Take a photo of a barcode or cover
studiomikarts's reviews
90 reviews
Making Friends with the Present Moment by Sylvia Boorstein
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
This was a very short and easy read. It only took me a couple hours from start to finish. It could serve as a nice intro to Buddhist mindfulness principles, though because I am already somewhat familiar with them, I can't be sure what the experience would be for someone who has never thought of things this way before. In my case, this book was a light reexamination of these principles from another individual's perspective. It was comforting at many turns, including the passage reassuring the reader that to forgive does not mean what the other party did was ok, it just means your own heart and mind are now free of heavy burdens such as anger or the desire for revenge. The meditations section at the end was also a welcome inclusion. There were only three or four and they all are meant for various different situations (my favorite? the one you can do at any time, without any preparation: "May I meet this moment fully. May I meet it as a friend." I've been actively working on this recently).
If you're interested in reducing the personal suffering that comes from being stuck in the indelible past, or being immobilized by the infinite possibilities of the future, this book could help you stay free within the present 😊
If you're interested in reducing the personal suffering that comes from being stuck in the indelible past, or being immobilized by the infinite possibilities of the future, this book could help you stay free within the present 😊
The Black Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey, Larry Dixon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
I feel regretful DNFing this book (and the series altogether), but I have to be honest with myself and move on. Life is too short to spend time reading a book you don't enjoy. This series was what got me into gryphon fantasy in the first place, something that has grown over the decades and become a huge part of my life. But I originally read this series when I was in junior high school. I have no memory of that experience, no memory of the story or how I felt about it at the time. I only know that my mind was irrevocably opened to the idea that there are more than dragons and unicorns in the fantasy world.
This marks the second time I've tried to read this book in my adult life and I quickly see now why I reached the halfway point last time and then set the book down for almost ten full years before trying again. For one, the hyperviolence feels arbitrary (gryphons being skinned alive in flight, being tortured gruesomely until they literally beg for death, etc.), a clumsy, over-employed device for establishing the evil of the antagonists. This probably didn't bother me as a young teenager, but it does now. I have much more reading experience and I know the same effect could have been achieved in more subtle and crafty ways. Second, the proper names are a nightmare to keep straight. Perhaps this book is relying on the reader to have read other books in the series, and therefore to know who and what these people, races, creatures, and places are, but I think that's a bad idea in any multi-book series, and especially here, where so many of the names seem to have been pulled out of thin air. They make my mind stumble and have to pick itself up every time they punctuate the text. Skandranon, the chief character, is perhaps the worst. I constantly find myself re-reading the name to make sure it's coming out right in my head. Skandragon? Skrandranon? Standranon? No, Skan-dra-non. It's exhausting to have to read like this! The suspension of disbelief requires a basis in reality. Names like these, that don't seem to be based on any existing naming pattern, become a distracting mouthful and choke the reader, even when they're reading silently.
In my mind, all these years, I never realized what kind of books these actually were, I think. I imagined a book series that opened the world of fantasy gryphons to me, even though I must have read them in their entirety only once. My memory of the junior high school library itself is stronger than my memory of this book, and my memory of this book doesn't fit with the reality, because I imagined it, based on the good thing it did for me, not on the actual contents.
This marks the second time I've tried to read this book in my adult life and I quickly see now why I reached the halfway point last time and then set the book down for almost ten full years before trying again. For one, the hyperviolence feels arbitrary (gryphons being skinned alive in flight, being tortured gruesomely until they literally beg for death, etc.), a clumsy, over-employed device for establishing the evil of the antagonists. This probably didn't bother me as a young teenager, but it does now. I have much more reading experience and I know the same effect could have been achieved in more subtle and crafty ways. Second, the proper names are a nightmare to keep straight. Perhaps this book is relying on the reader to have read other books in the series, and therefore to know who and what these people, races, creatures, and places are, but I think that's a bad idea in any multi-book series, and especially here, where so many of the names seem to have been pulled out of thin air. They make my mind stumble and have to pick itself up every time they punctuate the text. Skandranon, the chief character, is perhaps the worst. I constantly find myself re-reading the name to make sure it's coming out right in my head. Skandragon? Skrandranon? Standranon? No, Skan-dra-non. It's exhausting to have to read like this! The suspension of disbelief requires a basis in reality. Names like these, that don't seem to be based on any existing naming pattern, become a distracting mouthful and choke the reader, even when they're reading silently.
