book – DropaJewel, because someone has to

Not Another Summer Reading List [2019]

Summers here and the time is right for dancing in the street…with a book of some kind. Like a kid in a candy store, I got excited looking at new releases for this summer and the upcoming fall. My email has been one ongoing notification signal after another with: good reads reviews, e books, local library updates, audio book subscriptions etc. Needless to say I’m drowning in more literature than I can keep up with…and I couldn’t be happier! Allow me to share what I’m reading currently and I hope you will do the same.

“Buck: A Memoir” by MK Asante

Asante was actually a professor at Morgan State University when I was studying some years ago. I never got to take any of his classes, but we spoke a few times. I was told that his lectures were all the rave due to his love of the Hip Hop culture and views on the world as we connect to it. “Buck” is his autobiography, growing up the mean streets of Philadelphia and overcoming adversity to become a filmmaker, writer, emcee, and professor to name a few. I JUST snagged this hard copy and will dive in head first soon.

“Brief Answers to the Big Questions” by Stephen Hawking

I just finished this read a few days ago and got damnit am I thankful for the mind of Mr. Hawking. I know nothing of cosmology, but this book gives us the short answer to the timeless questions that are unanswered today…according to Hawking of course. Do aliens exist? Should the human race try and relocate to another planet? Is God real? I absolutely LIVE for the existential moments in literature that feed my inner question mark. You are not alone science nerds. Come one, come all. You have friends here. Rest in Peace, Mr. Hawking.

“I Will Teach You To Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi

What is a summer reading list without a self help book? I think I’m half way through this, but there are some REALLY good tips for the financially challenged here. If we are ever going to get ahead, we have to stop running from our finances, crack a book, and take a hard look at our retirement options before it’s too late. Sethi offers readers the play by play on choosing banks, investment options, and automation to make money work for you. This book is a quick read, I recommend it to anyone.

“Music Theory: From Absolute Beginner to Expert” by Nicolas Carter

I play entirely too many fucking instruments to know nothing about theory. I guess it’s time to crack a book on it, eh? I have this in audio book form and it’s only bout 2 hours long. I’m hoping to get some insight.

Well, that’s my list of current reads for now. I’m hoping to add some fiction to the list soon. What books have your hands occupied this Summer? Follow me on Twitter @Dropajewel and let me know your thoughts. #doitnow

[Article] Bill Gates on the 5 Books You Should Read This Summer

Check out this time article on the books Bill Gates suggest for summer reads. I’ll be giving you my input in a later post.

#go

http://flip.it/-DLzmB

Article: 50 Novels All Men Should Read Before They Die

I like reading classics as well as the next person. Some of the books I have never heard of, but since I’m looking for new spring reads I may give em’ a shot. Happy Reading!

This article is written by the good folks at Esquire. http://flip.it/.Z-5Go

Not Another Fall Reading List

Fall is officially among us! It’s time to break out the hoodies, sweatpants and warm cider. There is never a bad time of year to break out a new list of books to get caught up in. In any event, check out the list of books I’m excited to conquer, and don’t forget that October is national reading group month. Get excited! Don’t forget to share some of what you are reading with us.

A buddy of mine recommended this book after I realized I had been living in the past for too long. If you are ever going to move forward, you have to AT LEAST TRY living in the here and now.

I can’t even remember how I came across this book. Most likely I was web surfing and it caught my eye. I’m not super familiar with stoicism but different schools of thought tickle my fancy. Anyone read this yet?

Every book list needs some good fiction right?! I did a little reading on the author, Dharma Kelleher, after this book popped up in my book bub list. Kelleher seems like a certified badass and I’m stoked about Iron Goddess.

I find myself reading Andy Warhol quotes and laughing hysterically. Warhol is one of those artist that (in my humble opinion) is not over rated. I’m expecting this to be a great read.

What are you currently indulging in? Let me know your thoughts!

Article: Edgar Allan Poe: the master of horror writing

Check out this telegraph article on Edgar Allan Poe that caught my eye. I too have been a Poe fan since grade school.

http://flip.it/1m60m

Not Another Spring Reading List

Muahahahah!!!! It’s spring again, and I’m back on the hunt for good books to enjoy in the sun. Check out what I’m reading right now (or am about to start reading this week). Be sure to share what literature you are currently indulging in.

I just finished Anne Rice’s Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession and I cried and yelled at the book the entire time. By society’s standards, I am a Christian, but moreover I am a follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to be religious to see that his moral was pretty stellar. I had been in love with Anne Rice since I was a teen, and though I hadn’t read very many of her books, I still considered her one of my favorite authors. Called Out of Darkness was a non fiction autobiographical account of her journey through spirituality and at times the lack thereof. Many emotions overwhelmed me as I related so closely to her words. To start, I LOVE and have always loved her great attention to detail and ability to set the scene. Though the book is non fiction, her childhood memories and love for religion mirrored my own in a comforting, nostalgic way. I used to love church, the hymns, and the story of a mystical God who had done all of these wondrous things using ordinary people. Rice told the story of how she turned away from religion (and ultimately God) because of the church. This is something TOO MANY people have experienced all too well. It’s a damn shame. Anne Rice addressed her spiritual journey through her fictional writings, her atheism, her love, and her Catholicism. Anyone who wants to take a gander at the wisdom of Anne Rice need read this book, no matter if you are religious or not.

I read books one and two of the Chanda Hahn’s Unfortunate Fairy Tale series rather quickly and am embarking on book 3. They are Young Adult/Sci-Fi ebooks that follow young Mina Grime through tales of heartbreak, deception, and battles with fictional creatures all while surviving high school. These are my favorite types up books to curl up to at any given point in the day. I’ll probably have the series finished before summer. Hahn is a New York Times best-selling author who resides in Washington.

Niurka’s Supreme Influence: Change Your Life With The Power of the Language You Use caught my attention while listening to Jonathan Levi’s Becoming A Super Human podcast. She was a guest on the show and talked a lot about the things we say, having the ability to manifest things (good or bad) in our life. The power of the tongue is not a new ideology, In fact it’s one we know all too well; however, in hearing Niurka’s take on it, I was compelled to check out her book. Check out Becomingasuperhuman.com for the podcast, and check out the book if you feel prompted.

What books are you currently reading? Let me know your thoughts!

Article: Serial Reader: An app that delivers literature to your phone in daily snippets

What a way to revolutionize the way we read. I’m a binge reader…if the book is good, I wont put it down for days at a time until I’m finished. I think this app is for those who want to knock down reading classics, but maybe dont have time. Brilliant idea.

http://flip.it/r55xv