February 16, 2008 – 8:07 pm
Today I thought I would write about a book Ian mentioned. He said he hadn’t read it, but it had a “cool dude” on the cover. It irritated me a bit that he hadn’t read it, but I never said anything to him about it. There was a reason I told him he should read it, but I never told him the reason. I wanted him to find the reason out himself. Since he never has, and likely won’t, it is an open subject for me.
The book is “Tactics of Mistakes”. I found it while I was in the time in my life where reading how-to-succeed-in-business books were important. It was a break for me to read it, an escape from work related books. I had purchased it about five years earlier and never even started it. May have been the “cool dude” on the cover was the reason I bought it. To my surprise the book gave a clearer picture of what all the business-for-dummies authors were saying. Maybe that’s because it was hidden in the science fiction aspect that I related to it more. But the concept they were trying to teach was there. I read it about four times to make sure I understood it, but it finally sunk into my thick skull. As I was forced to read more of the business-for-dummies books, I found they were all saying the same things just saying it a little differently. Some I related more to than others, still, I always went back to Tactics of Mistakes at least once a year.
So being the goofy father I am, I wanted Ian to find what I had. I didn’t succeed since he hadn’t read it. So my writing this is a father’s hope he may. Fat chance likely, but it is a hope.
I did find one other useful thing from reading it. That is, don’t let the subject matter cloud your judgment of a book–look past the story and see what else you find.
I always wondered if the first self-help business book author had read Tactic of Mistakes.
February 8, 2008 – 4:43 pm
I am a big fan of books that are unique in stories of subject matter. Most are antique books I have, but some are new. I find that now matter how poorly written they are that they are special to read. I used to spend a lot of time in antique books stores, but lately I haven’t. I definitely need to get back to doing it again. Over the years I have added to my collection and still to this day go back to reread them. They are just fun to read.
My most unique book is of all things a school book. It is “The History of Canada”. It was published in England in 1869. Canada as a nation was only 2 years old. My Aunt Kay gave it to me. I find it fun to read and see how far we have come as a nation. Only 72 pages long so it is a quick read. Isn’t it funny how some books can hold a special place in our minds? When I read it my mind goes to all the things I have learned over the years. Some have been good things and some have been bad. The reminiscing of them is still nice. This book put me on the hunt for more unique books. I can’t explain fully how much fun I have had over the years. I will just say I have had a BLAST!
More recent in time. “Challenging the Skies” by Donald Fonger. Don was a business friend and I liked spending time talking to him. His book isn’t a story, it’s a chronicle of his flying around the world with his son in a twin Comanche airplane. What makes it fun for me is that I knew him and learned more about the world through his book. It is just his experiences but it shows the uniqueness of our world.
They last of my top 3 unique books is “The Graham Kerr Cookbook” published in 1969. Ian gave me this book and I hold it in a very special place in my heart. Most important of the reason it is special to me is that Ian gave it to me. The other is Graham Kerr is the reason I love to cook When I was 14 I was stuck at home on a rainy afternoon and, given there were only 3 TV channels, ended up watching the Galloping Gourmet cooking show. I saw a man who had fun cooking and, since I love to eat, thought I could make what he made. So I wrote the recipe down and, after the rain, went next door to the flower shop where my mother worked and told her I was cooking supper. She gave me the money to buy what I needed and told me to give it a try. God bless her. The Swiss Steak I made was good. So that summer, every time Graham Kerr made real food (rather than desserts), I made them too. Over the years I have gotten decent at cooking (Ian here: he’s being modest, he’s a phenomenal cook). Damn glad I have the cook book now, it brings back special memories.
Well I guess I have bored you enough with my babbling and it is time for me to start supper. Remember, unique books can be fun.
February 6, 2008 – 11:23 am
Monday in the newspaper there was an article on a new subject to be added the the local school curriculum. I found it very strange. The subject is UFO’s. As I read the whole article it actually made sense. Well at least sense to a goof like me. The justifications are that it will bring lively debate to the class. Also in it they can touch on common subjects and generate interest in them using the UFO context. See, it does kind of make sense. If they hit on goofs like me they will create a reading, feeding frenzy. Guess I should explain what I mean.
