What We Are Reading Today: Agent Sonya

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Updated 19 September 2020
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What We Are Reading Today: Agent Sonya

Author: Ben Macintire

Ben Macintire has produced a jaw-dropping book about 20th-century espionage.

“With unparalleled access to Sonya’s diaries and correspondence and never-before-seen information on her clandestine activities, Ben Macintire has written a history of a legendary secret agent, a woman who influenced the course of the Cold War and helped plunge the world into a decades-long standoff between nuclear superpowers,” said a review in goodreads.com.

“Over the course of her career, she was hunted by the Chinese, the Japanese, the Nazis, MI5, MI6, and the FBI — and she evaded them all,” it added.

The review said her story “reflects the great ideological clash of the 2oth century — between communism, fascism, and western democracy — and casts new light on the spy battles and shifting allegiances of our own times.”

It added that Sonya, born as Ursula Burton, “was friendly but reserved, and spoke English with a slight foreign accent. By all accounts, she seemed to be living a simple, unassuming life. Her neighbors in the village knew little about her.


Book Review: ‘I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas’ by Alessandra Olanow

Updated 56 sec ago
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Book Review: ‘I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas’ by Alessandra Olanow

  • The author’s storytelling talent and introspective reflections on her personal journey make this book an excellent option for people searching for inspiration and a deeper understanding of life and human experience

“I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas” is a captivating book by New York-based author Alessandra Olanow. Her book was published in 2020 and talks about a self-discovery journey and resilience.

Through her beautifully crafted stories and storytelling, she takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and invites them to learn through the unexpected experiences that shape their lives.

Through the pages of this book, Olanow shares her personal experiences of how she managed to overcome life’s unpredictable circumstances. With her honesty and interesting narrative, she speaks about the lessons learned on her life journey. From her professional experiences to her personal relationships, Olanow’s story exudes authenticity and reminds the reader that life rarely follows a straight path, which makes life realistic and beautiful at the same time.

One of the strengths of Olanow’s book is her ability to describe the depth of emotions and how she talks about her personal struggles during some of the hardest moments in her life.

She expresses her opinions and reflections on life’s challenges by encouraging the readers to reflect as well on their own journeys, motivating them to overcome their obstacles too.

Moreover, regardless of the ups and downs she encountered, she explained how she maintained a sense of hope and resilience.

Additionally, the book is enriched with evocative descriptions of the places the author has lived and traveled to. Whether she was exploring the busy streets in one city or immersing herself in the serenity of nature, her ability to paint a colorful picture through her words takes readers to these places, allowing them to travel with her in thoughts.

Overall, this book is interesting and inspiring at the same time. It reminds readers of the beauty and resilience of accepting life’s unexpected turns and celebrating the beautiful moments too.

The author’s storytelling talent and introspective reflections on her personal journey make this book an excellent option for people searching for inspiration and a deeper understanding of life and human experience.
 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines’ by Nicholas P. Money

Updated 09 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines’ by Nicholas P. Money

From beneficial yeasts that aid digestion to toxic molds that cause disease, we are constantly navigating a world filled with fungi. “Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines” explores the amazing ways fungi interact with our bodies, showing how our health and well-being depend on an immense ecosystem of yeasts and molds inside and all around us. Nicholas Money takes readers on a guided tour of a marvelous unseen realm, describing how our immune systems are engaged in continuous conversation with the teeming mycobiome inside the body, and how we can fall prey to serious and even life-threatening infections when this peaceful coexistence is disturbed.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Tear and A Smile’ by Khalil Gibran

Updated 09 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Tear and A Smile’ by Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran’s “A Tear and A Smile” is a collection of poems and reflections first published in 1914. The book explores the contrasting aspects of life, such as joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, as well as the complexities of human emotions.

Gibran’s compelling lyrical and philosophical style shines as he contemplates the beauty and challenges of life including love, loss and longing.

He invites readers to reflect on the intricacies of their own emotions and experiences.

The collection is divided into two sections, “A Tear” and “A Smile,” symbolizing the duality of human existence.

In “A Tear,” Gibran delves into the sorrows and struggles of life, exploring pain, loss, and the transient nature of human existence. Through his poignant and evocative language, he captures the universal experience of human suffering.

In contrast, “A Smile” focuses on the brighter aspects of life. Gibran celebrates joy, love, and the beauty found in everyday moments.

He emphasizes the importance of gratitude, kindness, and embracing life’s blessings. The poems in this section inspire hope and encourage the reader to find solace and happiness in the simple pleasures of life.

“I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart for the joys of the multitude. And I would not have the tears that sadness makes to flow from my every part turn into laughter. I would that my life remain a tear and a smile,” he writes.
 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Contact: Art and the Pull of Print’ by Jennifer L. Roberts

Updated 08 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Contact: Art and the Pull of Print’ by Jennifer L. Roberts

In process and technique, printmaking is an art of physical contact. From woodcut and engraving to lithography and screen printing, every print is the record of a contact event: the transfer of an image between surfaces, under pressure, followed by release.

Contact reveals how the physical properties of print have their own poetics and politics and provides a new framework for understanding the intelligence and continuing relevance of printmaking today.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Gull Guide: North America’

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Updated 08 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Gull Guide: North America’

Author: AMAR AYYASH

Gull identification can be challenging for even the most seasoned birder.

While these birds are common to coasts, lakes, and rivers, they exhibit remarkable plumage changes related to age, which is sometimes complicated by similarities between species and a readiness to hybridize.

This book provides an invaluable identification guide to all regularly occurring gull species and subspecies throughout North America.