Category: Biography
Reason for hope
Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey (buy from Amazon) by Phillip Berman
Type: Biography Leisure
Author: Jane Goodall
My rating: 5
Book introduction:
This is an auto-biography of an amazing and fascinating woman, Dr. Jane Goodall. Very inspiring individual fighting for a cleaner, safer and better world for people, animal and earth for many generations to come. Dr Jane as she is commonly known, is world reknown for her pioneer research on chimpanzee, our closest cousin in the animal kingdom. This book is about how she started that spirital journey that has allowed her to filfull her curiosity and fascination of Africa, through the same journey, she has gained a deep understanding and appreciation of the relationship of mother nature and human beings. The book also described how devastating that we human being, the smartest animal on earth is not taking care of the planet, instead we are destroying it along with the wonderful diversity of living creatures, and we must do something to reverse such destruction and give mother nature a chance to heal. The message of the book is clearly stated in the title, Reason for hope. Despite all the terrible things that are happening around us in the world, there is still reason for hope and we mustn't give up the fight.
My review:
I bought this book at a seminar given by Dr. Jane while she was in Hong Kong during December 2005. The title of the seminar was "Why I left the forrest of Gombe", it was a very thought provoking and revealing seminar. It described very different situations around the world from the environment that we know and live in every day and yet we are sharing the same planet that we depend on.
I would like to share a few points that I found intriguing from the seminar:
- In the anicent world, senior leaders of the tribes made major decisions of important matters in the interests of the whole tribes collectively not in the interest of some corporate.
- We own and waste so much things today that we don't need. Clothing in any family in a western country for example, is enough for one tribe in Africa. People used to have very simple need and waste very little.
We have seen so much damaged done to our world - all sorts of pollutions, global warming, global climate changes, destruction of environment, cruelty to animals, exploitation of poor countries, aggression of developed countries, rapidly spreading of incurable diseases and the list goes on.
While there exists so many problems in our world, I would like to share with you the reasons for hope as told by Dr. Jane (1) The human brain; (2) The Resilience of nature; (3) The energy and enthusiasum that is found or can be kindled among young people worldwide; and (4) The indomitable human spirit.
When children learn about rights from wrongs, they are determined to do the right things, educate our young ones properly. Mother nature is resilient, we must give her a chance to heal and she will recover. Human beings are intelligent beings, if we can send people to the moon for fun, we can deal with the problems at home.
Dr. Jane kindly signed her autograph on my copy of her book, she wrote - Follow your heart. I hope more people would listen and follow their hearts.
The pleasure of finding things out
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out (buy from Amazon) by Freeman Dyson
Type: Biography
Author:Richard Feynman
My rating: 3
Book introduction:
A collection of short works of a great physicist - Prof Richard Feynman
My review:
I must say, I am not as excited reading this book as some of other books on Richard Feynman that I read. Another book recounting the interesting things that Feynman did in his life. I still prefer Surely you are joking Mr. Feynman.
Double lives, Second chances: The Cinema of Krzysztof Kieslowski
Double Lives, Second Chances: The Cinema of Krzysztof Kieslowski (buy from Amazon) by Annette Insdorf
Type: Biography
Author:Annette Insdorf
My rating: 4
Book introduction:
This is a book dedicated to one of the greatest movie directos - Krzysztof Kieslowski. The book covers all his works, from the first documentary that he made, to the first fiction movie, to the last movie before he retired
My review:
If you are a big fan of Kieslowski, this book is a must. My favourite Kieslowski movies include the Decaloge, Double life of Veronica, Blue, White and Red. It was a absolute delight to be able to write able some of Kieslowski's early work and so I'm on a mission to find these movies.
Old Book review site
To visit our old book review site, click here.
Richard Feynman : A Life in Science
Richard Feynman: A Life in Science (buy from Amazon) by Mary Gribbin
Type: Biography
Author:John Gribbin, Mary Gribbin
My rating: 4
Book introduction:
This is a book on the scientist aspect of Prof. Richard Feynman.
My review:
More lessons from a the great inspiring scientist, this book focuses more on his scientic skills
What Do You Care What Other People Think
What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character (buy from Amazon) by Richard P. Feynman
Type: Biography
Author:Ralph Leighton (Contributor), Richard Phillips Feynman
My rating: 4
Book introduction:
Another great book on Richard Feynman's life, his student life, research life, teaching life. We can all learn so much from him.
My review:
Richard Feynman was known to have the amazing ability to explain the most complicated subject using very simple ways that everyone can understand. A great person that inspires millions.
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) (buy from Amazon) by Albert R. Hibbs
Type: Biography
Author:Edward Hutchings
My rating: 4
Buy now Barnes And Noble online
Search again for
Type(s): Biography
Other similar books: The Art of the Long View, The pleasure of finding things out, 1421 The Year China Discovered The World, Deception Point, Digital Fortress, more
Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
A book about the life of a great person, teacher, physicist Prof. Richard Feynman. This book isn't about his research, it is about how he spent his life so fully.
My review:
Very inspiring individual, Richard Feynman is a great role model.