I don’t read as often or as quickly these days, but I’m still an avid lover of books. It’s just the lack of time that keeps me from reading as often as I’d like to. With that said, here are a few books that I have recently read:
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
I’m not a scientifically-inclined person, but The Disappearing Soon was a very good read. It’s all about every element of the periodic table — how it came to be, what it does, including some of the cool/freaky things it’s capable of doing, and the controversy, if any (yes, elements can be controversial!), surrounding it. Even the title relates to one of the elements — gallium, which when exposed to the temperature of a hot cup of tea, melts.
Body Shop: Parties, Pills, and Pumping Iron — Or, My Life in the Age of Muscle
The Body Shop is Paul’s autobiography of sorts, a look back on one summer during college when he was introduced to the world of steroids and bulking up, and how taking them would forever change his body, and his life. Even though steroids are not a relevant interest of mine, the book was a very good read, and it was very well written.
The I Hate to Cook Book: This book is for everyone, men and women alike, who wants to get from cooking hour to cocktail hour in as little time as possible.
I hate to cook, so when I saw that The I Hate to Cook Book was up for review, you better believe I was first in line with a request for it. ;) What I like is that the author, Peg Bracken, is very up front about the fact that she hates to cook. She commiserates with fellow cooking-loathers, but goes on to list all sorts of recipes and ingredients and tidbits of info that make putting together easy, nutritious, plentiful and varied dinners as painless as possible. I’ve tried several of her recipes, including Skid Road Stroganoff, and they’re all quite tasty — and quite painless! If you’re like me and you hate to cook, you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy!
And a few books that are on my to-read-next list:
The Glamour of Grammar: A guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English
The Glamour of Grammar is all about what makes grammar interesting and unique. This book isn’t stuffy at all. Instead, it’s a one-of-a-kind guide that walks you through the history of grammar, tells you what it’s all about, guides you on the course of being a better writer, and makes it all interesting and fun to read.
Ah-choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold
We all get colds, and we all gripe about them and treat them with OTC — and sometimes prescription — meds. But what really causes a cold? How does it come about, how does it work, and how do we get rid of one? These and many more questions and speculations regarding the common cold are addressed in this cutely-titled book.
