Knowledge is Power

2019 - 17) Prelude to Foundation - Isaac Asimov

Got through this one quickly. Fast moving, easy to read. Enjoyable. Had vaguely heard of this series before but never got around to reading it.

This is the first of seven books in the series (if you take the fictional chronological timeline). In reality it was the 6th of 7 books he wrote in the series.

Initially Asimov wrote the trilogy, then two sequels... then two prequels... or which the above is the first prequel.

2019 - 19) Foundation & Empire - Isaac Asimov.

Enjoyed this one the least of the series thus far. The fact that the timeline moves so rapidly has your head spinning as characters come and go quite quickly.

2019 - 21) What I Talk About When I Talk About Running - Haruki Murakami.

Half travel log, half fitness log. Enjoyable.

2019 - 23) South of the Border, West of the Sun - Haruki Murakami.

Hauntingly touching.

2019 - 25) Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World - Haruki Murakami.

My patience with fiction must be wearing thin. I really didn't get this book.

There are two stories - one told in the odd chapters, the other in the even chapters. I skim read the bulk of it and couldn't get into it at all. Dissappointing as I've enjoyed the other recent Murakami.

I do remember having a similar reaction to Dance, Dance, Dance well over a decade ago. I like Murakami's writings on human observations, but not so much the magic realism/fantasy.

2019 - 27) Up at the Villa - Somerset Maugham.

Enjoyed this. A murder story set in refined society.

Didn't realize until writing this entry that it was also made into a film.

2019 - 29) The Life & Times of Charles Manson - Jeff Guinn.

This book was intriguing. He maintained serious mind control over gullible young followers.

2019 - 31) After Dark - Haruki Murakami

Not sure what that was. Feel like it meandered on without making a point or reaching a conclusion. Disliking his magic realisim.

2019 - 33) Millionaire Expat - Andrew Hallam.

Written in a dad joke style this wasn't my cup of tea. Written more for the financially illiterate. Nothing new I hadn't seen elsewhere in more concise readable format.

2019 - 35) The Guitar Handbook - Ralph Denyer.

This is an incredible one stop shop of info for all things guitar related. Read it a couple of times in decades past. Pulled it out as a refresher and worked through it over the past couple of weeks with guitar in hand.

2019 - 37) Mick Jagger - Phillip Norman.

An intriguing biography.

2019 - 39) Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill.

An old school classic from the 1930's. Dated obviously but some good nuggets in there on mindset.

2019 - 41) Aesops Fables.

Just over 200 fables told in a simple fashion.

2019 - 43) Raising G - Steve Biddulph.

2019 - 45) Tools of Titans - Tim Ferris.

Good bite sized chunks from the routines of top performers.

2019 - 47) Learn to play the Harmonica - Igloobooks.

A quick (and noisy) read.

2019 - 49) The Carpet People - Terry Pratchett.

His first book, written when he was 17 and revised when he was 43. I didn't really get into it.

2019 - 51) Boganaire - Paddy Manning

Rags to riches twice via the mining boom.

2019 - 53) Think Straight - Darious Foroux.

A motivational read.

2019 - 55) The 7 Day Weekend - James Dawson.

Commercial Property.

2019 - 57) Commercial Property Made Easy - Chris Lang.

An advertisement in the form of a short book.

2019 - 59) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey

A classic that is still as relevant today vs. when originally published back in 1989.

2019 - 61) The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company - Bob Iger

Documents his rise to the top of Disney and 45 years in the one company.

Focuses on a number of dramatic events before tailing off into corporate stories on Disneys acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and Fox. Lost momentum as the book progressed.

Felt like the editor had the same thoughts upon first read and thus advised opening with the more dramatic moments to capture attention.

2019 - 63) Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words - Greg Brooks

All of his writings collected. Enjoyable for the first 20% and then a bit repetitive.