About: Todd
Posts by Todd:
Review: And Man Created Dogby Todd Mayville on Aug 8, 2010 This fascinating movie documents our relationship with dogs through both a historical and sociological lens. Tracing Man’s beginning relationship with wolves and proto-dogs up through the development of the varied breeds of today, the film examines the role we have come to play in each other’s lives. As our relationship grew, Man learned to cultivate [...] 653 views |
Take those tomatoes and stuff ‘em!by Todd Mayville on Aug 6, 2010 The inspiration for this dish came to me as I was thinking about tomatoes and various things people use to stuff them. I have a deep appreciation for both crab and scallops, so decided to use both for this really easy to make meal. More…. 73 views |
 Book review: The Ten Things to Do When Your Life Falls Apart (Daphne Rose Kingma)by Todd Mayville on Aug 6, 2010 The appearance of some books seems particularly timely, though it could be argued that there has likely never been a bad time for this particular book. Kingma’s goal is to remind the reader that our difficulties happen for a reason and can and should be recognized as an opportunity for growth both personally and spiritually. [...] 372 views |
 Grilled pizza? Why not?by Todd Mayville on Aug 3, 2010 One of my goals every summer is to turn on my oven as little as possible. It heats up the house, which is the last thing I want in the middle of a Colorado summer. As a result, I spend as much of my summer as I can putting things on the grill. I’d heard [...] 80 views |
Education in the 21st Century, part VI: NCLB, testing, + charter schools.by Todd Mayville on Jul 27, 2010 Part VI in a series on education in the 21st century. Not too long ago, I wrote a review of The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch, and I had the privilege of hearing Ms. Ravitch speak both in Boulder and in Denver. I find myself agreeing with much [...] 74 views |
Book review: The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education (Diane Ravitch)by Todd Mayville on Jul 26, 2010 This is one of the most important, articulate, meaningful, and provocative books on education to come out in recent years. Diane Ravitch, a research professor at New York University and former Assistant Secretary of Education under George H.W. Bush, at one time was a proponent of high stakes testing and charter schools, but has since [...] 452 views |
 Smoked ribs and tomatoes: simple yet tastyby Todd Mayville on Jul 26, 2010 Sundays are the days I tend to get the most creative when it comes to cooking. There’s something about not having to run around like a madman trying to accomplish 100 things in a day that gets my creative cooking juices flowing. More…. 49 views |
 More on Michael Pollan’s “Food Rules.”by Todd Mayville on Jul 20, 2010 I recently posted a review of Michael Pollan’s outstanding book, Food Rules, and I thought I’d take the time to delve a bit more into the book and specifically address some of the points and “rules” laid out in the book. The book itself is a quick and interesting read, with some humorous touches tossed [...] 121 views |
Book review: Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual (Michael Pollan).by Todd Mayville on Jul 20, 2010 This relatively short (139 pages) book offers a quick (the whole book can be read within a relatively short time) yet highly useful read as well as a good introduction to the work of Michael Pollan. In it, Pollan offers up 64 “rules” for anyone interested in eating “real food.” These 64 rules can be [...] 266 views |
Chicken, bacon, and cheese? Yes, please!by Todd Mayville on Jul 18, 2010 Not too long ago, I found myself falling into a rut; a bit of my creativity around cooking had faded, and I found myself getting bored with cooking. This happens from time to time, and it’s not altogether a bad thing, especially since it often leads to some fun experimentation on my part. Most of [...] 101 views |
Book Review: Buddha at the Apocalypse: Awakening from a Culture of Destruction (Kurt Spellmeyer)by Todd Mayville on Jul 17, 2010 It seems that every so often, the end of the world is just around the corner: Y2K, 6/6/06, 12/21/2012. Armageddon isn’t the problem, according to Spellmeyer: time is… or rather, the Western view of time is the problem. Buddha at the Apocalypse is an analysis of how the linear view of time versus the cyclical [...] 372 views |
