Thursday, 2 June 2011

Yes! 50 Secrets From the Science of Persuasion - June 2011

31. Yes! 50 Secrets From the Science of Persuasion - Noah Goldstein, Robert B. Cialdini, Steven J Martin

256 Pages, Bought from Amazon.

Also sold as "Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive"

While researching something for work, I came across mention of this book and had to buy it immediately! [Although as this book is about persuasion, maybe I fell under the spell of a carefully crafted persuasive advert based on the contents of this book !?!]

Basically, this is 50 chapters of varying length that pose a problem and then offer a persuasive solution based on scientific research. Stuff like "Does Fear persuade people to buy" and "Can a simple question improve support for your idea?"

Very interesting topics are covered and if you're in the business of having to "sell" your product, business or ideas than this is a worthwhile read.

In my opinion, this book has one major problem though. The chapters aren't grouped together by topic, so each chapter covers something interesting but the following one covers something completely unrelated. Then 6 chapters later something comes up that is related to the first chapter and so on, and so on. For a book on persuasion, I thought it could have been compiled a bit better.

I give this book 4 "Jedi Mind Tricks" out of 5, it lost one because of the structure of the chapters.

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

May Round Up

Books Read in May: 4

Orson Scott Card
Total Pages: 1917
Average Pages Read per day: 61.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 3
Library: 1

Genres:
Sci Fi: 1
Non-Fiction: 1
Crime: 1
Fantasy: 1

Find out more about Orson Scott Card check out his Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Scott_Card



2011 so far:

Books Read: 30 

Total Pages: 7627

Average Pages Read per day: 50.5
Reading less as the days get warmer and brighter!

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 11
Library: 18
Amazon: 1 

Genres:
Fantasy: 6
Sci Fi: 11
Non-Fiction: 9
Crime: 2
Thriller: 2

Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Speaker for The Dead - May 2011

30. Speaker for The Dead - Orson Scott Card

323 pages, Bought in Charity Shop

This is the sequel to Ender's Game and is unlike any sequel I've ever read! Like Ender's Game, it won both the Nebula Award (1986) and Hugo Award (1987)

If you're looking for Ender's Game 2 then you're going to be disappointed.

It is vastly different to the original book, following a grown up Andrew "Ender" Wiggin on the planet Lusitania, as he acts as "Speaker for the Dead" for a murdered Xenologer, and tries to understand the third sentient species to be discovered ; the Pequeninos.

Totally unexpected story that took me by surprise at how much I enjoyed it. Once again, worthy of all the accolades it has received.

I give this 5 "Piggies" out of 5

Saturday, 21 May 2011

Nine Dragons - May 2011

29. Nine Dragons (A Harry Bosch Novel) - Michael Connelly

385 pages, Bought from Charity Shop

I really enjoy Michael Connelly's books, especially the ones featuring Detective Harry Bosch. There's a real gritty realism to them which I guess the author picked up while working as a crime beat journalist.

Having said that, in my opinion, this book was not of the high standard of his previous books. Maybe it's because Bosch's estranged wife and daughter are involved in the main plot. I don't know. But, for me, this book just didn't gel like the others.

I'm still a big fan and look forward to the next book as eagerly as ever.

I give this book 3 "Tunnel Rats" out of 5

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Assassin's Quest - May 2011

28. Assassin's Quest - Robin Hobb

769 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

The final book of the Farseer Trilogy and a great end to the series.

I can say this, because I already know there's another trilogy featuring Fitz, The Fool and others!

If I didn't know that there were more books, I'd say this book is a little bit of a downer. It's still very enjoyable though, and once again I'm not going to say anything more as I want you to read these great books and not have me spoil them for you ;)

Beg, borrow or steal to get this trilogy...you'll enjoy them I promise!

I give this book 4.5 "Wits" out of 5

Monday, 2 May 2011

Chicken Soup for The Soul - May 2011

27. Chicken Soup for The Soul - Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen

440 pages, Bought in Charity Shop

I am very happy to admit that I am a 38 year old man and I have recommended this book on many occasions and have lent it out to people on many occasions too.

In fact that's why I had to buy it again...someone never returned it and I can't remember who!

This book, and it's many, many other titles in the series, are like Marmite. [For those who don't know, Marmite is a yeast-based food spread which an equal number of people either love and despise. I am very much a member of the latter community who thinks Marmite should be killed with fire]

Anyhoo...Chicken Soup for The Soul is a collection of 101 stories that will cheer you up when you're sad and will restore your faith in humanity, simple as that! OK, maybe not that simple but it's a book that is really worth a read, regardless of how cynical you may be.

Sometimes it's OK to enjoy a story that pulls at the heart-strings and maybe brings on a tear or two.

For the record, my favourite story in this book is the one about the teacher who got each member of a class to write something about each of their classmates on a sheet of paper. Oh man, the onion ninjas are everywhere when I read that one :)

Having said that, I haven't read any of the other titles in the series (which I just looked up online and discovered there's something like 200 of them so far!!!)

I give this book 5 "Campbell's Soups Cans" out of 5

Sunday, 1 May 2011

April Round Up

Books Read in April: 7

John Christopher
Total Pages: 1616
Average Pages Read per day: 53.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 3
Library: 4

Genres:

Sci Fi: 3
Non-Fiction: 3
Thriller: 1

Find out more about John Christopher on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Christopher




2011 so far:

Books Read: 26

Total Pages: 7627

Average Pages Read per day: 63.5

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop:8
Library: 17
Amazon: 1

Genres:
Fantasy: 5
Sci Fi: 10
Non-Fiction: 8
Crime: 1
Thriller: 2