This book was recommended by a friend, it isn’t the kind of book that I normally read. Often, when I read nonfiction I read a chapter or so at a time and mix it in with some fiction that holds my interest a little better. The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter, however, grabbed me just like good fiction does. I didn’t want to put it down after just one chapter, but instead just kept on going.Lots of good research and information on the importance of spending real time in nature, the benefits of boredom now and evolutionarily, hunger, recognizing impermanence and acknowledging the reality of death, evolutionary biology and how the way humans evolved still effects us, and the benefits of exercise and what kind of exercise is best. Overarching all of this is the idea that humans evolved to live in discomfort and how the comfort that we experience in our modern society is making us sick.I found the whole thing fascinating and will be turning in my library copy of this book and ordering a hardcopy for myself so I can reread it and make notes. Thought-provoking and informative, while still being entertaining. 5 solid stars

I did enjoy reading this book. deep study and experiences and generous sharing to readers.I definitely want to recommend this book to friends and family.

This book was very interesting, and thought provoking. I will explore further many of the concepts discussed in this book

This is truly an amazing book! Michael explained how he prepared for the Arctic trip. I especially liked the part of how he learned how to shoot, which enabled him to bring down the elder caribou. That event was dramatic with its powerful description of how Michael and Donnie discussed how Michael felt about shooting the caribou.I was also impressed by the amount of scientific reference material he used for the documentation of his story. The book is a real wake-up call for all of us who are interested in learning how to live and to get up from our complacency. Well done.

“Comfort Crisis” by Michael Easter is a thought-provoking exploration into the modern paradox of comfort and its impact on our overall well-being. Arguably, it was the most influential book I’ve read in quite some time. After reading it, I sent copies to all my young-adult-aged kids and several friends – one of whom was so impressed, that he bought a case of the books and passed them out to his team at work!Easter challenges the prevailing narrative that an excessively comfortable lifestyle leads to happiness and fulfillment. With a blend of scientific research, personal (oftentimes humorous) anecdotes, and cultural observations, he makes a compelling case for embracing discomfort as a path to growth, resilience, and a more meaningful life.”We are living progressively sheltered, sterile, temperature-controlled, overfed, under-challenged, safet-netted lives. And it’s limiting the degree to which we experience our “one wile and precisous life,” (as poet Mary Oliver put it.””But a radical new body of evidence shows that people are at their best – physically harder, mentally tougher, and spiritually sounder – after experiencing the same discomforts our early ancestors were exposed to every day.””Comfort Crisis” is a refreshing and timely reminder that true fulfillment often lies outside our comfort zones.Highly recommend!

This book offers a thought-provoking exploration into the modern paradox of comfort and its impact on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Easter challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with comfort and the consequences of an overly cushy lifestyle. Through engaging storytelling and insightful research, he delves into the benefits of discomfort, whether it’s physical challenges like cold exposure or mental discomfort through practices like mindfulness. Easter’s writing prompts readers to reflect on their own habits and encourages them to embrace discomfort as a pathway to growth and resilience. With its blend of science, philosophy, and practical advice, “The Comfort Crisis” is a compelling read that invites readers to step out of their comfort zones and into a more fulfilling life.

“Wild Thing in Captivity: On Travel, Trauma, and Tantra” by Elisha Daeva is a profoundly moving memoir that captures the author’s transformative journey following a life-altering breakup. The narrative is beautifully woven with vivid descriptions of exotic locales and introspective passages that delve deep into the realms of trauma and healing. Daeva’s exploration of tantra offers a fresh perspective on reclaiming personal power and reconnecting with one’s inner self. Her honest and sometimes raw storytelling style makes the reader feel deeply connected to her experiences.”Wild Thing in Captivity” is more than just a travel memoir; it is a journey of healing and empowerment, offering insights that resonate with anyone who has faced personal despair and is seeking a route to recovery. It’s a compelling read for those interested in the transformative power of travel and spirituality in overcoming personal crises.

Wild Thing in Captivity: On Travel, Trauma and Tantra by Elisha Daeva is a heartfelt book and an entertaining one at that. With society as it is today, it’s hard to fully connect with other humans in any meaningful way. This book is about one woman’s journey after her relationship fails and she is left in a bit of a quagmire. Wholly relatable, intimate, and emotionally revealing this is a fun book to dive into. It takes a look at many issues, but mostly how we relate to each other in this world. This is an interesting and enlightening read.

“Wild Thing in Captivity” by Elisha Daeva is a deeply personal memoir that chronicles the author’s voyage of self-discovery and healing following a tumultuous breakup. Daeva’s candid storytelling invites readers into her world, where she navigates the complexities of travel, trauma, and tantra with honesty and vulnerability.Through vivid descriptions of her experiences and insightful reflections on tantra’s role in overcoming adversity, the book offers a compelling narrative that resonates with readers seeking solace and empowerment in the face of personal challenges.With its blend of intimate storytelling and profound insights, the book captivates readers with its exploration of resilience and transformation. Daeva’s journey serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, there is the potential for growth and renewal.This memoir is not only an engaging read but also a source of inspiration for anyone navigating their own path toward healing and self-discovery.

Wild Thing in Captivity: On Travel, Trauma and Tantra by Elisha Daeva is a memoir that dives into a variety of different topics and weaves them together to tell a very interesting and very informative story. The author tells us about the travels she has gone on, the things she has discovered in a variety of place, and the ups and downs she endured along the way. From this, she explains to us how the ancient art of tantra fits into life and how it can improve the quality of life. The author does a great job of showing us how this can be used to solve other problems in your life and allow you to recover from injury and trauma. If you are curious about any of these topics, this could be a great book for you to check out.

Reading Wild Thing in Captivity: On Travel, Trauma and Tantra by Elisha Daeva was like listening to a good friend sharing her stories and personal journey– and it was such a moving experience. This memoir takes us to the author’s personal experiences when her relationship failed and when she has eventually stood up in life, found her strength, and moved on to better things. I found myself connected to this book, especially that it has lots of things that I can relate to. The detective story aspect as well as the introduction of Tantra in this book were also great and it provided me such a unique reading experience. This was very well-executed and I loved how it impacted me in so many ways.

