The Survivors Club - Ben Sherwood

I didn't pick this book up because it is a New York Times bestseller, or because I thought it would help me survive a crisis or disaster; I picked it up as it looked interesting - and it is.

The basic premise of the books is that everyone has the potential to be a survivor. A survivor of accidents, disaster, serious illness, bereavement, stress and life in general, it's not about what you know, how fit you are or knowing how to survive in a jungle with a single match; it's more about attitude and being prepared.

The author looks at situations and exceptional circumstances and how people have survived, and what we can learn from these experiences.

How to better your odds at surviving a plane crash, how to survive a trip to casualty, and what makes someone a survivor. Looking at victims of crime, survivors of accidents and wars; we learn the simple little things that we can teach ourselves about surviving.

The second half of the book is linked to a website where you can take a multi-question test to find out your own survivor profile. I'm not sure about that, when I did the test I'm not sure I agree with the result. But it's still fascinating nonetheless.

I've learnt some important facts and survival techniques, that I actually hope I'll never need. But I've also come to realise how I've survived some of the stresses and situations I've already been in so far in my life.

October 2010

Bought in Waterstones, Sheffield

The Luck Factor - Richard Wiseman

This is the third Richard Wiseman book I've read this year, and I think I'm upto date with all his published work! But as popular psychology it's really enjoyable to read, and you feel like you are learning something as well.

The basic premise of the book is that everyone can be lucky - it's just a state of mind. Wiseman presents scientific studies to support his ideas about how we can be lucky.

He puts forward the idea that there are four principles to luck -

1. Maximise your chance opportunities
2. Listen to your lucky hunches
3. Expect good fortune
4. Turn your bad luck into good

Each one is explained with examples, and then in the next part of the book he gives practical ways of increasing your luck, in fact throughout the book you are encouraged to take part in tests and tasks.

I've always considered myself to be lucky, but I truly do think that some of the ideas in this book will help me increase my luck.

In fact it's already had an affect. Whilst sitting on a train to Manchester reading about 'maximising your chance opportunities' I looked up and noticed that the woman sat opposite me was familiar. More than familiar I realised that although I didn't know her personally I did know that she was an archaeology lecturer at a local university. Within minutes we were talking, and was telling her about my photography business, before we parted when I got off the train she asked me to email details of my website and she would forward them to all the staff in the department - result!!

The other main idea from the book that will stay with me is the notion of 'turning bad luck into good'. This is about perception, believing that what at first appears to be bad luck will probably turn out to be good luck. In my case this is things like being made redundant (both times have actually ended up being the best thing that ever happened!) and my parents dying so young and so close together (obviously terrible, but also had some very positive outcomes for me).

As with Richard Wiseman's other books I would certainly recommend this one - as you can see, I'm becoming a bit of a fan of his!

Bought on Green Metropolis
10th - 24th December 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

Quirkology, the curious science of everyday lives - Richard Wiseman

If you think science is about high minded things such as microbes, physics and nanoparticles, think again. Science can be about fun things too.

Richard Wiseman writes in a easy engaging style about some of the more quirky and very interesting studies that he and various international colleagues have undertaken into the science of everyday life.

Do you wonder why all the spoons go missing in communal kitchens? What is the funniest joke in the world? Why women should get men to write their personal ads? or whether your surname influences your life? These are all the subject of scientific studies carried out and reported on in this book.

I found myself wanting more information about many of the studies, especially the one about lost gloves (!) - but luckily this book is written well and each study is fully referenced with an excellent bibliography at the back.

There is a website (www.quirkology.com) to follow up things afterwards, and lots of quirky bits of information to share with friends and family.

Who can resist the following facts -

The Mona Lisa seems enigmatic because Leonardo da Vinci painted her so that her smile appears more striking when people look at her eyes rather than her mouth.

People would rather wear a sweater that has been dropped in dog poo and not washed, than one that has been dry-cleaned but used to belong to a mass murderer.

The personality of lemons is seen as dislikeable, onions as stupid and mushrooms at social climbers.

Words containing the 'K' sound - such as duck, quack and Krusty the Clown - are especially likely to make people laugh.

Yep, all of these facts are as a result of serious study. Little do we know that we are being watched and questioned by an army of researchers, taking down notes about our every action!

I loved this book and didn't want to finish it, i'm off to see what else Richard Wiseman has written.

Lent to me by Liz.
14 April - 11 May 2009

Affluenza - Oliver James

I've been meaning to read this for a while, and now that I have I'm really impressed. Perhaps the fact that I don't think I suffer too badly from Affluenza helps! Affluenza, James suggests, is an epidemic sweeping the English speaking world. It consists of an obsession with 'keeping-up-with-the-Joneses', excessive consumerism (buying stuff because you 'want' it instead of because you 'need' it), the need for increased wealth (beyond what you need), property fever - all leading to depression, anxiety and addictions.

Travelling the world's affluent cities (London, New York, Singapore etc) James interviews people who do and don't suffer from Affluenza, and tries to discover what makes some people more or less prone to the virus. He then goes on to suggest remedies, such as paying parents to look after their children (instead of forcing them back to work), teaching the it is not necessary to be rich and beautiful to be happy and how being playful, vivacious and authentic helps.

As someone he interview suggests, society is becoming populated by Tin Men from the Wizard of Oz - hollow inside.

I would have liked to have seen more interviews with normal citizens, instead of the stream of millionaires that he visited; and I'm not sure the very vicious attack on the Blairite government was completely necessary - I'd imagine that most governments (of all flavours and in all times) would have mucked it up just as they did (and do).

A fascinating read, certainly made me think about materiality, and asking myself do I 'need' or 'want' that?

11th - 25th January 2009