Outliers: The Story of Success

I read voraciously and often without regard for quality (vague interest or a decent recommendation is often all I need to check out a book.) This has taken me down some rocky paths (like the Twilight series–I just don’t get it) and some illuminating ones. You could say I’m like Mikey–I’ll try anything! I use the Nancy Pearl formula–I read about 50-60 pages and if I am not interested or hooked, I drop the book. Some nights I’ll tear through 3 or 4 of my bedside bookstack before I find an interesting one.

Outliers surprised me–I read the entire text in one night!

The book takes a storytelling approach to the mystery of success, describing the life paths of everyone from Bill Gates to The Beatles to Robert Oppenheimer. Malcom Gladwell takes the thesis that hard work, background and opportunity are more important than talent. He also has an engaging style which makes the journey a real pleasure.

On another level, Outliers is enjoyable just for its nuggets of trivia–and what that trivia means. I found out in what month most pro Hockey players are born, and why (I had never thought about hockey before.) Gladwell argues that having immigrant garment worker parents is the key to becoming a successful lawyer in New York City. A pilot born in Australia or Ireland is less likely to cause an airline crash than a pilot born in Columbia (its because of the general disrespect for authority, but being married to an Irish fellow I am glad that a bad attitude has a positive side…!)

I found that this book really stayed with me, and I kept examining and turning over the ideas in my mind (like a rubik’s cube, trying to figure it all out.) The conclusions unfolded so surprisingly; I keep looking at my own expereince for clues for what is coming next.

Check out Outliers–truly worth a read.

Corduroy Mansions: read it for FREE!

When it comes to novels I am all character and no plot (some for movies too, come to think of it.) I like lots of development of a few characters and only a bit of action (think The Full Monty rather than Batman.) And of course, I love to laugh.

The #1 Ladies Detective Agency series fits the bill perfectly. Gentle, funny novels that rely on interesting characters and a turn of phrase to entertain.

The author of the series, Alexander McCall Smith, has serialized his latest novel through the Telegraph online; he publishes one chapter a day until the book is done. Readers can subscribe to the RSS feed, have the chapters emailed to them, read it online, or even LISTEN to it online. McCall Smith is also inviting comments from readers which he may incorporate into the final hard-published book.

I have read two chapters already; this book has the same gentle humor and drama that I have loved in his other books.

Begin reading HERE.

I <3 flowers

In December I helped a student with his bibliography on a final paper. He was a mature student returning to school after a long absence, and like most mature students CONFIDENCE was an issue. All of the internet tricks, the typing, the databases…everything was new to him and he was overwhelmed!

I had helped him in the library through the semester with small things, a bit of coaching here and there. But at the end of the semester he was completely frustrated and even emotional–I caught him at a desperate moment.

So one Wednesday I sat with him for maybe 45 minutes, going over the basics of MLA style and showing him some of the online resources/tricks that make the bibliography easier. We did the OWL pages, looked at the MLA book, and I showed him the citation tools in EBSCO. We did a sample ciation in his Works Cited page. All normal stuff I do with students every day.

But this was a huge gift to the student! Just having me coach him through the basics was a huge help to him. He was completely relieved and near tears with thanks!

The next day he brought me a pointsettia to thank me. I was (and still am) completely touched.  What a wonderful gesture!

Of course, this is not the only time I have been given flowers at work…I must be doing soemthing right!