LIBRARY LOOT REVIEW PART 1

Three reviews, get ready:

Malcon Gladwell's "Outliers." FASCINATING. I was really surprised at the empathy and detail Gladwell's research shows in how culture shapes us and how the smallest differences, or things you may normally discount like birth month in determining pro-hockey players or linguistic structure in learning math, play an enormous difference down the line. Even greater than that, the aspect of cultural legacy through generations and across lands was explored, albeit briefly. I find it interesting that number of topics he was able to cover with very few chapters -- outliers, or success stories, have a lot more in common than we think; much of it has to do with timing and luck.One of the reasons I generally dislike pop-econ books is their lack of depth; it's a frustrating experience for someone like me - I really want to know everything about that subject if I'm taking the time and effort to read a book about it. And I want to know exactly why, the variables involved, etc. So while I wish "Outliers" was longer -- isn't that the best compliment I can give? :)

PS I very much disliked Gladwell's other book, the more well-known "The Tipping Point." Eh. Read this one instead.

I also browsed through Natalia Rose's "Raw Food Life Force Energy" was sorely, sorely disappointed. This book is shit. Honestly, I thought this would be life-changing since food bloggers generally praise Natalia Rose as some sort of nutritional goddess. It's not that the philosophies presented are bad, per se, they're just not worth the $16 you would spend. You would have to subtract also the 20 pages devoted to the "21 Days of the Raw Food Life Force Energy Program" which essentially refers you to the recipe portion of the book, but somehow uses 20 pages telling you to drink vegetable juice and do breathing excersies. WHAT???? You just killed like a billion trees. Why not eliminate the hassle of "Choose the most desirable meal from pages 100-102 or a well-combined meal of your own. Have as much or as little as you need...." This is written 21 times, repeated each day. Are you kidding me?

One interesting thing Rose writes about is food combining; how you are supposed to combine flesh meals with flesh (and vegetables, but not grains, etc) and fruits must be eaten alone and how we all need colonics to keep us healthy. Okay, I'm not a doctor or a holistic healer of any sort so I can't say whether colonics are necessary or not. I just know they weren't around when my Chinese relatives were farming rice paddies (the rice paddy topic is explored in"Outliers' and super interesting... it turns out rice paddies are extremely exacting to cultivate and that translates a lot into the immigrant work ethic you see in the Chinese. Anyway.) in Southern China a few generations ago and I think they got along fine. We know of food combining: Mexicans eat corn with lime, beans and rice (complete protein), the Chinese have rice and fermented soy. One of the biggest problems with "Raw Food Life Force Energy" is the cultural aspect that "Omnivore's Dilemma" and to a point, "Outliers" imbued me with. Food should be enjoyed as it relates to your cultural heritage! Or your family, friends... the culture you have come to acquire. No where on the ranking of "vibrating" foods does Rose even list rice.... which is the starch component of what many ethnic communities! Rose writes this about hummus, which is a staple in the Mediterrean diet:

"Traditional hummus can be combined as a starch. However, because it is made up of chickpeas, which are difficult to digest, and includes tahini (sesame seeds and chickpeas, a legume/starch and a poor combo) I do not recommend it for anyone is trying to lose weight. If you really love hummus, keep it simple - enjoy it just with veggies and never with flesh or nuts."

Argh, this woman.

Another issue is how Rose answers this question:

"How safe is this program for someone who has struggled with an eating disorder?"

'First, let's establish the fact that there are very few people in our culture who do not have an eating disorder. Some of them are conscious of it and others are not- that is the only difference. The constant consumption of unfit foods is a very real form of diordered eating."

WOAH! Way to disparage the emotional and mental causes of eating disorders in one fell swoop. That is so irresponsible I'm not even sure what to say... except that there are many great food bloggers of various diets and lifestyles, including raw, vegan, omnivore, etc that have made conscientious decisions and whose sensitivity to these topics I respect much more highly than Rose's careless response.

Okay, enough of that... I don't even have enough energy to bash Common's "Universal Mind Control" other than that it sucks. The worst offender may be 'Sex 4 Suga.' It's really bad. Check it:

Im just glad im in front of you
But I don't mind bein behind
Cause imma touch you where the sun don't shine
Got my hand on the money while you on the grind
In tune with you cause you so fine

This is COMMON????? What happened? I'm so confused. This is as bad as Dead Prez' "Mind Sex" except that is so bad it's good. This is painful.

off to work! (which is where I do so much of my reading these days, haha)

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