Pretty pointless. The entire premise of the film is based on lies, deceit and abuse of friendship, all just to get a night with a girl. Much of what was apparently supposed to be funny just wasn’t. I wouldn’t recommend this film to anyone.

Truly a classic in of Science Fiction. I have encountered the Three Laws of Robotics many times in other settings, but this was my first time going to the source. The Laws are:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Sounds pretty good, right? I thought so too, but most of the stories comprising the book are cases where these simple rules produce unexpected emergent behavior. Then the people have to figure out what’s going on, which usually involves determining how the robot is experiencing the situation to produce the unexpected behaviors within some interpretation of the Laws. This leads to a number of surprises.

Written during the 1940s, I, Robot is in many ways still relevant to a world which is slowly becoming increasingly more populated by robots. To the other extreme, on the other hand, reading about the gear-powered internals of Asimov’s robots was somewhat amusing. How far we’ve come, and inconceivable many aspects of today’s technology were back then. It makes you wonder what the future holds, and how the Laws of Robotics will play a role.

What if you loved someone, and did things to express your love for them, but they were looking for signs of your love in ways different than those you were offering? You miss each other, and the other person does not feel your loved. Every day there are loved people who don’t feel loved because the expressions of love they’re getting aren’t the expressions of love they’re looking for. This is because we all speak different love language. Love means different things to different people; each person experiences love, or prefers to be loved, in different ways. What complicates matters is that we tend to express love in the ways we like to receive love, which may not be the ways other people best receive love. And everybody enjoys receiving love. This is the problem The Five Love Languages seeks to solve. The most common love languages are:

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

Dr. Chapman describes each of the languages, as well as a number of “dialects,” giving examples on both how to identify and satiate each of the preferred love languages. I enjoyed this read because it is not only theoretical, but practical as well. The book is sort and simple, keeping to the point, and making for an enjoyable read. This is an approach to love that I have never seen addressed anywhere else, but seems to be an integral part of effective loving. Dr. Chapman presents a strong case for learning the love languages of those you love, and definitely contributes being a better lover.

I ended up very impressed with Peck and The Road Less Traveled. I’ve never read anything quite like it. Some style this as a ‘self-help’ book, but I didn’t experience it that way. It is a book about Life and Truth.

The book is divided into four main topics: Discipline, Love, Growth and Religion, and Grace.
Peck begins by accepting that life is difficult, and then immediately move beyond this.

The section on Discipline expounds on a topic which is effectively carried throughout the book–there is no easy road to happiness; the path includes suffering, discipline, and hard work. The journey is, however, will worth the effort.

The second section of the book is the most beautiful and complete treatise on love I have ever read.

Growth and Religion contains a wonderful critique of religion, pointing out how some religious mindsets do more harm than good.

In the end, however, Peck acknowledges the need for and role of correct religion in our lives.

Reading this book was like going on a journey. When I started, there were times I didn’t know if I was going to finish. The book starts with some rather basic principles, and one must resist the temptation to believe that this journey offers nothing new. Even though many of the truths presented here are timeless, their delivery, along with our general inability or unwillingness to do what is right, make this a journey worth taking. Admittedly, there are details presented that I do not agree with. Sometimes Peck even comes across as arrogant or conceited. Nevertheless, his comments ring with truth and timelessness.

One other lesson I gleaned from this book is that mental health is not a Boolean have or have not. Mental health is just as volatile as physical health–a delicate balance where a little too far to one side isn’t fatal, it just isn’t as good as it could be.

Peck is goal with this book is to help us become our best selves. His message is full love while recognizing the effort required to find true joy. It is indeed a road few travel.