recommended reading

Here, in descending order, are my top recommendations from my 2007 reading.

1. Jimmy Corrigan, the smartest kid on earth by Chris Ware
find out more here
"the best graphic novel I have read, some of the pictures present complex familial histories in a way I have never seen before, a great central character and depth of emotion"

2. Agile Estimating and Planning.
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"a great and hugely pragmatic book for those looking to adopt an agile method for software development"

3. Imperium by Robert Harris
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"an easy but gripping read with a powerful attention to detail that brings life to ancient Rome"

4. The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell
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"comprehensive, clear and good science that makes for a convincing argument regarding nutrition"

In 2005 just one work of fiction made it into my top 5, last year it was three, in 2007 it falls back to two. In 2007 I read 28 books (13 fiction, 16 non fiction) [2006-35 books(19 fiction, 16 non-fiction), 2005-35 books (5 fiction, 30 non-fiction)].

Of the 28 I read this year 6 were graphic novels so overall my reading has reduced a little and the amount of fiction I have read has increased also, both good things.



Complete 2007 reading list ...
Listed below are the books I read in 2007, books in bold type may also be worth a look.

Flashman in the great game - George MacDonald Frazier
The Acme Novelty Library Vol. 16 - Chris Ware
Quimby the Mouse - Chris Ware
The Acme Novelty Library - Chris Ware
Ice Haven - Daniel Clowes
The Acme Novelty Library Vol. 17 - Chris Ware
How to Haiku - Bruce Ross
Presense - Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joespeh Awonski, Betty-Sue Flowers
The Great Learning - Master Nan Huai Chin
Pompeii - Robert Harris
The 10 minute coach - Fiona Harris
5 Myths of Consumer Behaviour - Csaba Tarnai
The manual of the warrior of light - Paulo Coelho
The inmates are running the asylum - Alan Cooper
The Coaching Bible - MacDonald Jago
Pilgrimage: Adventures of the Spirit - Editied by Jean & James O'Reilly
Happiness: Lessons from a new science - Richard Layaard
The illustrated encyclopedia of Buddhist Wisdom - Gill Farmer Halls
Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching - Aldis & Lombardo
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
You can heal your life - Louise L Hay
Can do, how to achieve personal change and growth - Ben Tiggelaar
The Devil and Miss Prym - Paulo Coelho
The form of things - A.C. Grayling
Veronkia Decide to die - Paulo Coelho
The Valkyries - Paulo Coelho
The Zahir - Paulo Coelho
The 3 signs of a miserable job - Patrick Lencioni
Round Ireland with a Fridge - Tony Hawkes


For more information ...
2006 recommended reading
2005 recommended reading

myth of return

Take me back to those flooded deltas,
To the minarets of Mullaghmore.
Where fiddles play during Diwali
And Aid El Keibar in Kilfinoir.

Bring me to the crossroads
Where sitars play at saris glance.
A game of handball with the lads
Or perhaps kabbadi before the dance.

Teach me Hindi, Urdu and Irish
And we will speak as we did before,
When we left like parting lovers
In those yesterdays of dreams foretold.

Let me sing to Siddartha as Dev once did,
See Jesus and Krishna swap stories through the night.
May the women and men feel free in their love
Until the golden dawn, until the morning light.

But in the morning light day break delusions,
Dreams soon pass and reality will burn.
For Castlebar or Bangalore
We've dreamt once again this myth of return.
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Written in July of 1994 and inspired by a study that revealed the Irish and Bangladeshis have the strongest sense of one day returning to their homeland. It contains a mix of Irish, Indian, Muslim, historical and geological references and I felt it was appropriate to post it given our imminent return to Ireland.

In places the words fail to scan and the lyric quality stumbles but I have decided to leave it in its original form.

What our return holds I don't know but we will be living close to a crossroads.