Book Review: Born to Run

This was a book that I could not put down!  A great read and has really motivated me to start running more (and hopefully better!)  I enjoyed reading this book as next week I will participate in my 25th Peachtree Road Race.  This book definitely gave me the motivation I needed to train.

McDougall tells a great story and the words flow nicely.  He blends the characters together almost like this was a fiction novel.  I've had fun researching each of the key figures in his book and hopefully will stay motivated to continue training because after all...we were 'Born to Run'!

Book Review: The Smartest Kids in the World

Very interesting book by Ripley.  She told the story of several students in countries such as South Korea, Poland and Finland.  She followed exchange students from America to these places and compared their education systems to ours.  Her major question she was trying to answer was why are they "the smartest."  

It is a very tough question to answer because it seems that their is no exact formula.  One quick thing that I go out of the book was that most successful education systems 1. are rigorous and 2. care about education.  I'm not sure we can get to a point in America where we are passionate about either of those.  I hope we are.  I will certainly do my part as an educator to make sure my classroom is full of both.

Interesting book.  I enjoyed it.  It was a valuable book with tons of ideas about how I can change my classroom. 

Unbroken Book Review

Simply one of the best books I've ever read!  What an unbelievable story of 'survival, resilience, and redemption'.  Zamperini's story is unlike any other.  It is a story that captures you from page one and doesn't let you go until you are finished with the book.  It is sad that so many men went thru experiences like his in World War 2.  It is amazing the things they dealt with and how they survived.  They definitely don't make them like they used to!  Great book... pick this one up and read!

Book Review: How to Win Friends and Influence People

One of the best books I've ever read.  A potential life changer.  The title kept me away from this book for a while but I kept seeing it on every leadership book list on the Internet.  I ran across the book at a Goodwill so I picked it up and finally read it.  Highly recommended.  Below are the book notes from the book.  

Part I:  Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

1. Don’t criticize or complain
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation
3. Arouse n the other person an eager want

Part 2:  Six Ways to Make People Like you

1. Become genuinely interested in other people
2. Smile
3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language
4. Be a good listener.  Encourage others to talk about themselves
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests
6. Make the other person feel important-- and do it sincerely

Part 3:  How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it
2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions.  Never say, “You’re wrong”
3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view
9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires
10. Appeal to the nobler motives
11. Dramatize your ideas
12. Throw down a challenge

Part 4:  Be a Leader

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation
2. Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders
5. Let the other person save face
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement.  Be ‘hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.’
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct
9. Make the other person happy about doing the things you suggest