Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Curious

  • Horti-Curious

    Horti-Curious

    A Gardener’s Miscellany of Fascinating Facts and Remarkable Plants

    The wonderfully illustrated hard cover on Horti-Curious is a perfect introduction to the informative contents. The chapters range from Beautiful Botany, Curious Horticulture, Noteworthy Nature, to Incredible Edibles. The full page illustrations and the smaller picture are a beautiful accompaniment to the text. There is also a map of the world and diagrams to explain gardening tools.

    The medicinal use of plants is discussed, along with poisonous plants. It is noted that Agatha Christy was a keen gardener and used her knowledge when poisoning off victims. Tips such as maidenhair fern being used to cure baldness are given. The language of flowers has long been recognised for passing hidden meanings, the tulip meaning a declaration of love.

    As well as interesting tit bits, there is practical advice. Different soils are described, and plants which have preferences for acidic or alkaline soils mentioned.Horti-Curios is a treasure trove of fascinating facts, curious goings on in gardens and garden Gnomes which will enchant and appeal to every gardener’s heart

  • Curious Habits: Why we do what we do and how to change

    Curious Habits: Why we do what we do and how to change

    Habits are actions we repeat on a daily basis, but why we do this is somewhat intriguing according to mindset coach Luke Mathers. He takes a look at some of the many habits we develop in his book Curious Habits: Why we do what we do and how to change which explores territory that more often than not puts up roadblocks on your life journey.

    Habits are learned behaviour, generally developed to find the easy way forward, but once embedded become something that is a not necessarily a terrific thing. He looks at the issue from the basis of curiosity: curiosity about ourselves as humans and how to use this innate skill to make positive change in our lives.

    Everyone has a habits both good and bad, but when they start restricting you becoming your best then something needs to be done about them. He says, if you could talk to yourself as a younger person what would you say to yourself and thank yourself for. It may be clichéd but it is also very telling, which begins the process of unravelling the many both good and bad habits gathered over the years.

    Luke Mathers talks from a personal basis as he managed to jettison an excellent career due to ‘habits’, which he was forced to confront and now uses this life lesson, along with evolutionary biology, neuroscience and Stoic philosophy to empower others to achieve their best.

    He uses the medium of humour, weird and wonderful facts, even Instagram, in conjunction with science to present the basis of change, what can be done and why you, or rather your brain, has decided that right where you are, in your zone of comfort, surrounded by your habits, is the right place to be, whether it is or not.

    Science and research says that at least between 40-70 percent of what we do is habitual, which is astonishing. Naturally, we like to keep the habits that make us feel warm and terrific and would love to get the ‘bad’ habits out of the way, but a dose of honesty is required to be able to reset the body and brain to achieve the best.

    Curious Habits: Why we do what we do and how to change Is certainly a book for the curious, those wondering why and the many who are simply ‘curious’ about how the body works.