Shadows in Bronze - by Lindsey Davis

The adventures of Marcus Didius Falco as a "private informer" and his romantic pursuit of Helena Justina make a good story in themselves. The setting in ancient Rome - or specifically in the Roman Empire - give it an interesting twist. I also have reasonable faith in the author's integrity. So I have some confidence that I am learning something as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the series.

Presentations for Dummies - by Malcolm Kushner

Another book I have been reading in preparation for a session I am running at work next week.

My experience is that Dummies books are very variable - obviously depends upon the author. But when they're good, they're often very good. This is such an example. There is hardly a page that doesn't have a good idea or some new insight. Even as a very experienced presenter, learned a lot from this book.

It is not without humour, of course. I particularly enjoyed:

There are 3 types of presenter: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened.

An old philosopher's advice to presenters: speak up to be heard; stand up to be seen; shut up to be enjoyed.

A Japanese proverb: Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis.

I was recommended Lindsey Davis' book a while ago and read the first in the Falco series, The Silver Pigs, which I enjoyed. Didius Falco is a kind of private detective in the Roman Empire, which I think is an interesting idea. This book carries on where the last left off [but I think it could be read by itself].

Inconceivable - by Ben Elton

I enjoyed the style and form of this book. In many ways it reminds me of Bridget Jones.

Sam is one of these people who is very taken with all the trappings of being successful, but doesn't seem to have grasped [early in the book] that, to be successful, you have to do an exceptional job of something.

Lucy is totally obsessed with the idea of having a baby. My observation is that such single-mindedness is not uncommon. As a man, I put it down to hormones. I would like to hear a woman's perspective on this book.

I thought that the self-referential nature of the book was curious. Sam is writing the screenplay for a movie with the name Inconceivable. It reminded me of How to be Good, where a book of that name is being written.

Elton did not disappoint me. It's a good read and I was in there right up to the end. And it does have a satisfactory ending - particularly when you realize that the story isn't really about Sam and Lucy trying to have a baby.

Present Yourself! - by Michael J. Gelb

I don't recall where exactly I got this book or why I chose it. My guess is that I saw a good review somewhere. Looking at the mug-shot of the author on the back, I clearly didn't find it on a book shop's shelves [I looked at his Web site and the intervening years have been kind to him!].

I read it this afternoon, as I am preparing a short session on presentation techniques for my work. I wanted to do some background reading to get more ideas. I didn't find many new ideas in this book, but what I did find was a very good encapsulation of the concepts that I see as important. And there are some thought-provoking angles on what presenting is all about. All in all, a very useful concise [100 pages] book on the topic.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Inconceivable by Ben Elton.

I felt that I needed some light reading this time. I unexpectedly enjoyed Elton's Popcorn a while ago and acquired some more of his books. I selected this one from my shelf as it is just a tiny bit too tall for the place it was stored ...

The story is about a couple who are attempting, but failing, to start a family. Part of their therapy to is write letters to nobody in particular to help them gather their thoughts. The book is an alternating sequence of these letters. It is essentially a two-person diary. It has shades of Adrian Mole ...

I'm enjoying it so far. I was taken with the phrase "nuttier than squirrel shit".