I Needed Love But Not A Relationship

TITLE: How To Love

AUTHOR: Thich Nhat Hanh

GENRE: Buddhism

PUBLISHER: Parallax Press

PAGES: 128

So I was going through a little emotional breakdown due to a bad day and needed some kind of guidance or help and apparently felt the need for book therapy and bought this. I am a fan of his work and I have not read enough from him! If you do not know who Thich Nhat Hanh is, please look him up!

In trying to find a way out of my misery, I decided that reading was the best option. I should have just meditated and kept my head straight but sometimes a person just needs to cry it out.

I bought the book without really reading what it was about, but I needed some love and compassion and I wanted some direction to those things and a reminder for myself of how to get there and why.

It is a short read but it is important to read each 'segment' or 'topic' (those are not the best words I think...) slowly. Let what he writes really sink in. None of it is complicated but coming from a Buddhist monk, I am pretty sure he was mindful as he wrote this, so you should be while reading it right? Or why read anything if you won't pay attention to the words!

He brings up recognizing the love within you, how to love others, what is love, and other bits of knowledge on this subject of love. Though the book begins with love and the individual (Really? How can you love someone if you don't love yourself first?) he continues on about love between a couple and what the individual should consider when problems arise.

Now I did not need the couples part, but How To Love reminds you to look inward. Slow down and really see things, see yourself. This reminded me of how I forgot to be mindful by letting the negativity I faced turn me into an emotional wreck. I still recommend this book for anyone who needs a refresher or another way to look at love and what it is.

I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Screw Zombies!

TITLE: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
AUTHOR: Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
GENRE: Non-fiction, Survival
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
PAGES: 176

So finally back to reviewing after settling in to my new home.

I came across this book passing a Self Help/Fix Your Life type of shelf and feeling emotionally crushed, I decided why not? Maybe learning something would take away some of the heartache.

I had seen this book for the past few years and thought why not, and it was free.

How could someone not learn something from this? It is an easy to read short book with picture descriptions. No, I don't intend to find myself in situations like being involved in a sword fight or making a 180 degree turn in my car but now I have an idea on how to handle each of these situations. Now things like jumping into a dumpster and surviving in a desert may be in my future so I kept reading.

The scenarios cover a lot of areas and things I really didn't think people would find themselves in. For those of us that are pretty clueless, I am comforted in the fact I have read this book and have somewhat considered taking a survivor class, hopefully I can read more online...

I recommend this book to people clueless about surviving and don't really intend to ever do research on protecting themselves. For those that are serious, all knowledge helps right, and you may find yourself in one of these situations. I suggest people also consider taking a real life survival class because you just never know...

I give this a 3 1/2 out of 5.