The Book Review: 7/12 July Edition 

Freakonomics

by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

This book has been an eye opener, to say the least. Its difficult to pick out the chapters of the book that shocked me most or rather taught me more about the world around me. Its pretty safe to say I was never a numbers person so I met this book with some apprehension (I was scared I was going to get lost in a world of numbers and the economic history of the world) but in fact once getting past the first few pages I quickly realised this book would teach me more about about life and economics that no amount of high school education could have taught me. Steven D Levitt an economist by profession explored economics in every walk of life which is exactly what this book is about; how we work with incentives and making sense of certain situations statistically. This has to be one of the most thought provoking books I have read in a long time, also refreshingly smart and easy to read.

The Book Review: 5/12 May Edition 

Blink : The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

by Malcolm Gladwell

I LOVED this book, once you start reading its impossible to put down and I figured out the reason. Its a book (clearly) about your psychological state when making decisions, I related to the findings in this book because the examples used were situations that can and has happened to everyone once in their life (give or take a few examples). I also loved that not only was I learning from the book but taking what I had read and putting it in to action as Ive be known to be a procrastinator! So get reading, this set to change you into Miss/ Mr action instead of Miss Procrastinator.

The Book Review 3/12 March Edition:

The Girl on the Train

by

Paula Hawkins

I had this book ordered and at my door step in the first week of March, and in the first week because of my hectic schedule (even though I read every night) I only managed to get through the first 20 pages of the book. That week I was so busy that I only managed to get through a couple pages before I had nodded off. The following week I was busy again and had to prepare for a number of things including packing for my holiday, shattered again I only managed a few pages a night. My many attempts at trying to read more every night made me realise that I was more invested in the story than I was allowing time for. By the time I had got on holiday with only a week and a half before the month ended I was pretty sure I wouldn't complete the book even with an impending week full of sunbathing time. To my surprise, by the time I had landed at London Heathrow I had read every page and wanted more! The book is well written and has such thrilling sections you just can't put the book down. Now without giving to much away, the novel is about three relationships that are oddly tangled by the death of a Megan the girl Rachel had been noticing through the window of the train she used to catch to and from work. The relationships get far more twisted and estranged further into the book until the Megans mystery death is eventually solved. This is an EPIC read, a novel you just wont be able to put down, in fact I wanted more at the end, to see how the characters coped in the following months after the revelation. You can buy the Hardcover on Amazon Prime for £6. 

I have been searching high and low for my next read and decided to go for an old classic that I've never got around to reading - Harper Lees, To kill a Mockingbird which is only £4.89 on Amazon Prime. If anyone has already read this or wants to join me in reading this book by the end of the month please let me know we can all make an online reading club and discuss! :) I will try and do this in the following months with the new books I read too!

The Book Review

The Shoe Book - Assouline
Nancy MacDonell 

I was given this book as a leaving present from my old job and since, I have used it more than most of the other books on my book shelf (and there are alot of books on those shelves), so the secrets out - I love a good book, whether its a riveting novel or a good old coffee book. Assouline are well known publishers for their luxurious, graphically dynamic books on fashion, design culture and Life Style, so as soon as I unwrapped the shoe silhouette wrapping paper from the book I was grateful and impressed by how well my colleagues knew me.  Well designed books are my thing - I’m a perfectionist when it comes to page setups - I get a nervous twitch when I notice things aren't straight, in line or order - some might call it OCD (or CDO if I had it my way - ha!) but I reassure myself that its just one of my quirks. This book sits comfortably within the coffee book genre which is one reason why I love it, here are 5 more reasons:

1 Great inspiration for designing.

2 It’s in essence a picture book with great qoutes from Celebs, Footwear and Fashion Designers. (Whats not to like about that - everyone loves a good qoute to start their day right)

3 The front cover is extremely lux (sort of cushiony - I wouldn't expect anything less of Assouline) so it makes for a great present to a shoe fanatic and on that note reasonably priced.

4 Beautifully made and designed - The content is varied stretching between the first style of shoe designed to modern day shoes and sneakers including eras that influenced the footwear industry. (all makes for short interesting reads to relax with)

5 All the images are well referenced so you can have a little search online if you are particularly intrigued or curious about any of the shoes featured in the book.

So what are you waiting for? Grab that coffee and head to your nearest book store, or better still grab a copy and find your favourite reading nook.

Publisher
Assouline

Author/Writer
Nancy Macdonell

Instagram

@assouline

Twitter

@assoulinepub

Stockists UK

Stores

London - Claridges

London - Piccadilly 

(a.k.a Maison Assouline - The first international flagship store - idyllic reading space)

Waterstones (selected stores)

OR

Online

Amazon

Waterstones

Price

Amazon (online) - £32
Waterstones (online) - £32