Bodyfueling: Stop Watching Your Weight Start Fueling Your Life

I first became aware of this author, Robyn Landis, by happening to see her on a talk show promoting her new book "Bodyfueling."  Usually I react to the latest "fad-diet" with scorn and/or a shrug of the shoulders.  In this case, I was very surprised and captivated...she was saying things that sounded reasonable, rationale, biologically-based, and real!---and, furthermore, I found myself nodding and saying "I do that!!"  (bad eating habits I wasn't even aware of!)  I went out and tracked down the book, bought it, and read every word, slowly, underlining sections, spending several months reading a few pages while I ate breakfast each morning (savoring each section).  It was a real gem of a read.  Robyn Landis lays out in an extremely reasonable, interesting, readable fashion---with many examples---how to "fuel" the body as it really wants you to fuel it!  Here I am a certified, practicing Biologist---and she's telling me things about metabolism that I already know, but putting it together in a practical "holistic" way that makes sense.  It's not a fad diet.  It's a real, valid, way of life.  It's not buying sugar/caffeine-water "diet" drinks, nor starvation.  This book is about eating well, fully, and enjoyably.  It's not about sacrifice.  It's about real, lip-smacking nourishment.  It's about giving your body what it truly needs to be its most fit and healthiest!  I was so impressed, I went back to the book store and ordered a stack of them to occasional give as precious gifts to selected friends.  One large friend that I gave it to, after reading it, gave me the feedback:  "Finally, I get to eat!"  For anyone who's ever struggled with the addictive characteristic of fattening foods, or the lumpiness of aging, or (like me) has always tried to be fit and trim but has had to continually fight that "spare-tire," my recommendation is throw away all your other diet books/tapes/cds and buy this book!  It's not a miracle, quick fix---but it is a revelation, and truly did change my life.  

Becoming a Writer

One of the greatest routes to personal expression and creativity is writing.  Vague notions/thoughts/emotions put on paper take on real substance.   Anyone who's ever kept a diary, or a journal, or written short essays, or jotted down short poems, or written an article for a newspaper knows what I'm saying.  Just about anyone can write, and enjoy the tremendous excitement, creativity, and achievement of making a permanent record of the transient firing of their brain neurons.  However, the process can be quite intimidating, how to start can be a mystery, and making time for it can be almost impossible.  In this classic work by Dorothea Brande, you will find no-nonsense words of wisdom about how anyone can tap-into the creativity of writing.  It has practical, do-able techniques and exercises.  

"Becoming a Writer" makes writing available to anyone capable of putting pen to paper or pecking-away at a computer keyboard or typewriter.  Being a writer is a grand thing, whether or not one's work ever makes it into the high-pressure world of modern day publishing.  When a story, book, letter, or poem is written---it is a huge accomplishment, a beautiful thing, something to be cherished, a therapeutic exercise, a tangible achievement of which you can be justifiably proud...whether or not anyone else ever reads it.  And with continued practice, who knows?  Perhaps the entire world will benefit from your writings.   I started writing on an ancient typewriter when I was in the fifth grade, and haven't stopped since.  For many years, I was quite unsuccessful at getting my unique works published, earning my living by other means.  Yet the many words I wrote had a life of their own, which I'd done if I'd never had the hope of ultimately getting them published.  If you even think this is something you'd like to maybe try---get this book and read it.  You'll be glad you did.

The Art of Fiction:  Notes on Craft for Young Writers

After getting "the bug" for writing, one is very well served to pause and consider "craft."  For many years, I wrote large novels without having a clear grasp of the "craft" of writing.  I was writing "by the seat of my pants."  While that's fine for personal expression, it simply will not get you published (and didn't get me published).  If you want to shoot for the highest levels of writing---i.e. where other people will not only be willing to read, but actually lay down hard cash for your writings---you'd best as-soon-as-possible get a handle on the main ropes of the CRAFT of writing:  what things should be there for it to be "professional."  In this classic work, John Gardner gives an inspiring introduction to writing as an ART, with techniques and methods which can be learned.  It's not always an easy read, but is packed with deep thought and a true love for literature.  There are no simplistic, easy, "10-steps-to-writing" here---rather a penetrating look at what really makes fiction work.  In addition to theory, there are practical, helpful, specific exercises.  This is a great book for anyone serious about mastering the art of writing fiction.

How to Write Poetry, 3rd Edition

Boiling down your thoughts and experiences into the few, essential words can be a powerful learning and creative experience.  Cutting away all those extra words to get to the core can leave a clean, sharp, crisp, BEAUTY.  Also, it's a lot of fun.  Few people make any money at writing poetry---but many find great personal satisfaction and fulfillment by its illuminating process.  Also, add some music, and you've got SONGS---which, indeed, are tremendously popular and wide-spread in our society.  This small, well-structured book gives the beginning poet practical tools, examples, and exercises.  It explains how poetry works from the inside-out.  Even though we might not want to write great long novels, or clever short stories about our experiences/emotions/problems/triumphs---a few key words arranged neatly on a page can be immensely therapeutic and personally illuminating.  

Rapture of Love

This is a hour-long, musical CD which an excellent musician-friend of mine, Sterling Afflick, has made.  It has beautifully-framed tracks, with powerful beats, especially his seductive sax.  All of the songs deal with aspects of interpersonal attraction (love) from the bold to the very shy.  Some of the songs have enlightening religious themes.  "I Had a Dream" is from the perspective of God lamenting over Mankind, and is quite believable, even frightening.  But this is not an overtly religious CD---it's above all an exploration of the nature of Love, both from a Cosmic as well as a close-up, all-the-wrinkles human perspective.  "She's Just Shy" captures the pent-up emotion of unexpressed love.  This is not your run-of-the-mill average CD.  It's a rare gem, worth savoring, and listening to over and over.

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