Reading and Sharing around the Globe
Apr 24, 2012
An Optimist's Tour of the Future, part 1...
Sorry we are late, but we've been so busy lately that is hard to find time for everything... so does anyone want to start with comments on part One? I promise I'm catching up in the next few weeks... shame on me but something called "War and Peace" from this Tolstoi guy got in the middle and it's not exactly the kind of book that you read in a weekend, (but great book, sure I can see why is more than 100 years old and still there!). So any optimists out there that want to lead the discussion?
Apr 2, 2012
An Optimist's Tour of the Future: reading schedule is ready!
Check it out on our reading schedule page. Ready to take the optimist ride? We hope so!
Mar 28, 2012
Next book!
Since we are done learning about thin-slicing and how to read facial expressions, it is time to look into the future. After having Mark Stevenson's offer to talk to our reading group, some of you told us that you would be willing to read his book, "An Optimist's Tour of the Future". A book that has been defined as sharp and fascinating by the Wall Street Journal.
So, time to go to your corner, online, huge or small bookshop or library and get your copy!
Suggested reading schedule coming soon.
We want to take this opportunity to thank you for being there and keep reading and sharing with us!
Mar 11, 2012
Blink. Final Discussion
In the last part of the book, Gladwell keeps providing us with examples that illustrate the theories about rapid recognition.
Because decisions are mostly based in personal experience, most time that experience interferes with the capability of making (good?) decisions. For instance, in the cases of Kenna’s music or the Aeron chair, in which it seems there was mistrust, rather than dislike, for something new and different. Have you ever felt that you were confused about disliking and at the same time being attracted by something? And if we could be confused by our own feelings, are we better off leaving it to the “experts” to tell us what we should and will like?
According to the author, we all have unconscious reactions that come from a locked room we can’t access. Therefore, can we ever know ourselves wholly and understand the reasons and motivations behind our moves? Have you ever found yourself reacting towards something or somebody in an unexpected way even for your own self?
Regarding Eckman and Friesen’s theories about facial expressions, do you think it does apply to everybody? What about politicians? Have you ever watched someone else speak badly about another individual only to then turn around and greet them with a warm, gushy hello? Is that 'friendly' expression false or an attempt to make amends?
What about “mind-blindness”? Have you ever experienced it? Do you have any trick to control your reactions in extreme stressful moments? And, as the book concludes, are you ready to listening with your eyes?
Finally, our own likeness thermometer: in the blink of an eye, would you say "yes" or "no" for another book of Gladwell?
Feb 26, 2012
Blink, chapters 3 and 4
So why do we fall for tall dark handsome men? What about Paul Van Riper's victory? What are your views on the Blue Team and Red Team strategy? What do you think of the excess of information as an obstacle to making the right decision? I'm a little overwhelmed by so many theories, because I'm not really sure of the fact, can we actually find the reasoned answer to all these questions? Or we just go with our gut (our blink moment) and sometimes we get lucky and sometimes don't? Really willing to hear your views!
Feb 6, 2012
Blink - Till chapter Two included
Hello NoCookies,
I was a bit sceptical when I read the note on the author in the prologue: a journalist having written articles about “childhood, development and the flu, not to mention hair dye, Shopping and what it takes to be cool”… what could he say about neuroscience? Well, I must say I am enjoying the reading. It’s easy to read. He does not deepen into complicated explanations but he gives instead plenty of examples to prove the snap decision theory. That’s the point that I like most so far.
What I am curious about is the continuation, he has for the time being illustrated that we all have this unconscious intelligence and that we are capable of thin slicing information. But how can he train us to take advantage of it? Always following our guts? Let’s see…
If you are interested about this subject and how free we are to chose against our unconscious , you can watch the following Punset’s programs. It’s amazing how biological factors decide for us!
Jan 10, 2012
And the Winner is...
… Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell
Although it was a hard-fought competition, our winner for one vote is Blink, a book about the kind of thinking that happens in a blink of an eye. What is going on inside our heads when we engage in rapid cognition? When are snap judgments good and when are they not? What kinds of things can we do to make our powers of rapid cognition better?
Many thanks to all the voters as well as the members who sent suggestions (the books that didn't make it for this poll will be the first in line for our next reading election).
And now, as we always do, let's see what we find and how we feel with a book that, maybe, you might not have read or even know about without the encouragement of our club and fellow members.
Suggested reading schedule coming soon!
Poll Results:
An optimist's tour of the future, by Mark Stevenson | 3 (16%) |
The Tiger's Wife, by Tea Obreht | 4 (22%) |
Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell | 5 (27%) |
Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, by Tristam Stuart | 4 (22%) |
Auntie Mame, by Patrick Denis | 2 (11%) |
Jan 8, 2012
Small(?) Death in Lisbon
Hi all my cookies, I’d like to wish you a very nice beginning of 2012!
