Book Review: Jim Henson and Philosophy

Katie July 17, 2015 0 Comments

Jim Henson and Philosophy is a book made up of various essays about Jim Henson’s characters and their relation to Philosophy.  Henson tried to make monsters less scary with his group of misfit muppets. Miss Piggy is a strong female character.  This book features ALL his characters – not just the Muppets – including Fraggle Rock and the movie Labyrinth.  It talks about how Sesame Street makes learning fun.  It is nice to read all the different thoughts from all the different authors in their essays.  There is definitely more to these characters than meets the eye.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review.

About the Book

Jim Henson’s creations have inspired generations with characters that are among the world’s most recognizable cultural icons. From Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and their Muppet friends, to the legendary Sesame Street and the Children’s Television Workshop, Henson has immeasurably impacted the growth, development and substance of children’s educational entertainment. Combining live-action and puppeteering into fantastical narratives like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, and the whimsical Fraggle Rock and The Storyteller, Henson transforms imagination into reality, weaving powerful philosophical messages on identity, community, diversity, love, death, and friendship. Henson’s legacy endures because he never shied away from exploring deep questions, nor underestimated the ability of children (or adults) to grapple with profound philosophical questions. Anyone who grew up with his stories, or has fallen in love with his characters, will enjoy this book’s exploration of the entertaining, educational and profound world of Jim Henson.

Contributions by: Lauren Ashwell, Kimberly Baltzer-Jaray, David R. Burns, Samantha Brennan, Amanda Cawston, Brooke Covington, Christopher M. Culp, Ryan Cox, Natalie M. Fletcher, Victoria Hubbell, Dena Hurst, Christopher Ketcham, Christopher Ketcham, S. Evan Kreider, Shaun Leonard, Jennifer Marra, Michael J. Muniz, Laurel Ralston, Rhona Trauvitch, and Sheryl Tuttle Ross

Timothy M. Dale is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he teaches courses on political philosophy. He is coeditor of the collections Homer Simpson Ponders Politics: Popular Culture as Political Theory (2013) and Homer Simpson Marches on Washington: Dissent in American Popular Culture (2010).

Joseph J. Foy is associate campus dean at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. He edited the award-winning Homer Simpson Goes to Washington: Politics as Popular Culture (2008) and SpongeBob Square Pants and Philosophy (2011), and co-edited Homer Simpson Ponders Politics: Popular Culture as Political Theory (2013) and Homer Simpson Marches on Washington: Dissent in American Popular Culture (2010).

Book Review: Your Dream Job: Use Dating Secrets to Get Hired and Build a Career You Love

Katie July 17, 2015 0 Comments

Your Dream Job compares looking for a job to looking for a date. The hiring managers are super models and if you know what you’re doing you just might be able to land that date, I mean job, with them!

The downside to this book was there are too many references to movies and TV shows that I have never seen so they went right over my head.

I enjoyed the funny mistakes that job hunters made – and learned from them as well. (Although some of them seemed to be quite obvious things not to do..)

There’s a lot of great tips for what to do and not to do on your resume, when applying and once you land an interview.  Definitely a lot of things to keep in mind as I try to find my dream job!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

In this provocative book, career expert Dom Bokich explores the similarities between the job search and dating.

Both involve looking online for your perfect match or being set up by your friends. After that you’ll need a great icebreaker to score an interview. When you meet face-to-face, you’ll dress up, tell your best stories, and ask good questions.

Your Dream Job takes you step-by-step through the hiring process and shares insider secrets on how to find a job you love!
You’ll learn:
– How to become irresistible to your dream employer
– 3 ways to get noticed fast using social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
– How to write a knockout resume and cover letter
– How hiring managers act like supermodels
– Current interview methods including behavioral and values based interviewing
– 25 inspiring Success Stories of job seekers, 11 of which are new grads
– 50 Funny Mistakes applicants have made, so you won’t embarrass yourself

This book is like having coffee with the author. He’ll give you friendly and straightforward advice that works.

