Pushing the Limits: Life, Marathons & Kokoda written by Kurt Fearnley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two weeks ago Champion Australian wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley won his fifth New York Marathon. This book is a touching reflection on his life, his trying sport, and the immense challenge that anybody would face completing Kokoda – let alone from someone moving without the assistance of their legs. It’s quite a talent that in a book I could relate so much with Kurt, yet find so much inspiration from his amazing efforts. It touches you, informs you, and leaves you warm with satisfaction that the world is a better place for hearing from this Aussie character achieving his dreams.

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Future Perfect: The Case for Progress in a Networked Age written by Steven Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Despite Johnson never using the term ‘New World Order’, he highlights very well some of the scenarios where networking and social technologies have revolutionised how society has now learned to organise in the face of new challenges. He also sketches out an interesting future we could enter if we continue to embrace some of the best organising principles that he brings from fascinating success stories. ‘Future Perfect’ successfully shows that there is a large current of change possible if we embrace the benefits that could come from seeing and living a new world order. I’m in!

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The Light Between Oceans written by M.L. Stedman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a touching tale. Such beauty. Such poise. Such a curious journey. I found myself so drawn to the characters, that, with each new circumstance, I reflected if I’d have done the same. I enjoyed this novel immensely.

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War Horse (War Horse, #1) written by Michael Morpurgo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this with the kids. Such a wonderful, beautiful story. We were enthralled from start to end, and felt each twist and turn very personally.

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Do the Work written by Steven Pressfield
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

There were some great messages, and it was well-structured advice from start to end. Tho once finished I can’t help but wonder, Is that it!? Seems more of a high level presentation than an informative guide.

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Joyland written by Stephen King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’ve always considered Stephen King a master of stories featuring surprising characters and gripping events. Joyland took me completely back in time into the interesting world of carnies. It was enjoyable from cover to cover, with the right amount of suspense and soul.

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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values (Phaedrus, #1) written by Robert M. Pirsig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn’t gain a great handle on Zen or motorcycle maintenance. Tho I thoroughly enjoyed the road trip through philosophy, and the role of Quality and how it enlightens our lives – if we allow it.

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Steve Jobs (The Exclusive Biography) written by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good insight into the genius and personality behind products and services we take for granted today. It filled some gaps in my knowledge, and strengthened some opinions I’d already made. A book is so much simpler to read when you know half the story already.

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Outliers: The Story of Success written by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Outliers. After reading it, I may go back and explore Gladwell’s more famous titles. In Outliers, Gladwell uses the benefit of hindsight to take the shine off the magic of success. He argues that success is often nothing more than circumstance, whether it is through culture, history, opportunity, or legacy. He presents an interesting range of cited examples, demonstrating that success is often down to one critical element, for example, the power of 10,000 hours of practice, or being born close enough to the start of the year, and so on. Depending on how you look at it, Outliers opens up the possibility to our own success, or closes the same door. Either way, it provides fascinating food for thought – particularly to hopeful parents of future hockey champions.

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For Crying Out Loud! (World According to Clarkson, #3) written by Jeremy Clarkson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this holiday-reading book, altho quite a bit of the content is now outdated, and I missed a lot of the many references to UK celebrities or politicians. Clarkson has an enjoyable writing style, bouncing between exaggeration, insight, and sarcasm. And he tells a tale with perfect lead up and description, making me laugh out loud all too often.

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