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TL; TR: An Abundance of Katherines

May 27, 2015
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So I read a lot of John Green books. He’s one of the few authors I make an exception for because I generally read nonfiction booksTL; TR.

You get to book 4 of John Green, and you kind of know how it goes. You would think that I would get tired from reading the similar patterns.. John Green never ceases to surprise me with the careful and meticulous research he puts into every book he writes. Maybe this is why I read them. They are fictional, yet the research is so real- it’s close to nonfiction. Or maybe I just like to read them. Every book has a lot of research background, right? Right.

Anyhow, An Abundance of Katherines goes along the same lines of boy-likes-girl, girl-likes-boy, high-school-drama-esque. There’s the underage drinking, road trips and general store hangouts. But there are other things that come into play, like a Theorem. The Theorem that theoretically predicts the longevity of a relationship. And other things like shooting guns, visiting warehouses and a pink mansion. Your typical young adult novel.

What I loved about An Abundance of Katherines, and maybe love is a strong word…I thoroughly liked this book is that it’s not just about teenage love drama. It never is. John Green books are always reflective with not just your boy-girl relationships, but relationships with people around you in general. As I usually do, here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book (sorry if this gives any spoilers!):

What matters to you defines your mattering.

Do you ever wonder whether people would like you more or less if they could see inside you? But I always wonder about that. If people could see me the way I see myself- if they could live in my memories- would anyone, anyone love me?

You’re not boring. You’ve got to stop saying that, or people will start believing you.

The future will erase everything- there’s no level of fame or genius that allows you to transcend oblivion. The infinite future makes that kind of mattering impossible. But there’s another way. There are stories.

What has this book taught me? Go on a road trip.

TL; TR: Whatever You Think Think The Opposite

February 26, 2015
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tltr whatever you think think the oppositeFinally, another book I can add to this category (re: Too Long; Thu Reads). Although I’m still reading it, I know I will finish it in two seconds-there are only 136 pages. When I became aware of this book, I had no idea what it was about. All I knew was: 1) it should be on my reading list and 2) it’s apparently awesome. I took the plunge and bought [the print] copy! It’s full of pictures, so I think print copy is the way to go.

How would I describe this book? It’s a little bit of inspiration, a little bit of history, a little bit of advertising, and a little bit of humor. Rightly so, because author Paul Arden is a former executive creator at Saatchi & Saatchi.

Preface: The pictures go better with the words, but here are little snippets from the book:

Trapped. It’s not because you are making the wrong decisions, it’s because you are making the right ones. We try to make sensible decisions based on the facts in front of us. The problem with making sensible decisions is that so is everyone else.

Call yourself an artist. How you present yourself is how others will value you.

Even a bad idea executed is better than a good idea undone.

It’s better to regret what you have done than what you haven’t.

Some of these statements and stories are daring, but isn’t that what risk and life is about?

TL; TR: Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grown-Up

October 29, 2014
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Let me paint a picture of what it looks like when you graduate college: someone pushes you off a ledge and you land in a large swimming hole.
If you’re lucky, they’ll tell you “good luck.” But as you swim for air and reach the surface, no one is around.

JUST KIDDING. Sort of. Sometimes graduating (esp. when you don’t come out with a job offer), can be daunting, exhausting, and a little confusing. It was…and still is for me. I feel a little lost, down, and confused. And I’ve been waiting for this book since the announcement of its existence. I needed a guidebook and damn, the word “GUIDE” is in the title! (Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grown-Up)

GG_TLTR

Travel advice (make sure you have deodorant),
Hangover advice,
“Walk of shame” advice,
“How to make friends as an adult” advice,
Interview advice (put on some deodorant),

ADVICE! And anecdotes so I don’t feel like I’m the only dummy feeling the things. Grace Helbig is a dummy right there with me! Since “How to Be a Classy Drunk,” I have joined the Internet crowd and accepted her as my awkward older sister. When I met her IRL, I knew I had to get the book. If I didn’t, I felt like a bad friend. You know? (Team Internet would know.)

For those who don’t know who a YouTuber is, where the f– have you been? Regardless, you’re probably a 20-something girl/boy who needs some real advice…and real laughs. Who doesn’t like to laugh? Let me try and convince you with some golden advice (excerpts from Grace’s Guide):

Wrap yourself up in a blanket and roll around the floor like a human taco. (Re: How to deal with anxiety)

Macachos: Mac ‘n’ cheese nachos. (Hello Grace? Thank you.)

A good one that has hit home for me is: As long as you didn’t visibly piss or poop yourself, it was a GREAT interview. Move on. It sounds superficial and “duh-duoy,” but the search is hard and it can feel defeating. This statement puts it back into perspective and helps me move on.

Also, margaritas can cure all of the struggles. And always, ALWAYS pack deodorant.

For my chums who don’t have the funds to buy the book (I understand): support and watch her YT Channel: It’s Grace. REAL LAUGHS.

GG_Collage

Does she know, or does she know?!

TL;TR: #GIRLBOSS

October 22, 2014
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GIRLBOSS

I’m extending the “Too Long; Thu Reads” category to books from now on. You could label this is a book review, but it’s more of a book summary with notes and thoughts. …Wait, did I just define “book review?” Whatever, go with it.

I just finished reading #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso, CEO and founder of a little company called Nasty Gal. It’s just an online fashion retail store that’s known to all millennial girls and some big-time businesspeople, no big deal. With release (May 2014) of #GIRLBOSS and general badassery, she’s been the talk of the town. She has that story: girl steals stuff, girl starts eBay store, girl turns into CEO and girlboss of her own multi-millionaire company. Typical, right?

