Reviews

If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? by Alan Alda

Posted on by Kevin Holtsberry / 0 Comment

Communication is a big part of my career.  Unlike Alan Alda, my focus has been in the world of public policy and politics, but I am nevertheless interested in communication; how it works, what works better, what we might be missing, etc. And like so many, I have a soft spot for Alda given his iconic role in M.A.S.H.

So when offered an ARC of If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating, I jumped at it.  And I am glad I did.

It is an interesting exploration of the importance of connection and empathy in communication. How do you describe the style or genre?  It is pop science mixed with memoir; based on Alda’s unique experience as an actor (particularly improvisation), science documentarian, and proponent of better communication surrounding science.

The nugget of truth the book is built on: the theory of the mind, the ability to understand what another person is thinking and feeling, and empathy, connecting with others on an emotional level, leads to increased communication.  In the book Alda unpacks how he grew to explore and understand this insight via improvisation and research.

Alda interviewed hundreds of experts for the PBS television show Scientific American Frontiers which led him to create the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University in 2009.  The Center “empowers scientists and health professionals to communicate complex topics in clear, vivid, and engaging ways; leading to improved understanding by the public, media, patients, elected officials, and others outside of their own discipline.”

Alda basically takes readers with him as him explores these ideas, poses questions to experts, dives into research, and even uses himself as a guinea pig to test out his theories.

It all comes down to the fact that effective communication happens when people connect; using not just rationality and logic but emotion and storytelling.  We must understand what the other is thinking and feeling and meet them where they are in order to truly communicate. Otherwise we are talking at people or past them.

He fascinatingly relates how improvisational acting games and exercises can help doctors and scientists better relate to their patients and explain their work to the public..  He explores how training yourself to identify and name people’s emotions can make you more empathetic and thus a better communicator.  And he outlines how emotional stories grab people’s attention and help them remember.

Because of Alda’s light touch and personal approach, the book, despite the science involved, is a quick and easy read.  But the nuggets and insights should not be underestimated.  Anyone interested in connecting with others and communicating more effectively will enjoy and benefit from reading this book.

And who among us couldn’t use to improve in this crucial area of life?

 

Reviews

A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy by Alexandra Bracken

Posted on by Kevin Holtsberry / 0 Comment

We are big Star Wars fans in our family.  I enjoyed the films in my youth (they premiered on my seventh birthday) and my kids are, if anything, even bigger fans.  So when the classic trilogy were reimagined as young adult novels I was sorely tempted to read them. I even checked them out of the library a few times but never quite got around to read them.

But looking for something to listen to on a family car trip I picked up A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy by Alexandra Bracken from Overdrive as an audiobook.  We ended up listening to it in the car on that trip and finished it driving around on various other trips. My 9yo son in particular loved it and asked to listen to it whenever he could.

I thought it was well done, if with the obvious draw back of already knowing what happens. The audiobook does a nice job of giving the characters a voice and offering an interesting take on their backgrounds, personalities and what they might have been thinking as this famous story unfolds. Sound effects add to the fun.

Solid entertainment for longer car trips for the young Star Wars fans.

Reviews

The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight

Posted on by Kevin Holtsberry / 0 Comment

Not really sure why I decided to read The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight given my aversion to vulgarity, etc. I take that back, I recall spotting How to Get Sh*t Done at the bookstore and wondering about this approach.  I guess I was interested in seeing how the author pulled off these books within the confines of the obvious Sh*t and F bomb hooks.

I had signed up for a book giveaway for the latest book (S) and decided to check out the first book (F) via the library to get a sense of the author’s approach.

It was OK. Buried under that four letter word, and a humor based on supposedly brutal honesty, is some decent advice on how not to get sucked into pouring your time, money and energy into things that annoy and frustrate you just because you feel guilty.

The concept of balancing honesty and politeness in order to focus on things that matter to you is sound but not sure how much depth is here after you get over the style and language. This is essay/blog posts into book territory IMO. For those who need a system to follow, however, she does walk you through the process of changing you mindset and life choices. On the other hand, it is not much more than making a list of things that matter to you and those that annoy you and make tangible choices to more of the first and less of the second. Oh, and try not to be a jerk about it.

If you have trouble saying no and enjoy liberal use of the F bomb this may be just the book for you. If not, probably not life changing advice.

