365 minus 52 equals 313

Day 52!!!

Bibliographic Info:

Where mathematics comes from : How the embodied mind brings mathematics into being

Lakoff, George

Basic Books, 2000

I can venture a guess as to where Math came from. Bowels of hell come to mind...

Summary (Book List Review):

With this ambitious book, Lakoff and Nunez hope to launch a whole new discipline: a cognitive science of mathematics. And they bid fair to bring it off, showing how all mathematical ideas–from simple counting to calculus–can be traced to the discrete workings of the human brain, and not to some transcendent realm of Platonic ideals. This approach to mathematics holds a number of surprises, as even ordinary arithmetic dissolves into conceptual metaphors grounded in the sensory-motor system. The entire panoply of mathematical symbols and calculations–precise and consistent–thus reflects the evolutionary history of brain neurons.

My Reaction:

I was hopeful because the cover of the book was kind of intriguing and not mathy looking. Yall I opened this book, saw, charts, graphs and angles and had had enough.  I read enough to know that the authors purport that babies–2 to 3 days old–can discriminate between groups with less objects or more objects.   They discuss the studies  that support this claim, how they were done etc.  Don’t know if I buy it. Math never felt innate to me.  Rather its always felt more alien, cold and distant like that Tilda Swinton chick. What is her deal anyway?

365-51=314

Day/title 51

I hope this project is fulfilling its intended purpose and somewhere books are flying off of library shelves–not supernaturally or anything but through actual human manipulation. May these bound and bountiful beauties be celebrated and exalted; not disregarded like that $6 state refund check that came in the mail whilst you were living high on the hog off that fat federal refund check. Mmm hmm. I see you.  Ballin’! I digress. Read a book.

The greatest survival stories ever told
Underwood, Lamar

The Lyons Press, 2001

Get your survival on. Bear Grylls and Destiny's Child son!

I’m for books. Are you four books?

Day 47-50!!!

Come hook or crook I’ve given you 50 books! Who loves ya babe?! 😀

1.

I see Black people : The rise and fall of African American-owned television and radio
Zook, Kristal Brent

Nation Books, 2008

Black people? Not at the Oscar's you don't...

2.

Allergy-free gardening : The revolutionary guide to healthy landscaping

Ogren, Thomas Leo

Ten Speed press, 2000

God bless the allergic. No seriously.

3.

Oneness with all life : Inspirational selections from A new earth
Tolle, Eckhart

Dutton, 2008

I'm as granola as the next granola chick but this guy weirds me out.

4.

Intellectual traditions of pre-colonial Africa
Hilliard, Constance B.

McGraw Hill 1998

Too bad this is Must-I-Move? Monday because I would've loved to mini-review this book. Très intéressant!

Lady Eloise and so much more

Day 46!!

Bibliographic info:

Rejuvenate! : It’s never too late
Kitt, Eartha

Scribner, 2001

Maaaarcus!

Summary (Library Journal review):

Singer, actress, and Broadway star Kitt (I’m Still Here) was born out of wedlock in poverty in South Carolina in 1928. In this part memoir, part exercise manual she shares, in her own distinctive voice, “fundamental ways of being, thinking, and doing” that have kept her productive, content, and free of the fear of getting old. She accepts aging as a natural process; she never yearned to stay young. Kitt chronicles her distinguished career’s ups and downs: her outspoken remarks on the Vietnam War at a White House luncheon hosted by First Lady Ladybird Johnson in 1968 and subsequent blacklisting; her concerts, TV appearances, and best-selling recordings; her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and her various affairs. Kitt also offers deep breathing instructions and stretching exercises and encourages listeners to make a commitment to taking care of themselves.

My reaction:

LOVED the stand she took regarding the Vietnam war! And wow! She danced with Katherine Dunham’s dance troupe before she broke into the business!?  Go Eartha ***cabbage patching*** go Eartha! Mrs.  Kitt was born  into poverty in South Carolina and was thrown out because her mother’s fiance said he didn’t want that “yella gal” in his house.   Colorism in the African-American community is deep!  Any way, Eartha went on to become the incomparable little power house of an icon that she was and in this book she gives her recipe for rejuvenation,  happiness and health.   With skin as radiant as her was in her 80’s, if she’s selling I’m buying!

 

Who doesn’t want to wants to be Yonce?! :D

Day 45!

I don’t generally manipulate the lottery–ok well there was butt on a tubb.  I didn’t review the book but I’ve shown you the image enough haven’t I? LOL! Good times.   Anyway.  In the 45 day history of  A Dewey A Day I’ve never completely abandoned the lottery and just  chosen a book to review based on my own selfish, biblio lust. I’m doing that today.

I’ve always appreciated the art of impressionism–not Renoir and his homies, more like Tina Fey and her homies.  What makes some folks so good at mimicking others (my younger sister, older sister and my oldest son are effortlessly good), and some people so bad (I can’t even do an impression of myself)?

But after I saw this clip, with Maya Rudolph doing a subtle but spot-on impression of the incomparable, the ultimate, the ex-quotient, the new math, the head honcho, bottom line–Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, I had to find to find a book on the subject.  What does it take to be a good copy cat?

This is what I turned up…eventually (lots of Drag Queen 101 type books kept coming up):

Lean in close to see this book because its kinda………NON EXISTENT!

I fancy myself a good researcher.   I used my synonyms, I searched in several different forums, I did my pearl growing, crumb following and all that other Library school stuff and I came up with nada.

I did find this great blog entry on the subject but no books.  This speaks volumes.  It says that it’s an art that really can’t be taught–at least not in a self help book.  Guess there’s no Cher impression in my future.

