Austin Haukinz

Think deep

Revisado: 11-14-17

Deep Work is a book on how one can achieve higher quality, more focused work. Although a straightforward concept, there are actually a number of helpful strategies in this read. After the introduction you’ll find recommendations on removing distractions, staying organized, and obtaining deeper levels of concentration. I found a number of these strategies helpful and plan on incorporating them in my day to day. If you’re a developer, artist, or researcher, the concepts in the book are likely to be invaluable.

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The rediscovery of a nearly lost book

Revisado: 11-14-17

The Swerve is a short history about the recovery of a poem titled ‘On the Nature of Things’. This poem, written around two thousand years ago, presents ideas that the universe operates according to physical principles and not the influence of gods. Greenblatt delicately unfolds the rediscovery of this poem by Poggio in 1417. Thanks to this rediscovery the poem went on to inspire great minds like Galileo and Darwin, and help contribute to the Renaissance.

I loved the juxtaposition of the two time periods, medieval thought dominated by religious dogma verses Ancient Greek Epicureanism which embodies tranquility and the pursuit of happiness. Greenblatt wonderfully weaves the histories of the two together. Although the title is a bit overarching (how the world became modern), I definitely enjoyed this book and learned a great deal. If you’re into history give this one a listen.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

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Beautifully produced

Revisado: 11-14-17

Light Falls is a beautiful, full-cast production of the life of Einstein. Entertaining through and through. Also, a quick listen. I definitely recommend.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

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Learn the science of learning

Revisado: 11-14-17

Make it Stick is a book about effective learning/teaching habits. Brown’s main idea is we need to focus much more on knowledge retrieval and not retention. Brown masterfully presents this information through numerous stories and studies, busting myths and giving concrete examples to try. Teachers, students, trainers, or really anyone interested in self-development should absolutely give this a read.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

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Incredible!

Revisado: 05-06-17

I honestly can't believe what I just listened to. Guantánamo Diary is the actual diary of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, written during the first few years of his time at Guantánamo Bay. This diary was obtained via the freedom of information act and later edited with footnotes by the writer Larry Siems. I found the presentation of this text fascinating. I loved how the redacted text still remains so you get a feeling of scale and context. The footnotes are well written and either corroborate or provide essential details to Mohamedou's story.

Guantánamo Diary shows you the person behind these words. Whether this person committed crimes or not, this is a human like all of us. This book also shows how important our court process is. We cannot allow individuals to be tortured or indefinitely imprisoned.

This listen is important as it is fascinating. I can't recommend this one enough.

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Incredible!

Revisado: 05-06-17

Evicted showcases the housing crisis that is fueling poverty, inequality, and nearly every other social issue plaguing America today. Matthew Desmond vividly captures the painfully complex issues of low income housing through the eyes of tenants and landlords.

I wish I could give this book ten stars. Not only is this an incredibly well researched and beautifully presented book, it's exceptionally important. Evicted should be a required read for every American.

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Powerful Prose

Revisado: 05-06-17

Notes of a Native Son is a collection of essays written by Baldwin in the 40's and 50's. This read has the same powerful prose that one expects in a book from Baldwin. Eye opening and impressively relevant. Although not my favorite book from Baldwin, still a good read.

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Important History

Revisado: 05-06-17

First They Killed My Father is a personal account of the horrific genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. A truly eye-opening story that brings to focus this important moment of history.

I personally loved Ung's writing style. She describes so vividly everything from her emotions to the landscape around her. Also, I think she successfully portrays her reaction to these terrible events, given this story starts when she is only 5 years old. I simply can't imagine going though everything she did, plus at such a young age.

I hands down recommend this read. It's gripping as it is heartbreaking, not to mention it's dripping with historical importance.

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Grim but important and inspiring

Revisado: 02-02-17

Wow, what a book. Being Mortal tackles the not so light topic of how we handle aging and dying. Gawande waves this narrative through numerous personal stories of those dealing with old age and declining health. Medicine so often only focuses on extending life as long as possible. Gawande however passionately advocates for a more holistic approach. A focus on individual well-being, not just more time to live. All said and done, I'm not sure if I was ready for this one. The stories were sad and the topics were grim. But, looking back, I'm incredibly glad to have made it through. It's only a matter of time until these topics become incredibly relevant, and I now feel so much more prepared.

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Fantastic

Revisado: 02-02-17

I can see why so many people love this book. The story follows a young girl in Germany during WWII. It has your standard coming of age elements, but so much more. I personally loved the expressive characters. From Rosa to Max to the narrator. I mean, just listen to these:

"So much good, so much evil. Just add water."

"Saukerl! Lick my ass!"

"Humans, if nothing else, have a good sense to die"

If you get a chance, give this a listen. Plus the narration is fantastic. I promise, you'll laugh, you'll shed a tear, and you might even gain some insight to humanity. You just won't be let down.

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