In the late 1970’s my work put me in contact with the pilots and crew of Flying Tigers Airline. They are a unique group and a story of their own. Over too many drinks the crew talked the senior pilot into telling me about Roswell and the Aliens. In the senior pilot’s words he was the pilot that flew the debris and the alien bodies out of Roswell. I promptly filed it away with other stories told to me by people who had too much to drink. But a couple of years later I caught a TV show on Roswell. I was amazed that his name was mentioned and most of what he told me was on the program. Then the FEEDING FRENZY started. I started reading everything I could find on Roswell and UFOs. I got crazy just like sharks do in feeding frenzies. It passed until the next time: Oak Island, a mysterious island just off of Nova Scotia. There are more but the point is I read and read which isn’t a bad thing. So if UFO’s can create feeding frenzy reading in kids, HURRAY, bring it on quick.
Did I learn anything? Yes, most of the UFO books are the authors flights of fancy veiled with a few facts. But I did learn some just cannot be explained. Charlie Red Star at Carman, the one that stops all the debunkers in their tracks.
Now I use the computer when something peaks my interest. Still, I need the books to read so I know I have the full story not just the reader digest version. Luckily, the computer has stopped the severe cases of feeding frenzy in me. But not all.
See, it can be OK to go a little crazy like a shark does.
February 2, 2008 – 4:55 pm
Opinions whether mine, Ian’s, your friends, or some literary critic are not the reason to buy a book or read a book. Why? Because they are based on what the person likes or dislike and as such are always biased. Critics says they are impartial but I find they are human like the rest of us. Should we buy a book or read a book based on what someone else said?
Personally, I think not. Have I? Many, many times. Sometimes their opinions were correct, but just as many times I found them wrong. I have read books that everyone told me were crap and found them to be some of my favourite books to read over and over. Other times I have read books everyone said were great and found I disliked them immensely. Sometimes not even finishing them. The last time was Hooper’s “Once a Thief ” and “Always a Thief “. I bought both at the same time and have never even started the second one.
So why should we buy or read a book? For me I have found that if the story line intrigues me I usually end up at the least feeling it was worth it.
So what good are opinions? They should peak our curiosity and make us want to find out for ourselves whether a book is something we would like to read. So, if anything I babble about makes you want to check out a book then my babbling has had a use. But, in most cases my opinion isn’t worth repeating.
Remember, it is totally based on my personal taste.
January 26, 2008 – 11:31 am
My Dad, again. He hates your favourite author. Well, not really…
I just about gave into temptation today and bought a book off the best seller list. All the literary pundits are high on the author. Every few year it happens to me. I forget what is important and get swayed by all the hype about and author. Today I was good and didn’t give in. In the past I have given in and bought what is best described as dribble. I won’t name any names on the fear of offending you because the author is your favourite. There have been some real stinkers in the past. Yet somehow they stay on the best seller list. I have always wondered if people buy books because it is on the best seller list and never read it? They do get to say , “I have that book.”
To me the important thing about books is the story. Never the author. I have read great stories that are poorly written yet are still favourite books of mine. ie: Bush pilot with a briefcase. It is a biography of Grant McConnihie the man who started Canadian Pacific Airlines. Hollywood Pilot, biography of Paul Manz. Merchanter’s Luck about space pirates. Not written by literary giants but great stories.
I will admit that great writers can make almost anything an interesting read, but is that enough of a reason to read it? Personally I don’t think it is. Yet still I get trapped by all the hype from time to time. It comes from my having the addiction to reading. It is about the only GOOD addiction there is.
Well I have bored you enough with today’s dribble from me.
I totally disagree with my Dad about the author, by the way. We read authors because they’re artists. The failures of great authors hold interest despite the story because they tell us something interesting about interesting people, people who can tell us something about us.
Plus, I get to say snootily, “Oh yes, I’ve read so and so, haven’t you? Ho Ho Ho. You must read so and so.” I like to wear a beret when I do this.