My Personal Pollan Fad

Ever since I watched the documentary "The Botany of Desire" I have been hanging on every word of Michael Pollan's. I am sure this is some sort of fad that I will laugh about in the coming years, but it has had a significant impact on my thinking if not my habits. This is surprising because I read part of "The Omnivore's Dilemma" a few years ago but I did not make it all the way through before the library recalled it, and I never renewed it, which tells me something in itself.

However, I recently read his "Food Rules" and enjoyed it immensely. It is a fun little collection of 64 rules divided into three parts: 1) What should I eat? 2) What kind of food should I eat? 3) How much should I eat? (answers below)

Here are the rules I remember after reading the book over a week ago:

Section 1: Eat Food; Eat only foods that will eventually rot; Avoid Food products that contain more than five ingredients; Buy only foods with ingredients you can pronounce
Section 2: Don't eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk; Eat like the French. Or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the Greeks. (i.e., not like Americans)
Section 3: Cook; The Banquet is the First Bite; Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince, Dinner Like a Pauper; Do All Your Eating at the Table (this one is especially tough)

answers: 1) Food 2) Mostly Plants 3) Not Too Much

Book Review: The E-Myth Enterprise: How to Turn A Great Idea Into a Thriving Business; Michael Gerber

The E-Myth Enterprise: How to Turn A Great Idea Into a Thriving Business

I borrowed this from the libary because it was recommended by the author of another book I read. Actually, it recommended a different "E-Myth" book and I mistakenly checked this one out of the library.

It was an easy read but not very prescriptive. This was the first book in the "E-Myth" series that I have read.

My takeaways:

• Business is a creative action
• Successful business solve customer problems (Duh!)
• The best companies are process driven not people driven. That was counter-intutive when I first read it, but I have seen this in a number of the places I have worked and I really agree with it. Some employers (managers) blame the person and wrongly believe if only they had a different person, the outcome would be different. Process driven companies believe that they can perfect the process, even with imperfect people employing it. Now, I am not saying that people should not be dismissed, but I do believe that we should all aspire to delivering a process that ensures success and constantly refine and reinvent that process.
• There is a great anecdote about a guy who started a business in Arizona called "Three Day Kitchens". The description was really fun and I think it is something everyone who has owned a home and contracted out work can sympathize with.

I recommend you check it out if you would like a quick read with some fun business anecdotes. It is relevant to entrepeneurs and employees and I hope to check out another one of the E-myth books soon.

Bookshelves Made of Glass

There is a great, fun article in the newspaper today that talks about dating and books. I recently had the comment that “I am surprised by the lack of books you have on your shelf.” To be sure, I don’t have any Pushkin’s or Dostoyevsky’s on my shelf. I have also had chills when I looked at online profiles and seen “Eat, Pray, Love” as the “best book ever!”

Years ago, I had someone close to me that worked at Barnes and Noble. She would constantly bring home books, not to mention, I would spend a lot of time in the store reading books. In one of my many moves, I packed up so many boxes of books, that it was ridiculous. Then my dutch Uncle Bob told me that he reduced his inventory to keep only books that really affected him. His advice: let the library keep all the rest for you. I decided to do the same. I tossed hundreds of books.

Instead, on my shelf you will find Sedaris’ (I enjoyed seeing my friend heave with laughter as we flew to Istanbul and some very serious women in veils looked on) and Sartre. Actually, I keep the Sartre’s to impress ladies..