Your Dream Job is encouraging and entertaining, with proven techniques for everyone. Be inspired, have more confidence, and score your dream job today!

Book Review: Sweet As Sin

Katie July 17, 2015 0 Comments

I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. I tried and tried but just couldn’t. I’m not sure why. Maybe if I read it at a different time I’d have been more into it, maybe not. It’s a rather long book, almost 400 pages, as well as the first in a series. Maybe it was setting it up for future story lines that lost me? Either way, I feel bad that I couldn’t get more into this book and give it a nicer review. You know how much I love my rock star romance novels, but for me, this one just fell flat.

(From what I see on GoodReads – it seems to be 50/50 with absolutely loving the book or hating it – so I encourage you all to check the book out if you think it may be of interest to you and form your own opinions!)

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Twentysomething Kat Reid is loving life as an in-demand Hollywood makeup artist. She has absolutely no interest in rock ’n’ roll, but in order to pay the mortgage, she agrees to work on the set of a rock video for the world-famous rockers known as Bad Habit…which brings her face-to-face with Nico Nyx, lead singer of Bad Habit and Adonis in the flesh.

However, the fiercely independent Kat isn’t impressed by the hard-living, womanizing rock star. But when Nico’s model girlfriend shows up to the set drunk and Kat is tapped to replace her as the video’s sexy bride, her combustible chemistry with Nico suddenly threatens to consume the set. Nico feels it, too—and becomes determined to win Kat over, body and soul. Yet behind his rock god swagger, Nico hides a dark secret. Can he rock Kat’s world forever, or will he just break her heart?

Book Review: Life Is Short (No Pun Intended)

Katie July 17, 2015 0 Comments

I absolutely love TLC’s “The Little Couple” Jen Arnold and Bill Klein. I just love their outlook and approach to life – they may be little but there is nothing that they can’t do! (Jen is a doctor, Bill a business owner). I try to not miss their show and I love their 2 kids – Will and Zoey. When I saw that they had written a book, I knew that I had to read it!

While those who watch the show know about their current life, this book focuses more on before they met and how their life was growing up as a little person. It was heartbreaking to read about how people would tell Bill and his Mom that they’d be better off if he had died! His Mom would take him shopping with some of her friends because there was strength in numbers and people seemed to be just so terrible to him.

The chapters alternate between Jen and Bill writing about similar times in their lives. All the surgeries they had, being at school, getting around, etc. And finally works up to them meeting. (Although they did cross paths when they were about 10 years old at a hospital!) While their show had talked a bit about their wedding, it was fun to read about it in more detail – and all the mishaps that kept happening leading up to the ceremony!

The book ends with them adopting Will and Zoey and Jen’s cancer scare – which was followed on the show but they go in to more detail. I loved reading this book and am looking forward to the new season of The Little Couple on TLC – whenever that may be!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this review.

About The Book
From the beloved stars of TLC’s The Little Couple comes an uplifting and moving behind-the-scenes account of how the pair met, fell in love, and overcame huge obstacles to become successful professionals and parents.

Jennifer Arnold and Bill Klein have inspired millions as stars of TLC’s hit show The Little Couple. Though they both have dwarfism, they have knocked down every obstacle they have encountered together with a positive, can-do attitude. The show has featured the lives of Jennifer (a respected neonatologist) and Bill (a successful entrepreneur) from their marriage in 2009, to the launch of their pet shop, to the adoption of their children, to Jen’s overcoming cancer.

Now, for the first time Jen and Bill are letting readers into their private lives with behind-the-scenes, never-before-told stories about how they fell in love, what inspires them, and the passions that drive their success.

Jen and Bill have a simple purpose in life: make the world a better place through encouragement and education. A must-have for fans of the show or anyone who has ever faced a difficult challenge, Life Is Short (No Pun Intended) gives readers a glance at what inspires these positive people to approach life with such optimism and share their lives with the public every day.