Book Review: Inside Tap by Anita Feldman

Title: Inside Tap: Technique and Improvisation for Today's Tap Dancer
Author: Anita Feldman
Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Princeton Book Company (Dance Horizons)

Release date: May 1, 1995

Goodreads 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

This comprehensive guide to tap offers traditional and improvisational instruction for the beginner and new, innovative material for the intermediate and advanced dancer. It reviews the basics, and then progresses through creativity and musicality, rhythm, dynamics, and syncopation. Traditional steps such as the Shim Sham Shimmy are taught as well as contemporary tap. Easy-to-follow descriptions are given for each step.

What I thought:

I enjoy countless amazing tap dance tutorials online, but I also wanted some books. That's when I found Inside Tap by Anita Feldman. No, it's not a dictionary, but it is a very decent book focused on creativity and, as the title says, technique and improvisation. Throughout reading it is clear that Feldman presents tap through an instrumental lens. 

Even from the beginning there is a lot of encouragement for the reader to experiment. But make no mistake, there is a plethora of combinations that use the steps outlined in the key. Speaking of which, the key is in the beginning –which I like as opposed to flipping to the back and trying to hold a lot of pages open. I also like that the step acronyms give brief explanations on preforming them rather than just listing them. 

For the combinations, most of the earlier ones are simple enough. There were often certain techniques or methods done with the simpler steps. For example, the Basic Rhythm Exercise on page 44, that plays with divisions, is made up of multiple Paddle and Rolls. (After all dig, draw, step, and heel is pretty easy for me to do.) Later dances are a little more intermediate concerning step complexity, timing, and weight shifts. But, again, Feldman lays it out it a simplistic way breaking it down with tips to go along with those tricky steps. Combination instructions were spaced out nice, neat, and line by line in each chapter. The best way I can describe it is to quote from pages VII–VIII:

The notation for the combinations throughout the book is in five (and occasionally six) lines that go across the page:

1 the direction or other important information

2 which foot

3 the steps

4 the counts

5 dynamics (accents, crescendo or decrescendo, when applicable)

6 musical notation (only included occasionally for practice)

As for the rest of the writing, it’s straight forward and flows nicely without getting too repetitive.  And lastly, I really appreciate the few pictures that are in here. But there were a few in particular that were too dark in terms of leg placement (basically it was monochrome, and sometimes the clothes blended into the dark background). But then again, the magic is more in the text which provides ample descriptions.

Although this is my first tap tutorial book, overall, I enjoyed my reading and look forward to dancing through more of Inside Tap. For now, I recommend checking it out, even if you’re just a hobbyist.

Thanks for reading! 

ARC Review: Black Skinhead by Brandi Collins-Dexter

Title: Black Skinhead: Reflections on Blackness and Our Political Future

Author: Brandi Collins-Dexter
Source/Format: Celadon; Paperback ARC
Publisher/ Release date: Celadon; Sep 20, 2022

Goodreads        Barnes & Noble        Celadon

Synopsis From Goodreads:

In Black Skinhead, Brandi Collins-Dexter, former Senior Campaign Director for Color Of Change, explores the fragile alliance between Black voters and the Democratic party. Through sharp, timely essays that span the political, cultural, and personal, Collins-Dexter reveals decades of simmering disaffection in Black America, told as much through voter statistics as it is through music, film, sports, and the baffling mind of Kanye West.

While Black Skinhead is an outward look at Black votership and electoral politics, it is also a funny, deeply personal, and introspective look at Black culture and identity, ultimately revealing a Black America that has become deeply disillusioned with the failed promises of its country.

Read the more on Goodreads.

What I Thought:

Politics is not my typical genre, but I still wanted to give Black Skinhead by Brandi Collins-Dexter a read since Celadon sent it to me. And I'm glad I did. Besides I thought I would like it from the sound of the synopsis.

I found Collins-Dexter’s writing to be excellent and enjoyable. I loved the way she incorporated her personal experiences into her points (or vice versa depending on how you look at it). Plus the way she goes about explaining said experiences and opinions does give a reader much to think about. For once I don’t actually have much to add since the synopsis (above) sums up Black Skinhead well. If it sounds like it’s up your alley, then you may want to check it out.

I received this book from Celadon Books for this review.

