Archive for the ‘Non-fiction’ Category

Book Review: The Professor & the Madman by Simon Winchester


13 Nov

The full title is The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary. Honestly, that covers just about everything you need to know. If the title intrigues you, you’ll enjoy the book. If the mentioning of the world’s largest dictionary turns you off, don’t bother.

Most of the time I was reading this book, I had also had two little dogs crawling over me trying to get attention. The writing was engaging and clear. I could put it down whenever I needed and never had a problem picking it back up.

Just Finished Reading: A Good Hard Kick in the Ass: Basic Training for Entrepreneurs by Rob Adams


19 Mar

It took me a year and a half or more to finish this book, not because it wasn’t good, but because I read it intermittently. If you’re interested in business, especially in entrepreneurship and venture capital, you should read this book.

Adams works in venture capital and walks the reader through the steps that investors are looking for before they hand you money.

My only complaint with this book is that it really focuses on the technology sector. I know the base rules should be the same, but I really would have loved to see examples from non-tech start ups.

Finding time to read and think


19 May

It will come as no surprise to anyone here that I love to read. What may be less evident is that I enjoy reading non-fiction as well. The problem is, while I can get lost in a good fiction story, non-fiction is rarely all absorbing. That means I read those books more slowly and sporadically.

I need dedicated reading time. Now that my Monday night critique group is more of a try to get together and write group, maybe I’ll take the off Mondays and give myself over to non-fiction. After all, what else am I doing- playing bejeweled blitz?

100 Words On

topics explored in exactly 100 words