Books I’m Reading (Part I)

Reading is truly one of the greatest keys to life. Books help build our understanding. They grow and stretch us and ultimately allow us to become the person that we want to be. The person that we were intended to be. I’ve been attempting to crush some books for a few years now, but I have been struggling. I could not sit long enough to get past the 2nd chapter! So I decided I needed to take action. One of my top goals this year has been to improve my listening skills, and so it makes sense that I would turn to audiobooks. I have been diving into  all different types of genres, like never before. I feel like a kid Disneyland. There are so many avenues and exciting adventures ahead! Finally, the secret to me reading has been unlocked. As I power through the books, I’m learning lots and taking note (and notes). Here is what I’m reading and learning right now.

Half the Sky

• Category: Women’s Rights & Philanthropy
• Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• What it’s about: A heart wrenching journey through Africa and Asia highlighting the dire circumstances women face being in sexual slavery and those that are victims of widespread sexual and physical abuse. Today there are over 4 million women bought and sold worldwide into sexual slavery.
• Why this book: I help run an organization called Blue Door Foundation that seeks to empower women through mobile technology, access to the Internet and education. I learned about this book at a seminar where the president of Compassion International’s president was speaking about sexual slavery and poverty in the developing world. He recommended this book as a must read for anyone involved or interested in helping with the situation in developing countries.
• What I’ve learned: We must do something about women oppression. The situation for women in developing countries is absolutely terrible. It’s time we as a global community educated ourselves and did something about this. We must visit these places and partner with the communities and organizations that are working to fight against this.
• Length: 10 hr 34 min
• Status: 75%

Our Final Invention

• Category: Science & Future Thinking
• Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• What it’s about: A fascinating and eye-opening read about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), and  how  ultimately could lead to the human races ultimate demise.
• Why this book: Technology is becoming more and more integrated into our lives. It is slowly creeping into everyday life. We are beginning to crave it. Afterall, A.I. does make our lives easier. I want to educate myself more on the reality and dangers of the world that is ahead of us.
• What I’ve learned: Within a few years time A.I. will be commonplace within the household, in cafes, grocery stores and transportation. Although A.I. will boost the economy and take us to what seems to be a promising new era, it could very well lead to our demise, seeking to destroy the greatest threat to peace: humans.
• Length: 9 hr 17 min
• Status: 100%

Einstein: His Life and Universe

• Category: Autobiography
• Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• What it’s about: About the life and genius of Albert Einstein
• Why this book: I’ve been wanting to get through this book for years, but 700+ page book is daunting for even the most avid of readers. Einstein changed everything for the world. He took science and technology to a whole new realm. Because of Einstein’s tenacious appetite for discovery the world would change dramatically.
• What I’ve learned: It takes a lot of work to be the best something even with natural talent. It takes time and utlimately your life. Einstein lived and breathed science. His discoveries changed the world into the one we know now with iPhones and space travel. The author, Walter Isaacson (same author that covered Steve Jobs life) reveals the life and legacy of one of the most influential and brilliant humans that ever lived. My eyes were opened to the stark reality of Einstein’s humaness, the mistakes he made, the profound struggle he had with creation and the idea of God and what his life ultimately meant for mankind.
• Length: 21 hr 32 min
• Status: 75%

It’s Not What You Think

• Category: Faith & Religion
• Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• What it’s about: Being a Christian is about so much more than going to heaven – it’s about what we’re doing here on earth. Jesus came to help people not escape the world, but restore it.
• Why this book: To learn more about what it means to know Jesus and what our purpose is while we are here.
• What I’ve learned: God made this life about relationship. About people helping others. That’s when our lives and world thrive. When we get our minds off ourselves and focus on helping others. Many have given up on the idea of seeking equality in the post modern era, and that’s why we aren’t resting and we aren’t living in harmony. As Christians we aren’t here to simply tell people about the good news and save them from hell, but show them how great life here can truly be, eat with them, break bread with them and make the world a better place together. To restore earth to immaculate form, how it was intended to be.
• Hours: 4 hr 48 min
• Status: 100%

I’d recommend giving audiobooks a try. You’ll find you actually finish your books, and you even get more out of them (when you take notes). It’s like the content upload on the Matrix.