Pulling from the well known stories of Winnie-the-Pooh, Hoff gives a general overview of the principles of Taoism that is at once simple to understand, easy to use and profoundly impacting.
Category: Reading
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“Consequential Strangers” by Melinda Blau and Karen L Fingerman, PhD
This book provides interesting insight into the value of interacting casually with people we never intend to get to know. People like the grocery clerk, the bus driver or mailman, each provide us with a sense of emotional stability, physical health and random information that is often valuable and difficult for us to obtain.
Interesting tidbit: future employment is more likely to come from someone who knows someone you know than from someone you know.
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“Polar Bears: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior” by Andrew E Derocher and Wayne Lynch
This book was an interesting exploration into the lives of everyone’s favorite white bears. It was fairly comprehensive and included some interesting facts about species connected to the polar bear as well (i.e. seals, birds and other bears).
Interest tidbit: Polar bear fur heat retention, when dry, is about 90% of that of the grizzly bear. Polar bear rely more on their fat storage than their fur coats for warmth.
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“Evil Genes” by Barbara Oakley
An interesting examination as to how genetics can effect our mental disposition. Honestly, I did not like the book too much as the author tried to weave threads of personal drama into the text, after which I would look up and wonder why she had wasted my time with the personal interlude.
Interesting tidbit: Something happens in the brains of young people between 20 and 25 that significantly decreases the chances of them remaining religiously vigilant (beyond going to church because their parents tell them to).
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“Why We Lie” by David Livingstone Smith
Apparently, telling lies is a deeply rooted evolutionary trait instilled in our DNA for a very long time. The book covers a variety of ideas on why we are so good at telling lies, including a long section about self-deception and some ideas on why we are so good at hiding information from ourselves.
Interesting tidbit: The average person tells three lies every ten minutes, many of the lies the individual would not consciously recognize that they were telling a lie at the time.