Hugh writes without apology. He’s telling you how to keep that creative spark alive.

His 39 tips (really 40) are all about defending your creative spirit and your right to have it. The tips are typically short, numbering no more than a few paragraphs each. A handful are longer where he relates personal experiences.

The book isn’t meant to tell you think right and you’ll win. It doesn’t tell you the world will line up to help you succeed. This is not a law of attraction book. This book makes you feel like having a creative spark puts you in an eternal war. Beyond that, he tells you everyone has this spark, and most of the world is out to crush it.

Sounds a bit depressing but quite the contrary, it’s uplifting and funny. It challenges you a bit though, and Hugh isn’t afraid to use a rough word here are there to make his point.

Best takeaways? Keep your day job and apply force and focus to your creative endeavors.

I’m reminded by reading this book how few people challenge themselves in the creative area, but settle to just be another bystander in life.

Cheers Hugh. A fan.

PS. I’m giving away a copy the last week in June.

Chris Brogan reviews Six Pixels of Separation, a new book by Mitch Joel. Chris is admittedly biased and yet the review is compelling enough for me to give it a quick look.

The best clue for me I’ll enjoy it is Chris referring to it as actionable. You can read a chunk and do something with it.

Chris is someone in my circle of trust. Please enjoy the video and visit his blog, ChrisBrogan.com.

You can get your own copy of Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone..

Pint-Sized Ireland: In Search of the Perfect Guinness by Evan McHugh

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pint-sized Ireland is a fun and engaging read. The author shares his vacation around Ireland that evolves into the search for the perfect pint of Guinness.

Evan and his traveling companion go from the worst Guinness they can imagine to finding the answer to where to find the perfect pint. Their journey takes them up one side of Ireland and back down the other.

Along the way they are carted, cajoled, and cared for by the locals and fellow travelers. They find that Ireland has more pubs than hotels, and more stories about Guinness that one might imagine.

A good read as the author relates much about the land its self, its people, and its history. We meet several of the locals, we are with him as he scales a mountain, and stand beside him in awe with each new discovery.

I recommend this book to those who love Ireland, and those that love Guinness, and finally to those that just love a good old fashioned pub crawl.

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Ticktock by Dean Koontz

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dean Koontz created a real page turner in TICK TOCK. Heck, even the cover art works well with the book on this one. It’s an all around winner. I’ll tell you up front one complaint that keeps it from being a 5 star – it’s only one book.

The book chronicles the night from hell for Tommy Phan. Starting with the purchase of his first corvette the ride just keeps going from there.

This book is not what it seems at first. When I picked this up I expected a horror story, with focus on Tommy and a demonic pursuer. I was set up for one scare after the next as Tommy is chased and tormented.

It was so much more than that. This is drama, horror, and love story rolled into one. It’s a story about social moors, tradition, and family as well.

Tommy is forced to confront his past and traditions. Along the way he hooks up with Del, a woman with a unique family and history. The demon thing gives chase at first to just Tommy but soon it’s chasing them both across the city and beyond.

Make no mistake, there are chilling demon tormenting moments, scary monster eating innocent scenes, and relentless pursuit. But just the same, there is a bit of magic, a few wild car rides, and a trip to Las Vegas.

All that’s missing from this story is Elvis.

The title implies something to do with a ticking clock or computer countdown. Oh, there’s a countdown the computer and clock having nothing to do with the story. That’s my other gripe. Though the story takes place all in about 18 hours, the count down isn’t shown on clock, computer, or really even a watch.

If you like Koontz, you’ll enjoy this. It’s quirky, scary and fun.

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