Book review: The Compassionate Life: Walking the Path of Kindness (Marc Ian Barasch)by Todd Mayville on Jul 15, 2010 This newest offering from the author of Healing Dreams and Remarkable Recovery is an exploration of compassion and the role and importance it plays in our lives as he seeks to develop more compassion in his own life. A revision of Field Notes on the Compassionate Life, Barasch’s warm, approachable, conversational style is sincere without [...] 85 views |
 Book review: The Mandala Workbook: A Creative Guide for Self-Exploration, Balance, and Well-Being (Susanne F. Fincher)by Todd Mayville on Jun 28, 2010 This informative and helpful book starts out with an overview and history of what a mandala is and how various cultures, both East and West, have utilized mandalas in various forms and ways through the centuries; it also includes a discussion of the psychological underpinnings of mandalas from a Jungian psychology point of view as [...] 365 views |
 Book review: Every Dog Has a Gift (Rachel McPherson)by Todd Mayville on Jun 24, 2010 Every Dog Has a Gift is a collection of vignettes about dogs and their relationships they build with humans. These often inspirational stories detail the many ways companion canines work with a variety of individuals: autistics to the physically disabled to others dealing with grief, depression, or PTSD. Included with the stories is a list [...] 122 views |
Book review: Twelve By Twelve: A One-Room Cabin Off the Grid & Beyond the American Dream (William Powers)by Todd Mayville on Jun 11, 2010 This is one of my favorite books for 2010. Author William Powers writes in a style that is as calming and reflective as the life he details while staying in a twelve-foot-by-twelve-foot cabin in North Carolina. Powers, a development aid and conservation worker for over ten years, accepts the invitation of the owner to stay [...] 367 views |
Book review: The Banyan Deer: A Parable of Courage & Compassion (Rafe Martin; illustrated by Richard Wehrman)by Todd Mayville on May 7, 2010 This nicely illustrated children’s book is an elegant recreation of a story found in the Pali Jataka of one of the Buddha’s earlier lifetimes. The narrative of a deer king who lays his life on the line not only for his own people but for all creatures, this story is a tale for all ages, [...] 496 views |
 Book review: Eaarth (Bill McKibben)by Todd Mayville on Apr 23, 2010 That’s not a misspelling in the title. According to author Bill McKibben, the conversation about climate change is over and has been for a while. In fact, we don’t even live on the same planet as when the conversation started, hence “Eaarth.” McKibben proposes that we have already changed our planet so much that many [...] 420 views |
 Book review: In the Heart of the World (Mother Teresa)by Todd Mayville on Apr 8, 2010 This moving collection of stories and other writings from Mother Teresa demonstrates the simplicity and utter devotion to doing good possessed by one of the most venerated nuns of all time. In the Heart of the World collects some of her most tender stories, devotional prayers, and profound thoughts not only about her faith, but [...] 217 views |
 Review: Wholesome Fear: Transforming your Anxiety about Impermanence & Death, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche & Kathleen McDonald.by Todd Mayville on Apr 7, 2010 How to Get Over your Fear of Death You’re going to die. I’m going to die. We’re all going to die. While that’s not exactly a state secret, it’s still not considered a topic for “polite” conversation; in fact, for the most part, we actively avoid thinking about impermanence and death, which is a problem [...] 279 views |
 elephant review: The Cynical Idealist: A Spiritual Biography of John Lennon, by Gary Tilleryby Todd Mayville on Apr 5, 2010 I’ve been a Beatles fan for as long as I can remember. In fact, my first record (remember those?) was Meet the Beatles, a gift from my mother, which I still have. So it was with some anticipation that I launched into The Cynical Idealist: A Spiritual Biography of John Lennon. Biographies of the Beatles [...] 894 views |