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: The Way To Go by Kate Ascher

Title: The Way To Go: Moving by Sea, Land and Air
Author: Kate Ascher

Illustrators: Vic Kulihn, Design Language, David Preiss, Ken Batelman, Jason Lee, Aaron Ashley, Michael Fornalski, Jim Kopp, and James Provost

Source/Format: Purchased; Hardcover
ISBN: 9781594204685
More Details: 
Publisher/ Release date: The Penguin Press; Mar 20 2014

Goodreads        Barnes & Noble

Synopsis From Goodreads:

In our digital age, it’s easy to forget that almost everything we enjoy about modern life depends on motion. We ride in cars and on buses and trains to work; enjoy food shipped over oceans; fly high in the sky to any point on the planet. Over the last century, the world has come to rely on its ability to move just about anywhere effortlessly. But what prompted this transformation? What inventions allowed it to happen? And how do the vehicles and systems that keep us in motion today—airports, trains, cars, and satellites—really work?

Read more on Goodreads

What I thought:

The Way To Go by Kate Ascher covers the three main ways humans travel. It’s as the subtitle puts it, Moving by Land, Sea and Air. It’s not a deep dive into every topic. Instead, it shortly delves into finer details that we may not think about (like how train tracks are laid, or maintenance of ships in a dry dock). I liked that it’s a nice general over view of travel.

I mainly picked up the Way To Go as some leisure reading. I did feel there were a couple of parts that got repetitive; especially since certain areas naturally overlap. They were often named in one paragraph, and then further explained in another nearby, or on a different page with a closely related topic.  With that being said, I did enjoy it a lot. There were illustrations on every page. And, like many books I’ve read, technical terms are given a definition. Definitions of which could be found in the text that accompanied illustrations and photographs. Next, I love how the chapters are broken down into specific areas. For example within Sea is Life at Sea, Navigation, and Closer to Shore. This brings me to my next favorite. A single topic or closely related ones within the sections were contained in one page and/or a two page spread. 

The Way To Go is not an end all, definite, or technical book. And, I think it does what Ascher set out to do well. So, overall I enjoyed it a lot. I recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting to you, or if you want to simply discover the broad details of traveling.

Thanks for reading!

ARC Review: Her Honor by LaDoris Hazzard Cordell

Title: Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It
Author: LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
Source/Format: Celadon Books; Paperback ARC
Publisher/ Release date: Celadon Book; Oct 26, 2021

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble     Celadon

Synopsis From Goodreads:
In Her Honor, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell provides a rare and thought-provoking insider account of our legal system, sharing vivid stories of the cases that came through her courtroom and revealing the strengths, flaws, and much-needed changes within our courts.
Judge Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, knows firsthand how prejudice has permeated our legal system. And yet, she believes in the system. From ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, its progress relies on legal professionals and jurors who strive to make the imperfect system as fair as possible.
Read the rest on Goodreads.

What I Thought:

I wasn’t ready for the rollercoaster when I started Her Honor by LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, a retired California Superior Court Judge.

Her Honor Details the various cases that Cordell has presided over, and issues as well as people she’s faced in and out of court. And in some ways, how it shaped her perspective. Something I enjoyed is how she took the time to explain the history of many terms and procedures. All of which were typically sandwiched between the cases that it related back to in each chapter. Since this was the majority of the book, the introduction, served its purpose well. It mainly went into how she became a judge, what was enticing about it, and some of her background. This let the rest of the book get on and do its thing. As the synopsis states, it does “shine a light on all areas of the legal system…” Especially the countless difficult decisions that she and other judges had to make concerning heavy topics and/or complex situations.

Overall I enjoyed Her Honor, and I recommend checking it out if your looking for a nonfiction court book that's very informative.

I received this book from Celadon Books for this review.

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: The Genome Odyssey (ARC)

Title: The Genome Odyssey: Medical Mysteries and the Incredible Quest to Solve Them
Author: Euan Angus Ashley, M.D.,Ph.D.
Source/Format: Celadon Books and BookishFirst; Paperback ARC
Publisher/ Release date: Celadon Books; (Expected) Feb 23, 2021

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In The Genome Odyssey, Dr. Euan Ashley, Stanford professor of medicine and genetics, brings the breakthroughs of precision medicine to vivid life through the real diagnostic journeys of his patients and the tireless efforts of his fellow doctors and scientists as they hunt to prevent, predict, and beat disease.

