Great Day Every Day

Despite all the talent, all the blessings, all the many things that we are given on a daily basis, so many of us are bogged down, focused on the stuff we don't like. Sometimes we're bogged down by something truly serious: a death, an illness, a bankruptcy. Most of the time though, it's the minutiae that gets us down. A traffic jam, a headache, an annoying co-worker, or a frustrating spouse.

Is is possible to have a "great day every day," in spite of our problems - large or small? That's the premise of this fantastic new book from Max Lucado.

Granted, I'm a huge fan of Lucado's work, but this one is truly excellent. It's a challenge to live a joyful, passion-filled life, no matter what you may be facing - and it gives the tools to accomplish that goal.

The writing is beautiful and the examples deep. I read the whole book aloud to my husband, and it provided loads of discussion and food for thought. I highly recommend this book for your 2012 reading list.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

Surprised by Laughter

I had just finished reading C.S. Lewis’s autobiographical “Surprised by Joy” when I came across this book. Something noticeable throughout Lewis’s work is his contagious sense of humor and his comedic outlook on life and humanity. The sheer brilliance of his work often overshadows the incredible wit that is infused throughout his writings. Terry Lindvall, PhD, offers quite a fascinating look at this side of Lewis that seems (to me) under appreciated.

Unfortunately, the first few chapters are dusty dry it’s almost ridiculous. It’s just strange that a book written about the humor of Lewis could be so lacking in mirth whatsoever.

It is, however, an interesting look at the life and work of C.S. Lewis – that is, once you get to the third or fourth chapter. Lindvall’s work is a good one. I did enjoy the book, though readers should be forewarned that it is not, overall, a funny book. If you want wit and humor, spend your time reading Lewis’s own work rather than this dissection of it.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

“Head First HTML5 Programming: Building Web Apps with JavaScript” by Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Robson

This isn’t a reference book. It’s a step-by-step guide - complete with exercises - that will set you well on your way to programming in JavaScript with the knowledge necessary to build outstanding websites. Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Robson, co-founders of Wickedly Smart, have put together quite a comprehensive introduction to working with HTML5.

If you’re new to JavaScript, this book is a great introduction. The book is aimed at beginners, and thus, it offers (I believe) a helpful focus on programming fundamentals while leaving the reader with a practical and workable understanding of the core material. The authors are clear from the start, however, that they do expect readers to have a decent grasp of HTML4 and CSS before launching into this book.

The Head First series takes an interesting approach to teaching, using lots of puzzles, pictures and gaming techniques to help readers grasp and master the various concepts. Perhaps not everyone will find this approach helpful or conducive to learning; however, I found it made the learning process enjoyable.

An aspect that I particularly appreciated was the very relevant, believable examples used throughout. By using interesting, yet realistic, examples, the writers have made it easy to translate concepts into every-day application.

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