Five Great Books... Five Quick Reviews

Due to my vacation and just general busy-ness, I haven't posted any reviews for a while.  So - I have five book recommendations to share.  There's probably something here for everyone!

The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
I actually read the updated version of this book, which as been on my TBR list since I read his amazing Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World.
I could have certainly written an extended review on this one, as I have a LOT of thoughts (and shared most of them with Jeff as I went along)... instead I'll just say that this book is chock full of both really great life advice and really wacky life advice.  Tim Ferriss is an oddball to be sure, but this book serves as a fantastic reminder that there can be alternate realities where we are truly living our best life and break the 9-5 barrier.  I like my career and I'm not sure what I might do with some of the takeaways here, but I've definitely still got this book on my mind despite having finished it weeks ago.
Oh, and one of my favorite insights of his was that someone's success is largely dependent on the uncomfortable conversations they are willing to have.  I'm not sure if that's 100% true for everyone, but it has certainly been my experience!  

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Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West
My goodness, I had heard so many consistent rave reviews about this debut!  Set in the south side of Chicago, this novel explored race relations but certainly family relations.  The theme seemed to be that people are messed because their parents were messed up (and THEIR parents messed THEM up!)  It also had a pretty fascinating whodunit element that I really liked (sometimes my fiction choices trick me because they're actually mysteries DISGUISED as fiction.)  
I'd recommend this if you are in the mood for a really meaningful work that's going to depress you.  Have a chaser ready.

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Open Book by Jessica Simpson.
Oh, check it out - I wrote a legit review of this book here.

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All Things Reconsidered:  How Rethinking What We Know Helps Us Know What We Believe by Knox McCoy
A book club pick!  Thanks, me!  (It actually sucks to be the one who makes the recommendation because then you're constantly worried that everyone will hate your choice.)
I love Knox McCoy (although he has a podcast and I've never listened, so I guess I'm not a true fan but I'm not really doing the podcast thing, I'm doing the listen-to-mindless-music-and-tune-out thing.)
I really enjoyed this majorly quick read, but I will say that this is actually just a book of essays he published and then tried to build a theme around them.  The reconsidering piece didn't really play out, in my personal opinion.  That said, I was awarded with big laughs and much to think about, so that's a win for me.  I hope everyone else didn't hate it.

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I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections by Nora Ephron
I just dearly loved Ephron's "I Feel Bad About My Neck" to I decided to quickly download another of her essays.  It was just another hysterical fun book that served as brain candy and a wonderful chaser for a book like Saving Ruby King.  Nora Ephron was sassy, sharp, and so funny.  We lost her too soon!  I plan to read everything she's touched.

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Up Next:  I just started a big one that my sister and bestie have urged me to read for a million years, and I also am FLYING through a courtroom drama.  What are YOU reading?