In my mind, all these years, I never realized what kind of books these actually were, I think. I imagined a book series that opened the world of fantasy gryphons to me, even though I must have read them in their entirety only once. My memory of the junior high school library itself is stronger than my memory of this book, and my memory of this book doesn't fit with the reality, because I imagined it, based on the good thing it did for me, not on the actual contents.
100 Ways To Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever by Steve Chandler
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.0
Although I did highlight many passages in this book, I found most of the useful material to be the same as that which I've read elsewhere. It served more as an affirmation of my existing motivational habits than a source of new ideas. Perhaps the material would have felt revelationary to me if I had read this book when it was first published in the 90s (which I wouldn't have, since I was only a little kid back then) but the updates that have been made for this third edition just weren't enough to unstick it from that era. This might still be a good motivational read for someone from Gen X or older, who has never tried reading anything like it before, but it didn't do the trick for Millennial me.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Quandary Phase by Douglas Adams
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Although I laughed out loud many times while listening to this, including once quite hysterically, the ending left me feeling rather sad! I won't say more, so as not to spoil it, but although (just with the last entry in this series) I have definitely read the book this radio drama was based on, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish, I didn't remember anything about it besides the titular phrase and who said it. That allowed me to enjoy this audiobook without any expectations, which is nice when you KNOW you're going to enjoy it, you just don't know why yet!
It goes without saying that I recommend this to everyone following the radio series, as well as Hitchhiker's fans in general. I'll be moving onto the next entry with enthusiasm, and especially with the hope that it will help mend the heart that this one broke 💔
It goes without saying that I recommend this to everyone following the radio series, as well as Hitchhiker's fans in general. I'll be moving onto the next entry with enthusiasm, and especially with the hope that it will help mend the heart that this one broke 💔
The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance by George Mumford
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I enjoyed and was so motivated by this book until I reached the last chapter. The overused and untrue line, "There are no atheists in foxholes," completely turned me off. I am perfectly content to accept that the principles in this book are based on Buddhism and therefore have a religious origin and flavor. I am not content to be told that my lack of supernatural belief is a delusion.
Until that final chapter, I found many passages worth highlighting and despite my unhappiness with the book in the end, I still credit it (along with guided mindfulness runs I did through Nike Run Club around the same time) with giving me the push I needed to rise out of the weeks-long depression I was in. I've been living every day much more mindful; the first thought in my head when I wake up is "mindful, mindful," and I find myself naturally able to focus more and stay motivated throughout the day. Interestingly, although this book is focused on sport, I found myself naturally applying its principles to my career, as well.
It's very disappointing that the book ruined itself with a single close-minded notion, but it is what it is. I still benefited from reading it, so it wasn't a waste of time, even if my memory of the book was soured!
Until that final chapter, I found many passages worth highlighting and despite my unhappiness with the book in the end, I still credit it (along with guided mindfulness runs I did through Nike Run Club around the same time) with giving me the push I needed to rise out of the weeks-long depression I was in. I've been living every day much more mindful; the first thought in my head when I wake up is "mindful, mindful," and I find myself naturally able to focus more and stay motivated throughout the day. Interestingly, although this book is focused on sport, I found myself naturally applying its principles to my career, as well.
It's very disappointing that the book ruined itself with a single close-minded notion, but it is what it is. I still benefited from reading it, so it wasn't a waste of time, even if my memory of the book was soured!
Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles by Beth Pickens
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This book was easy to read, relatable, and included good information that I think will help lots of artists with creative block, imposter syndrome, making time for art, etc. If you've never read a book like this before and are struggling in your artmaking, I recommend picking it up!