Wild Thing in Captivity: On Travel, Trauma, and Tantra by Elisha Daeva is classified as a travel and adventurer biography and memoir. This book follows the spiritual journey of Elisha in this “coming-of-age” tale. I was surprised by some of the explicit content in this book, so just know that. The story itself is quite sad too, and for me, triggered a lot of negative emotions and sadness. I think it did not help that I have not been in the best spirits recently. But her story is genuine. And it is very interesting. If you like reading biographies/memoirs, then you will enjoy this likely too.

This is an insightful and sometimes titillating book that’s also full of difficult human emotions. When author Elisha Daeva puts all her faith into a single relationship, she feels lost and bereft when it falls apart. Hardly knowing what to do, she turns to the turbulent but fascinating world of tantric sex. Tantra is very old, but it has lessons to teach those who indulge in it, just as it did for those who invented it so long ago.As Elisha learns through her experiences, so does the reader. Those who take this journey with the author will find themselves in strange places, and they may feel unmoored. However, that is not always a bad thing. Just like Elisha, those who decide they’re ready for a world-changing adventure can undertake it in these pages, and they won’t come away feeling any less than brand-new and thoroughly enlightened.

What an amazing concept for a book! I think that learning Spanish while you sleep is an incredible idea that is actually backed by science. Not many are aware of the amazing power of the subconscious mind. During the REM phase of sleep, the brain is very active! This is actually when most dreaming occurs. This makes it an ideal time for learning. If you are able to expose your brain to Spanish audio lessons while you sleep, your are allowing connections to be made and information absorbed by the brain! While being asleep, there are no distractions and stress that often impede conscious learning.This is why the audiobook for “Learn Spanish While You Sleep & Learn Spanish While Driving In Your Car” includes two unique versions. The first version has a relaxing, brown noise audio in the background that will help you fall asleep while learning Spanish as you sleep. The second version of the audiobook does not have brown noise audio in the background and is to be used in your car or while doing another activity. If you are able to use both methods, you will truly advance your learning. It is important to remember that the purpose of this ebook is to be used as a supplement for the audiobook! This ebook is NOT intended to be a replacement for the audiobook. Remember that the only way to truly learn how to speak a foreign language is by actually hearing it and speaking it. You cannot learn a foreign language just by reading a book!

Okay, so here’s the deal: if you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “I wish I spoke Spanish…” while watching Narcos or eavesdropping at the taco truck, this book is your new co-pilot. Or co-dreamer, depending on your schedule.This isn’t your average dusty language textbook that makes you feel like a confused tourist in your own brain. Nope—this one’s got rhythm. It breaks things down into manageable, real-life chunks—like greetings, common phrases, numbers, food (yes, they know their audience), and basic grammar. And it’s designed so you can absorb it passively—on a drive, on a walk, or even while you sleep. It’s like osmosis, but with less science and more charm.What I really appreciate is that it doesn’t try to impress you with fluff. It’s practical. Straightforward. Almost like a friend gently guiding you through the basics, repeating things just enough so they stick—but not so much you want to scream “¡Basta!” It’s beginner-friendly without being patronizing. And there’s no guilt trip for not being fluent after one listen.Honestly, it reminded me that learning something new doesn’t have to be hard. It can be playful. You can do it while folding laundry, stuck in traffic, or winding down before bed. It’s learning that fits your life—not the other way around.So if you’re dreaming of expanding your language game but don’t have the time, this book is a great place to start. It doesn’t promise miracles—but it will absolutely get you moving, one Spanish phrase at a time.

I got the audio course and then was able to download a PDF of the course. I like having both an audio and visual format. The author then offered a book format for free so i downloaded it to my kindle. The course is easy to follow and I would recommend it for learning a language. Like the book says, you will want to have the auditory format to hear how the words sound. I also downloaded another app to use to supplement with a different style of teaching.

I honestly didn’t think language learning could fit into my schedule but this audiobook proved me wrong. The concept of learning Spanish while I sleep or drive seemed a little far-fetched at first, but after just a few nights and commutes, I started picking up vocabulary and basic sentence structures without even realizing it. The repetition, calm voice, and pacing make it easy to absorb naturally, and it doesn’t feel forced or stressful. I love that I can fall asleep or hop in the car and still feel like I’m making progress. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn Spanish without dedicating extra time they don’t have. This method is truly effortless, and surprisingly effective!

This comprehensive program offers an excellent way to immerse yourself in Spanish, even when you’re not actively studying. With over 50 hours of lessons, it covers beginner to intermediate conversational Spanish, making it a valuable resource for those looking to improve their language skills.The format is convenient, allowing you to learn while driving, walking, or even sleeping. The lessons seem to be well-structured, progressing from basic to more complex conversations.If you’re looking for a way to supplement your Spanish learning or make the most of your downtime, this program could be a great fit. However, it’s essential to note that active practice and interaction with native speakers can also be crucial in achieving fluency.Overall, this program is a useful tool for anyone looking to learn Spanish in a convenient and immersive way.

It’s a nice concept, but a difficult one as well. The audio is low, and difficult to keep up with.

Very Good

I did not have time to listen to the lessons like I wanted. The speaker on the audio went to fast.

Exceptional book that is one of the most fascinating crime stories you’ll encounter. A fast paced and engaging read that will be difficult to put down.

Read for a book club, bought the book on kindle when it was on sale for $1.99 since the library didn’t have it.Things that make me angry. The topic of this story, the “main character” of this true-life criminal just enrages me as an embroiderer, a painter, a mosaic worker. The line “everyone thinks about stealing from a museum.” No – we don’t. Many of us go to them for inspiration, to learn new techniques, to see the past and the future in one vision.The researcher had a lot of questionable narrators to draw his story from. He did a good job in creating a narrative.But, let me say, the core of this story is a tragedy. Not of the people getting caught, but the Tragedy of the Commons. To make the past available to all, to make art and beauty available to all, some people think that means they are allowed to take it from “the all” because only they can properly appreciate it. Without training on maintaining it, of saving it. And worst of all, no chance of making more.I often say, as an creator, we need an audience. Art isn’t art until it is seen and interacted with. But the MC took the art for himself and no one else.He isn’t to be celebrated as the most prolific solo (dual) thief of all time. Because he stole from the future and destroyed the past. His wasn’t a theft without victim. His theft stole from everyone, our culture, our future, our artists, our appreciators.The book itself is presented typical, acceptable writing. The topic for me was emotional.Let me close by saying, if you want … need … original art – and I say this as a person who does, BUY IT / MAKE IT. It doesn’t have to be great. Buy it from artists on the street. Go to craft shows. Don’t do a Bed-Bath-and-Beyond generic “Live Laugh Love”; buy YOUR art. Make YOUR art. It won’t be great to start, but you will get better and it will become amazing. Even one piece that no one else in the world has that is opposite your door as you enter your home each night is amazing; the piece of sculpture a young woman at college made, a scarf a young man knitted from the bench waiting for his team to take the field again. It means so much more than something taken, or copied, or big-box-store multiplied. Do art. Make the world prettier, sweeter with music, amazing with food.