Since the Human Genome Project was completed in 2003, the price of genome sequencing has dropped at a staggering rate. It’s as if the price of a Ferrari went from $350,000 to a mere forty cents. Through breakthroughs made by Dr. Ashley’s team at Stanford and other dedicated groups around the world, analyzing the human genome has decreased from a heroic multibillion dollar effort to a single clinical test costing less than $1,000.

For the first time we have within our grasp the ability to predict our genetic future, to diagnose and prevent disease before it begins, and to decode what it really means to be human. (read the rest on Goodreads)

What I Thought:

The Genome Odyssey by Dr. Euan Angus Ashley is a wonderful ride through the world of genome sequencing. How it can help the field of science/medicine, the patient, and the patient’s families. And finally, it shines a light on the life changing impact that genomics can have. I was excited to get into to this since I have heard about the Human Genome Project over the years. Spoiler alert: it did not let me down.

Early on in the book, readers get to know Ashley’s background as he becomes interested in medical field at an early age. Also introduced are the many colleagues that joined him and their quest together to sequence genomes. Everyone got some type of introduction, so it didn’t feel like it was just random name dropping. It was the same thing with the patients too. Right off the bat, I loved that it was not overloaded with pure medical and scientific terminology. It was informative but not overly simplified. There were often brief explanations, analogies, or a short overview of the history concerning each term. Additionally, Ashley relates back to the past when researchers didn’t know much about/couldn’t figure out exactly the disease their patients were suffering from. Slowly, but surely building up to how the genome sequencing helped solve those mysteries for patients of today.  This was a slower read for me, but I still enjoyed my time reading this. 

In the end The Genome Odyssey was an interesting and informative read. It combined past and present medical history, historical achievements, personal and patient stories, technology, and company startups among other things. With everything that’s in it, I’d say it’s a well-rounded book. If this sounds interesting to you, I recommend checking it out.

*I received this book from Celadon Books and BookishFirst for this review.

Thanks For Reading!

Book Review: Finding Freedom (ARC)

Title: Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking A Life From Scratch
Author: Erin French

Source/Format: Celadon Books; Paperback ARC
Publisher/ Release date: Celadon Books; (Expected) Apr 6, 2021

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:

From Erin French, owner and chef of the critically acclaimed The Lost Kitchen, a TIME world dining destination, a life-affirming memoir about survival, renewal, and finding a community to lift her up

Long before The Lost Kitchen became a world dining destination with every seating filled the day the reservation book opens each spring, Erin French was a girl roaming barefoot on a 25-acre farm, a teenager falling in love with food while working the line at her dad's diner and a young woman finding her calling as a professional chef at her tiny restaurant tucked into a 19th century mill. This singular memoir--a classic American story--invites readers to Erin's corner of her beloved Maine to share the real person behind the "girl from Freedom" fairytale, and the not-so-picture-perfect struggles that have taken every ounce of her strength to overcome, and that make Erin's life triumphant. (read the rest on Goodreads)

What I Thought:

Finding Freedom is Erin French’s story and journey about not only finding freedom, but also rediscovering  herself in the process. Ironically from Freedom, Maine, she found ways to overcome the storms of her life. And in doing so, she also made more friends and family along the way.

The first few pages open casually, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. French introduces the reader to herself while she is hard at work. In part one, she often went back and forth from her young adult life, to her time as a teen, and then to her childhood. This made it somewhat repetitive. However, subsequent chapters in each part (chronologically starting in part 2) pertained to specific events in her life. At this point the book flowed freely and at a better pace. Eventually, I found that it was hard to put down. And, before I knew it, I had finished it. 

In the end, Finding Freedom is a riveting yet inspiring memoir. French takes the reader through her trials and tribulations; sometimes feeling devoid of hope. Slowly, but surely, she takes back control of her life; and, most importantly, never stops dreaming. This memoir may make you laugh, cry, and hungry… very hungry. I recommend checking out Finding Freedom, especially if it seems interesting to you. Or maybe if you would like to know more about the woman behind The Lost Kitchen.

*I received this book from Celadon Books for this review.

Thanks For Reading!

Book Review: You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy (ARC)

Title: You're Not Listening
Author: Kate Murphy
Source/Format: BookishFirst and Celadon Books; Paperback ARC
Publisher/ Release date: Celadon Books; Jan 7 2020

Goodreads

My Thoughts

As soon as I saw it on Bookish first, I knew I would be interested in You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy. By the time I reached the end, I realized it did not disappoint and it was everything I was expecting it to be. While staying close to the synopsis, points were driven home with interviews and research.

