - in a sort of sugar rush, silliness, non-brain taxing way. But I found it very difficult to get over the writing style. I'm not sure if it's just written very badly, or if it's not been edited properly, but some of the sentences were so 'clunky' and their meaning so difficult to understand, even with rereading a couple of times it was very distracting.

I know it's a bit rich to say this, but I found the whole thing so damn 'unbelieveable' - bearing in mind that you first have to get over the idea that the lead characters are a mind-reading waitress and a vampire!

Some of the things that the characters did (particularly Sookie, the main character) were just weird - why would a waitress go into a car park at night with a piece of chain to defend a vampire and expect to survive - if the vampire can be so easily overcome by the attackers what hope has she?

The main problem was that I just didn't care about the Sookie or Bill, or any of the other characters - the writer brings no dimension to them, there is nothing to make me want to know what they are going to do next or even if they survived to the end of the book - I just went on reading as there was nothing else to read at the time.

I'm going to give the series a second chance, I've ordered the second book - but to be honest I'm not holding out much hope. Maybe I've been spoilt by Twilight (which I'll be the first to admit is not a piece of great literature, but is well written and engaging nonetheless) and Anne Rice (again, not stunning literature), when it comes to my vampire reading choices?

Bought on Green Metropolis
20th -22nd November 2009

:59 Seconds, think a little change a lot - Richard Wiseman

Another book by Richard Wiseman, this time exposing modern day mind myths, debunking many of the things trotted out in 1000s of self-help books published each year.

Each chapter takes a different topic, such as 'happiness', 'motivation', 'relationships' and 'parenting', and looks at the myths that are often put forward for achieving a 'better life'.

Professor Wiseman reviews the scientific work that has been done over the years looking at ideas such as 'brainstorming', 'positive thinking', 'body language' and how to encourage your child to achieve - he looks at what has been proved to work, and what is complete rubbish - and I guarantee you'll be surprised at some of the findings.

Each chapter is rounded off with a short explanation of the relevant findings, hence the '59 seconds' - the idea is to distill the scientific data into a minute (or just under!) of easy to understand instruction or information.

Wiseman's writing style is easy to read and enjoyable, and some of the work he has done (not to mention other scientists) is truly fascinating.

Bought in Waterstones

8th - 19th November 2009

Blood, Sweat and Tea - Tom Reynolds

It's taken me a while to read this book, but since it's a collection of blog entries it's easy to 'dip in and out' without losing the plot.

Tom Reynolds is an Emergency Mediecal Technician (Ambulance crew to you and me!), who lives and blogs in London.

I've been reading his blog for sometime thanks to the recommendation of Liz, and he writes extremely well; often about difficult or sensitive situations that he's had to deal with.

Pulling no punches, Tom describes his working days (or nights); the frequent flyers (often alcoholics), the false alarms, calls for colds, headaches and other non-emergency patients - along side the descriptions of real emergencies, the frustrations of working for a 'failing' NHS, the politics and the crazy pedestrians who think nothing of trying to 'make a dash for it' in front of his speeding vehicle!

I've really enjoyed this book, but then I knew I would as I still follow his blog!

Visit the blog here - http://randomreality.blogware.com/

Bought on Green Metropolis
19th January - 6th November 2009

Sum - David Eagleman

What happens after we die? I can't believe that there is any 'semi' intelligent person on the planet who hasn't wondered about this at least once in their lives?

David Eagleman seems to have thought about it a lot! Sum, which is subtitled 'Forty tales from the afterlives', is a collection of short essays telling about different afterlives that could possibly be.

Maybe you become part of the background cast in someone else's dream? The characters who populate dreams, but who we never meet or see clearly. Sometimes you take centre stage, but most of the time you'll be waiting in the wings.

Or perhaps death is a three part process; firstly the body ceases to function, then the body is consigned to the grave, and then the final death is when you are forgotten by those who remember you. So, until that happens you wait in a sort of 'lobby area'. For those who have no family or friends the wait might be short, but for those who have achieved much, done great deeds, or have large families, the wait can be long and extremely boring!

How about getting the chance to live your life again - but you can change one single thing? What would you choose?

Or maybe you get the chance to met God - but what or who is he or she - there are so many different possibilities.

This little book is so thought provoking - each story sets you off thinking in a different direction. Don't try to read it in one sitting, each essay is worth taking the time to think over afterwards. It's got to be one of the most original books I've read - and I have a feeling I'll be going back to it again and again.

Bought on Green Metropolis (although John was going to buy it for me for Christmas!)

14th - 25th October 2009