…from this whirlwind of a read. It’s hard to believe that Breitwieser was so unbelievably delusional in thinking his heists were justified. He had no conscience. Author Michael Finkel gives a lot of necessary detail while still keeping my attention on this crazy story. I highly recommend it for personal reading or for a book club discussion. From now on, I will be visiting museums in a completely different light.

The story is a solid 5 star one but I do not think that Micheal Finkel did it justice. Mr Finkel is a reporter by training and it showed. Sort of felt like I was reading a news story, not a deep and interesting book…but oddly there is nothing out there written in English that tells this miraculous story. But know you will be disappointed in the writing ….but DO read this story!!!

Quite an amazing story – hard to believe. Well written though a bit slow as the volume of thefts are itemized. Yes, I would recommend it .

This an incredible true story of an art thief. It was amazing how brazen he was & how unprotected the art museums were.

As expected

I was immediately attracted by the premise behind Michael Finkel’s book The Art Thief. Not only was Stephane Breitwieser the most prolific art thief in history, but he didn’t sell his stolen artwork. He proudly displayed the many items in the attic room he shared with his girlfriend, Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus.Author Michael Finkel tells Stephane’s story starting with his first stolen artwork, an ivory representation of Adam and Eve. He follows the art thief on a mostly sequential journey as he pilfers paintings and works of silver, copper, wood, and ivory from museums and art shows throughout Europe.In the early stages, Stephane is a sympathetic character obsessed with fine art. After he is finally caught and tricked into confessing his many crimes, it becomes harder to sympathize with someone who doesn’t have enough self-control to stop sabotaging any chance he has for a more respectable path.The majority of his crimes were done with the help of his girlfriend. She stood as a lookout, watching the movements of security guards and museum visitors. She occasionally helped Stephane carry items out of museums in her purse.You know it can’t go on. Sooner or later, he is going to get caught. He has several close calls. He does get caught stealing from one museum but talks his way out of it, claiming to be a first-time offender and promising never to do it again. It’s his second arrest when his world starts to crumble.I wanted to read about the investigators climbing the stairs to his mother’s attic room and finding over a billion dollars worth of stolen artwork. I wanted to know what happened to him, his girlfriend, and his mother, who claimed ignorance over the thefts. And I wanted to know what happened to all of that artwork. I won’t give away any spoilers here, but this story has a shocking ending regarding the artwork and who is punished and who is not.A while back, I purchased the digital frame Meural. It’s like having an art museum in my home. Besides being a great way to display photos I’ve taken, I use it to display artwork from museums worldwide and by artists from every genre: Picasso, Monet, Jackson Pollack, Banksy, and hundreds of others. One feature I like is that with the swipe of my hand, I can get information about the artist and the background of the specific painting I’m viewing. I have created a playlist of some of Stephane’s stolen pieces. Now, I can view the artwork he once cherished and displayed in a small attic in France.