As some book reviews have mentioned, it’s not much of an entrepreneurial book and I agree with that. It can be paired with one, but it’s not an entrepreneurial book on its own. This book is more of a memoir/guide/motivational tool/straight-talk-type book. Sophia shares her personal story- slip-up’s, steals, victories, and all. She’ll get real with you (i.e. KNOW yourself before going into an interview, shitty jobs can teach you something, hone your craft). And at the end of each chapter, there’s a portrait of a girlboss like Leandra Medine, blogger of Manrepeller or Jenné Lombardo, founder of the Terminal Presents. They also share their story, how they find themselves to be a girlboss, and share some advice like…

Get excited for the mistakes you’ll make.

Be humble. Never forget where you come from. And always be polite. Good old-fashioned manners can get you very far.

I respect Sophia, and I respect all of the girlbosses featured in this book. Sophia is a girlboss and she works damn hard to be a girlboss. This is something she conveys throughout the book. She thinks about her customers a lot, she pays attention to the details, and doesn’t take shit from anyone. I may or may not have geeked out because she references Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin. It’s clear she does her homework, and knows her stuff.

TL;DR? It’s a quick read, will sometimes feel like a slap in the face, and definitely fits the target of millennials (aka me).

The world loves to tell you how difficult things are, and the world’s not exaggerating…But difficult doesn’t mean impossible, and out of the bajillion of things in this universe that you can’t control, what you can control is how hard you try, and if or when to pack it in.

Stay awake and stay alive.

The holy grail is yours for the taking.

Too Long; Thu Reads | Vol. 2

October 15, 2014
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too long; thu reads

Some might call this “Vol. Thu.”

Enough with the jokes, let’s get down to this article business. I’m going a little out of order today, things came up.

Five Articles, Five Links, Five Summaries:

  • How Jenna Lyons Transformed J. Crew Into a Cult Brand (via Fast Company)
    Notes:
    Even as a native creative, she finds interest in the business side of things. Rare.
    Attention to detail = important to Jenna.
    Design reigns supreme.
  • Be Bossy (An interview with Founder of Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso)
    Notes:
    Some might say that “she’s the realest.”
    Tells me that I’m not entitled to anything- true.
    Shitty jobs might save you, which is comforting in a weird way…
    Convinced me to read #GIRLBOSS. I never thought I would read any book with a hashtag, but here I am.
  • Ron Swanson Quotes
    Notes:
    There was a time when I read a lot of Thought Catalog.
    “Breakfast can serve many purposes.” and 42 more quotes for your perusing pleasure.
  • Life is like a Great Bicycle Race
    Notes:
    Start- we’re all together, camaraderie and enthusiasm. Then comes the real challenge, tiredness, and doubt. Is it worthwhile? Yes, of course.
  • How to Make Perfect Coffee
    Notes:
    There are a lot of rules, measurements, graphs, etc.
    I gathered: 30g dry coffee & 523g of water.
    Basics: Good beans, store properly, grind just before brew, use quality tools.

Thanks for reading, hope you learned something. See ya next time!

Too Long; Thu Reads | Vol. 1

July 15, 2014
A101
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So, I have this folder on my Bookmarks Bar called, “To Read.”
As you know, I do read a lot/most things, but not everything (who can though?). I also Bookmark things so that I can read it later…
…well it’s piled up and I have a feeling that something in the folder could help me in the job search or self-esteem or creative rut, etc.

To clean up this folder and keep my learning gears running, I’m going to commit to reading 5 articles, writing notes, hyperlinking them, and posting them on here. I think I’m going to call this series “TL;TR,” which means “Too Long; Thu Reads.” I’ll do it weekly until I run out of articles.

too long; thu reads

Sorry if you’ve seen these links from X years ago, X months ago, X days ago. I’ve had this folder for a while. I also don’t remember how I’ve come across some of these articles, soooo. And last disclaimer or preface because I just read the first article in this folder: This is super revealing of what I Bookmark, and I feel vulnerable.

With that said, here are my first 5 articles, starting from the very top, enjoy!

  • My Posthumous Advice for My Daughter
    Notes: Be nice.
    Nine times out of ten, you’re not having a full-on nervous breakdown (this is true).
    Choose your friends. Ask questions.
    Life stories categorize themselves in “amazing, enjoyable times” or “appalling experiences that will make future amazing anecdotes.”
    “Host extravagantly, love constantly, and dance in comfortable shoes.”
  • In 20 Words or Less, What’s Your Creative Philosophy?
    Notes: This article asks San Francisco creatives…because it’s from the SF Egoist.
    This article has a ton of creative philosophies, this is probably why I stopped reading *scrolls and scrolls and scrolls.*
    I like the people at Argonaut, how do I get there?
    Notable creative philosophies: Creativity isn’t chronological. -Conal O’Doherty, Head of Growth at Argonaut
    Encompassing philosophy: Collaboration.
  • REALiSM
    Notes: This article features a collection of graphics that depict…realism. It’s worth scrolling through if you’re not looking for something text-heavy. Lots of 20th Century vs. 21st Century comparisons.
  • Kat Cole: From Hooters Girl to the Corner Office
    Notes: Under 40 years old, and she’s running Cinnabon. Um, okay. Before 25, she was traveling internationally to oversee global management training, working [corporate] for Hooters. It’s one of those stories, but who doesn’t love a good story?
  • 11 Life Lessons You Get From Shopping at Target
    Notes: Well this is a touch embarrassing, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t an avid ThoughtCatalog reader a couple of years ago. It’s a black hole that can suck you in if you’re not careful. I had to know what these “life lessons” could be, I had no idea there was anything to learn from shopping at Target except for the fact that it is also a black hole. I never get anything I’m supposed to at this place…and this is basically what the article talks about.

So…this was longer than I intended. Maybe I’ll just do one-liners next time? Thoughts? Concerns? Comments? Leave something below as I read the next 5 articles, and prep for next week!