Good Reads...

Good reads is another blog-style activity that I have found incredibly interesting and amusing for the past few months. I suggest anyone and everyone who has ever read a handful of books that they feel like reviewing and sharing, hit this site up! www.goodreads.com.

Here are some reviews of late:

The Holistic Herbal Directory: A Directory of Herbal Remedies for Everyday Health Problems by Penelope Ody

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'm really starting to dive into herbal teas as a form of healing and promoting a healthy lifestyle. This book is really helpful and well organized (tabs for circulatory system, digestion, anxiety, etc.). It's been exciting and thus far seemingly beneficial buying, brewing, and experimenting with herbal remedies. Good book.


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Good Company: A Tramp Life by Douglas Harper

My review

This book is really good so far. Doug Harper is a professor at Duquesne University. I currently have him for Global Sociology which is a highly informative class on essential aspects of different cultures around the world. We just read about Japan and I learned tons about the culture- Very intimidating as it is a highly group oriented society, where I believe I'd be considered an outsider. Also, I am reading Good Company for a sociology class, Person & Society, which thus far is pretty interesting. The book consists of a journalistic account of Harper's experiences hopping freight trains with hobos in the 1970s. Really well written with astute observations of the hobo culture. Harper is to come to our class and talk about his book soon. I can't wait.


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Simplicity & Enlightenment

As it has been a (long) while, I feel I should explain my terribly lacking inconsistency (practical nonexistence) of my blog. I have quite the trouble with committing to any sort of journaling aspect, unless it's a note here, a scribble there, a few quotes, and an idea or two... which usually end up in margins of notebooks and within my pocket moleskins.. But, as the new year has begun, I have decided to drastically alter/enhance my lifestyle based on ideologies that have been brewing in the back of my mind for a long time, which can basically be summarized with two words: Simplicity & Enlightenment. That being said, I have decided to transition to a vegetarian (eventually vegan) diet; I have begun practicing yoga (painful, but persistent); I have been researching my effects on the environment and have learned some scary facts (Instantaneous motivation to simplify my life); I want to become more sociable and join groups (there are a few in the works, which seem to be working out nicely); and most important, I want to explore/embrace my spiritual life and realize my importance in this world-- Hence, I will be focusing on prayer, meditation, charity, and indulging in my future plans to start an alternative, democratic school (like The Circle School- www.thecircleschool.org and Sudbury Valley- www.sudval.org)... only my hope is to start this type of school in the predominantly urban setting of Pittsburgh, as these types of schools are typically set in rural/suburban areas. I think an urban democratic school could have a great effect on the students as well as the community. Essentially, these are my goals, and I have taken a headfirst plunge into self-discipline, determination, and exlporation. I think this just might work... Wish me luck.