Almost twenty years ago, journalist Jon Krakauer joined a guided expedition to the top of Mount Everest, led by accomplished high-altitude climber and guide Rob Hall. Ostensibly on assignment to write a magazine piece on the increasing commercialization of Everest, as outfits like Hall’s made it possible for climbers with more disposable income than actual mountaineering experience to have a go at the summit, Krakauer knew this might be his only chance to fulfill his own boyhood dream by standing atop the highest mountain on earth. An enthusiastic climber since childhood – though with no experience whatsoever at very high altitudes – he was one of the most technically proficient clients on Hall’s team, and on May 10, 1996, he made it to the summit. On the way back down the mountain, however, Hall’s group was one of several expeditions caught up suddenly in a violent snowstorm. Krakauer, farther down the mountain than most of his teammates when the storm hit, made it safely back to the tents before he collapsed in exhaustion. He woke to discover that triumph had given way to terror and tragedy: several guides and clients, including Hall, were still out there in the storm, their bodies becoming increasingly vulnerable to the subzero temperatures as their supplemental oxygen supplies dwindled. “By the time I’d descended to Base Camp,” Krakauer reflects in the Introduction, “nine climbers from four expeditions were dead, and three more lives would be lost before the month was out.””Into Thin Air,” written within six months of Krakauer’s return from Everest, is the product of his attempts to process exactly what happened up there, how things could go so very wrong and so many very experienced climbers, some of whom had summitted Everest several times before, could have lost their lives: “I thought that writing the book might purge Everest from my life. It hasn’t, of course. Moreover, I agree that readers are often poorly served when an author writes as an act of catharsis, as I have done here. But I hoped something would be gained by spilling my soul in the calamity’s immediate aftermath, in the roil and torment of the moment. I wanted my account to have a raw, ruthless sort of honesty that seemed in danger of leaching away with the passage of time and the dissipation of anguish.” Thanks perhaps to the years spent honing his craft as a writer and his discipline as a journalist with deadlines to meet, Krakauer succeeds brilliantly in what he has set out to do. His account is nowhere rushed, hysterical, or lacking in polish; rather, it’s a well-told story, supported by carefully researched background and dozens of interviews with other participants in the events, and Krakauer is so much in control of his narrative that it comes almost as a shock how much of a genuine emotional wallop it packs.Perhaps only a man who stood on the summit of Everest after years of dreaming, only to regret afterwards that he’d ever gone, could tell this story the way Krakauer does, neither glossing over the dangers of the mountain or the waste of good human lives, nor denying the challenge it poses the human spirit simply by being the highest spot on the earth’s surface, simply, in the words of a man who died on Everest decades before, “because it is there.” “Into Thin Air” is a thrilling, if sobering, tale of adventure. Let’s be honest, reading a book like this is as close as most of us are ever going to get to climbing the great mountain – and Krakauer describes so well the challenges of the terrain, the moments of astonishing beauty, the plodding determination that carries the exhausted body ever onward, the effects of high altitude on the body and mind, that our vicarious ascent in his company is thoroughly satisfying. He brings his fellow climbers alive for us, too, in brief but vivid verbal portraits. We are told not only of their mountaineering prowess, but their determination, their amiability, their families, their human faults and foibles. Even though we’ve known pretty much all along who dies and who lives (the book is dedicated to the memory of those who died, and a photograph of the mountain between the introduction and first chapter is labeled with a map of their route indicating where major events took place, including several deaths), by the time the storm sweeps in we’ve come to care about these people, to hope without hope, to mourn their deaths, to celebrate every time a survivor makes it to safety.Some readers have labeled Krakauer arrogant and accused him of placing blame on everyone but himself, but I didn’t find this to be the case. He comes down against the practice of guides leading commercial expeditions of clients without the skills or experience to make the climb without constant hand-holding, but he acknowledges that he himself didn’t rightly belong there, and has nothing but praise for the skills of Rob Hall and the other guides he knew personally. He doesn’t hesitate to point out errors of judgment that might have facilitated or compounded the perils of the situation, but it’s more in the nature of pointing out the fallibility of human nature and the general unreliability of the human brain in a state of hypoxia (which, 8000 meters above sea level, supplemental oxygen can only partially mitigate) than pointing fingers or placing blame. There are no villains (except perhaps Ian Woodall, literally the only one of dozens of people he met on Everest of whom Krakauer had nothing good to say whatsoever, who for no apparent reason denied the use of his radio to help maintain contact with survivors and coordinate rescue attempts), but plenty of heroes: men and women who risked their lives venturing exhausted into a storm to rescue others, who held their own grief at bay to console the dying, who handed over their own precious bottles of oxygen to those in greater need, who calmly coordinated communications and rescue efforts during a time of crisis, or who simply managed to keep breathing when it would have been so much easier and less painful to fall asleep forever in the snow. That some of these fine, heroic men and women made the occasional mistake or bad decision says more about the risky nature of their undertaking than about them as individuals. Krakauer doesn’t exempt himself from folly or fallibility, either, and in fact he’s far harder on himself than he is on any of the others who were with him on the summit that day, living or dead. And granted that the fortitude, endurance, determination, and self-confidence necessary to tackle Everest tend to come hand-in-hand with a certain swagger and cockiness, Krakauer doesn’t come across as particularly arrogant. This is a man who lets his readers see him, in the last chapter, broken by grief and survivor’s guilt, lying across a bed naked and high on cannabis, with thick sobs “erupting out of my nose and mouth in a flood of snot.”There’s enough controversy surrounding the events on Everest in 1996, and particularly Krakauer’s accounting of them, that readers who truly wish to understand what happened on the mountain that sad day probably shouldn’t rely on this book alone. Fortunately, a number of other books on the subject exist, including at least four other memoirs by survivors of the disaster. “Into Thin Air,” however, remains in any case a good place to start – and a thrilling, if ultimately haunting, read.

I watched the documentary of the same name and am really glad I read this book, as it fleshed out all of the expedition members more fully. Powerfully reading. How anyone survives climbing ant 8,000 meter peak is beyond my comprehension.That anyone would voluntarily go to the Death Zone on Everest is just insanity. It reminds me of the quote from Owen Wilson’s character in the movie Armageddon, in response to Bruce Willis’ character describing what it will be like on the asteroid:”Okay, so the scariest environment imaginable. Thanks. That’s all you gotta say. Scariest environment imaginable”.That’s the Death Zone, to me.

I have to say, before reading this book I had NO idea what climbing mountains entailed. It is how shall I say, “another world” – one I would be terrified to be a part of after having read this book. I agree with others that – perhaps also it is because it was written at such an emotional time, but Krakauer does seem to have a lot of emotional distress boiling inside of him, but I am certain it has to do with possible, survivors guilt, which he does mention and the fact that this feud brewed between him and Boukreev, and I agree – having read and reread many different POVs on this particular part of Boukreev not using oxygen, turning back before alot of the people but then saving 3, I agree that Krakauer has a particular amount of anger toward this man, who is deceased now, but the impression even with the ending of him ultimately coming to a certain amount of admiration for him, it seems as though a large amount of his distress stems from a seemingly small incident at the top of the mountain (but again I am no mountaineer) and from what I read, it wasn’t such a small problem though to me almost seems irrelevant in regards to the rest of the book and the huge feat of ALL of the climbers, survivors or not, of what they accomplished, God Rest the Souls of those who did not survive.To have gone through what he had, being a journalist and not a mountaineer as they say, one can only imagine – there has to be a lot of pain in his heart about seeing people he went up with only to watch 10 of them I think it was? die, And at one point – (Im terrible with the names) there was a part where he sees who he thinks is Andy Harris but turns out to actually be another man who survived and it brought him a tremendous amount of pain that he originally thought the man was alive and in a camp, his significant other called only to have to call them back the next day to tell her that he was in fact dead. Again, the book was a HUGE undertaking for me as far as keeping everyone’s names straight so I might be confusing that one point – I just know that Krakauer seemed to be emotionally terribly distraught by a lot of the events that happened. To debate this Boukreev using oxygen I think is pointless – what happened happened – to me, anyone who climbs mountains for a living or for sport I admire, I suppose, but I also think YOU ARE CRAZY LOL – (said as light heartedly as I can) my goodness, what possesses people to want to do this? It has to be a calling a true inner calling that I can just not fathom. It sounds like an awful lot of pain for a little gain but hey, the same can be said for life in general.I admire Krakauer and enjoyed the book thouroughly. I did not read the Climb and probably never will – one mountain book for me is enough. It was enthralling but scared me to a degree. Again, I cannot imagine the pain of being that cold and without oxygen, being asthmatic, and thinking back to my oxygen depleted youth NOTHING hurts worse than not being able to breathe so climbing any mountains for me is OUT OF the question, especially after reading this book WOW is all I have to say!!!And for anyone a part of the 1996 climb who is still alive – give yourself a break, you too, Krakauer, what you did was fine and I see no reason for you to feel guilty – let go of those negative feelings – at one point in the book a Sherpa gets hit in the back of the head with a stone several times and turns to tell Krakauer, WHAT have we done to make the mountain Gods so angry???That part more than any other made me think….what INDEED????

