Author Archives: John Walters

Book Review:  In Praise of Paths: Walking Through Time and Nature by Torbjorn Ekelund

This pleasant, well-written book begins with the author’s admission that after he was diagnosed with epilepsy he was no longer allowed to drive. This caused him to rely on walking to take him from place to place. As a result, … Continue reading

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When You Need Time to Think

We are all intent upon the pursuit of our goals, whether we are raising a family, advancing in a career, conducting research, pursuing a degree, or physically traveling from one place to another. However, sometimes so many details can crowd … Continue reading

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Book Review:  A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko

This book reminded me of Bill Bryson’s classic A Walk in the Woods in more ways than one. There is the title, of course, which is meant to be ironic, as Bryson’s was. The expression “a walk in the park” … Continue reading

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Book Review:  A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness by Michael Pollan

The title of this book is from a quote from Being You by Anil Seth: “I open my eyes and a world appears.” It is an inquiry into what human consciousness really is. Pollan starts from a perspective of ignorance … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd

I’ve never read any of Sue Monk Kidd’s books before this one, but then again, she probably hasn’t read any of mine either. Be that as it may, I was drawn to Writing Creativity and Soul because I hoped that … Continue reading

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On Walking

During and immediately after my recent cancer surgery and radiation therapy, I had to put my normal exercise routine (dumbbell weights and power yoga) on hiatus. My oncologist and radiologist emphasized, however, that as much as possible I should continue … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story by Jeffrey Kluger

To me, this new book on the Gemini program is like a blast of nostalgia from the sixties. I was a child during the era of Project Mercury and Project Gemini and a teen when some of the crew of … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Front Street: Resistance and Rebirth in the Tent Cities of Techlandia by Brian Barth

I have great sympathy for the homeless, or as the author of Front Street says is more politically correct, the unhoused. For years, during my road days, I had no dwelling place to call my own. I would simply roll … Continue reading

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Surviving the Doldrums

In days of old, sailors feared the doldrums, also known as the calms, and officially known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Due to a complex meteorological effect in this area, ships in the age of sail often were stranded for … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Picks and Shovels: A Martin Hench Novel by Cory Doctorow

It’s been decades since I became absorbed enough in a novel series to read one book after another as soon as they came out. I thought those days were behind me. But then along came Cory Doctorow and his novels … Continue reading

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