More than listening (or the lack thereof) is covered in You're Not Listening. At times, the author delves into how certain responses and misunderstandings can affect a conversation. Other times, it is discussed how feeling unheard and technology can have an impact on people's mental and emotional state, as well as feelings of loneliness. And, Murphy often recounts small comments from people she's met. Like I said in my first impression, I started recalling and assessing how I felt in similar situations. And finally my favorite thing is after all that, there is a chapter dedicated to not listening. As for things I didn't like about this book, there were none. 

Basically, if the definition of listening was the length of a novel, You're Not Listening is it. I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend it; especially, if you want to become a better listener

*I received this book from BookishFirst and Celadon Books for this review.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review: The Knitter's Dictionary

Title: The Knitter's Dictionary
Author: Kate Atherley
Source/Format: *BookistFirst; Hardcover
More Details: Knitting; nonfiction
Publisher/ Release date:  Interweave, Oct 30 2018

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:

From "alt" to "yrn," knitting patterns have a unique language of abbreviations and knitting techniques. The Knitter's Dictionary is your comprehensive resource for understanding the language of knitting in a quick-reference guide that no knitting bag should be without. For beginner and skilled knitters alike, there's always something new to discover in your next handknit project. The Knitter's Dictionary puts an expert knitting instructor in the palm of your hands to help you navigate any pattern.

My Thoughts:

I often find myself scratching my head at the various knitting terminology –that’s why I was excited to read The Knitter’s Dictionary by Kate Atherley. It explains a lot of the terminology clearly and gives tutorials with images for others.

As a casual and beginner knitter, I found this book to be an enjoyable and helpful read. With this book, I discovered techniques that I’ve never dreamed of being possible. Take bobbles (p.20) for example, it requires knitting multiple short rows with a group of increase stitches. I never heard of working rows before finishing the actual row. Additionally there are quite a few charts and extra tips throughout the book.

Overall, it’s nice to have so much information (if not all of it) in one place. The Knitter’s Dictionary is a neat, little book that I totally recommend, especially if you’re into knitting.

*I received this book from BookishFirst and Interweave for this review.

Book Review: A Guide to Fashion Sewing 6th Edition

Title: A Guide to Fashion Sewing 6^th Edition
Authors: Connie Amaden-Crawford

Source/Format: Library/Borrowed; Paperback

More Details: Fashion Design; Sewing; *copy did not include studio accesses
Publisher/ Release date: Fairchild Books; March 12, 2015

Bloomsbury (7th Edition)     Goodreads     Barnes & Noble (6th Edition)

Synopsis from Fairchild Books:

A Guide to Fashion Sewing, 6th Edition, provides a comprehensive fashion sewing resource for beginning and advanced sewers alike. Readers will learn how to assemble and construct designs of various styles using proven industry methods for more than 100 sewing applications. Chapters cover everything from sewing equipment, measurements, and fabric selection to actual garment assembly. Filled with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and large, clear illustrations, this book is an indispensable resource for constructing quality garments. Accompanying video demonstrations help readers learn at their own pace basic sewing skills and techniques such a seams, darts, bias binding, zipper, and garment assembly.

The new edition features an updated design, new industrial sewing machine information and photographs, and expanded information on tailoring. Amaden-Crawford has added convenient metric measurement equivalents to the text, helpful project checklists to aid self-assessment of completed project, and 1/2 scale patterns to make sample garment assembly easier than ever before.

My Thoughts:

A Guide to Fashion Sewing 6th Edition by Connie Amaden-Crawford details the basics of creating fashion for all levels. I became interested in reading this book after reading the author’s other book, The Art of Fashion Draping 2nd Edition. Despite its length it was a smooth, easy read, making it pleasant to follow along.

I already know a bit about sewing, but this book was still helpful. The decent size illustrations make the steps easier to follow. Steps are clearly illustrated identifying what goes where, and where to place the pins, seams, etc. There’s even an appendix with practice patterns for things like welt pockets, button plackets, and darts!

