A recent posting in my Facebook news-feed inspired me to research the plight of the wolf. This species is certainly the most misunderstood mammal in North America. The Callahan family crest includes a wolf tracking thru a forest. I feel a special connection with this animal.

I encourage everyone to take a closer look at The Wolf.  Now, let’s take a quick look at The Wisdom of Wolves: Nature’s Way to Organizational Success by Twyman L. Towery.

My Review:

This book can fit on either the self help shelf or the nature shelf of your library. Towery takes a unique look at the animal. It is the best and simplistic explanation of Wolf culture that I have found. Lowery explores the wolf pack examining:

• Loyalty
• Patience
• Personality
• Unity
• Teamwork
• Play
• Failure

It is a fun read. Thought provoking and entertaining, you will read it in one sitting! I promise that you will have a different opinion of the wolf when you are through.

I give this book a 4 out of 5!

Details:

Title: The Wisdom of Wolves: Nature’s Way to Organizational Success
Author: Twyman L. Towery
Publisher: Wessex House Publishing
Version: Hardcover
Pages: 159

Safe Reading, My Friends!
Bill C

Before committing to the beauty of Montana in 2006, I lived in the foothills of The Adirondack Mountains in northern New York. In the fall of 2005, I went to a book fair in Glens Falls.

I met and talked with an up and coming author named Bill McKibben. He had just published a neat little book entitled “Wandering Home”.  His love of the outdoors and his passion for writing really caught my attention!  I bought the book, read it that night…and now I want to encourage you to do the same.

In 2007 McKibben wrote a fabulous “think piece” called Deep Economy. If you are interested in the future of America’s economy, you’ll like Bill’s approach, but let’s take a quick peek at Wandering Home.

My Review:

McKibben looks at life a little differently than the “Average Joe”. He is an avid hiker, ecologist and green economist. When you are finished with a McKibben book; you view the world a little differently.

In Wandering Home, Bill takes a long hike from central Vermont to his home in The Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. Along the way he meets some very interesting people dealing with the environment and the ever changing economy.

Wandering Home underlines to me that you can’t learn about, or understand an issue without meeting and talking with people…AND…you can’t meet and talk to people in a car on the interstate, or from the window of a jet plane. Walking thru the natural, rugged beauty of the northeast adds greatly to the texture of this book. You’ll love it!

I give this book a 4 out of 5!

Details:

Title: Wandering Home
Author: Bill McKibben
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2005
Version: Hardcover
Pages: 160

Safe Reading, My Friends!
Bill C

This week, Bill shares his “Rules for Reading a Book”.

Rule #1:
Always check the copyright date before reading a book. Subtract one year from that date and you are close to the year that the author finished writing the book. Why is this important? Example: A book on terrorism written in 2000 will be completely different than one written in 2002 after 9/11. The publication date will give you a good perspective! By the way: this is as important for fiction as it is for non-fiction.

Rule #2:
Alternate! If you love fiction, make sure that one out of three books that you read is non-fiction and vice-versa. You will enjoy your reading even more. Its like “cleaning your palate” in between sipping two different wines.

Rule #3:
Keep a book diary. It’s cool to look at the diary at the end of the year and see how many books you have read. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Buy one of those little Moleskin notebooks at the bookstore. Write down the following:

• Month you read the book
• Title
• Author
• Copyright year
• Short comment: Example “ I loved it, I bought copies for each of my son’s for Christmas”

Rule #4:
If there is a book that you have interest in, but don’t feel that you would have time to read it? Then get the book on CD and listen to it in the car, or as you go to sleep at night. The secret to recorded book listening is to find a book narrated by the author. When it is their “stuff” that they are reading, it sounds wonderful!

Rule #5:
Always! And I mean Always! Bring a book or books with you when you travel. No matter what happens….snowstorm, sprained ankle, canceled flight; you can turn any situation into quality time with a good book!

Safe reading my friends!
Bill

One of America’s true modern day renaissance men is John Travolta. Yes, I said John Travolta! He’s an Actor, Dancer, and pilot. Did you know that he is an author, too? In 1992 he wrote a small book, he refers to it as a fable, called “Propeller One-Way Night Coach- A Fable for All Ages.”As a young man, Travolta loved aviation and airlines in particular. He would visit airports often and collect schedules and got to know everything about the airlines and commercial airplanes of his youth. He has carried this passion to the pilot seat of modern jet aircraft. When I was a kid, I also became enthralled with commercial aviation. One of my prize possessions as an adult is an autographed picture of John Travolta in a Captains uniform.

My Review:

John wrote “Propeller One-Way Night Coach- A Fable for All Ages” in 1992 while stuck with his family at The Bangor (Maine) International Airport Hilton Hotel. The story is of a young man flying from New Jersey to Hollywood with his mom. The Fable is a mixture of fact and fiction. There is a lot of John and his mom in this story. You will love it! It will make you smile.

F.Y.I.: Although out-of print, you should have no problem getting it thru Amazon or E-Bay…Travolta also did a cassette, book on tape, version. If you can find it, you will love his read of the book.

I give this book a 5 out of 5!

Details:

Title: Propeller One-Way Night Coach – A Fable for All Ages
Author: John Travolta
Publisher: Warner Books
Year: 1997
Version: Hardcover
Pages: 42

Safe Reading, My Friends!
Bill

America’s greatest travel fiction writer is James Michener- NO Question! He had a knack of writing a novel that taught you the history and culture of a people better than any non-fiction work. Michener was and is held in high regard in the Callahan family. It fact it was Michener that got my family started in adventure travel. In 1959 James Michener’s epic work Hawaii was released in hard cover. My mother got a copy of the paperback version in 1964. My Mom and Dad loved the book. They decided that they were going to Hawaii and were going to take the kids, too! They began saving. 42 years ago, In April 1967 we left our Connecticut home for the trip of a life time. I can recall every detail of Hawaii in 1967. After that we traveled every year. We still do! My parents are all set to go to Panama next year (they are 82 years of age). My sister and brother in law took their family on a two week cultural tour of Italy last year. And me…well…I work for Austin Lehman Adventures. Thank you James Michener!

My Review:

Hawaii takes you from the original migration of the Polynesian people to the islands, then to the ‘invasion” of New England missionaries in the 1800’s and finally to World War II and modern Hawaii. It explains to importance of Japanese, Pilipino, and Chinese immigration to our 50th state. Michener is able to tell you this story thru the use of strong characters and multiple twisting plotlines. You will enjoy this book. After you have read it and thought about it, you will really understand that Hawaii’s and America’s greatness is hinged on many different cultures blending together and pooling their strengths. You’ll love it…I promise!

I give this book a 4.5 out of 5!

Details:

Title: Hawaii.
Author: James A. Michener.
Publisher: Random House Trade.
Year: Original-1959, Trade Version- 2002
Version: Trade Paperback.
Pages: 960.

Safe Reading, My Friends!
Bill