This was an amazing book. I originally order this on Audible for my boyfriend, but after a day he had finished, and raved. I then in return listened and enjoyed every second!

I remember back when the story originally broke on MTV News. Eventually I put it out of my head. But then when the movie and soundtrack were coming out and the old news stories resurfaced, it triggered those memories. And it had a great impact on me.I saw the movie three times in the movie theatre. I have seen it countless times since. I have listened to the soundtrack dozens of times. And I have read the book several times.I know that Chris made a lot of mistakes. Stupid mistakes. I know people think of him as being a spoiled brat. But his fundamental message and story and journey are what matter most. Countless people have been inspired to go on and make changes in their own lives.I cannot fathom how much effort went into researching this story and getting it just right. But I am so grateful that Jon Krakauer brought it to life for us and for all of the work that has followed after it. I regularly check for updates on the story and then eventually revert back to this, the original.Whether you think Chris was brilliant or you think he was a spoiled moron, your intense feelings about his story will help you to better understand yourself and what you value over others in life.

Definitely enjoyed Chris’s story and the depth of the info of the people involved in his story. A bit drawn out and boring when he went into other stories that had nothing to do with Chris.

Very helpful to listen too.

I couldn’t stop listening.

Definitely a well crafted story about a young man who has his own ideas about how the world should be; but lacks maturity of mind and possesses the cocky spirit and attitude of a teenager. As we often know, this tendency can act as a double edged sword thereby inflicting self wound; in this case with the demise of Chris Mccandless in the most un forseen circumstances. The trip of a lifetime for him into the Alaskan wilderness (stampede trail) without letting the park rangers know about his itinerary thereby entering unmarked trails is a basic blunder that nobody can commit. The victim is so overpowered by his thought process that he thinks of a 20th century world devoid of maps, compass, phones … yes that was the case in the 18th century when much of american west was unexplored, but back then many explorers perished and it was considered a normal thing to die in those days at the mercy of nature, but not in recent times. Sometimes, i wonder what goes on in the heads and minds of certain teenagers who go about shooting people with guns, taking to drugs, living homelessly under the bridges. I believe the answer to these problems is to provide psychiatric assistance and parental/community guidance. Other than that, the author has done a splendid job in describing the events in grand detail. The story keeps the reader engrossed from start to finish.

Great book!

Too much background and way too much personal stories. We get it — Alaska is tough for the prepared and deadly for the unprepared. The movie was much better and told a better story than the book. IMHO

On our vacation out west last month I saw a few historical markers for Lewis and Clark. I had to admit to myself that, though I knew their names and vaguely what they’d done, I was not aware of any of the details of their expedition. I either missed that day in American History or that knowledge has left my head to make room for song lyrics (which I assume take up most of my brain’s hard drive space.). So I looked on Amazon and saw that Stephen E Ambrose had written a book about them and I recognized his name so I purchased it and have been reading it since the vacation.What an epic story of an incredible journey! I learned so much, starting with Lewis’ first name, Meriwether, and the fact that it was Thomas Jefferson who not only completed the Louisiana Purchase but then commissioned the expedition, mainly in hopes of finding an all water route from the east coast to the west coast (spoiler alert: those damn Rocky Mountains get in the way.) One of the things that fascinated me was how bereft Jefferson (and everyone else back east) was about how the trek was going. In our day and age where you can video chat with someone halfway around the world in real time, it’s impossible to imagine a day and age when it would take two years to learn whether Lewis and Clark and their small group made it safely to the Pacific Ocean or were slaughtered along the way.The book itself was rich with details, culled mainly from Lewis and Clark’s individual journals which they kept dutifully during the entire expedition. But Ambrose doesn’t shy away from editorializing either. He very openly discusses all the broken promises made to the Native American tribes the expedition encountered, as well as how growing up as slaveholders influenced Jefferson, Lewis and Clark in their thinking that certain races are superior to others. That is the true dilemma of this great nation, and one that cannot be ignored when discussing something as monumental as Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Did the good outweigh the bad? If history, as they say, is the story of the winners, then the answer is Yes. Could we as a nation have prospered any other way? That, we’ll never know.After the expedition was complete, there were still about 80 pages left in the book. I didn’t see how there could be. Other than getting their journals published, what more was there to the Lewis and Clark story? Silly me. I had no idea about Meriwether Lewis’ sad and tragic ending. It actually wept a little when I read it.I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure story, especially if you’re like me and you somehow missed out on all the details of this great expedition in school. It’s a true American story of bravery and exploration. And next time I’m out west I’ll be sure to pull over at one of those historical markers and appreciate it a lot more.

Great non-fiction account of the Lewis & Clark expedition

I love reading historical stuff. however, this one took a bit more effort to get through. Don’t get me wrong, it’s well written and all, I just needed more focus to get through some of the parts.

Having been born in South Dakota, raised in Minnesota, and with ancestors who lived in Nebraska, and North and South Dakota, I was fascinated with the story of this first exploration into these areas. As an adult, I have also traveled extensively in the West, and of course I have heard of the Lewis and Clark expedition since grade school, but I have never before encountered a book for the popular reader that gave this fascinating first-person detail on these important events. Along with the extremely interesting travelogue, (the reader cannot wait to see what happens around the next bend of the river or at the meeting with the next Indian tribe) a number of horrible tragedies occurred:In the first place, the Indian policy of Lewis, as well as Jefferson, leaves something to be desired. For all their promising of the carrot and stick approach, it does not seem that the carrot was very big or tasty in view of the contact the warlike tribes had already had with Canadian traders from whom they had received guns and alcohol. The mishandling of the Sioux and the Blackfoot was a calamity for the USA with repercussions for decades to come. It does not seem that the tribes who were friendly and helpful to the expedition with the exception of the Mandan were ever amply rewarded for their helping hand.It is a great disaster that the journals did not get published in popular form for almost 100 years after they were written. One wonders that Jefferson did not take more responsibility for getting them out during his presidency and Lewis’ lifetime. Although a neighbor of the Lewis family, and cognizant of the family tendency for depression and mental instability, he did not protect his prized prodigy from the fatal effects of this weakness plus alcoholism and over medication with poisonous substances. I agree with the author that appointing Lewis as the governor over the Louisiana territory was a bad idea. He could not handle well the political intricacies and intrigues involved in his governorship. What a terrible end to a talented and valuable man. One wonders why Clark did not accompany his good friend on his last fatal journey. One also wonders why Russell did not send some responsible person along but allowed Lewis to take off with his depression, alcoholism, and other problems accompanied only by the black servant who obviously had no authority over his employer. Lewis obviously thought he was in financial ruin by the refusal of Madison’s administration to pay the debts incurred, as he thought, at government expense. One wonders what Jefferson really thought when he heard of Lewis’s tragic end, and also why Jefferson himself was not able to do much with the journals once they came into his hands.Another tragedy was the handling of York by Clark when he asked for his freedom as compensation for his valiant and faithful service during the expedition. An unfortunate detail is the fact that when Clark’s commission finally came through, it was for lieutenant rather than the promised captaincy.As to the writing of the book, outside of a fair amount of uninteresting detail before the expedition gets underway, which might be of interest to some people, it is excellent as Ambrose always is. I would give it five stars.

