The Lingo Guide, video review

The Lingo Guide for Builders is a concise English to Spanish and Spanish to English translation book. It’s specific to the building trades so you don’t have to wade through an entire dictionary to find the word for fusebox. This slim volume came in handy during the renovations of my shack in Aruba. Here’s the video review:

If you have Spanish-speakers on your crew or job-site, this book will be a huge help. Get two and get the job done!

The Rules of Civility, video review

I just finished reading The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. Here’s my book review video:

It is a shame for this book. The writing is truly brilliant, but it was squandered on a meandering, myopic, mélange of a story lacking enough plot to keep the reader engaged. Sure, the descriptions of New York, the set pieces of the rich and famous partying are intriguing in themselves, but without building toward anything, they fall flat.

Published in: on February 29, 2012 at 2:39 am  Leave a Comment  
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The Alchemist (video review)

The Alchemist is a fable worth reading more than once. Author Paulo Coelho takes the reader on a fantastic journey with his lead character, Santiago, and along the way everyone learns some lessons, all hidden in the context of an eccentric narrative. Here’s my video review.

I recommend this book for younger people, those just leaving middle school into high school. The captivating action will keep them interested, and they’ll never notice how much they’re learning. Few books are like that. Enjoy this one.

Live More, Want Less (book review)

Live More, Want Less is that rare self-help book that delivers on its promises. If you’re looking to “declutter” your life, then this is the book for you. Not only does it provide lessons on getting rid of the “stuff,” it also gives excellent daily tasks to reinforce the message. Here’s my video review:

As I said in that video, less is not more. Less is less. However, if you get the most out of something, you’re actually maximizing the potential, which is what this book is all about. And I’m all for that. Thanks to Mary Carlomagno for a useful tome that we can all learn from.