Author: Veronica Kirin
Publisher: Identity Publications, 2018
Pages: 309
Genre: nonfiction
Obtained: from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis: The author traveled across the United States, interviewing people born before 1945, focusing on technology and how it has changed our way of life.
Thoughts: For a nonfiction book, this was an easy, quick read. The author is an organized writer who writes at a reading level appropriate for teens and up. She divides her chapters into subjects and uses the material she gathered through her interviews in somewhat of a discussion format, using many quotes from interesting people that draws the reader in.
The book was thought provoking, and personally, really made me look at how much has changed over the last 100 years. I am one of the 20% of Americans who do not have a smart phone, and it got me wondering how far I'd be behind in another 10 years if I don't get one. I enjoy a great feeling of security carrying around my cell phone, but if I had a smart phone, I, like most, would be constantly checking my emails, texts, and looking up information instead of paying attention to what is going on around me. And is it becoming NECESSARY to have one? Maybe. This question was not discussed in the book, but this is where my thoughts led me after reading this book.
The book looks at how things have changed over about the last 100 years in the areas of communication, war, politics, rights, transportation, energy, amenities, work, medicine, relationships, food, money, poverty, safety, community, generational proximity, family, child development, religion, and integrity. It covers a wide range of topics and I think, in a small amount of space. The author chose well what she put in and left out so that she wrote enough without the book becoming monotonous. Although the book covers things most of us know, I did learn some new things, for example, how the credit card developed into what we use today- something I have never thought about.
This would make an excellent book club book, especially for intergenerational clubs. It would give the opportunity to share some personal experiences and really get to know each other. If you are looking for a nonfiction book, I highly recommend this one to young adults and up.
Tea: North African Mint
Obtained: free sample with order
Today I sampled North African Mint tea from Davids Tea. The ingredients were green tea, ginger, peppermint, cardamom, licorice root, fennel, clove, and black pepper. This tea has a low caffeine content and the spices in it are supposed to be good for digestion. The leaves were all shapes, sizes, and colors, and so were the seeds that were mixed in. The scent of the leaves was of peppermint. I poured 16 ounces of water that had been boiled over 2 1/2 teaspoons of leaves and let this sit for 3 minutes. The liquid was a dark yellow with a very slight scent of mint. When taking a sip, the peppermint taste was there, but the spices were also present, and the aftertaste was this peppery / minty experience- you could feel as well as taste it. The result was a delicious blend. This was a calming tea that helped to settle my stomach. After reading the ingredients I was a little doubtful that these herbs and spices would complement each other, but I love how they tasted together!
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