So as not to devote an entire post to last year’s stuff, I’ll make it a 3-for-1 deal. My last three books of 2007 were:
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle
- The Now Habit, by Neil Fiore
- Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul, by Various Authors
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was a fantastic read. My most meaningful experience with Sherlock Holmes stories before that was the Chipmunks version of one of them, so I admit that I didn’t quite know what to expect. But I was blown away.
Aside from the great storytelling and character development, one thing that struck me the most: for a book this old, the writing didn’t feel dated. It was certainly clear that you were reading about an older time, but I felt like it could have just as easily been a present-day author writing about the past.
The Now Habit is a book on overcoming procrastination that, ironically enough, took me two years to get around to reading. Its premise is that procrastination is not some inherent character defect, but a symptom of some general insecurities such as perfectionism in work that can be addressed through establishing good habits. An interesting read, and very highly recommended for anyone struggling with procrastination.
Finally, Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul was Sis’ get-well-soon gift to me when I broke my wrist. I suppose I should criticize this book for being too mushy and not include it on my 07 reading list, but I think it earned it’s spot. For every 4-5 overly emotional and stupid stories, there was usually one that really got my attention and made me feel pretty good. As a way to finish off my first year of reading outside school, I guess that can’t be so bad.
