Khaled Hosseini's Kite Runner. Definitely. Beautiful, detailed descriptions of Afghanistan before and after the Taliban - and a very interesting story with lots of twists and turns. Everything was very well structured and organized but written in such a way that we readers got hit with the shock along with the characters. The movie is great too - loved the opening credits and the music.
I can never remember when I read what. xD;; But I'm pretty sure I read Eat Pray Love this year. It was a beautiful, inspiring book. I remember one part, she talked about how you can lessen the collective suffering of the world and make it a better place simply by making sure you yourself are happy. Maybe everybody else already got that memo, but I found the idea that I have a responsibility to be happy revolutionary.
I also loved Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair, but I love her blog even more. Crazy Aunt Purl has been my faithful companion and comfort during a crazy, stressful, insanely dramatic summer, and I relate to her problems recovering from divorce far more than a forever-single 20 year old should. XD She's a wonderfully silly and sweet writer.
A short little book called Coffee with the Buddha (it's part of a series of "Coffee With [insert famous person here]) also had a surprisingly profound effect on me. It helped answer a lot of my questions about Buddhism, so while I wouldn't call myself a
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Oh, don't resist the Dalai Lama books! I own several of his, including Happiness at Work, to help me through office jobs. What's your favorite of his
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Yup! I turn 21 in February (and am at somewhat of a loss how to celebrate it, considering I'm a hardcore teetotaler XD;; ).
Blame the professional-sounding facade on my love for the English language. Believe me, I'm a nutjob. =3
Heee! I'm currently reading one of his books on Compassion....can't remember the title off the top of my head. >.>;; I'm very bad with titles.
An Open Heart! (Thank goodness for Amazon!)
My favorite book is still the very first book I read -- not actually by him, but part of the Mind & Life series, a series of dialogues between Buddhist scholars, including His Holiness, and psychologists. It's called Destructive Emotions. It took my interest in psychology and turned it towards social service, and really changed where I wanted to go with my career as a screenwriter. Before then, I just wanted to be a staff writer on a t.v. show -- I didn't care what. After reading that book (while taking AP Psych), I felt inspired to make sure I used the power that television wields towards good. He really opened my mind
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Raspberry lemonade? That sounds like two of my favorite things combined! I'll definitely have to try that!
I agree -- a lot of "improving" television focuses on removing surface stuff and doesn't address the real problem. There's a wonderful book called "Our Faith in Evil" that addresses that -- that the problem with violence in television isn't so much the fact that we see it, but how it's structured into the story. The fact that good guys are allowed to kill indiscriminately for a good cause -- like Jack Bauer, in 24.
A lot of television and movies today convey the idea of "us vs. them" -- that the only way WE win is if THEY lose. And not just lose, but are completely crushed. I think that theme is what's really damaging about mass media, because it encourages unhealthy competition and stifles compassion.
I don't have a favorite psychology book, but I did love this book called Authentic Happiness, which focuses on positive psychology instead of psychology of disease. And I didn't get very far in before I got distracted, but
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Wow, glad the strike_support interview went well, I'll have to check it out. I've been promoting the comm here and there in random TV, writing, art, social justice and labor communities. Never sure exactly where it's appropriate - but I'm happy to delete if a mod asks me to and won't post if they say they don't allow promotion. I'd suggest we reach out to fandoms and other groups related to TV shows and movies where people might already have some awareness of the WGA's issues. Also maybe comms for screenwriting students
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I'm not sure if there are screenwriting student comms, but I'll definitely promote it in the fandom groups I'm involved in.
*goes to the virtual counter and orders a virtual hot chocolate* Actually, I don't drink coffee. XDD But coffee places generally have hot chocolate, and that's my favorite hot drink.
Great! And I will have to introduce you to the joys of coffee someday ;) I don't like it myself when it tastes too much like actual coffee though - so I do the frappucinos, macchiatos, lattes with Torani shots, etc. At home I put ginger and almond and vanilla extract into my instant coffee. I'm the same way with drinks - I'm a big Midori and mojito and cosmo and flavored margarita and martini person as I don't like the taste of alcohol either.
What's the best book you've read this year?
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How about you?
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I also loved Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair, but I love her blog even more. Crazy Aunt Purl has been my faithful companion and comfort during a crazy, stressful, insanely dramatic summer, and I relate to her problems recovering from divorce far more than a forever-single 20 year old should. XD She's a wonderfully silly and sweet writer.
A short little book called Coffee with the Buddha (it's part of a series of "Coffee With [insert famous person here]) also had a surprisingly profound effect on me. It helped answer a lot of my questions about Buddhism, so while I wouldn't call myself a ( ... )
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Blame the professional-sounding facade on my love for the English language. Believe me, I'm a nutjob. =3
Heee! I'm currently reading one of his books on Compassion....can't remember the title off the top of my head. >.>;; I'm very bad with titles.
An Open Heart! (Thank goodness for Amazon!)
My favorite book is still the very first book I read -- not actually by him, but part of the Mind & Life series, a series of dialogues between Buddhist scholars, including His Holiness, and psychologists. It's called Destructive Emotions. It took my interest in psychology and turned it towards social service, and really changed where I wanted to go with my career as a screenwriter. Before then, I just wanted to be a staff writer on a t.v. show -- I didn't care what. After reading that book (while taking AP Psych), I felt inspired to make sure I used the power that television wields towards good. He really opened my mind ( ... )
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I agree -- a lot of "improving" television focuses on removing surface stuff and doesn't address the real problem. There's a wonderful book called "Our Faith in Evil" that addresses that -- that the problem with violence in television isn't so much the fact that we see it, but how it's structured into the story. The fact that good guys are allowed to kill indiscriminately for a good cause -- like Jack Bauer, in 24.
A lot of television and movies today convey the idea of "us vs. them" -- that the only way WE win is if THEY lose. And not just lose, but are completely crushed. I think that theme is what's really damaging about mass media, because it encourages unhealthy competition and stifles compassion.
I don't have a favorite psychology book, but I did love this book called Authentic Happiness, which focuses on positive psychology instead of psychology of disease. And I didn't get very far in before I got distracted, but ( ... )
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Too bad you're in California, or I would invite you to coffee too. XD
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*goes to the virtual counter and orders a virtual hot chocolate* Actually, I don't drink coffee. XDD But coffee places generally have hot chocolate, and that's my favorite hot drink.
I definitely will! =3
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