It's a Matter of Life and Death (Book) - 8/30/2019 8:55:21 AM
This author was able to deliver a delicate topic in an easy-to-read and very approachable manner to readers. The book's focus on life and the admonition to live the life a person has been given to its fullest was a surprise to this reader because I had been expecting a perceived grime recalling of living in a funeral home.
The confidential information was given the respect it deserved and written in a way that the author was able to relate numerous events that this reader appreciated. Telling confidential information in such a way as to let that information remain such can be quite difficult but this author did it beautifully.
The title of the book has a person assuming it is going to be about death, living in a funeral home, and the uncomfortable subject of wills, funerals, and money - but this book has so much more.
The combination of topics presented in a concise manner makes this book an easy reference for any home library and one that should be put at the top of your list to purchase if a professional who helps people with wills, healthcare decisions, or someone who is unsure when to approach such topics with their clientele.
There is much to be gleaned from this publication other than the end-of-life matters making this book a must read for all ages. It would make for a wonderful gift for anyone in your life.
This reader was given a copy of this book by the author.
Excerpt From Your Unfinished Life: A Parisian Story (Short Story) - 2/1/2009 7:16:17 AM
This was a wonderful story, but I felt you could have developed it a bit more to increase the interest that you created in this lady. Basically more physical description as well as reasoning for her actions.
Overall a good job and I enjoyed reading it.
Some of What I'm Grateful For (Article) - 2/8/2019 9:37:07 AM
You're very right, many people focus on what is wrong instead of what has been right in their lives. And my first thoughts were from that famous book, The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale.
Like you, I have a lot to be grateful for in parallel. I'm grateful for an enlightening inner-city grade school, a wonderful Junior and Senior high school experience, and a college experience that was personally enriching. Grateful for all the early opportunity to advance that I had both in industry and in university teaching and research. I am grateful that I took a typing course in the 10th grade and learned how to write letters and other documents well that early. Carried me through when I was forced to type with only one finger at the age of 20. I regret that I only studied French briefly to meet the requirements for a doctoral language proficiency and didn't continue to enhance it… Or learn Spanish. But as I look from my position of a stable, healthy retirement, I am grateful that I traveled widely and experienced so much in my life to enrich my writing. Most of all, I am grateful for the caring selflessness of my partner and caregivers who I need to function as near normally as possible every day.
Thank you for the inspiration to write about what I am grateful for.
Ron
Achieving Your Full Potential (Article) - 2/14/2018 6:06:03 AM
Some interesting anecdotes and prescriptions for success.
Ron
Habits Lead To Productivity and Success (Article) - 2/9/2018 7:22:46 AM
Thank you for providing me with something new. I have not heard of Duhigg's book but the way you describe how habits affect our ability to succeed makes a lot of sense. I also see habits as a way of perfecting a skill like practice and rehearsing. When people look at the success of others, they often don't realize that that success came after many years of iterations, often many failures, before a major breakthrough from a slight change in direction made all the difference.
Ron
Visiting Paris (Article) - 7/1/2017 8:20:03 AM
A very well written and informative description of everything you need to know when traveling to Paris with so many places to see that I understand that it may take at least a month to see everything in the city.
When I traveled, my stay in Paris for four days was eliminated by trouble with the plane, so instead of four days in London, followed by four days in Paris, was interrupted by a 20 minute stop in Heathrow where we couldn't download our luggage, an aborted landing (we were about 100 feet off the ground when we aborted) in Paris and a late-night arrival in Frankfurt where we got our luggage for a four-day stay in the dark cold of winter.
I always traveled on a shoestring, only drank coffee, hot tea or soft drinks out of a can or bottle, ate the local food and learned as I went, avoiding high-priced entreaties and scams. I found that staying in the homes of locals beat staying in a hotel by miles.
The first thing that Americans seem to want to do is travel to Europe. I guess it's because of their heritage. I prefer exotic and Third World countries for their cultural richness and cheap thrills. Occasionally, natural and ancient wonders to behold. But I can see the lure of Paris by the list of things to see that you provided. We have a great affinity with the French, even though most of us do not speak or understand the language.
Ron
Portraits of Courage: A Commander In Chief's Tribute To America's Warriors (Article) - 6/1/2017 7:27:46 AM
I believe that former President George W. Bush is feeling great remorse for his action in sending so many young people off to war when war was really not necessary. Painting is one of the therapies that is recommended for troubled people, and his taking it up and taking on the plight of disabled veterans is self catharsis.
I have been often mistaken as a disabled veteran or a "victim" of polio. I was paralyzed by loss of blood pressure during surgery on my spine to correct a minor problem. I have never had any trouble talking to disabled veterans. In fact, recently, some who have no visible disability have come to me about why they have PTSD.
That war was unnecessary and spawned an upsurge in Al Qaeda, weakening Iraq so that it greatly helped growing ISIS. Similar intervention in Afghanistan has prolonged war there and emboldened the Taliban.
Education and negotiation are the only right thing to do. Carter negotiated the release of hostages from Iran rather than go in fighting. Reagan took credit. No lives were lost. No one was injured. Future presidents should take a lesson from what these commanders in chief did.
Communication (an open Internet), education and nonviolence (demonstrations) can change whole regimes overnight. It can be a slow and painful process, but in no way compares to what has happened these young people that George Bush has singled out for stardom.
An immense number of veterans going back to World War II who need help are not getting it or getting it too late. Meanwhile, the defense budget is projected to increase 10%.
Ron
Free Happiness, Well-Being and Success Website (Article) - 7/16/2016 6:42:58 AM
A lot of people would find this course useful.
As a former associate professor of business administration, I would suggest that you properly space your commas in the title. ;-)
Ron
Nine Steps To Success... And More (Article) - 7/19/2014 8:11:22 AM
A superbly well written, excellent guide to happiness and success! Thanks so much for sharing with us your writing and research ability.
Ron
PS. I am not famous, rich, or particularly well known, but I'm very happy and successful in my own way.
