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umyde's reviews
63 reviews
2021 Metaphysician's Guidebook by Benebell Wen
5.0
For those of us who have had the pleasure of entering Benebell Wen's maze of metaphysical offerings, it will come as no surprise that this is no mere guide to a mere planner. It is nothing short of an introductory course on a whole host of metaphysical arts and sciences, both Western and Asian, all informed by the analytical and grounded mind of this amazing human being of a woman.
The Complete Guitarist by Richard Chapman
4.0
My copy of this book used to belong to a friend of mine who gave me my very first experiences playing the guitar, when I was about 15. It's a well-rounded introductory guide to all things guitar, profusely illustrated. History, brands, the core basics to start playing - it's all here. Dorling Kindersley was my favourite publisher for this type of guides as I was a kid, but you do eventually need to move on.
The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
5.0
One of the fundamental books in my library. Not just a self-guide on how to draw, but a course on redesigning cognition itself, and the way we experience the world around us. Might just be the shortest path to Nirvana.
In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
5.0
One of my most treasured books, for a little gem it is indeed. Reflections on interior design lead to a brighter meditation on a zen approach to aesthetics, lifestyle and cultural attitudes. I would highly recommend it as a companion piece to Eugen Herrigel's ZEN IN THE ART OF ARCHERY.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
5.0
Many years after my childhood, and now as a language teacher, this is a wonder of linguistic gold!
You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-To-Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want by Jesse Mecham
3.0
Pretty thin on content, it could have been written in two pages. Its core principles, which underlie the brilliant YNAB app (which I've been using for years) are the only thing that matters - as a book it falls flat on developing the concepts further. Pity, it does not stand up there with the app.
Llewellyn's 2021 Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2020 to Mabon 2021 by Suzanne Ress, Melissa Tipton, Laura Tempest Zakroff
4.0
As much as Llewellyn's books might be on the sugary, trendy-witchy, new-agey side of things, this almanac of their still offers quite a nice wealth of recipes, hands-on activities, lore and craft. Whatever else one might think of the superficiality, it's fun and the whole family can be involved. I might just buy the 2022 almanac, as a companion to Lia Leendertz's phenomenal ALMANAC.
The New Almanac: A guide to reconnecting with the seasons by Lia Leendertz
5.0
In 2020, I bought Lia Leendertz's Almanac for the first time. With its repertoire of recipes, stories, songs, facts, and things to see out in nature throughout the year, it gave our family endless hours of joy. I liked it so much that I bought a copy from every year, starting with this very first one.