3 X 5's: Index Card Wisdom from Best of Books

SHOW  Austin Kleon (2014). Show Your Work!                                             10 Ways to Share                                             Your Creativity and Get Discovered.  Kleon has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and describes himself as a "writer who draws." This is the second of 3 books that he has written to date (2024) related to art, drawing, and creative work.                     Some of my takeaways from the book: figure out what you really LOVE, find others who love the same thing online or in person...what are they sharing and not sharing, how can you share what you love with them? allow others to see the PROCESS behind your wor...

STEAL ART Austin Kleon (2012). Steal Like an Artist:                                             10 Things Nobody Told You                                             About Being Creative. Kleon has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and describes himself as a "writer who draws." This is the first of 3 books that he has written to date (2024) related to art, drawing, and creative work. While Kleon has 10 main points in the book (see image below), these are my takeaways: 1.to steal ideas, quotes, formats, systems, images...for the purpose of inspiration is to "steal like an artist" 2.get behind what you see/hear, find out the history behind ideas, people, their influences  3.write the book that you want to read that is...

REASON FOR BEING Hector Garcia & Francesa Miralles (2016).                                     Ikigai:                                    T he Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life The authors interviewed people of Ogami (the northern end of Okinawa Islands, Japan), who have some of the longest life expectancies in the world. They discovered this unique Japanese word, Ikigai (short definition: our reason for being), which they define as a combination of what you love, what you're good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs. They borrow from Victor Frankel's logotherapy, highlighting the essential need to find/make meaning in life, and Morita therapy which uses isolation and rest and light occupations (e.g., gardening and drawing) before returning to th...

SNORING Tess Graham (2014). Relief From Snoring and Sleep Apnea. Graham has conducted breathing retraining for over 5K clients. While the book is directed at those who snore, especially those with sleep apnea, there are principles of breathing here for everyone.  To breath through the nose instead of the mouth, quietly, slowly, and gently, letting oneself relax and let go during the exhale, not forcing the air out, but letting it flow naturally. The nose filters, heats, humidifies, provides nitric oxide, and cleans the air that enters our lungs--all good reasons to adopt nose breathing. For those suffering from severe snoring, please see your doctor and have a sleep study done (there are options for home monitors and sleep labs, depending on your situation)--people die from sleep apnea--find out if you have sleep apnea and what can be done about it.  Try breathing in and out through the nose for one hour...work your way up to one day...see if your energy level is any different...

FAITH Harold and Charmin Koenig (2023). Nothing More Important:                                                                           A Book About Faith. Harold is a medical doctor at Duke and the author of hundreds of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and books on religion-spirituality and health (especially mental health like depression), and Charmin is a nurse who worked in urgent care for many years. They are married and have two adult children. Summary: "Nothing is more important than faith--belief in, trust in, having hope in, and loving God" (p.155) [i would add also loving: self, others, and nature as in the SONG of Life] The primary sources used to support this claim, in order of frequency of use, are:  Bible Oswald Chamber's (1935) My...

NEWS...STOP! Rolf Dobelli (2019). Stop Reading the News:                                           A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer                                          and Wiser Life  Dobelli has a PhD in business administration and philosophy from the University of St. Gallen, has worked in business, founded Get Abstract (book summaries), was a TV host, and founded World Minds (computer experts). The book summarizes arguments for STOPPING the CONSUMPTION of NEWS MEDIA to experience more peace, happiness, and wisdom...he recommends using the time you would have spent on the news reading books and talking with people. Key question: Is there anything in the news that has been helpful for you personally in making an important decisio...

HUMAN VIBRATIONS Valerie Hunt (1989, 1996). Infinite Mind:  Science of the Human                                                                Vibrations of Consciousness. Hunt is a PhD scientist studying the neuromuscular aspects of behavior for 20 years before embarking on studying human vibrations of consciousness for 25 years using empirical measures at the millivolt level. Numerous case studies and experiments are reported...some statements puzzle me, as in, "I create a field of energy and ride it" (p.13--how does one create a "field of energy", and once created, how does one "ride it")--the lack of practical applications make it difficult for me to connect with the ideas...another issue is, as of 2024 (38 years post book publication), WHO has taken up this work and advanced it? possible p...