Book Review: Notes of a Tourist on Planet Earth

Katie June 12, 2013 0 Comments

Notes of a Tourist on Planet Earth is a collection of essays by JD Smith about Humans.  There are haikus, poems, lists, and all sorts of other amusing things about all sorts of topics.  This was a great book to keep my busy on my flight to Tulsa last month.  It was a relatively quick read, it kept me entertained and it was easy enough to pick up and start again without having to go back to remember what I had last read when there was turbulence.  I found myself bookmarking several pages to go back to later because they had made me laugh or there was something there that I wanted to show one of my friends because it made me think of them.

If you are looking for something a little different to read, but still want to be entertained, be sure to check out Notes of a Tourist on Planet Earth.  There should be at least one thing (but probably many more than that) that will make you laugh.

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

About the Book

Notes of a Tourist on Planet Earth Some questions haunt humanity on a daily basis, or at the very least make it scratch its collective head. Why shouldn’t one wear black? Who is the emitting the most greenhouse gases? What hybrids could result from genetic engineering, and what kind of secret life does ethanol have? How can one sound halfway intelligent at an art gallery or survive a poetry open mic? Most importantly of all, who do you have to please to get a table at that restaurant everybody’s talking it? In NOTES OF A TOURIST ON PLANET EARTH, seasoned traveler and award-winning writer J.D. Smith answers these questions and more, many more, in stories, lists, poems and essays, along with pieces that no category could hope to contain without undergoing elective surgery. Based on research in world capitals, the bars of eight time zones and a distressing number of degree programs, this collection combines wit and erudition in ways that will make Woody Allen and Roy Blount, Jr. hear footsteps-and have Rachael Ray taking a long, hard look at herself.

Book Review: Hacking Kickstarter, Indiegogo: Raising Big Bucks in 30 Days

Katie June 10, 2013 1 Comments

Crowd-Funding is a really awesome new trend and a new spin on social media.  Using various websites (Kickstarter probably being the most popular) those who have great ideas but not the money to fund these ideas can pitch their ideas to the public in hopes that they will donate money to help fund them.

I have been involved in several of these type of projects – as a donor.  Some of these projects have gotten funded and some have not.  Some have gone above and beyond what they were looking to raise (Veronica Mars movie, anyone?) and others have made just about their initial request in funding.

Hacking Kickstater is a book by Patrice Williams Marks that anyone considering starting a crowd funding project must check out.  Kickstarter says that about 44% of their projects get funded – except the numbers are a bit skewed and these focus on only dance related projects.  Other categories are much less.

The book is rather short, but full of really great insight and information that anyone considering starting a kickstarter (or other similar site) should definitely read and use to their advantage before making their projects live.

If you have already launched a project and it failed – this book will also help you figure out what to do in order to try it again and this time get it to succeed.

One of my favorite bands, Honor Society, has done 2 successful kickstarter campaigns in the last few years.  One funded their independent EP “Serendipity” – I think that this is a great tool for independent bands because they can get support from their fans that would be similar to getting support from a major record label – without having to conform to label standards and still have the ability to do things their way.  If you’re an indie band – certainly check out this book before you consider launching anything!

About the Book

So you have this great idea for a book, video game, water hovercraft, app, newfangled watch, dance project, but you don’t have the money to produce it. You’ve heard about this new thing called “crowd-funding,” and believe this will be your ticket. Simply post a project to any number of sites and the money will begin to roll in, right? Wrong.

Unfortunately, according to a Kickstarter representative, “Only 44% of projects get funded.”

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review: Picture Your Business Strategy

Katie June 10, 2013 0 Comments

 Picture your Business Strategy will help you bring the illustrations back to your ideas.  I actually still sketch out all my ideas on paper before going about trying to figure them out – but this seems to be a dying practice.  This book is all about how you can bring them back and make them work for you and your business.  I think that I am a more visual and hands on learner and this is why I like to see something instead of just hear you tell me about it or have me read about it.  The power of visuals!

The book has a lot of great information in it, and of course since it is about pictures and visuals there are great little sketches (just  about a level above stick figures) throughout the book for an added touch, as well as some sketched graphs and diagrams as well.

If you have a business or are thinking of starting one, this is definitely a great book to read to give you some ideas on how to make things work.

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

About the book

Picture, plan, produce! Visualize your way to business success!

Strategic Illustration—the proven method for helping team members engage, align, and devise creative solutions to business problems—is now at your fingertips. The adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words” could not hold truer for Chis Chopyak, senior partner and co-owner of Alchemy, is a business strategy consulting firm that makes a profound and sustainable difference in the world. As a graphic recorder, she understand the impact of employing strategic illustration in your organization to really see clearly what is working and what is not: it opens up the lines  of communication so you and your team can have candid conversations about next steps and best practices.

Picture Your Business Strategy reveals how anyone can use visual tools to illuminate root causes of problems and devise strategies to solve them. Creating visual images of problems helps people focus, fosters collaboration, increases group energy, and drives creativity. The book provides practical lessons on strategic illustration you can use to drive positive results on a consistent basis. You don’t have to be an artist to “draw” your strategy. All you need is a vision and Picture Your Business Strategy.

Book Review: Super Pop!

