To be an editor I've heard that reading and writing are equally important skills. I hope to develop both as I metaphorically tear my library's nonfiction collection to shreds.
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I picked up a handful of non-fiction books from my local library based on subject matter alone. I must say that I did not have high hopes for this one... and I was not disappointed.
Note: My apologies for any disorganization/lack of consistency between posts as I explore different review styles and techniques.
Cover: Can we talk about the Word '97 pagination design skills employed here? Plain white lettering on a solid background- because nothing gets your attention like curry diarrhea brown.
And the cover image, well... let's just say it doesn't pin Irene as an expert in cognitive neuroscience. Last time I checked the corpus callosum had little to do with motor skills, language or writing, except perhaps to relay information to the other side of the cortex while these processes are taking place.
I also think that it sets the book up to be much more legitimate and scientifically sound, which it is not. But we'll get to that.
Organization: The book is organized in a few different ways. It seems to start off general-to-specific. Rather than jump into handwriting analysis we begin with a note on the subconscious mind and "Learning About People Through Symbols", in which your preference for shapes sheds insight on your personality. After this however the chapters alternate between focusing on specific graphemes and their significance in terms of personality, or specific personality traits and which graphemes exude them. The book ends with a section geared towards those in the sales field and finally an FAQ.
Overview: The autobiographical narrative moves the book along and keeps the reader interested, however the use of personal anecdotes as the sole evidence for the existence of handwriting's connection to the subconscious mind is also the book's greatest flaw.
If you're the least bit skeptical you'll find Irene's propositions laughable and ridiculous. We're expected to believe everything based off her life experiences and master's degree in graphoanalysis. In reality, graphoanalytic methods have little reliability; there are very few well-designed studies that provide substantial evidence to back up these claims.
In fact, at one point she insinuates that she must be correct because no one had ever told her she was wrong... I rest my case.
Bottom line: If you're mildly interested in graphoanalysis then this is a nice book to pick up and read in an afternoon. The text is large, the lines widely spaced, and there are plenty of low-resolution scribbles to break up the monotony. Plus you get to read about Irene's love life, her emotionally distant father, and her ability to diagnose health problems based on your signature.
My name is Nicholas. I'm not sure what I'm doing with my life but am trying to pursue a few different avenues, one of which I hope... to be editing. I'm not certain what type of editing I will find most rewarding but have decided that it might be both interesting and practical to hone my skills by reading books and then reviewing them here.
The thoughts expressed in this blog are my own and I was not paid or pressured to provide any of these reviews. If, however, you would like me to review your work, please send me an ask- though note that I will not hold back negative criticism for your sake. I realize I seem rather pessimistic and maybe a bit stuck-up, but I meant that to be humorous... and perhaps my most recent reading has left me in such a mood. We'll see.