Well worth the time to read this fascinating story of Meriwether Lewis and the courageous men who accompanied him on the daunting and dangerous task of exploring the newly acquired Louisiana territory. Also interesting insights into the various Indian tribes that populated these lands.

Great book!

Okay, I’ve tried a bunch of language books and apps that all felt like school textbooks—boring and hard to stick with. But Spanish in 60 Days? Total breath of fresh air! ???????????? Perfect for Real-Life SpanishWhat I loved right away is how this book focuses on how people actually speak. No weird, stiff textbook phrases. Instead, you get super useful slang, everyday expressions, and conversation starters that make you sound like a real local, not a robot.???? Easy-to-Follow FormatEach day gives you a manageable chunk to work through—grammar tips, vocab, and real-life phrases—all tied together in a way that actually sticks. No cramming, just consistent learning that builds confidence fast.????️ Great for Speaking & ListeningThis book helped me finally speak Spanish, not just memorize it. Whether you’re prepping for a trip, chatting with native speakers, or just trying to finally master Spanish after years of trying—this workbook delivers.✔️ Bonus: Grammar Without the PainSomehow, the grammar sections don’t feel overwhelming! Everything is broken down simply, with tips that make sense. You’ll learn just enough to speak correctly without getting lost in conjugation charts.???? Perfect for Beginners and Rusty SpeakersWhether you’re brand new or brushing up, this book meets you where you are. I’m about 3 weeks in, and I already feel way more comfortable holding basic convos.Bottom line: If you want to learn Spanish in a fun, real-world way—this book is a winner. I honestly wish I’d found it sooner!

This book is amazing! I started a week ago and I’m already having fun learning. I would definitely recommend this for someone trying to learn the basics like myself. Better than Duolingo.

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showcases the product in use.The video guides you through product setup.The video compares multiple products.The video shows the product being unpacked.Video Player is loading.Click to play videoPlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:16Loaded: 37.54%0:00Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently behind liveLIVERemaining Time -0:16 1xPlayback RateChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionsCaptions off, selectedEnglishAudio Trackdefault, selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window. This is a nice book, smaller than I thought it would be. It’s 110 pages. We got some good info from it. It helps with learning basic conversation pieces and everyday words. It does break down the pronunciation. Helps with Mexican slang, words I heard back in HS and never knew what they were saying.

4/8/23 • I purchased this book after seeing her TikTok’s because she seemed super knowledgeable, easy to learn from and enthusiastic. I’m also in El Paso Texas so definitely the minority here but I did take Spanish in high school and college. I am using Rosetta Stone, Dúo Lingo and will be using this book.My only negative thing to say is there ARE several typos. For instance, in week 1, the very first page “vacaciones” is translated to English as “vacacions” instead of vacation. There’s a few of these typos. There’s another where she translates idgaf but hers says “idgf”so you’re left wondering are you really translating idgaf or idgf because we don’t say idgf in English. Hope that makes sense… (I’ll try to post a typo for reference) With that being said, I don’t know if some of the Spanish is wrong as well because it’s been years since I used Spanish and so I hope I’m not learning it wrong based on the written text.(Picture reference: I’m not sure if this was meant to be “what’s going on?” or “how’s it going?” I’m assuming what’s up or what’s going on since it says ‘que’ but that’s just it… I shouldn’t have to assume)I do like the way she laid the book out week by week and there are quizzes at the end of each week. I also like that the pronunciation for each word/phrase is in the book as well. I love the slang as I am trying to become fluent to secure a job which is basically an unwritten requirement here to be fluent in both. She shows you how to conjugate, important Mexican holidays, measurements, facts about Mexico and basically how to communicate without sounding like google translate aka a robot. I just received the book today but went over it in detail because I was excited but will update after my 60 days so I can see how much I’ve learned in that time frame and to see if it’s truly realistic to learn quite a bit in 60 days.I really wish she had had someone to check grammar because I would’ve definitely given 5 stars but because of the grammatical errors I’ve caught already, I will give 4 stars as with learning a new language, errors are huge deal breakers in my opinion.Great price point as well. You can’t beat that.Will update soon:)

There is a whole section of cuss words or like slang that has been SO helpful as I teach middle schoolers whose first language is Spanish. I now know when they aren’t saying school appropriate things and it was so helpful!!

My granddaughter, going into 8th grade asked for this. It arrived on a Tuesday and by Thursday she could count, knew the days of the week and months of the year and the Spanish alphabet. She is loving it!

So, I follow Sara on TikTok and I really love her videos on Mexican slang so I was so thrilled about this book! Im a bit more advanced than a beginner but I have trouble holding long conversations. I bought this book to be able to use the actual words that they use. I love that she included how to pronounce the words that helps me the most. The book even has little quizzes and an answer sheet! It’s definitely worth the buy the only downside is the font is so tiny but the book has a BUNCH of material! Great buy! I am impressed !