Katie June 9, 2013 0 Comments

Super Pop is a series of Top 10 lists related to pop culture.  It is really interesting and the author stresses that although there are 10 items on each top 10 list, they’re more often than not in an arbitrary order.  As I went through the book I was surprised that I really only was familiar with about half (or less!) than the items he had mentioned on his list.  Maybe it’s time to take some time to brush up on some of these movies, TV shows, books, etc mentioned in the book.

There are a lot of different categories in the book and it also claims that reading it can help you win at trivia.  I haven’t been to a trivia night in a while, but next time I go I’ll have to see if any of the items in the book happen to come up in one of the questions.

A fun book to read to see how much you truly know about pop culture.

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

About the Book

Super-Pop offers a maximum-pleasure, minimum-effort way to become smarter, happier, and more likely to survive your next family function (or a shark attack). This hilarious and wide-ranging guide sorts nearly 500 different bestsellers, blockbusters, and underappreciated gems into quirky top ten lists, like “How to Outwit Death: Ten Essential Survival Tales,” and “Wax on: Wise Old Men Who Can Show You the Way.”  So whether you’re looking for some motivational workout music, need help planning a July 4th double feature, or just want to pick up some knowledge without straining your brain, this book has you covered. With new insights on old classics and fresh ideas for jaded eyes, Super Pop makes sense of pop culture – and then puts pop culture back to work!

Book Review: Beyond the Solar System

Katie June 8, 2013 0 Comments

Beyond the Solar System is an interesting book about space and the sky and stars and everything that is beyond the solar system.  It is full of history on astronomers and constellations and if you are in to space at all, I am sure that you will find this book fascinating.  The book is just over 100 pages and also has photos and illustrations throughout to help show you what is being talked about.

Throughout the book there are also activities for you to do (probably geared more towards teenaged aged kids and older) to help make telescopes and other items to help you learn more about the stars in a more hands on way than just reading.

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

About the Book

Humans have gazed into the night sky for thousands of years and wondered, What are those twinkling lights? Though the sun, moon, and planets moved across the background of stars, the stars themselves appeared immovable, forever fixed in constellations. Only when astronomers began taking a closer look did anyone realize what a fascinating, ever-changing universe lies beyond our solar system—red giant and white dwarf stars, spiral galaxies, wispy nebulae, black holes, and much more.

In Beyond the Solar System, author Mary Kay Carson traces the evolution of humankind’s astronomical knowledge, from the realization that we are not at the center of the universe to recent telescopic proof of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. In addition to its engaging history, this book contains 21 hands-on projects to further explore the subjects discussed. Readers will build a three-dimensional representation of the constellation Orion, model the warping of space-time caused by a black hole, see how the universe expands using an inflating balloon, and construct a reflecting telescope out of a makeup mirror and a magnifying glass.Beyond the Solar System also includes minibiographies of famous astronomers, a time line of major scientific discoveries, a suggested reading list, a glossary of technical terms, and a list of websites for further exploration.

Book Review: Broken Build

Katie June 7, 2013 0 Comments

 I was initially drawn to this book because the write up said that it had sexual situations and bible verses.  I wasn’t really sure how those two would go together, plus, the write up about the book had interested me as well, so I figured I would give it a go.

Then I found out the main character is an engineer – and a female – so of course that drew me in immediately and I was hooked!  So much suspense and drama in the book!  The book kind of reminds me a bit of the girl with the dragon tattoo – which is one of my favorites.  Strong female lead, technical stuff going on, smart ladies, ACTION!, etc.

What happens is, Jen is out with a guy named Rey and he drops her off at work because the build is broken and she needs to repair it but couldn’t do it remotely. So she is at work late at night and assumes Rey has gone home.  Except that the next day Rey is found dead.  And who is suspend number one?  Jen.  She was in the building near where he was killed and her phone is found with a text from him.  She tries to lay low and not let anyone know that they knew each other, but a detective is on her case and well, he doesn’t seem to be the only one following her.

Can Jen and Dave figure out who did this to Rey and prove that Jen is innocent?  And just what is this “secret” Jen is hiding? Oooh. I think it’s a good one.

This book is a little bit on the longer side coming in at 353 pages, however, there is so much going on in it you won’t want to put it down!  Before you know it you’ll be a third of the way through and dying to know what is going to happen next and what the outcome will be – I know that’s how I was!

WIN IT!
One lucky ConcertKatie reader will win a copy of this book to check out for themselves! To enter – just leave a comment with why you want to check out this book.  Winner will be chosen 6/21/13 at 11:59PM from all eligible entries.  Make sure your email address is in the comment so I can contact the winner!  Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email that they are a winner to claim their prize. Failure to respond in 48 hours will result in an alternate winner being chosen.

About the Book

Jen Jones hides a horrible secret behind her new degree, toned body, and exciting job at Silicon Valley’s hottest startup—until a man linked to her past is killed in a hit-and-run.

CEO and founder Dave Jewell is about to land a huge deal. He doesn’t need blood on his car, threatening phone calls, and Jen wrapped in broken code and blackmail.

A gang of thugs hunts Jen, and she takes refuge in Dave’s protective arms. Together, they must thwart a killer and rescue an innocent victim from their past. Love blossoms, but a damaging revelation points straight at Jen, threatening to tear them apart forever.

Content advisory: language, sexual situations

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.