I am continuing on my reading journey. I think I’m slightly ahead of my goal.

Book 2: 21 Day Weight Loss Kickstart by Neal Barnard

You might be familiar with Dr. Barnard if you watch PBS. He has a popular program that is frequently played during pledge drive time entitled, Kickstart Your Health. The program essentially sums up everything that is in the 21 Day Weight Loss Kickstart book. Dr. Barard focuses on a plant based diet, and reduced fats and oils. He doesn’t suggest an elimination of oil, nuts, or avocados, but he does recommend a reduction in these items. Also, this plan allows for some convenient plant based food options such as Boca Burgers or other processed foods. The main message behind this diet is to get you to alter your food intake for just 21 days, and watch the progress. See how you feel, and see if you loss weight. Now, me personally I don’t need to lose weight, but I’m looking at this from a healthy life style prospective, and I’m fully behind anyone giving it a try for 21 days. If you don’t have time to read the book, you can find all the information that’s in the book, including meal plan, recipes, and shopping list on the PCRM website. They also have a handy iPhone app. with a daily menu and recipes.

Book 3: History of Pahala – Marge & Dennis Elwell
This is the third book in a series of books based on the history of Ka’u. The History of Pahala focuses on the sugar cane industry and related activities in and around Pahala.

Book 4: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

This was the first audio book for the year. I have had a hard back copy of this book for over a year, but just couldn’t find the time to sit down and read it. In some ways, I’m glad that I didn’t. Steve Jobs was indeed a unique and revolutionary individual. I am left feeling that this book was repetitive, and not very objective. I felt that Mr. Isaacson fawned quite a bit over Mr. Jobs. Here are my thoughts about Mr. Jobs: He was lucky. He had a great sense of design. He didn’t take no for an answer. He didn’t mind taking other people’s ideas for his own. He was very focused on his own goals, and wanted to motivate people to make great products even if it meant being a jerk to them. I like his minimalistic and integrated ideas of design both in architecture and industrial design.

I keep trying to figure out if I learned anything from the book that I could apply to myself. I think I did, but I have to digest it a bit further to put it into words.

So, I mentioned that I was back to reading. I have a goal to make it through a book a week. I will be logging the books that I read with a little review or synopsis.

Book #1: Portlandia: A Visitors Guide by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.

This book was a surprise, and showed up as a gift from John. I was a bit puzzled, as to why he purchased the book. Yes, I’ve watched the show, Portlandia, and enjoy it. However, I’m not one for novelty books. Before reading it, I hoped that it would be a tongue in cheek visitors guide to the actual town of Portland, OR. I love Portland, and sometimes miss my weekend trips there. However, this book was an extension of Portlandia the TV show. It’s a total novelty book that does mention some real businesses, like Jackpot Records and Voodoo Donuts, but really just rehashes the world of Portlandia the TV show.

There were a few humorous bits, and would be fun if you love Portland, but aren’t familiar with the show.

Part of my goal list this year is to read 52 books. That’s one a week. I am allowing audio books to count, but no more than 20.

I’m almost done with book #3, and no audio books in that count.

Daily walk 3 miles, swimming at Ho’okena, and a the film Alphaville to round out the day.

Day 8: of #projectlife365 is #front_door. This is outside my front door, as opposed to a front door.