"The Gatekeeprs" by Chris Whipple

"The Gatekeepers" by Chris Whipple is a fascinating look at the men who pull the strings behind the American presidency. Viewers of the TV Show West Wing are familiar with the character of Leo who shepherds both the president and his staff every day. "The Gatekeepers" tells of the real-life counterparts of the past 50 years or so. It shows how far from being a singular job, every move the President makes is- or should be- a team effort.  Whipple discusses the Chiefs of Staff, their successes (mostly uncredited) and failures (also uncredited) in a lively narrative which relies on a variety of sources, refreshingly from many sides. Each chapter is set up with a lesson to take away, which is especially helpful for those who are second in command of any organization. Fans of history, politics, and just a good story will all find something.

Patriot Number One by Lauren Hilgers

     Patriot Number One by Lauren Hilgers is an intimate and fascinating look at modern immigrant life in the USA. In it she details the flight of a Chinese dissident from his country and how he builds a new life in the USA. In a time when conversation is usually dominated by discussion of immigration from Latin America and the Middle East, Patriot Number One sheds light on those who seek refuge from China and the Far East. The story of the harried foreigner seeking refuge from political oppression in the US is one of the treasured features not just of the country itself but of our cultural memory. Patriot Number One not only shows this tradition is ongoing, but is enlightening for those born in the US in showing the tribulation many of our ancestors endured, and which immigrants still endure today. The book's strength lies in the highly detailed account of the protagonist's day to day life; starting a business, adjusting to life, finding love, etc. It could easily have been written in the first person but Hilgers' narration lends strength to the narrative.

      The book was attractive and well presented. One thing I would have liked was a description of the contents on the back cover, which was covered by reviews, rightfully glowing but not the same as a description. Still, a minor detail in an outstanding book.

The Million Dollar, one Person Business

    Many books promise would-be entrepreneurs ways to get rich quick. "The Million Dollar One Person Business" is the only one I've read that actually delivers. The author details real-life examples, and then highlights specific methods or lessons to take away. These are concrete ways (not pep talks) which you can go out and implement right away- search engine optimization, facebook promotions, etc. It also discusses when it is time to expand, collaborate, or bring in outside help. The path is never "quick" as the book points out, and no method can replace a good idea and hard work, but it will be made easier using the lessons it details.
Physically, the book was attractive and well designed. The type of hardback, colorful without a slip cover, makes it stand out and would draw my attention if on a shelf with other books.

American Wolf

   In the early 1990's Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone after a long period of extinction. By the 2000's they had declined and the project appeared to be a mistake- until a female, known as 0-6, asserted herself as a leader and started a pack with her two brothers. With Sun-Tsu like intelligence, 0-6 survived and led her pack to survival where hundreds of other wolves failed, until she herself was killed when legal hunting of wolves was re-allowed.
     I grew up watching old wildlife movies like the "Incredible Journey" and "The Legend of Lobo" (bonus points if you remember the song...) in which an animal takes on human society and his/her own natural world to survive. Reading American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee, which recounts the above story, brought all those memories back, except this time in a thrillingly true story.
    Wildlife narratives often fill in details with guesswork or scientific background to make up for a story that is otherwise fairly short- we know animals' exact activity only when they're in contact with us. American Wolf does neither; O-6's day to day actions were well documented by naturalists who kept track of her, resulting in an intimate biography with surprising details no fiction writer would publish.
    The author also weaves together a story that is bigger than the day to day life of a wolf. It involves the naturalist community, local ranchers, and the legal system in a battle that has ramifications for both people and animals today. The lines between good and bad are grey; they lie somewhere in the primordial fight for survival which I am sure the wolf would understand were she able to communicate with us. A wolf can't do so in so many words, but maybe 0-6 has through American Wolf.

Everyday Watercolor by Jenna Rainey

Everyday Watercolor by Jenna Rainey makes this popular but difficult to truly master art accessible to everyone.

The author walks you through basic principles, using small paintings, designed to be done in a short time each day over the course of 30 days. She gradually introduces new methods until by the end the reader is prepared to tackle complicated scenes involved multi-layered methods.  Most of the scenes are from nature and even include some abstract designs that will keep painters experimenting for hours.

The style, nature-oriented theme, and even the drawing methods are delightfully reminiscent of John Muir Laws' books; fans of his who admired the work but struggled with the watercolors will find this a great companion book.

The cover and inside design are on heavy duty glossy paper which feels able to withstand accidents in the watercolor workplace.

Carve by Melanie Abrantes

Carve by Melanie Abrantes

     I enjoy examining wood carvings, but never seriously considered doing it myself. That someone can turn a block of wood into a polished, rounded spoon just seemed mysterious and esoteric.

     I have started whittling on my own now, thanks to Carve, by Melanie Abrantes, who shows that using a few basic principles and simple tools you can create impressive (and useful) things out of wood. There are over dozen projects divided into three categories ranging from a decorative bird (simple) to spoons, spatulas (hard), soap dishes, and much more. Unlike many books which seem to simply show off the author's skills, these projects are attainable and the instructions walk the reader through them. Accompanying photographs shows the step by step process for each item.

  

    The cover, layout, and design quality all call out for the reader to read and use the book.

If you like woodworking, you will find it an enjoyable guide; if you've never considered it, you will.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review

Understanding Color In Photography

For photographers, Understanding Color in Photography is like hearing your favorite song for the first time again.

 I'm a photographer and can say photography books are fairly predictable; explain the principles of aperture and rules of 3. Throw in some portraits, still life, stunning vistas, maybe some artsy street scenes with lots of concrete and you have just about any instructional book.

But in Understanding Color In Photography, Brian Peterson does more than just explain color. It puts a refreshing new spin on photography as a whole by showing you how to see differently. He describes the properties of each color, what colors go well together, what they evoke, and samples of images with descriptions of how he got them. Photography is not simply about framing the image; using color you can compose images that evoke emotions and even sensations. Peterson's photography- his mind-bending use of colors, reflections, and natural elements- is enticing and leaves the reader begging for more.

Some knowledge of the basics is kind of required to get the most out of it, although a complete newbie can appreciate its message too.

I thought my photography was original but Understanding Color In PHotography shows there is always something new to learn.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review