Book Review: The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

This is a simple gift book by Andy Andrews that can be read in less than 30 minutes.

What is the Butterfly effect?
The Butterfly effect was started in 1963 by Edward Lorenz who made a presentation to the New York Academy of Sciences.

According to this theory, a butterfly could "flap its wings and set air molecules in motion that in turn would move other air molecules—which would then move additional air molecule — eventually becoming able to influence weather patterns on the other side of the planet." (Andy Andrews, The Butterfly Effect - How Your Life Matters, pg 6)

At that time when Lorenz presented his theory, he was literally laughed out of the room and for years this theory was thought of just a myth. However, in the mid 1990s, however, physics professors from several universities successfully proved that the butterfly effect was accurate, viable, and worked every time. It has since been accorded the status of a law and is now known in scientific circles as the technical notion of the "Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions."

The point Andy was trying to highlight in this book is:

Everything You Do Matters.

Every Move You Make
Every Action You Take....
Matters.

Andy illustrated this concept with the story of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a college professor who because of one decision he made, positively impacted the entire United States until today.

Andy then told the story of Norman Ernest Borlaug (March 25, 1914 – September 12, 2009) . He was an American agronomist, humanitarian, and the Nobel laureate recipient in 1970. Professor Borlaug received his PhD in plant pathology and deceloped the semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties. (This story was also told in another book of Andy Andrews, The Boy Who Changed The World. See review.)

As Andy said:

"There are generations yet unborn whose very lives will be shifted and shaped by the moves you make and the actions you take today. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the next."

Click here to download wallpapers and FREE additional resources on The Butterfly Effect on Andy Andrew's website.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Michael Hyatt on 13 Idea-Starters For Stuck Bloggers

Michael Hyatt republished a blog post on "13 Idea-Starters For Stuck Bloggers". In this blog post, Michael gave 13 suggestions on what a blogger can write on when he/she experiences "writer block".

Among the ideas include:

• telling a personal story,
• describing a historical event/story,
• reviewing a book,
• commenting on a powerful quotes,
• providing a list of resources or
• writing a guide to something popular, etc.

Click here to read more on this interesting blog.

Book Review: The Boy Who Changed The World by Andy Andrews

'The Boy Who Changed The World' is a heart-warming tale written by Andy Andrews, about a boy by the name of Norman Borlaug, who had a desire to feed the hungry. But he could not have done it alone without the help of Vice President Henry Wallace, who in turn, was influenced by inventor George Washington Carver, who in turn was rescued by farmer Moses Carver.

It is a delightful read, easy to understand, and colorful. Children would love it. I am going to read it with my children.


Encouraging quotes from the book:

1. ".....little things can make a big difference. Everything we do matters. Every action you take, even small things, can change the world.”
2. "every choice you make, good or bad, can make a difference. I’m proud of you for making a good choice today. [Remember: not choosing is, in fact, a choice.]
3. "God made your life so important that every move you make, every action you take, matters . . . and not only for you or the people around you. Everything."

Lessons I learned from this book:

1. Every big achievement starts with the seed of thought "What if...", "What would it be like....", "How can I......", etc. Never stop asking questions, never stop dreaming, for we will never know where our dreams will lead us to.

2. It only takes a spark to get the fire going. A chance encounter with someone may be God's appointment. These are our defining moments.

3. Never give up on your dreams. Be persistence. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

4. Our words are often more powerful than we can expect. Be generous to encourage, you will never know the impact that can make in someone's life.

5. Learn as much as you can, and enjoy the learning process. Make life long learning a habit. Knowledge is power.

6. Leverage your position of influence to advance the Kingdom of God. Be an influencer today wherever God has placed us in.

7. An act of kindness can go a long way.

8. Often when it happens, we are not able to see the "inter-connected"ness of our lives and actions with those around us. But like a interwoven tapestry, retrospectively we will see the beauty of God's achievements through us.


Note:
1. Norman Ernest Borlaug (March 25, 1914 – September 12, 2009) was an American agronomist, humanitarian, and the Nobel laureate recipient in 1970. He received his PhD in plant pathology and deceloped the semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties.


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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Monkeynomics - Interesting TED Talk