I don’t know what else to say about A Guide to Fashion Sewing except it’s one of the best in-depth sewing books I’ve recently read. I totally recommend checking it out.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review: The CEO Next Door

Title: The CEO Next Doot
Authors: Elena L. Botelho, Kim R. Powell, Tahl Raz
Source/Format: Blogging for Books; hardcover
More Details: Management
Publisher/ Release date: Currency, March 26 2018

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble     Book Depository (Paperback)

Synopsis from Penguin Random House:
Based on an in-depth analysis of over 2,600 leaders drawn from a database of more than 17,000 CEOs and C-suite executives, as well 13,000 hours of interviews, and two decades of experience advising CEOs and executive boards, Elena L. Botelho and Kim R. Powell overturn the myths about what it takes to get to the top and succeed. 

My Thoughts:

What if the path to being a CEO wasn’t as complicated as you once thought? Well The CEO Next Door almost entirely proves just that. It’s not just an inspirational book; it’s also a rational one, proving that you don’t have to be perfect to be a CEO and that hard work and smart decisions can get you to the top as well.

Most proof for the ideas the authors’ present came from interviews of current and former CEOs as well as some board members and previous counseling experiences. Their quotes and experiences proved that nothing overly fancy is required. Besides that, I like the fact that every experience wasn’t presented as being peachy-keen. The authors readily provided examples of pitfalls from not handling mistakes well to negative attitudes and actions that can totally obliterate a career.

Small details presented in a book can make the biggest difference for me. As such, the details and layout in The CEO Next Door made it an engaging read. First, I loved the text boxes that included additional information and never interrupted a sentence. They were usually placed strategically after a paragraph was completed. Secondly, except for chapter one, each chapter contained a small section called Key Takeaways. So, instead of skimming through pages to refer back to information I’d already read, I simply had to go to the end of each chapter to locate the information.

Overall, the CEO Next Door was a highly inspiring book. I recommend giving it a read especially if you’re an aspiring CEO.

Thanks for reading.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Review: The Startup Way

Title: The Startup Way
Author: Eric Ries (Website)
Source/Format: Blogging for Books; Hardcover
More Details: Nonfiction, Managment
Publisher/ Release date: Currency; October 17, 2017

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble    Penguin Random House

Synopsis from Penguin Random House:
Entrepreneur and bestselling author of The Lean Startup, Eric Ries reveals how entrepreneurial principles can be used by businesses of all kinds, ranging from established companies to early-stage startups, to grow revenues, drive innovation, and transform themselves into truly modern organizations, poised to take advantage of the enormous opportunities of the twenty-first century...

My Thoughts

As described by the synopsis and title, The Startup Way by Eric Reis is an overview of management technique(s). In it, he suggests possible ways that businesses, especially larger corporations, can modernize by run efficiently and smarter.

Reis presents a different view of businesses, by encouraging focus on customers. The author discusses how to apply entrepreneurial ideas with in organizations and how it can benefit the company as a whole. I enjoyed the fact that this book wasn’t filled with fancy business terminology, which was easy to understand. Most terms/ phrases were explained clear enough when first introduced. Another is that the ideas were presented as suggestions rather than a “you must do step a-z to see results”. Actually the driving force behind taking such techniques into consideration was the stories Reis included about the companies that took his advice –which included a discussion of their previous successes and failures.

I had no strife with The Startup Way. The writing flowed making it an enjoyable read. As such, I recommend checking it out.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
Thanks for reading.

Book Review: Fashion Design Essentials: 100 Principals Of Fashion Design

Title: Fashion Design Essentials: 100 Principals Of Fashion Design
Author: Jay Calderin
Source/Format: Library Borrowed; Hardcover
Genre: Nonfiction, Fashion
Publisher/ Release date: Rockport Publishers; July 1, 2011

Goodreads Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Creative ideas are elevated by experience and expertise. This book sets forth a challenge to fashion designers: continue to expand your horizons, exercise your skills and experiment with strategies. Filled with inspiring fashion design details from around the world, Fashion Design Essentials supplies a selection of starting points for fashion designers of all levels, as well as a wide variety of useful examples for each stage of the design process.
Inside, you'll find insight on:
- How to define concepts and render them
- Understanding textiles and the process of selecting fabrics
- Developing sewing skills and constructing garments
- How to build a reputation and find an audience for your work
All 100 insights are beautifully illustrated with real-world fashion designs. If your creativity has staggered or stalled, the variety of subjects in this book will provide new ways to jumpstart it and refocus. Learn to employ alternative ways of thinking and actively pursue experiences that stimulate artistry with Fashion Design Essentials.