I have made an effort to read the book on time and to post my comments also on time… let’s start the year on time! ;)
I have enjoyed the book in some ways, for example, the way the author guides us through the two stories, one in the past and one in the present, and how they converge into one at the end of the book. I do like how I got hooked reading the book as it was progressing. I also like to have some historic references or other place’s description, it makes me ‘travel’ being at home.
I have not enjoyed the book in some ways, because it has too much sex, too much violence (both too explicit). It is true that that’s related to the homicide police work, but I think that many of the scenes in this book could be avoided or, let’s say it in another way, could be written in a more elegant way. Sometimes I find that the story is a little bit forced in its development and outcome, as some of you have already said.
But I guess this is it, this is the book, with some things we like and some we don’t, and both together come to our final review of it. I find it very entertaining, but sometimes disgusting, I like some of the narrative resources the author has chosen but not others… If I have to say a single word about it I would say entertaining, that’s all. I think it is not a neither bad nor good book, but it is more for mass book consumers, it can be better in many ways, but in some parts I got addicted to it and wanted to know, wanted to see…
Regarding the story, I thought that the mastermind behind all this vengeance was Felsen himself. Has anyone had that in mind too? I thought that was him punishing Manuel, and Oliveira, I even thought that it was him the one that killed Pedro (remember the accident? There was a BMW involved!). My personal opinion is that the book may be better with this end; everything would be solved with the same characters, coming full circle. I think that this author has some potential… I’d give him a second chance! :P
And the title? Why is it Small death in Lisbon? Almost everybody is dead in the end!
Thank you for share your thoughts and for make us choose books that otherwise I'd never read!
Ps: I have to say that, as always, I totally agree with Nayra’s comments ;)
I have made an effort to read the book on time and to post my comments also on time… let’s start the year on time! ;)
I have enjoyed the book in some ways, for example, the way the author guides us through the two stories, one in the past and one in the present, and how they converge into one at the end of the book. I do like how I got hooked reading the book as it was progressing. I also like to have some historic references or other place’s description, it makes me ‘travel’ being at home.
I have not enjoyed the book in some ways, because it has too much sex, too much violence (both too explicit). It is true that that’s related to the homicide police work, but I think that many of the scenes in this book could be avoided or, let’s say it in another way, could be written in a more elegant way. Sometimes I find that the story is a little bit forced in its development and outcome, as some of you have already said.
But I guess this is it, this is the book, with some things we like and some we don’t, and both together come to our final review of it. I find it very entertaining, but sometimes disgusting, I like some of the narrative resources the author has chosen but not others… If I have to say a single word about it I would say entertaining, that’s all. I think it is not a neither bad nor good book, but it is more for mass book consumers, it can be better in many ways, but in some parts I got addicted to it and wanted to know, wanted to see…
Regarding the story, I thought that the mastermind behind all this vengeance was Felsen himself. Has anyone had that in mind too? I thought that was him punishing Manuel, and Oliveira, I even thought that it was him the one that killed Pedro (remember the accident? There was a BMW involved!). My personal opinion is that the book may be better with this end; everything would be solved with the same characters, coming full circle. I think that this author has some potential… I’d give him a second chance! :P
And the title? Why is it Small death in Lisbon? Almost everybody is dead in the end!
Thank you for share your thoughts and for make us choose books that otherwise I'd never read!
Ps: I have to say that, as always, I totally agree with Nayra’s comments ;)
Jan 7, 2012
Two more days to vote!
If you haven't done it yet, you still got two days to vote!
We have very interesting books and for the first time, three non-fiction at the same time!!!
The discussion is going to be deeper this time...
Jan 2, 2012
A Small Death in Lisbon - Final Discussion
After having skipped some middle discussion, we get to the end of the book and the scheduled Final Discussion post (although Rocio already posted a great final one previous to this - be sure to read it if you are done with the book!).
The last chapters and pages of the novel are intense and full of information. There are important clues and pieces of the story along the last chapters, however it is not until the very end that we know the why, who and how of the crime. Does this give the story more mystery? Does it make the book more exciting? Does it make the denouement more shocking or, on the other hand, too hasty?
One comment for a critic to consider: "But whatever the story suggests about the violent legacies of fascism, it is the story, the high drama and low motives, and the strong writing that make the story live". Do you agree?
What it seems to be a common feeling is that the book is a page-turner, as Rocio put it.
Looking forward to reading your comments to this or any previous post!
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