How to Win Friends & Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
I actually finished this book a week ago, but haven’t been able to figure out if I liked it or not. The advice given simultaneously makes sense and also seems insincere and shallow. After a week, I’ve decided it’s both. Applied to simply “getting ahead” it is shallow. However, the techniques are powerful if you are genuine in your interest. My only concern is that the lessons from this book are so well known, they have become cliches for someone trying to “get something out of you”.
Dragons of a Vanished Moon by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
This concludes the War of Souls trilogy. Compared to other Weis and Hickman stories, this one requires an ending that appears to come out of nowhere. In their other Dragonlance sagas, the means of resolution was planted early and allowed to grow naturally. This had the feeling of the authors reallizing they needed to end a trilogy after 2-1/2 books were written. This is not to say the book or series was unenjoyable. It just wasn’t satisfying enough in retrospect.
Dragons of a Lost Star by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
The War of Souls continues. The plot spans continents and numerous main characters aren’t given enough room to be fleshed out. It’s also getting clear that Weis and Hickman keep having to one-up the previous earth-shattering events from their previous Dragonlance series. The difficulty in doing so shows - there is a point where there needs to be too much suspension of disbelief on the reader’s part.
Dragons of a Fallen Sun by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
If you like the Draginlance series of books, this one is a worthy addition. It sets up a number of new characters and gives them a good plotline. I will quibble that subtelty was never a strongsuit of Weis and Hickman - here you are beat over the head with the almost-certain identity of the “secret” villains that their unmasking is anti-climactic.
Chess for Kids by Michael Basman
This is a nice introduction to chess geared to kids. I would highly recommend it. I’m still searching for a book for parent’s on how to teach their young ones (3-year olds) to play. So far, this book is giving me the basis on how to do so.