7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker

I felt scared to read this book. I heard about it while reading Robin Ann Fabros's blog, and it sounded a bit too challenging so I delayed my reading of it.

I wish I hadn't delayed!

Jen Hatmaker was confronted with her family's excessive lifestyle when a ten-year-old boy, an evacuee from Hurricane Ike who was going to temporarily live with them, walked into her house and exclaimed, "Dad! This white dude it RICH!"

Hatmaker takes seven months to confront seven areas of excess: Food, Clothes, Possessions, Media, Waste, Spending, and Stress. For instance, during the Food month, she only eats seven foods (chicken, eggs, whole-wheat bread, sweet potatoes, spinach, avocados, and apples). During the Possessions month, she gives away seven items a day for a month. The book reads like a blog/memoir detailing the days of each month, the struggles, the lessons learned, and the blessings.

What I liked about this book:
There's no shaming. Hatmaker really just shares her own experience. There's no pressure for you to do exactly what she did. She doesn't list bullet point ideas of ways for you to take action. 

I did think of ways to curb my own excess like making sure things in our fridge didn't go to waste. Also, I was determined to buy a couple more spring like blouses for my work wardrobe, but I decided to go shopping in my own closet to see what I had. I found several outfits that I had not even worn yet. I also wanted to go to a rummage sale this morning, but thought twice about whether or not I wanted to buy more and bring more things into my house. I decided to not go this time.

This book made me more mindful and thoughtful about my lifestyle and what I'm valuing.






What I didn't like about this book: 
There's an over-the-top look-at-me-I'm-so-quirky-and funny aspect of the book which gets grating at times. In general, Hatmaker comes off as a pretty grounded person who would be easy to talk to, but the frequency of the irreverent hahaha I'm-so-weird comments distracted from the content and point of the book.

Overall, I really liked this book. I'm thinking of people that I can give it to. It is challenging to think about how we find our happiness and how we distract ourselves with things and food, TV, and Facebook, and what would happen if those things were more restricted.

Caution: This is a book from a Christian perspective which might not sit well with some of you out there.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

"...Introverts and extroverts differ in the level of outside stimulation that they need to function. Introverts feel 'just right' with less stimulation, as when they sip wine with a close friend, solve a crossword puzzle, or read a book. Extroverts enjoy the extra bang that comes from activities like meeting new people, skiing slippery slopes, and cranking up the stereo." --Susan Cain

As some of you might know, I am a pretty introverted person so when I heard about this book, I immediately went to check it out. Yes, I actually left my house and went to the library. And it wasn't even a Tuesday!

Quiet discusses how extroversion is idealized in our culture and why introversion has its creative benefits as well and shouldn't be devalued. Temperament is also talked about and how much of introversion/extroversion is nurture vs. nature. There's also tips on how to be an introvert in an extrovert-idealized world.

There's also a section on "Do all cultures have an extrovert ideal? Asian Americans and the Extrovert Ideal." Basically, it's a chapter on Asian-American kids growing up in Cupertino, California. This section seemed out of place. It's like the author finished the book, had someone read it, and that someone asked "What about different cultures?" So this chapter seems like an afterthought and an attempt to include other cultures into the book which could be another book in itself. I enjoyed the chapter and don't have anything against Asian-American kids who grew up in Cupertino (I even married one), but the chapter just seemed like a feeble attempt to add some ethnicity to the book.

Overall, this was an interesting read, especially for me, an introvert. There's neat stories and research, and it's just nice that introverts are finally getting some attention. The organization of the book was a bit unwieldy though and that chapter about Asian-Americans seemed randomly thrown in there.

Cain writes, "If there is only one insight you take away from this book, though, I hope it's a newfound sense of entitlement to be yourself." So, introverts, pick up this book! And then we can have an introvert party at my house and discuss it. Just kidding. I'd rather discuss with you each one-on-one.

News From Heaven by Jennifer Haigh

This is a collection of inter-related short stories all taking place in Bakerton, Pennsylvania.

I read one per night right before I went to bed, and it was a pleasant way to end the day. I can't say anything really spectacular about this book, but I can't say anything negative either. Just pleasant and okay.

Kids Reading

My older sister sent me this video! I love it when kids read!

How Long Till My Soul Gets It Right? 100 Doorways on the Journey to Happiness by Robert M. Alter with Jane Alter

"Like all journeys, getting the soul right takes a while. It means to be on a journey from our present state of consciousness, in which there is much negativity, to another state of consciousness, a better and higher and happier state that is completely positive. This better, higher, happier state exists in us. It is, in fact, our natural state. It is who we are in our heart. In other words, we already are what we are trying to become, and getting the soul right is really a matter of learning to be who we already are." --Robert M. Alter

My sister gave me this book for Christmas 2011, and I just finished it today. It's made up of short essays covering everything from The Mind, Meditation, Feelings, Addictions, Compulsions, and Obsessions. It took me over a year to finish because I read one essay every day or so, and that was plenty to think about.

Looking at Facebook is probably much easier than reading this book though. This book will take you on an inner journey of yourself and help you face some things are aren't easily faced.

"Getting the soul right is to engage in a long, interesting, intrepid inner journey of looking at all our negative stuff, understanding where it comes from, feeling some of it, talking about most of it, and ultimately getting rid of all of it. It's a journey of complete self-purification. Getting the soul right is having the belief that there is that journey to take, and then taking it." --Robert M. Alter

Not recommended if you're looking for a light read. Not recommended if you're not willing to do some soul-searching. But if you want to settle in and think about some things over the next year, this might be a good place to start.

Paris: A Love Story by Kati Marton

Marton was an ABC News correspondent. This is a memoir, so Marton writes about her early life and her experiences in Paris throughout her young adult and adult life.

Paris always holds a special place in her heart and she returns again and again. Marton was married to ABC News anchor Peter Jennings for 15 years, and then married to Richard Holbrooke, so she writes about her marriages as well.

This was not a good book. Some parts were interesting, some parts were really not interesting. Marton has affairs during her marriages, and that made it more challenging to like and respect her. I am NOT recommending this book to you.

Audio Book Review - Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing, and Saving by Lorilee Craker

I listened to this book, read by the author, about tips from the Amish about saving money and living well. It touches on a bunch of different concepts such as "use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without," shopping at second-hand stores and garage sales, and eating at home. Craker also challenges the reader to value the things that are really important in life like health, family, and friends.

Overall, I liked listening to this book. It's kinda cheesy at times, and there wasn't anything that I hadn't heard before, but I do appreciate being reminded to be more mindful about how I use money and what I value.