Reviews

Book Review: Decision Points by George W Bush

Posted on by Kevin Holtsberry / 0 Comment

No matter your opinion of George W Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, a lot of momentous events happened during his eight years in office; from the controversy of his election to 9/11 from Iraq and Afghanistan to Katrina and TARP. Getting his perspective on them is worthwhile and that is exactly what Decision Points offers, his take on the most important decisions of his term.  There is a brief biographical introduction but the focus is on critical decisions not a chronological or traditional autobiography.

What struck me most while listening, however, was how unique Bush’s experience was. The son of a president wrestling with what it means to be a successful president; dealing with the consequences of his father’s actions in Iraq; an awareness of the traps of perception and politics, and the circumstances of history, that prevented your dad from being re-elected even as you seek re-election; never getting the chance to have a clear winner declared on election night yet assuming the presidency; on and on it goes.

Whether you think him and idiot or mis-underestimated, evil or just squishy, well-intentioned or badly served or all of the above at different times, what a unique historical figure.

If you are a policy wonk or have a philosophical bent you might be frustrated by the lack of detail and the often simplified arguments provided. For the vast majority of the book the tone and style is relentlessly pragmatic. Bush faced decisions and he made them based on his principles, instincts and the advice of experts and staff. He lays out his thought process and rational but rarely seems willing to wrestle with deeper issues or more philosophical conundrums (the role of government, the efficacy of foreign intervention, the problems of a security state, etc.).

The central role of faith and family in his life, his confidence in his ability to make decisions and in his team, and his dry sense of humor all shine through however. An interesting historical perspective without much deep insight or literary flare.

Reviews

The Jersey Brothers by Sally Mott Freeman

Posted on by Jeff Grim / 0 Comment

Sally Mott Freeman’s The Jersey Brothers: A Missing Naval Officer in the Pacific and His Family’s Quest to Bring Him Home is a gripping tale of the bond between three brothers and how two of them do everything they possibly can to rescue the other one.

It surprised me to learn that The Jersey Brothers was Freeman’s first book. It is surprising because it is so well written and researched. Although she has a background in writing (speech writing and public relations), it is still an excellent first work.

Freeman writes in a hybrid style of history. It is well-cited, but reads like a popular history.

Despite the complex stories of the three brothers, she expertly intertwines them into an engaging, seamless story. Each of the brother’s have different experiences and yet Freeman connects them all in the search for Barton.

Fortunate for her and the reader, Freeman is the daughter of Bill. As a result, she has a wealth of primary sources (her grandmother’s letters, letters between Bill, and Benny, and other documents) to draw from for the story. The letters from her grandmother (Bill, Benny, and Barton’s mother) capture the anguish and anger of a mother trying to find out the fate of her beloved son.

The book is not only an excellent story, but also a fine tribute to the bond of brothers at war.

 

Reviews

Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack by Steve Twomey

Posted on by Jeff Grim / 0 Comment

In Countdown to Pearl Harbor Steve Twomey revisits the reasons why the Americans were so caught off-guard by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Still to this day it astounds me at the incompetence and arrogance of America’s leaders as Japan prepared for war against the United States. Twomey does a masterful job of bringing this incompetence and arrogance into blindingly bright light. He uses countless examples of the lackadaisical attitude of officers at Pearl Harbor that led to the destruction of a good portion of the Pacific Fleet.

Although some officers at the time argued that this attack could not have been predicted, Twomey mentions the Pearl Harbor attack was not unprecedented for the Japanese.  The Japanese navy surprised the Russian navy to start the Russo-Japanese War – completely destroying the Russian fleet.

Hindsight is always twenty/twenty and it is easy to criticize past decisions with most of the facts in hand, but it is hard not to judge American leadership – both navy and army – in not taking simple steps to avoid the destruction of American forces in Hawaii. Just one example that Twomey mentions is the simple precaution of putting up torpedo nets – this would have saved many lives. Although the nets were a pain to put up and take down, they would have been worth the effort due to the nature of Pearl Harbor (ships were bottled up and easy targets for bombs and torpedoes).

In contrast to the efforts at Pearl Harbor, Twomey highlights the efforts of some to increase the warnings to not just the Philippines, Wake Island, and Guam, but also Pearl Harbor – these men did not know that Pearl Harbor was a target, but they thought it was prudent that all U.S. forces be put on alert. Unfortunately, those warnings were either not sent or went unheard.

Lastly, Twomey does give credit to the Japanese for executing the perfect surprise attack. For instance, not only did they solve the shallow water problem for torpedoes, but they also successfully crossed thousands of miles of ocean without being detected.

An excellent analysis of everything that the Americans did not do to be prepared for an attack and all that the Japanese did right in order to pull off the surprise.