I am an avid reader. Yes, folks, I’m that annoying person who reads while standing in line, and even at red lights. I once finished an entire novel sitting in a doctor’s waiting room– but perhaps that says more about the doctor than it does about my reading abilities. haha. I also hold advanced degrees in both English and writing. I know good writing when I read it, and I have also stumbled wearily through books shoved at me from the hands of well meaning friends: “we know you love to read. Read this one and let me know what you think of it.” Gah. Please don’t be that person to your friends– the frightful book foister. Please, I beg of you. Don’t be that person. Don’t make me flee from your presence like unfiled taxes fleeing from the IRS, to avoid said horrible book dumping.Tiresome celebrity biographies, reminiscent of a painful 9th grade essay, sold merely because a famous name is on it . . . let’s admit it– what can they really “tell all” about, when their lives are already a literal (equally wearying) open book?Romance novels, with a close up of a muscular hand clutching a lacy red bustier on the front, which after several dreary pages makes me feel like ripping it, literally, in half, and throwing the book away. Cookbooks– there are a few decent ones in this “here read this!” genre, but many of them are thrown together to make a sale, and let’s face it– when is the last time you actually made a recipe from an actual cookbook? Exactly. You throw it in the bag for the beach, thumb through a few pages while smearing on sunscreen, and then toss it in the ‘ole bookshelf when you get home, where it is destined to live for the rest of readless, purgatorial eternity.A friend recommended “A Walk in the Woods.” Sigh, I thought. Another recommendation. I admire the “woods” from a distance, but I fear insects, snakes, vermin, rodents, and even the casual snap of a twig within their clutches. I do not camp. I do not eat camp food. I prefer to have my meals without a side of food poisoning. So you’d be right in thinking that my reaction was something like, “Ugh another referral. I will have less in common with this book than a Protestant would have with the Pope.” I started it grudgingly, expecting to do the obligatory dragging of my eyes across the page until it was finally, relievingly, replete.Boy was I in for a surprise.Within the first few pages I surprised myself by chuckling. Then laughing. Then outright, from the gut, throwing back my head and howling. I stayed up until almost 1 AM that first night, devouring chapter after chapter, even though I had to be up early for work the next day. I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is refreshingly honest– at once thoughtful, hilarious, sarcastic, and downright well done. This is not the scribbling of a celebrity trying to sell books. This is the tale of someone who has truly lived a once in a lifetime kind of all-American experience. His observations about the conditions of the trails, the miraculous preservation efforts made by volunteers on the trail for decades, and even his views on life, are inspirational. His descriptions of the kooky characters, the beautiful, sweeping vistas of untouched wilderness that he discovered as he rounded thousands of wearying bends in the never-ending trails . . . it’s magic. Pure magic. I can almost close my eyes and see it, so vivid are his descriptions of the meadows, the wildflowers, the soft sighing of the trees in the quiet breeze.I’ve always said that the best kind of writing contains three elements. First, it is relevant/relate-able to all. It takes an incredible author to take a subject about which I have little interest (camping), and make it relevant and interesting to me, yet he does. Second, it should have humor– not the “polite chuckle” kind of humor, but a real, genuine, gut laughing kind of humor, hidden delightfully throughout the text, waiting to surprise you like golden treasure where you would least think to look. Third, it should have moments of piercing, beautiful clarity– moments when you find yourself, for reasons you almost can’t explain, blinking back the tears as some particularly poignant thought resonates through your very being.Bill Bryson delivers richly on all three counts. This book ended with my feeling deliciously and completely satiated, in every way. I laughed until my sides were sore, I cried at the honest, beautiful tendrils of his story as it wrapped its beautifully written arms around my heart. I shook my head solemnly with a deep, “Mmmm, yes” at the inspirations recorded within the story as he discovered, not just the beauty of the Appalachian Trail, but the beauty of life, warmth, family, and companionship. Perhaps the beauty of America is that a little bit of the magic resides in the heart of all of us. That’s the message here. And it’s a darned inspirational one.I haven’t done this often, but a few times in my life a book is so wonderful– so stupendous– that I just can’t bear to end it. So the moment I finish, I move my bookmark back to chapter 1. Not ending– just starting again.My bookmark is resting in chapter 1 of this one.

Bill Bryson is put himself into the wilderness to tackle the infinitely long hike of the Appalachian Trail in the autobiography A Walk in the Woods. I chose this book mostly because I had just come from learning a little about the wilderness in school and I thought the class was interesting. The title made me think of the class, so I thought I should give it a try. The story follows Bill Bryson and his friend Katz as they scale the Appalachian Trail. It tells of the hardships he endures, the views he witnesses, and the people he meets along the way. I would recommend this book to read to people.Bill Bryson uses various elements to help try and bring his experience on the trail to life for the reader. He used styles such as similes and metaphors, and also he did a good amount of showing rather than telling. This is one description he uses to describe one part of the trail; “They [woods] make you feel small and confused and vulnerable, like a small child lost in a crowd of strange legs,” (Bryson, 44). I found and lot of descriptions interesting and ones that pulled my attention. They were able to put pictures in my head of what the environment he was in was like. They might not be able to relate to younger audiences, but teens in high school and up would be able to enjoy and appreciate them. The author’s style of writing can also be tied into how he describes characters in the story.I do not think that I can relate to Bill Bryson’s experiences, because I have never been put into the wilderness like he has. He has done something That I do not think I could tackle right now. As for the characters in his book I feel that I can relate meeting people who act like some of the people that he did. I believe that the characters were well rounded and each had their own kind of personality. Katz, the hiking partner of Bryson, is one such character who I believe has a dynamic personality. In his first conversation with Bryson after meeting face to face Bryson adds that “He saw my look of wonder. ‘Snickers,’ he explained. ‘Lots and lots of Snickers,’” (Bryson, 22). He helps give us an accurate painting of the person by not only how they look, but also the conversations that they have with others. I found myself either liking a character or feeling neutral toward them, except in the case of one or two people Bryson meets along the way.The whole book is in chronological order; there is no trying to fill in what part of the story goes where to put it in order. Throwing the reader in the middle of the book may have not made much difference either way. The book was able to hold my attention for the most part, but some times I did find myself wishing I could skip over a section of the reading. These parts are placed at the beginning of the chapters. They do not pertain to the story so much. They are around for background information about the Appalachian Trail or something that is related to it. The information was helpful in some case, but they also seemed stretched out and long. However, the book was interesting and I was tuned into reading when the actual story was brought back. It became more interesting when he started talking about the views he experienced in the forest. In one part the author describes the trail by saying, “Best of all, there were views, luscious and golden, to left and right,” (Bryson, 124). It was at these parts that I was brought back into the story.The book tells an interesting story of one person’s experience in the woods and is humorous in sections of the reading. However, I so not believe that everyone will get into this book. I did enjoy my mountaineering class in school, but I did find this book hard to stick with at some parts. This book may only be for those who find hiking enjoyable and want to learn about a trail of the U.S. that is not heard about that much.

