Ryan
An astounding follow up to The Shining. More thriller and less scary than The Shining, but also more heart and joy. A great companion without retreading, and yet stays grounded in what was set up in The Shining, albeit with some serious stretches and pulls in regard to the supernatural abilities featured in Doctor Sleep.
Regardless of the fact this book was written over a decade ago, the ideas hold strong. As I started to plan how I'd like to do business in this world of interruption marketing, I came upon the idea of establishing relationships instead of casting a huge net with annoying tactics. Finding this in Seth Godin's vast library has pushed it to a whole new level.
I've been reading Seth Godin's blogs, and even some other books for many years now. Never have I been in a position to actually utilize the info, but at the same time it was useful to apply to many other situations in life, and that's why now, when I need him most, he is the first guy I go to for information on how to run a successful business.
This isn't a book solely for the nerdiest of nerds, the smartest of the smart, or the ones with the spaciest delusions. This is a book for America. Neil DeGrasse Tyson demonstrates with great style the benefits of space discovery across the board. He begins with why we went to the moon in the first place, then moves to why we stopped, and, naturally, ends with why we HAVE to return. The short of it? We went to the moon because the Soviet Union surpassed us technologically with sputnik. In other words, war was the driving factor behind NASA getting a budget to send the Saturn V rocket to the moon. A stark realization of the forces that have driven this nation for decades. NASA, made up of the most intelligent people in the nation with a thirst for healthy discovery and scientific advancement, at the mercy of a select few whose main motivation is to be the toughest, and not necessarily the greatest. As Tyson points out several times, the nation with the most advanced technology and infrastructure wins. And you better believe that NASA is responsible for everyday technologies that you would be sure to miss if NASA were suddenly wiped from all time and existence.
Tyson demonstrates this cross-pollination that takes place. NASA doesn't just benefit the whimsies of some space nuts, nor is it a welfare for people too smart for the rest of society (according to Wanda Sykes). All facets of science and technology go into the exploration of space and other planets. And those discoveries assist in other facets of the nations industries. The health industry would be in a different place today if it weren't for NASA's assistance with using X-rays, LASIK eye surgery, and even a technology that can detect early signs of breast cancer. That mammogram technology came from the need to improve the blurry images coming from the Hubble Telescope. There are countless other contributions to society credited to NASA and their technological advances.
The most important benefit that is brought up in Space Chronicles, is the motivation to dream. Specifically, encouraging young children to pursue scientific studies so they too can send a rocket into space. Naturally, all children won't make it to be an astronaut. But you benefit no matter what when you have people of all different levels and expertise across the board participating in the overall scientific discovery.
The point of all of this is that we look at the Saturn V rocket used during the 1960s and 1970s with awe and wonderment, unlike looking at the early cell phones the size of bricks. If we start looking back with awe on these technologies, questioning how we ever were able to do that, then we are falling behind. China is moving ahead of us, and other countries will start to follow suit. NASAs entire budget from it's first day in existence to now is that of the military budget for 23 days...not during war time. We may be the country with the biggest stick, but sticks and stones mean nothing compared to the vast benefits of technological advances for the sake of discovery and not destruction. Common arguments will bring up the problems at home, but when the asteroid that is in fact headed our way gets too close, will we have the knowledge and technology to deflect it? We are capable of this feat, but not if we keep regarding space as an insignificant force on humanity. The truth is, humanity is an insignificant force on the universe, and in discovery we can unlock it's secrets and live in mutual respect.
I try not to be easily swayed when reading about certain subjects, but the author, Graham Hancock, did a phenomenal job of convincing me of every one of his theories. Most of the book discusses the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx in Egypt and how their mysterious construction, and the construction of Mayan pyramids, are all related to a possible ancient civilization as advanced as our own. These massive structures and certain inscriptions could have been intended to pass on knowledge, as well as serve as a warning of a massive cataclysmic event like the one that may have wiped out theirs. Using similarities in myths and structure design across the globe, the alignment of the pyramids and Sphinx with constellations of a specific age long before recorded history, and other geological evidence supporting a shift of the earth's crust, Fingerprints of the Gods is one hell of a compelling read. And you will be convinced by the end of this book that these are not mere conspiracy theories and myths, but most likely shreds of truth that managed to make it to our ears through thousands and thousands of years.
In the last few months I've learned that spending hours on the internet looking for ways to “be better” is bullshit. Reading countless blogs. Staying on top of every tweet. And never missing a single word uttered. All bullshit.
I've been lucky in finding a few great people on the web who have said this is bullshit. And I've been lucky enough to sit back and look at what I've been doing and tell myself it's all bullshit. I have everything I need to make something TODAY.
Unless, I happened to be on twitter when Skwerl says “i think this book is about how i work.” Upon clicking the link I then see a quote from Seth Godin saying “Ignore this book at your own peril.” Okay...so I can't be WORSE off for looking into this book called REWORK. Written by the two founders of a company I was previously unaware of called 37Signals.
Step 1: I Ordered the book from Amazon 30 seconds after becoming aware of it's existence.
Step 2: Upon coming home from work I find the book in my mailbox. I run upstairs and rip it open.
Step 3: I read the entire book without moving.
Step 4: I'm here, writing.
Now you want my thought out fucking review right? Okay...um...READ IT.
I've got shit I need to go do. Not because this book told me to. But because this book made me understand WHY I need to. It made me understand certain gut instincts that I couldn't quite interpret. There's some problems I have with the way things are done and it can't fucking wait. One problem is long ass reviews from people you don't know. I'd rather get a “READ IT” or “LISTEN TO IT” or “WATCH IT” from someone I completely know or at the very least trust their opinions 100%. In fact, this book discusses that concept of “audience” as people who trust YOU and your opinions, and who seek you out.
When I visited the book's webpage, the first thing I saw were the claims of “Best Seller in US and UK” and the mention of a bunch of major newspapers that I could give a fuck about. And it turns out, upon reading the book, neither of the writers of this book could give a fuck about the major publications. They state they get more traffic from smaller unknown sources than from mentions in papers and magazines.
By far, the most important part of the book that really drilled into my head was that “Inspiration is Perishable”. I knew the second I read this book, I had a LOT to say. I don't know if it would make any sense but if I waited until the next day I probably wouldn't be as pumped to do it. And now that I HAVE done it (I'm now editing this the next morning), the energy hasn't gone away and I'm pumped for having DONE this.
Thank you Skwerl. Thank you Seth Godin. And most of all, thank you Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson of 37Signals.
GOODNIGHT! (Morning?)
“Keep it simple, stupid” is the approach to this book, and the approach to filmmaking as described in this book. It's based on a series of classes that writer/director David Mamet conducted at Columbia University. The transcribed dialogue between Mamet and the students makes it a great lesson to follow.
He says a director has three questions to answer: What is a character doing and what does it mean to the scene? Where should the camera be placed? and What instructions should individual actors receive?
He discusses his disgust with the contemporary films and actors of today. Filled with unnecessary glam and exposition. Films today don't give their audience enough credit. The director isn't smarter than their audience.
An amazing read for someone in the writing process. This especially a book about writing a story. Then it is about following the story through the directing process.
