Many Ways to Be Eco-Conscious and Eco-Friendly

I found this book to be a fascinating read. The author clearly believes in living green and planet-friendly in all aspects of her life. One thing I like about this book is that the author isn’t preachy; she doesn’t attempt to shame the reader for their less-than-stellar choices (as I’ve seen in other books). The tone is completely different, and she sets this up right from the beginning, and it carries on throughout the entire book. You can tell how much she cares about this and how much she wants YOU to care about it as well.  The book does go into many details about ways to live a more eco-conscious life, from how we handle our food and resources under our care to issues like plastic bags and chemicals. Some ideas are not unique to the author, but others definitely are. There’s much food for thought here, and the book will get you thinking about ways that you could decrease your footprint and perhaps live better by doing so. The author is Australian, so some terms and information she gives are more particular to Australia but could be applied universally. If you have any interest in this topic, you will most likely find this personal take on it to be one that will challenge you to make changes for the benefit of yourself and the planet.

Overview of Speed-reading Techniques

I have read several different books on speed reading, so I was interested to see what this author’s spin on it would be. The book is well-organized, following a logical progression. He first defines what speed reading is and then talks about the proper mindset and how to prepare for it. The next several chapters talk about specific speed reading, visualization, and comprehension techniques. He gives ideas about how to read both fiction and nonfiction books and encourages developing good reading habits and applying your skills regularly.

I thought the book was overly repetitive in the beginning. The book is rather short, so the repetition really stood out. There is nothing truly new in this book, but the author has collected much of the major techniques of speed reading and comprehension under one cover. I didn’t think, at times, that the explanations were enough for someone to actually implement the concepts. Perhaps he could have given specific exercises with detailed instructions for the reader who has not read a lot of speed reading books as I have.

Having read so many, I find myself wondering if one thing that is said in all of them, including this one, is true. Every book on speed reading talks about the dangers of subvocalizing–reading the words in your head as you read. Personally, I don’t see how you can read and NOT subvocalize. If this is the cornerstone of speed reading, as it seems to be as stated in all these books, I think we are all doomed to failure. When I have attempted it at various times, I found it impossible. Yes, eyes could skim the words, but without hearing at least some of them in my head, comprehension fell to nothing; speed reading became an eye exercise.

If you have an interest in speed reading, this book is actually a reasonable compilation of ideas and techniques that will help you realize if you want to dig deeper into the topic.

More than Just the Art of Minimalism

I have read another book by this author on mindfulness, and in this book, she brings mindfulness to minimalism in a variety of ways. The book is roughly divided into thirds: generalities and mindset about minimalism, specific strategies for decluttering your physical environment, and ideas for decluttering your relationships, your thoughts, and your day. What I like about this book is that you can tell that the author walks the talk. She isn’t just cobbling together a variety of information from online sources and other books as happens far too often in nonfiction books these days. Instead, she shares personal stories and insights as well as tips that she herself has come up with. I particularly loved the section on how to naturally clean all the areas of your home after you’ve decluttered. I’m planning to implement some of those ideas very soon.

I have read several books on minimalism, but her approach draws you right in because she helps you understand your thinking about the excess of “stuff” in your life and the history of consumerism. Much of her advice is very detailed, like the specific recipes for natural cleansers and how to use the pomodoro technique in your decluttering. The book has some unusual topics for a book on minimalism, like affirmations and time management—and of course, the entire last section that is more about the mental aspects, like clearing toxic relationships and thoughts from your life and replacing those thoughts with more positive ones. It might seem from the outside like it’s an odd combination of ideas, but the ideas do work together to help support you in decluttering all aspects of your life.