Unfortunately for me, I am already practicing all the relevant tips (e.g. seeing a mental health professional, dedicating regular time to my craft, giving myself weekends off, even using my mortality as a reality check), so rather than the boost in motivation I was hoping to get, the book simply reassured me that I'm already doing the right things and it's just a matter of patience and persistence now.
Rating the book on whether it would be helpful for others, I give it five stars. Rating its helpfulness to me, including the occasional typos in the Humble Bundle eBook edition, only three. Hence, my overall four-star rating.
Unfortunately for me, I am already practicing all the relevant tips (e.g. seeing a mental health professional, dedicating regular time to my craft, giving myself weekends off, even using my mortality as a reality check), so rather than the boost in motivation I was hoping to get, the book simply reassured me that I'm already doing the right things and it's just a matter of patience and persistence now.
Rating the book on whether it would be helpful for others, I give it five stars. Rating its helpfulness to me, including the occasional typos in the Humble Bundle eBook edition, only three. Hence, my overall four-star rating.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Tertiary Phase by Douglas Adams
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Even though, once upon a time, I had read all the Hitchhiker's Guide novels, and this dramatization is based on the third book, I didn't remember anything about it as I listened to this. That's not a complaint, just an interesting observation, since this series is among my all-time favorites. Not knowing what was coming meant all the plot twists and jokes were fresh and new, so I enjoyed this radio play completely! I loved the cast, including the recasting of characters whose actors had passed away, though it was sad to think that both of Slartibartfast's voice actors have now passed 😞 I didn't know until finishing this and reading others' reviews that Douglas Adams himself voices a role posthumously, as well! Definitely looking forward to listening to the next entry in this series!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Secondary Phase by Douglas Adams
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
I listened to this with such relish that I started it, finished it, and started & finished the next audio drama before I realized I never entered either into Goodreads! [FYI: This review imported from said site.] If that doesn't tell you how much I enjoyed it, I don't know what will 😆 The Hitchhiker's Guide series has been among my lifetime favorites since childhood and listening to these dramas for the first time in decades has shown me that my appreciation for the material has only grown as I've aged. The stories are just as plausible as they are ridiculous and I think their firm grounding in science and logic is what gives them evergreen appeal. I can't wait to listen to the rest!
Diary of a Victorian Mouse by Lloyd Richard
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.0
I got this at a library book sale several years ago, for the charming illustrations. At least they were charming when I flipped through the book, but now that I've sat down and properly read it, there's something uncanny about them that sours the charm. I think it's that everything is all the same flatness; the shading and highlighting make the images look like they were pressed into a slab of marshmallow. There's no depth, no sense of where the light is coming from, and it makes the scenes difficult to process, visually. The poems were a bit better, but still had a sort of awkwardness to match the illustrations. I don't often give out two-star ratings, but I just can't bring myself to go higher, even though some of the imagery truly is lovely, like the sequential series on the endpapers and most of the portraits.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Primary Phase by Douglas Adams
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
It's been ages since I last listened to the radio show for Hitchhikers. Like many people, I have fond memories of listening to it on cassette tape, recorded from an original copy and shared friend to friend, family to family. I don't know who got her into it, but it was my mom who first shared those tapes with me, when I was aged only in the single digits. I've remained a die-hard fan ever since.
The show was just as hilarious as I remembered. The jokes still fly today, even when I've already heard them a thousand times. The acting and sound effects come together wonderfully to make you feel like you're right there with the characters. I really loved the extra documentary episode at the end, too. Not only was it interesting learning about what went into the creation of the show, learning that Douglas Adams struggled with procrastination and perfectionism makes me feel less worried about my own creative efforts!
The show was just as hilarious as I remembered. The jokes still fly today, even when I've already heard them a thousand times. The acting and sound effects come together wonderfully to make you feel like you're right there with the characters. I really loved the extra documentary episode at the end, too. Not only was it interesting learning about what went into the creation of the show, learning that Douglas Adams struggled with procrastination and perfectionism makes me feel less worried about my own creative efforts!