My Thoughts

Fashion Design Essentials: 100 Principals of Fashion Design by Jay Calderin is a pretty good starting book, especially if you’re new to fashion. I can’t say that this is the most in-depth book, but it does provide a nice introduction to each of the subjects that were included.

On a personal level I can’t say this book was exactly for me, the reason being is that I’m not exactly new to fashion. But if I was, I’d say that the subjects mentioned would definitely prompt me look into each element further. One positive of the book was that some of the subjects mentioned are things that I didn’t think about before –like taking into consideration how all ages affect fashion. 

Over all Fashion Design Essentials: 100 Principals of Fashion Design was a pretty good book for people new or curious about fashion.

I like it.

Book Review: Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker

Title: Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker

Author: Stephen Galloway

Source/Format: Blogging For Books, Hardcover

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography

Publisher/ Release date: Crown Archetype; April 25, 2017

Goodreads        Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The definitive biography of movie executive and philanthropist Sherry Lansing traces her groundbreaking journey to become the first female head of a major motion picture studio, shares behind-the-scenes tales from movie sets and Hollywood boardrooms, and explains what inspired her to walk away from it all to start the Sherry Lansing Foundation.

My Thoughts

Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker is the biography of one of Hollywood’s top women. Honestly, having never heard of Lansing, Stephen Galloway does a tremendous job of introducing and illustrating her life and struggles as she transitioned throughout her career. It’s a realistic portrayal of what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood.

The majority of the book’s content contains interviews from Lansing and other people. Additionally, the author provides a clear timeline with the inclusion of historical events, headlines, and facts. I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the book, because Galloway did not try to sugarcoat the hardships of a career in Hollywood. Instead, the author provided a raw take on the events and meetings by using the recollections of the people involved.

Overall, I enjoyed Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker. I liked reading about Lansing’s life, what being a studio executive is like, and what it takes to make a movie. The only downfall to this book was that some parts felt prolonged. However, I would still recommend reading this book if you're interested in learning what it’s like behind the scenes in Hollywood.

I liked it!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Review: The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers

 Title: The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers
Author(s): Alfred S. Posamentier, Ingmar Lehmann
Source/Format: Library borrowed, Hardcover
More Details: Nonfiction, Math
Publisher/ Release date: Prometheus Books, May 30, 2007

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The most ubiquitous, and perhaps the most intriguing, number pattern in mathematics is the Fibonacci sequence. In this simple pattern beginning with two ones, each succeeding number is the sum of the two numbers immediately preceding it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ad infinitum). Far from being just a curiosity, this sequence recurs in structures found throughout nature - from the arrangement of whorls on a pinecone to the branches of certain plant stems. All of which is astounding evidence for the deep mathematical basis of the natural world.
With admirable clarity, two veteran math educators take us on a fascinating tour of the many ramifications of the Fibonacci numbers. They begin with a brief history of a distinguished Italian discoverer, who, among other accomplishments, was responsible for popularizing the use of Arabic numerals in the West. Turning to botany, the authors demonstrate, through illustrative diagrams, the unbelievable connections between Fibonacci numbers and natural forms (pineapples, sunflowers, and daisies are just a few examples).
In art, architecture, the stock market, and other areas of society and culture, they point out numerous examples of the Fibonacci sequence as well as its derivative, the "golden ratio." And of course in mathematics, as the authors amply demonstrate, there are almost boundless applications in probability, number theory, geometry, algebra, and Pascal's triangle, to name a few.
Accessible and appealing to even the most math-phobic individual, this fun and enlightening book allows the reader to appreciate the elegance of mathematics and its amazing applications in both natural and cultural settings.

My Thoughts

After discovering the both golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence, I just had to find a book on it.

The first thing I noticed was the range of topics covered. I like that this book wasn’t purely math, but rather it explored how the Fibonacci sequence could be found in nature, art, music, and a little bit in physics. At times before an example, the reader is reminded of an equation that relates to the example. I like this because I often found myself being distracted at other fascinating things. Along with these examples, various pictures and diagrams were riddled throughout this book, making for both textual and visual interpretations. In addition to this, Appendix A and B contain the first five hundred Fibonacci numbers and more proofs of the relationships.

Even though there were some moments that I felt bored, this was a great, slightly in-depth introduction to the Fibonacci numbers. Overall, I enjoyed The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers and would recommend it.

I loved it!