Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

Blurb submitted by Roderick Clancy
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is nonfiction


Ever wonder about the secret force that helps us make split-second decisions? Why we don't always trust it and why the outcome can either help a high-risk situation or blow it out of proportion? Blink is a book written by Malcolm Gladwell to answer these mysteries. It is a series of short stories that show how subconscious judgments can either be affected by the past or by someone's experience. For instance, one story is about a tennis coach that can tell when a player is going to foul before they even serve the ball. Another story is about a shooting because of the poor judgment of a police officer in the Bronx. If you liked Outliers, then you are going to enjoy this book written by Gladwell as well.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Blurb submitted by Alexis Reeves
Yes Please is Nonfiction

Want a book that book highlights Amy Poehler's life and career, from Chicago's second city, the great times on SNL and the creation of Parks and Rec? Well, read Amy Poehler's memoir Yes Please! The story takes us through her childhood and into the fame she rose to. It also capitalizes some self-empowerment, while also being comedic, as Amy Poehler is known to do very well!

I enjoyed the book very much! It may not be your "typical read", however, I feel as though it grasps readers attention in a positive way. I believe it is due to the fact I enjoy Amy Poehler as a person, so reading a book based on her life and the encounters that came along wasn't hard for me.

 
This book is definitely aimed towards adults or mature readers. It involves some mature content, however, I don't think it is bad for anyone in high school or beyond. I feel like if you enjoy Amy Poehler and the shows she's acted in, you might enjoy this book because it gives a behind the scenes look into the person she is. So, go check it out!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi

Blurb submitted by Pavel Klochkov
Redshirts is fiction

Redshirts in a movie are minor characters who appear on the screen only to tragically die a few moments later. The audience loves fatal danger, deadly adventures, and breathtaking  tragedy. But it is a luxury for a TV show to kill the main characters, therefore, producers introduce into a plot Redshirts or cannon fodder to satisfy the dramatic appetite of the audience.

Ensign Andrew Dahl is glad to receive a new assignment: his favorite research work is waiting for him and not just anywhere, but in the laboratory of "Intrepid", the famous flagship of the Universal Union. However, soon the young xenobiologist understands that some people aboard the ship are bound by a secret that is not shared with the newcomers. Everything is suspicious: the amazing vitality of senior officers, the great mortality rate among lower ranks, and the obvious absurdity of the situation. After having accidentally discovered what "Intrepid" actually is, Dahl offers his shipmates an insanely risky path to salvation...

It's hard to write about this book without breaking into spoilers. The plot here is paramount, and its sharp turns shape the framework of the intrigue. To uncover them in advance will mean to spoil all the fun.

This is an unusual book filled with a curious mixture of humor (often black), seriousness and absurdity. Images of the characters and their world are quite standard, and this is not accidental. The main point is not to pay much attention to the scenery and settings at the beginning and not to be deceived about the entire book just by reading the first pages. The book is great and multidimensional. The epilogues (all three) are powerful, especially the third one, which can be called a great final point. Redshirts is a bright and strange novel which deservedly received a Hugo and Locus Award.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Blurb submitted by Arham Khan
Rich Dad Poor Dad is Nonfiction

Rich Dad Poor Dad might just be one of the best reads for any person with a minimal to high interest in finance or business in general! OR EVEN IF YOU LOVE MONEY! This book teaches the art of playing with money and also teaches you the way a poor man finances himself compared to an educated businessman. Life isn't always fair to everyone, but you can work hard and satisfy yourself with the thought that you worked hard to achieve what you have. The can-do attitude of his own biological father and the fearless entrepreneurship of his friend's father are what the book highly focused on  to teach the reader. This book is for YOU if you love to know the life of a poor man and a high-class rich man and the difference between the two mindsets and ways of success

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Blurb submitted by Chandler Raybon  
I Am Malala is Nonfiction

I Am Malala is about a girl's extraordinary journey from recovery to the halls of the United Nations. Supported by her family lead by her father, this novel portrays them throughout peaceful protests proving that the voice of one single person can influence and empower change throughout the world. I highly recommend this book if you like reading about true happenings of people. It is truly an awesome novel.

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Blurb submitted by Ryan L. Shoe Dog is nonfiction In 1962, the only thing Phil Knight had on his mind after returning home from Stanford...