Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

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Blink is all about those moments when we ‘know’ something without really knowing why, and how this ability could be one of the most powerful we possess.  A snap judgement made very quickly the author believes can actually be far more effective than one made deliberately and cautiously.  By blocking out what’s irrelevant and focusing on narrow slices of experience we can read a seemly complex situation in the blink of an eye.
This book shows us how we can hone our instinctive ability to know in an instant helping us to bring out the best in our thinking and become better decision-makers in our homes, offices and everyday life.
The author uses several case studies and scientific studies to explain his findings, one of which demonstrates how the ‘blink’ approach can go tragically wrong and another which demonstrated how separating the senses can give a truer result especially where women are challenging a male dominated industry (orchestra’s)
A fascinating book not least for what it says about entrenched and inflexible thinking and attitudes.
Definitely recommended

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The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

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An intriguing book that threw out a good number of new ideas and concepts quickly and clearly.  I found his ability to draw a connection between things that, on the surface seem very divergent, was quite interesting.

The thrust of the book is that there are three things that can converge to bring about dramatic and perhaps unexpectedly fast changes in our society.  These are the context (the situation), the idea, and the people involved.  His point is that very small changes in any or several of the three areas of context, the quality of the idea (which he calls 'stickiness', i.e. how well the idea sticks), or whether the idea reaches a very small group of key people can trigger a dramatic change in society.

The one concept that stood out for me was the rule of 150.  This rule states that "At a bigger size you have to impose complicated hierarchies and rules and regulations and formal measures to try to command loyalty and cohesion.  But below 150...it is possible to achieve the same goals informally." (p.180).  This has proven applications in religious military and business environments.  The informal environment just seems friendlier to me.

I liked this book, it was thought provoking.

Recommended

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Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

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A best-selling book and now a well known movie the plot is well known already. Briefly the American author suffers a painful divorce and painful love affair, has an emotional crisis, and decides to take a year off to find some balance in her life (or just to get a life).

First stop is Italy (because she loves the language) and discovering food, making friends, learning to live as a single person and restoring a physical balance.

Second stop is in India at the ashram of her guru where she achieves spiritual balance assisted by an interesting cast of fellow seekers.

Lastly to Indonesia (Bali) where the physical and spiritual lessons enable her to find emotional balance as love comes out to play.

I was expecting a self absorbed “chick lit” book (based on a movie review!) but I enjoyed this book –it was funny (mostly at her own expense) and insightful in so many ways. And also certainly courageous. Gilbert has the gift of engaging the reader with her friendly style and making the potentially mundane shine.

Rcommended.

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The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge MD

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (James H. Silberman Books)Image via Wikipedia

A fascinating book looking at the (new) science of neuroplasticity which examines the ability of the brain to change its own structure and function just by using thoughts, even into old age. And the importance of exercise, both physical and mental, in improving our physical and mental abilities. And there is a very inspirational story about how a phantom limb was amputated! And … I found a video that explains it all, check it out below!
An Uplifting and inspirational book.

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The Night Soldiers by Alan Furst

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The Night Soldiers is the story of Khristos Stoianev.  We first meet him as a teenager when his brother is killed by facist in 1930s Bulgaria and he is recruited by the NKVD.  We travel along with him through the ruthless training and his fieldwork in the Spanish civil war.  As part of the NKVD paranoia the spy agency turns on its members and Khristos flees to pre-war Paris assuming another identity and life.  But the Russians are never very far away and he is betrayed and ends up in a French gaol.  As the Germans invade France he is spirited out of his imprisonmnent and becomes a member of the Resistance.  Betrayed again, this time to the Germans Khristos flees France for a rendezvous with a former NKVD colleague in the Balkans where his eventual fate will be determined.  Throw into the mix a small cadre of comrades from the NKVD training days, British, French and American spies and a dash of romance and you have a well written and engaging spy thriller.  Alan Furst has a real feel for pre-WWII Europe and so far in his books that I have read, including this novel, he manages to bring to life the atmosphere that I imagined prevailed in those uncertain times.
A ripping yarn, highly recommended.

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A Week at the Airport by Alain De Botton

De Botton was made ‘Writer in Residence” at the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport and was given access to travellers and staff – and they set him up at a desk in the middle of the concourse! He ruminates on, and talks to, the travellers and how they may feel, both arriving (joy) and departing (sorrow). He talks to airport and airline staff and weaves all these conversations and his observations into a study on the turbulence and peace, soullessness and beauty of the modern travellers gateway. And excellent photography by Richard Baker. A short book and an interesting read, it challenges the reader to consider the inner workings of airports and as something more than just a place to get on and off a plane.

OK, here are the notes/books from last weeks meeting from Rebecca's email.

"Hi everyone
Last week we had another small meeting. The recommendations from this faithful group include:

Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (see review below)
A Week at the Airport by Alain de Botton (review coming in the next week or so)
My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The new titles are:

At Home : a short history of private life by Bill Bryson
Seeing further : the story of science and the Royal Society ed. Bill Bryson
Darkmans by Nicola Barker
How to talk about books you haven't read by Pierre Bayard
The audacity of hope by Barack Obama
Life in Seven Mistakes by Susan Johnson
The thousand autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell

Finally, just as a heads up, by popular request, we are probably going to go back to Wednesday nights starting next term."

The good thing about a small group is that we don't have to fight over who gets what!  I managed to snaffle Bill Bryson's 'At Home' and Pierre Bayard's 'How To Talk About Books You Haven't Read'  The Bayard book should have some good tips for when I'm at parties!!!!