Book Review: My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jill Taylor not only suffers a stroke, but is excited about it. Being a brain surgeon allowed her to have a unique perspective on this horrifying event. This tells about her way of working back to who she used to be with just a few changes.

This book seems to be aimed at older readers. However, I think some readers might enjoy it because it might help them understand some aspects of their family’s lives. Having a loved one experience a stroke is terrifying, but reading about someone who was able to survive and change their life might be inspirational.

This book inspired me to explore more into Alzheimer’s, which my grandparents suffered from. It was interesting to look at how different parts of the brain function and how it all works together. It was moving and I think many would enjoy reading this book.

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What I Want to Add:

I had read this book during my freshman year of college.  I had enjoyed it quite a bit.  The reason for a semi-low rating is that the book did not have a long lasting impression on me.  It was well written and interesting… I just do not remember it well.  To me, that is a bad sign for the book.

With that being said, I do want to say that I liked the book and that it was a unique perspective.  Perhaps I need to sit down and re-read this book and will have a more positive response.  However, I have far too many books that deserve a first read.

I would recommend this for young adults and older.  I vaguely remember some terminology that might be confusing for younger reader.

My rating: 3/5 stars

Sincerely,

Taylor

Have questions, requests, etc.?  Feel free to message me at taylorreadingblog23@yahoo.com 

Book Review: The FastDiet Cookbook: 150 Delicious, Calorie-Controlled Meals to Make Your Fasting Days Easy

The FastDiet Cookbook: 150 Delicious, Calorie-Controlled Meals to Make Your Fasting Days Easy

by Mimi Spencer, Sarah Schenker, Michael Mosley (Foreword)

 

 

Before I get into the review of this book, I just wanted to state that I won this book via a goodreads giveaway.  I want to thank whatever powers that be that allowed me to chosen to receive this book.  On a semi-more serious note, I want to state that my experience with cookbooks is highly limited.  (Seriously, I don’t think I have even looked through one to any great extent… Let alone review one…)  Anyway, I just wanted to apologize in case anyone finds this review in poor taste (ha – see what I did there?)

I also have no interest in fasting.  I know, sounds like I joined a meaningless giveaway on my part, right?  Wrong.  I have wanted to become healthier and saw this as an additional piece of motivation.

I have yet to actually try any of the recipes, but wanted to review the overall book within itself.  (So I apologize (again) is you were looking for some good dinner ideas via a review blog post…)

 

The images within this book are amazingly vivid.  Seriously – I was drooling over many of the salmon-filled images.  The bright and colorful pictures are reflected by the vivid descriptions of not only what goes into the meal but also why parts of the meal are considered healthy, etc.

 

The first few chapters of this book go through some of the basic ideas of the diet itself.  I was pleasantly surprised that the authors took into consideration the fact that not everyone is able to follow the same routines/diets/etc.  From what I have learned from diets (I’ve never been on one personally) is that the diets themselves are very strict.  This book’s opening chapters create a very warming and welcoming atmosphere and I found that I actually felt more relaxed about looking through the recipes – I definitely had a more open mind after reading how understanding the authors are.

 

I will admit that I did not read over each recipe in great detail.  (Go ahead, ask me about what recipe was on page 53 – I have no idea.)  BUT what I did notice was that each recipe had a section that sort of explained what was healthy about the meal, etc. and I tended to look at those more than the recipe themselves.  If (and when) I try some of these I will definitely be interested in the recipes’ “stories” (or “reasoning’s”) that go along with them.

 

Overall, I give the book 4/5 stars.  Good book overall!  I think it could help a lot of people who are trying to eat healthier (even if they do not plan on fasting).

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Sincerely,

Taylor

 

Have questions, comments, requests, etc.?  Feel free to contact me at taylorreadingblog23@yahoo.com