Geek Books of the Week
Bruce Schneier is the pundit of the IT Security World. If you haven't read his books, you should. I don't agree with every detail he has ever written, but he has definitely been instrumental in reminding people that technology doesn't fix security problems, process does.
Both Dave Knox and Marlin Pohlmann are really sharp. Their books present both detail and overview of the Oracle Solutions. Dave has the benefit of a nice, restricted product set and has the better examples, but Marlin covers a lesser known aspect of Oracle's product line admirably. I don't personally know the other authors, but have used their books in my work.
Now I am working on expanding my technical horizons to include BPEL and BPM, at the intersection of SOA and Identity Management. Combine this with a little process improvement and Six Sigma and you can see what we are offering our customers now.
And Some non-geek books
Even if I did add the HTML by hand. :-)
I have a lot of interests, including dancing and the martial arts. Some well-crafted fiction with a philosophical and martial arts background is good, too.
Steve Perry's The Man Who Never Missed series is wonderful, and he apparently has a new one out. Unfortunately the others are all in the Used section.
Aikido as an art encourages both fitness and personal growth. I am learning a lot from my current practice.
Of course, O'Sensei's great work on the philosophy of aikido is mandatory
This is one of the classic overview books for Aikido
These two are excellent picture books showing the techniques, but they are a bit light on explanations.
These are likely to be my next Aikido technique books
There are also specific Aikidoka whose works have inspired me.
George Leonard is an author and aikidoka whose works span the range of human potential. His essays in Esquire are what first led me to writing essays of my own, and are the parents of my Ideas and Illusions. His collection of essays on Aikido illustrate the heart and soul of this art.
My first copy of Mastery went to Bosnia with the man who took over my squad when I got out of the Army. Education and Ecstacy touches a topic near to my heart: education of the mind and the body, and the intimate connection between the two.
Richard Strozzi-Heckler is one of Leonard's students who caught my attention with In Search of the Warrior Spirit. His effort to bring the techniques of the human potential movement, which I admire, to the Special Forces, which is what I joined the Army for, was amazing. Reading
his other books has only broadened and deepened my respect for him.
Yoga and Dance together? Great!
Books For the Kids
Intervention, Course Corrections for the Athlete and Trainer (2011)
By Dan John
Dan John is a genius of physical training and has the common sense many people lack. He has been pursuing excellence long enough to come full circle back to simplicity. He understands his domain, strength training, and how it fits into the world around him. This is the first of several items of his I will be highlighting.
Starting Strength
Starting Strength is a good introductory program for building basic strength. This is my starting point for strength acquisition so that I can proceed to more specialized programs. The hardest part is admitting that after decades of experience I am still a beginning strength athlete, and am likely to be that way for at least a year.