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At Optimnem, our goal is to promote better thinking and
learning skills. Books can be fantastic educational tools and resources, so each
week we add new reviews for titles that we feel enrich perspective, enhance
imagination and nurture strategic and contextual thinking. We also review
standard educational and reference texts.
Fiction
'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee
Harper Lee's only novel is rightly lauded throughout the world as a classic.
A heart-felt story of two children growing up in the American South during the
thirties economic depression, it chronicles their witness of the small town's
widespread and ugly prejudice, ignorance and bigotry. Throughout it all, the
children are taught how to distinguish opinion from fact, to respect and love
others and to consider other perspectives and ideas...
'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Little Prince is author Saint-Exupery's most famous work; it is also one
of the most successful and best-selling titles in the world. It's easy enough to
see why: delightful prose, rich imagery and metaphor, beautiful illustrations,
simple yet profound...
'Catcher In The Rye' by J.D.Salinger
When 'Catcher in the Rye' was first published in 1951, it garnered
considerable controversy for its open (some said obscene) and jarring nature.
Salinger's observation of the human condition is a profound and moving one. Its
contentiousness says more about the time in which it was first published, than
the content of the book itself...
'Animal Farm' by George Orwell
Is society always run in the best interests of its citizens? Can overarching
dogmas - such as Communism - deliver the kind of utopia claimed for it? These
are just a couple of the important questions addressed by this fascinating
novel...
'The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam' translated by Edward Fitzgerald
Khayyam's quatrains possess the headiness of the Sufi debates prevalent
during his times (1048-1122). In one quatrain, he asks why, if the vine is
forbidden, is it allowed to exist. The main arguments of the Rubaiyat however
concern the mortality of life and the destiny of man...
'Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix' by J.K.Rowling
Harry Potter is author J.K.Rowling's much-adored literary creation; he's also
one of the most successful and best-selling titles in the world. 'Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix' is book number 5 in Rowling's seven-part series,
and the longest to-date..
Non-Fiction
'Emotional Intelligence' by Daniel Goleman
Journalist Daniel Goleman's 'Emotional Intelligence' is a well-researched and
carefully presented case for the idea that intelligence is more complex and
important than current 'IQ' measures allow for. In short, Goleman states that IQ
measures are inadequate as determiners of an individual's future success (or
happiness). This book instead suggests that qualities such as altruism,
self-awareness and empathy are more useful...
'Oxford Spanish Dictionary' by Beatriz Jarman
The Oxford Spanish Dictionary boasts more than three hundred thousand words
and phrases and half a million translations. Its coverage is truly extensive;
everything from aerospace to letter writing, business to text messaging. Best of
all, its easy-use format helps make it the perfect reference guide for expert
and beginner Spanish and English learner alike...
'Pocket Oxford Hachette French
Dictionary'
The Pocket Oxford Hachette French Dictionary includes more than
ninety-thousand word and phrase entries for contemporary French and English. An
easy-read format makes its extensive content accessible and user-friendly.
Grammar and template supplements are included and make for a helpful and
interesting addition to the book...
'Spanish Short Stories' by Gudie Lawaetz
'Spanish Short Stories' is a voluminous collection of short stories from the
Spanish-speaking world. The writing is diverse and lively, the writers range
from Mexican and Argentine to Cuban and Peruvian...
'French Stories' by Wallace Fowlie
'French Stories' is an impressive compilation of ten French short
stories by authors as celebrated as Flaubert, Gide, Baudelaire and De Maupassant.
A dual-language book, the original French is accompanied throughout by an
up-to-date English translation...
'German Short Stories' by David Constantine
'German Short Stories' is an eight-strong collection of short stories from a
diverse range of celebrated twentieth-century German writers. The writing is
varied, thoughtful and engaging, representing a wide range of literal, political
and historical backgrounds..
'How to Prepare for the SAT 1' by Sharon Weiner Green
SAT 1 - How to Prepare for the SAT 1' is a comprehensive and accessible
collection of review materials for students preparing to take their SAT 1 exams...
'Roget's International Thesaurus'
The word 'Thesaurus' comes from Greek, meaning: a
treasury or storehouse. And a
treasury of words is always handy in any situation...
'Elements
of Style' by William Strunk Jr.
A brief but inspired tract on the elements of better English writing,
Strunk's perennial masterpiece remains a favourite of authors and literature
students everywhere...
'Orthodoxy' by G. K. Chesterton
'Orthodoxy' is a rich, thoughtful attempt at an explanation and
defence of the deeper ideas and values which underlie Christian thought and
faith. Chesterton argues forcefully for the place of intuition, feeling, romance
and ideals in thinking and sane reflection. Imagination, states Chesterton, is
saner and healthier even than logic or rationality...
'Mother Tongue' by Bill Bryson
'Mother Tongue' is an entertaining look at the English language by travel
journalist and writer Bill Bryson. This is an enthusiastic overview of the
complexities and eccentricities of English, as well as a look at its origins,
history and place in today's multilingual world...
'Playing Winning Chess' by Yasser Seirawan
Seirawan is an International chess Grandmaster. He is also a fine writer for
the game, and an enthusiastic exponent. In this book, aimed primarily at
beginners and newcomers to chess, the author attempts to explain the game's key
rules, strategies and points of play...
'Sophie's World' by Jostein Gaarder
Gaarder is a Norwegian former philosophy teacher, so it should come as no
surprise to the reader, that the central theme of this bestseller is as an
introduction to philosophic enquiry down the ages....
 
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