A delightful trip for anyone who loves hiking or the great outdoors. This is your escape route. Bryson and Katz make this adventure together a treat for the senses. I have backpacked in the Sierra Nevadas and could relate somewhat. It was hell going up the mountains and heaven coming down. Water was your best friend. Bryson had me remembering it all. I watched the movie prior to reading the book. Both are well worth your time. Loved them both and would enjoy them both again. For me today, hiking is best done vicariously. This is the best.

Bryson writes from the heart. His prose reveals as much of human nature as it reveals the nature of the majestic Appalachian Trail. This is a wonderful story of discovery and achievement. It is a wonderful story.

I came into this book knowing nothing much about Iceland other than Bjork, Sigur Ros, and something vague about an economic meltdown in 2008 and a volcano stopping air traffic in Europe once. This summer I visited Iceland and wanted to prepare. Being a student of history, I always want to read the history of a country I don’t know about before visiting. I was looking for something general and not too specialized since this would be my first crack at understanding Icelandic history. Egil Bjarnason’s “How Iceland Changed the Word: The Big History of a Small Island” not only delivers in detailing the history of Iceland to a general audience but also helps the reader understand how Iceland shaped world history in unusual ways. Thus, the book can be enjoyed not only by people wanting to know Icelandic history but also by those who are interested in world history. For instance, I specialized in modern Middle East history and politics in school and never knew about the role Iceland played in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The book is a great example of how our understanding of world history can constantly change as we learn more about the histories of other obscurer countries. As far as whether the history of Iceland itself as presented in this book is accurate or not, I will leave it to the specialists to decide. Personally, it jived with what I read at museums in Iceland. My guide was also very impressed with my knowledge about Icelandic history when he told me about Iceland’s history, and this was the only book I read before my visit. The other joy of this book is the writing. Many of those whose first language is English couldn’t write this good. Mr. Bjarnason has a knack for storytelling, focusing on the right details, and keeping the reader’s interest. The author also does a good job of tying Iceland’s history to issues facing contemporary Iceland (such as alcoholism). He also has a great sense of humor and had me laughing throughout. I particularly liked that he was willing to poke fun at certain aspects of his nation’s history and culture.Some interesting things I learned were, for example, how Icelandic was the second most important language in the medieval world outside of church Latin. If Old Norse had not been written down, we would never have this mythology and maybe not get Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien knew Icelandic and based much of his work on Norse mythology.) Iceland has the world’s oldest parliament, the Alpingi. One constant theme in Iceland’s history is a high percentage of national heroes that are very bookish. From Arni Magnusson to Jon Sigurosson, most of Iceland’s national shapers have been very learned people and a bit eccentric as the author shows. The history of WW2 demonstrates once again the brilliance of Winston Church in terms of strategy. Mr. Churchill understood that if the Nazis took Iceland, then they would be closer to North America and able to launch an invasion of Canada. Iceland would also act as a base to aid the Allied Powers by getting around German U-boat attacks that were preventing armament of the UK. Thus, Britain led a begin invasion and occupation of Iceland during the war. The Iceland was then handed over to the United States (Iceland remained a NATO nation during the Cold War and to this day.)Although it is mostly conjecture, the argument that a volcanic eruption in Iceland may have shaped world history including the French Revolution is interesting. Another constant theme in Iceland’s history is humans vs. nature. This reminds historians of the importance of understanding how the environment impacts historical events. In terms of Iceland’s history, the elements of nature seem to make the people more practical and less ideological than other nations (as one Prime Minister in the book suggests.) In terms of my area of study, I learned that Iceland led the UN-committee to solve the status of British Mandate Palestine. The reason Iceland was picked to lead was because it was one of the few “neutral” countries regarding the conflict. Lastly, the information about Iceland’s “gender equality” policies were interesting and hopefully can inform policy makers elsewhere. Iceland’s policies seem to not only be morally the right thing to do but also boost economic output and have made Iceland have an above-replacement birthrate. All and all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I give it 5 stars because it delivered. It presented the history of Iceland for a general audience and demonstrated how Iceland has shaped world history in not obvious ways. It is also clearly written, and the author has a great wit.

Enjoyable read about an upcoming isolated island which is windy and cold.. seems like Iceland has been a part of many nations at one time.. today it is proud to be an international leader of women’s rights.. did not realize Bobby Fischer was buried on the island

Bjarnason’s ability to bring history to life make this a great read. He revealed a much more interesting Iceland than I had imagined.

Although a bit slow at times, a great little high-level read about Iceland’s history ahead of a trip there.

So good. History for dummies written very well. Extremely engaging

I really liked this book and read it before my 2024 trip to Iceland. It often really grabbed my attention and I’d walk away with great tidbits to share with my husband like an “Iceland history fact of the day.” Some parts I skipped through as I felt it was more of an info dump than storytelling, but overall, a good book.

This is a brilliantly written book that is captivating and truly fun to read. I bought the book before traveling to Iceland and found it to be a wonderful guide to the history and culture of the country. I can’t wait for the next book from this author!

Iceland has a welcoming spirit that can be seen in the island’s people and history. Egill Bjarnason convinces me that Iceland has this spirit in his book.People from 26 different nationalities live in the port town of Husavik. There is a Polish sushi chef, a German whale watching guide and a bodyguard from Kenya. The ethnic diversity of this town makes me believe that Iceland has a welcoming spirit.Astronauts from NASA have been welcomed to Iceland to prepare from space missions. Neil Armstrong studied the volcanic craters and terrain of Iceland prior to his walk on the moon in 1969. There will be astronauts exploring the iron rich rocks of Iceland prior to a future flight to Mars.Iceland has a history of welcoming Americans to the island. Bobby Fischer played a series of chess games in 1972. Fischer became life long friends with a Icelandic man named Saeni Palsson. This man served as his bodyguard. There is a tourist center honoring Bobby Fischer achievements as a chess champion.Iceland does not have a military, but the island welcomed American soldiers to protect them during the second world war. Iceland has also been the host country for peace meetings between American and Soviet politicians. There have numerous beauty pageant winners from Iceland. I could be greeted by some of the world’s most beautiful women if I visited Iceland. This knowledge makes Iceland more appealing and welcoming to me.