Total Immersion

I learned to swim as an adult and I'm still not comfortable in deep water. I'm also extremely awkward and self-conscious, and that doesn't help matters much either. When I read about this book in Timothy Ferriss's The 4-Hour Body, I decided to take a look.

I think it may be of some help. Total Immersion teaches a somewhat different method than I was taught in any of my swimming classes -- in fact, it's exactly opposite of some of the techniques I was taught. Will it work? I haven't tried it yet, but mean to this summer. It seems logical, I'll give it that.

In the Courts of the Sun

In the Courts of the Sun by Brian D'Amato

This is one terrific read! I had read In the Courts of the Sun about a year and a half ago, but I decided it was time to reread it because the sequel will soon be released.

Jed Delanda is a modern-day descendant of the Ancient Maya, and as the predicted Doomsday of December 21, 2012 approaches, he finds it necessary to travel back in time to learn the secret that can save humanity. Well, he can't travel back in time literally, of course. We all know that time travel is impossible. What he does instead is to throw his consciousness back into the mind of an individual living in 664 AD. See? Perfectly logical.

Of course, I'm simplifying the plot tremendously. This book runs 704 pages, and it's only the first volume of a planned trilogy. The book is crammed full of information on ancient culture, art, religion, architecture, and game theory. It's also a book filled with adventure and excitement, and plot developments that never lose the ability to surprise.

It's really difficult for me to think where to begin talking about this book. If you like science fiction, or historical fiction or adventure or almost any other kind of amazing story, you'll love this book.Amazon Reviewers have compared the author to Michael Crichton, Umberto Eco, Dan Brown (although I don't see this -- I loathe Dan Brown's books), and Frank Herbert. A truly amazing book.

(The sequel is called The Sacrifice Game and is scheduled for release on July 5th.)