Recommended reading

I have read/ listened to some books recently that I would highly recommend.

First up- The Survivors Club by Ben Sherwood.

I have to admit that the intro to this book was seriously making me nervous. It starts with him learning how to survive a helicopter crash into the ocean. Being strapped in somewhere underwater is literally one of my biggest nightmares. He has to unbuckle and figure out how to escape. It was intense. 

This book goes into all kinds of crazy or common scenarios that people have dealt with. Some people are survivors and others aren't. So they try to figure out what makes a survivor and how you can improve your own odds. One of the points of the book is to acknowledge that at some point something bad WILL happen to you and you will have to fight to survive be it physical, emotional, medical etc. I learned a lot from this book. Plus it is full of stories that you are simply shocked that they have actually happened to people. Like the lady who had a can of sulfuric acid thrown through the window of her car while driving down the highway  and was only saved because of the shoes she had worn that day. Maybe you would appreciate the story of the fighter pilot that had to eject from his plane moments before his plane hit the ocean while traveling faster than the speed of sound. It is full of astounding experiences. 

Second- Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard

This is the story of James A Garfield, once president of the United States. I have to admit that I honestly did not know ANYTHING about President Garfield. This was an incredibly enlightening and dramatic account of the time period. Surprisingly I learned a lot about Alexander Graham Bell.

If you get the audio recording the narrator is a lot of fun to listen to. 

Third- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

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This was an incredibly fascinating book. It delves into the science of habits. Why your brain develops them in the first place. How to change your behavior and encourage the behavior you are looking for in others. If nothing else you can find out some of the history of Fabreeze and what sodium laureth sulfate is used for. Plus this book made me respect Tony Dungee (current Indianapolis Colts coach) even more. Things you had no idea were remotely associated were pulled together for this book. Truly fantastic. 

As a random bonus let me present- Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

A kind friend mentioned this book to me on the grounds that it seemed to be something my kids would enjoy. They did. It is well written in verse. The illustrations are impressive. The concept and execution are quite charming and funny. This book makes me smile and I am willing to read it over and over. 

Happy reading!