That said, I’ll leave this nugget just on G.P.

Can't say I didn't give you a title a day!

1.2.3.4. Little more.

Day’s 41-44

1.

photo from writerswrite.com

2.

photo from amazon.com

3.

photo from tower.com

4.

photo from reader2.com

This book’s for you! Savvy?

Day 40!!!!!!!!!!!

Bibliographic Information:

Why do pirates love parrots?
Feldman, David

Collins, 2006

Because perching a tiger on ones shoulder is less practical??

Summary (Library Website):

Ponder, if you will . . . Is yawning contagious? Do starfish have faces? Why do they put crinkly paper into pairs of men’s socks? Why is it that cans of Diet Coke float, but cans of regular Coke don’t? Pop culture guru David Feldman demystifies these questions and much more in Why Do Pirates Love Parrots? One of the Imponderables®-the unchallenged source of answers to civilization’s most perplexing conundrums-and charmingly illustrated by Kassie Schwan, this book provides you with knowledge about everyday life that encyclopedias, dictionaries, and almanacs just don’t cover.

My Reaction:

It has a chapter called “Why are most psychics women?”  That’s an easy one.  Because men can’t pull off this look.

Call me now!!!

Fool me once, shame on who?

Day 39!!!

A few books back I reviewed a book called “Fooled by Randomness”, a very low profile, under the radar book.  Why did some random dude randomly approach the service desk where I was working yesterday with said random book under his arm?? Random aint so random anymore huh? I think that was essentially the premise of the book.

Moving along to the book du jour!

Ok. Officially creeped out.  After  I typed the first paragraph, I went to the unique identifier generator to do the lottery for today’s book.  I LIE TO YOU NOT…it was the Fooled by Randomness book again. A WTH moment if ever there was one.

Choosing another book.

Bibliographic Information:

Gender, emotion, and the family
Brody, Leslie

Harvard University Press, 1999

I didn't even skim this one but it really does look provocative---the book does, she looks anything but provocative.

 

Summary:

This academic treatise deals with the relationship of family, gender, and emotion. Brody (Ph.D., Boston Univ.) has been involved for many years in the study of gender differences. Drawing on a wealth of research, she illuminates the ways in which men and women, boys and girls, develop and express emotions in the context of the family. Research across cultures and age groups is included but, interestingly, there is no mention of matriarchal societies. This in-depth research addresses many issues, from power in relationships to the physiological expression of emotion; evidence of contradictory findings is detailed. This is a valuable addition to the ever-changing frontiers of behavior research.

My Reaction:

Still trippin’ off the un-random randomness. Spooky.

 

With a bleep, bleep here and a bleep, bleep there!

Day 38!!!

Ok. I censored the post before and chose another title when the book lottery served a little lasciviousness.  I thought about doing that with today’s title but, dangit the lottery has spoken and I will sanitize no more.  Yes, I’m a tad puritanical by today’s standards (as proof of this, I actually said ‘Oh my’ when today’s book title popped up.  If I had pearls I might’ve clutched them).   Without further ado…

Lullaby...and goodnight...

Bibliographic info:

Go the fuck to sleep 

Mansbach, Adam

Akashic Books, 2011

Summary (Library Website):

Go the Fuck to Sleep is a bedtime book for parents who live in the real world, where a few snoozing kitties and cutesy rhymes don’t always send a toddler sailing blissfully off to dreamland. Profane, affectionate, and radically honest, California Book Award-winning author Adam Mansbach’s verses perfectly capture the familiar – and unspoken – tribulations of putting your little angel down for the night. In the process, they open up a conversation about parenting, granting us permission to admit our frustrations, and laugh at their absurdity.

My Reaction:

Me being an insider to the biblio world (I’m a librarian. No autographs please.), I remember hearing about this book well before the mainstream media got a hold of it.  Like most people my 1st reaction was  “Thats horrible! how can you send your kids to bed with those being the last words they hear before they drift into la la land?!” But I must admit I’ve warmed to the idea a little.  If we slip an expletive or two into our exchanges with our kids in their waking hours, why not throw some in for good measure just before bed? Kidding. Kind of.

But seriously, I doubt anyone is reading this book to their kids.  I think the author bills it as a kids book for adults, kind of like that one Carrie Bradshaw pitched to an editor called “Little Cathy and Her Magic Cigarettes”.  Remember that episode? Good times.  Anyway the book is well written, beautifully illustrated and f@#*&’ hilarious.

 

Somebody’s gotta do it. Why not you?

Day 37!!

Bibliographic Info:

The boss of you : everything a woman needs to know to start, run, and maintain her own business
Bacon, Lauren

Seal Press, 2008

Photo from BarnesandNoble.com

Summary(Publisher’s Weekly Review) :

Female entrepreneurs start businesses at twice the rate of their male counterparts , and in this book they will find a practical compendium of everything there is to know about launching and sustaining a small business. Mears and Bacon emphasize building an individualized business plan and developing a firm foundation by establishing clear goals, frankly evaluating your skills and refining answers to the “Big Questions”: what are you really selling? Who is your target audience? How should you best package your business’s public image?

My Reaction:

This book was written by 2 real women.   As opposed to…I don’t know manufactured women?  I’m sure you’ve seen those (great quote from the book)  “frilly pastel books for ‘girl’ entrepreneurs”  that just don’t t seem to naturally have that X-chromosome-y type of voice.   Well their voice is girlfriendy but authoritative.  And they’ve got a blog too! Which I’ll promptly be recommending to my lil’ sister who is starting her own business. This one looks like a truly good find. Check it out!