Book Nook Cafe discussion

Pass. ;-)

Sorry, I posted in wrong thread. I moved it over to our book discussion thread.

Here is a good quote from our Buddy Read.

Much is not dared because it seems hard; much seems hard only because it is not dared.

~~~ Prince Wenzel Anton Von Kaunitz,
Austrian statesman

I read a few Louis L'Amour novels. The early ones were poorly written, although with interesting stories. As he wrote more, he honed his craft. I really enjoyed his novel, The Walking Drum, a novel set in the 12th century in Europe and the Russian steppe and a real departure from his Westerns.

Alias Reader wrote: "Here is a good quote from our Buddy Read.

Much is not dared because it seems hard; much seems hard only because it is not dared.

~~~ Prince Wenzel Anton Von Kaunitz,
Austrian statesman"

That is a super quote. Thanks so much for posting it.

Larry wrote: "I read a few Louis L'Amour novels. The early ones were poorly written, although with interesting stories. As he wrote more, he honed his craft. I really enjoyed his novel, [book:The Walking Drum|32..."

So far I've read about 100 pages of his memoir and am enjoying it. Apparently he was a hobo, which he explains is not really how the term is used today. He traveled and did odd jobs on boats, mines whatever. However, he always found time to read.

I'm enjoying looking up all the books he mentions. Most I think are out of copyright and are only around $1 or $2 on Amazon.

"I think the greatest gift anyone can give to another is the desire to know, to understand. Life is not for simply watching spectator sports, or for taking part in them; it is not for simply living from one working day to the next. Life is for delving discovering, learning. Today, one can sit in the comfort of his own home and explore any part of the world or even outer space through books. They are all around us. offering such riches as can scarcely be believed."

A Memoir - Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour

Thanks to all you are sharing about the L’Amour book, Alias, i am becoming more and more frustrated with my library. I’ve been #1 on the list since July 30! I will call tomorrow.

Funny and at my library it is available! Thanks for pointing out this memoir. I have not read Louis L"amour books but his memoir sounds fascinating. A window into a time long gone.

madrano wrote: "Thanks to all you are sharing about the L’Amour book, Alias, i am becoming more and more frustrated with my library. I’ve been #1 on the list since July 30! I will call tomorrow."

No problem.

Rachel wrote: "Funny and at my library it is available! Thanks for pointing out this memoir. I have not read Louis L"amour books but his memoir sounds fascinating. A window into a time long gone."

I'm enjoying it. It's fast reading, too.

"Be great in small ways.

Writing 100 words today doesn’t seem worthwhile when you see people publishing bestsellers.

Exercising for 10 minutes doesn’t seem valuable when you see world records posted on Instagram.

But winning the next 10 minutes is its own form of greatness.

People are so busy wishing for more time and better resources that they fail to make the most of the time and resources they have. Be great in small ways and you may be surprised by what you've achieved within a year or two."

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones--James Clear

Jesuit priest Anthony de Mello encourages us to focus on the message before the messenger:

"Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it."

Source: Awakening
Awakening: Conversations with the Masters
Anthony de Mello

Clair’s words are well worth remembering. Thanks for sharing them, Alias.

Great thought from de Mello.

Agreed, the message not the messenger is what is important. Most of us (including me) act like we have infinite time to accomplish thing This is very faulty thinking.

“Since we are destined to live out our lives in the prison of our minds, it is our duty to furnish it well.”
― Peter Ustinov

What could be a better quote for someone who reads. Thanks.

Great quote & photo. I’d love see those titles.

Good graphic.

Thanks, deb.

I think it was a good reminder. I even copied it into my journal.

I was talking it over with some friends. I said, I think mediation can help with this a lot. I really need to get back into that. Even if it's only 2-5 min. I found it beneficial.

I go in fits and starts with meditation. I find I can use the technique when in serious states but the regularity evades me.

Meditating has shown me what I spend my time thinking about and it is amazing that I know little of where my mind is most of the time. I find it helpful.

Interesting observation, Rachel. When i meditate i just find myself annoyed with where my mind goes, i may need to rethink that.

madrano wrote: "Interesting observation, Rachel. When i meditate i just find myself annoyed with where my mind goes, i may need to rethink that."

They say never pass judgement while meditating. Acknowledge the thoughts and then let them pass like a cloud. After, your session maybe you can think about why your mind goes in a particular direction.

Thanks. I would like to think i wouldn’t pass judgement in the moment but who knows?

Amen!

The ironic thing is that if you do not want to read a certain book or let your child read it, then DON'T. Let everyone make up their own minds about what to read.

Exactly, Rachel. I don’t understand how banners can’t see the logic in that.

Excellent quote.

They seem to be more concerned with what others read than what they read (or don't). It is like the town busybody who has their nose in everyone's business.

True, Rachel.

"We Don’t See Things As They Are, We See Them As We Are"
I read this quote this morning in the New Yorker. They attributed it to Talmudic thinking but apparently Anais Nin may be the author. In any case, it really made me think.

Doesn’t it describe social media today? Not that this is new, of course. It’s only been remarkably evident since the introduction to social media, imo.

I've seen it attributed to Nin also. It's a terrific quote to ponder.

Good quote but with a mixed background. Likely Nin had heard it or something similar and made it her own.

“Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul.”
— Anne Lamott


Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year

Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son

Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

Anne Lamott

I have so many friends who have read a number of Anne Lamott's books. With all of their praise, I still haven't read one yet. But I probably will.

Larry wrote: "I have so many friends who have read a number of Anne Lamott's books. With all of their praise, I still haven't read one yet. But I probably will."

I enjoyed Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace

A friend gave me a copy of her Bird By Bird but i never read it. I still have it, though. :-/

You got this ! Have a great October ! 🍁💜🍁

How great is being able to start over? Someone I knew many years ago always said "Everyday is a new design".

Rachel wrote: "How great is being able to start over? Someone I knew many years ago always said "Everyday is a new design"."

Very true.

Nido Qubein is an American Jordanian businessman and motivational speaker. He has served as president of High Point University since 2005

"If I miss one day, I try to get back into it as quickly as possible. Missing one workout happens, but I’m not going to miss two in a row. Maybe I’ll eat an entire pizza, but I’ll follow it up with a healthy meal. I can’t be perfect, but I can avoid a second lapse. As soon as one streak ends, I get started on the next one.
The first mistake is never the one that ruins you. It is the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows. Missing once is an accident. Missing twice is the start of a new habit.

Read more in Chapter 16 of Atomic Habits. "

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

It can be so easy to get downhearted but that quote is very cheering. I read something today that said something like innovation is not finding new ideas as much as it is ridding yourself of old ones.

Rachel wrote: "It can be so easy to get downhearted but that quote is very cheering. I read something today that said something like innovation is not finding new ideas as much as it is ridding yourself of old ones."

Rachel, I'm a big fan of Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Another good habit book is The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

The aspect that amazes me about we humans is that we go about living without truly realizing what we think or why we do what we do. So much is done on automatic pilot. I had no idea what I spent my time thinking about until I started meditating.

Rachel wrote: "The aspect that amazes me about we humans is that we go about living without truly realizing what we think or why we do what we do. So much is done on automatic pilot. I had no idea what I spent my time thinking about until I started meditating..."

Rachel, may I ask what type of meditation you do? Is it guided? I am trying to get into the habit again. In the past I've used the free app Insight Timer. I generally do better with guided meditation.

I don't follow a particular type of mediation. I guess of these 9, I mostly do Mindfulness meditation.

If you have any books etc. that you like, I would love to hear about it.