Your Favorite Book

Alright, today I would like to stimulate some discussion.  I’ve been trying to think of an interesting book to discuss, and decided to write on several of my favorite tragedies.  The kind of stories that leave your chest aching because it was so close to being something great – or it is a great book, but in a way that leaves you yearning.

One of the first books that came to mind was “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Hester Prinn’s story is one of the deepest tragedies I’ve ever read.  In many ways I think her story lives on because her story envelops other’s stories.  She was young and carless, and made a choice in her life that she couldn’t go back and “fix.”  “The Scarlet Letter” is a story of devotion and endurance, where principles seem turned upside down, and where a young girl grows into a woman despite extreme social opposition.

Another favorite is “Ivanhoe” by Sir Walter Scott.  Although I will always adore the beautiful tale created here, there will always be that sense of loss.  The book ends the way it should, Ivanhoe marries the girl he has loved all his life, but there is always a sense of a love triangle – part of his heart that will always remember a young virtuous Jewish girl. 

Enough from me, what are some of your favorite books, and why?

Braving the Great Philosophers

Intimidating is the word.  You’ve never actually met the man, but just hearing his name makes you wince.  The worst part of it is, he’s been dead for years.

This man could be Milton, Socrates, Plato, Shakespeare, or even Charles Dickens.  Maybe the last time you read Dickens was the night before your ten page paper was due on his book, “A Tale of Two Cities” – back in high school.  Or perhaps you’ve attempted the feat of reading Shakespeare or Milton, but just haven’t been able to get into it enough to keep going.  – Maybe you love to read the Iliad, but just haven’t had time lately!

Now is the time to get involved in these all-time classics.  If it’s hard to find time in the day to sit down and read, now you don’t have to.  Audiobooks on the fly.  Philosophize with Plato while you make dinner, or listen to Paradise Lost while you drive to and from work every day.  Surf the net to “The Tempest.” 

No excuses, now is the time to take that step and listen to that book you’ve been meaning to, but just haven’t gotten around to reading yet.

More than History

The time machine beeps and shakes, you nearly fall over as the floor vibrates.  There’s a musky smell leaking into the enclosed space, and then – nothing.  No movement or sound.  A door opens soundlessly and you find yourself staring at . . .

Maybe it’s dinosaurs you see, pterodactyls swooping through the sky.  Or it could be a certain person you’re looking for – maybe you are standing on the very road that Queen Elizabeth’s carriage will be riding down any minute.  Maybe you’ve gone back to Rome, you want to hear Mark Antony’s speech with your very own ears (which would be more inspirational if you spoke Latin yourself). 

Maybe you step into a crowd and walk into the great, original Globe Theater.  One of Shakespeare’s famous plays is about to be performed, and you’re here for it!

Alright, well, I can’t offer you a time machine.  But I can offer you the next best thing.  You can learn about these famous people, learn about their lives, their hopes, and their aspirations.  Sometimes the best roadmaps for our own lives come from looking at others successful lives. 

Meet Socrates the famous philosopher of Greece, or spend some time with Benjamin Franklin.  There are hundreds of inspirational people out there – and now is your chance to meet them!

These Modern Times

We’ve all seen it and we all know it’s coming.  Debt is rising, jobs are evaporating, our footing is feeling pretty unstable.  Now is the time to get involved in preparing.  Things are going to change – so why not help them change for the better?

No matter where you stand right now, it won’t hurt to get more involved.  Get educated about the issues – it’s hard to overcome what you don’t understand.  “The Great Debt Crisis Ahead: How to Prepare and Prosper” by Harry S. Dent, Jr. is one great option to help you better understand how to survive this financial crisis, “Entreleadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches” by Dave Ramsey, or "Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich - and Why Most Don't" by Donald J. Trump and Robert T. Kiyosaki.  Learn from stories about people who know what they’re doing and can give good advice, because they’ve been through the same struggles. 

Learn more, and stop feeling intimidated by something you don’t know how to handle.  Now you can take your life into your own hands!

Ghost Stories

You’re sitting around the camp fire, it’s late.  The fire crackles in front of you, casting shadows into the dark woods.  Now it’s time for the ghost stories.  Everyone crowds in close, wrapped up in blankets, a few brave souls darting over to the car to grab marshmallows or gram crackers when they run out.

Now the ghost stories begin.  Within minutes you can hear a twig breaking behind you, something is moaning, you can feel eyes on you.  You have to stay up and tell more ghost stories because you’re all too scared to go to bed!

Can there be anything better?

Now you can listen to these stories read to you.  Ready to be scared silly?  Listen to a great selection of ghost stories.  Or experience hair raising terror as you experience the horror of stories like “The Invisible Man” by H. G. Wells, or “Halfway to the Grave,” the first of Jeaniene Frost’s thriller series. 

Relish in the terror!

Educate the Cupcake

On a plate before you sits a large, moist, chocolate cupcake with thick dark brown frosting and sprinkles.  Just smelling it nearly hypnotizes you.  On the other side of the plate is a carrot and a celery stick. Which are you going to pick up and devour?  - the cupcake, right?

In my mind I keep thinking there has to be a better way to go about this – but carrots just don’t seem to measure up to chocolate.  (I suppose it would help if the cupcake was small, dry, and burnt). 

However – do not despair.  Healthy eating can be fun and delicious.  Just ask Mark Hyman MD, author of “Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss,” or listen to “The End of Overeating”  by David A. Kessler MD.  Visit the Ambling Books website and find out what you can do to have a healthier body and maintian happy tastebuds. 

Instead of a cupcake, you don’t have to eat a dry rice cake – unless you like those.  Find a fun balance between deserts, and sporting a body you can be proud of!

Halloween Prep

He’d always been a little bit weird – but when he woke up with a new body, that was weird.  Frankenstein, the traditional monster of Halloween.  Learn his real story, the one where he isn’t trying to be a monster, but ends up as one. 

Or, another Halloween monster – hear the story of the vampire who started it all, Dracula.

Search through the hundreds of Mysteries and Thrillers available with the Ambling book audiobook player.  Have you ever wondered about Mister Hyde – or Doctor Jekyll?  Now’s your chance to learn more.

Break out the Halloween stories just in time – Happy October!