 Barack Obama: the Education President?by Todd Mayville on Apr 3, 2010 The President’s Blueprint for Education: well-intentioned but misguided rhetoric? Part V in a series on Education in the 21st century. I voted for President Obama. Filled with the excitement and hope represented by his progressive ideas, I looked forward to what he had to offer the American people. Tempering that enthusiasm, however, was the realization [...] 493 views |
 Book Review: Natural Wakefulness: Discovering the Wisdom We Are Born With (Gaylon Ferguson)by Todd Mayville on Mar 28, 2010 In his first book, Naropa University professor and meditation instructor Gaylon Ferguson explores meditation not from the standpoint as a path towards enlightenment per se, but as a path towards simply waking up, towards claiming our innate sense of who we are. Not just another book on meditation, Ferguson includes guided meditations as well as [...] 254 views |
 Book review: Symbols, Art, and Language from the Land of the Dragon: The Cultural History of 100 Chinese Characters (Ni Yibin)by Todd Mayville on Feb 28, 2010 This is one big (literally) beautiful book; one that belongs on a coffee table, not on a bookshelf. In it, author and scholar Ni Yibin gives a brief history of Chinese calligraphy as a whole, in addition to a discussion of how the various characters in the language evolved and developed over time. Accompanied by lush [...] 440 views |
 Book review: The Animal Manifesto: Six Reasons for Expanding Our Compassion Footprint (Marc Bekoff)by Todd Mayville on Feb 21, 2010 In this newest book from Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder, six compelling rationales for changing our approach to how we treat animals of all species are solidly presented and edified for the reader. Bekoff utilizes anecdotes with statistics and facts drawn from a wide range [...] 884 views |
 Book review: Hidden Buddhas (Liza Dalby)by Todd Mayville on Feb 21, 2010 Anthropologist and author Liza Dalby skillfully blends Eastern and Western culture in her latest book, Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos. An entertaining blend of history and mystery, the author skillfully incorporates her studies of Japanese culture and religion through the characters of her book, both Eastern and Western. Philip Metcalfe, an American [...] 309 views |
 Review: Buddhist Fasting Practice: Nyungne Method of Thousand Armed Chenrezig (Wanchen Rinpoche)by Todd Mayville on Feb 18, 2010 Nyungne is a method of physical, mental and spiritual purification practiced by a wide range of Buddhist practitioners, especially those who have taken the Bodhisattva Vow. Buddhist Fasting Practice: The Nyungne Method of Thousand Armed Chenrezig gives the reader a strong sense of what is expected by those undertaking Nyungne over the multi-day practice. This [...] 268 views |
 Boulder (Un?)chained: Keeping it Real by Keeping it Local!by Todd Mayville on Feb 8, 2010 “Too big to fail” really means “too big to exist in the first place.” Want to make a difference? Keep it weird. Keep it local! Boulder, Colorado: One of the slogans we hear all of the time (locally) is “Keep Boulder Weird,” a great reminder as to how unique the city of Boulder is (What? [...] 149 views |
 Education in the 21st Century, Part 1V: What’s the point of high school?by Todd Mayville on Jan 20, 2010 For part 1 of this series, go here; part 2 is here, and part 3 is here. Just read this interesting blog post by Elona Hartjes exploring the purpose of high school, and I feel there are some very valid points raised by her thoughts. For the most part, high school in the 21st century [...] 219 views |
 Book review: The Best Buddhist Writing 2009 (Melvin McLeod et al, editors)by Todd Mayville on Dec 16, 2009 The editors of Shambhala Sun have again assembled a collection of essays and book excerpts spanning a wide range within the realm of Buddhist writers. A collection of book excerpts and reprints of articles/essays from Shambhala Sun, Buddhadharma, and Tricycle magazines, this comprehensive text gathers thoughts and texts from such writers as Jack Kornfield, Thich [...] 296 views |
 Book review: The Tassajara Bread Book (Edward Espe Brown)by Todd Mayville on Dec 15, 2009 I love bread. I love the way it tastes, I love the way it feels. I love its versatility, and I love the way the perfume of baking bread fills a house and makes it smell like a home. Making it, on the other hand, intimidates me… it’s always appeared as real work, with yeast appearing [...] 340 views |
 elephant reviews: Top 10…11…okay, 15… Books of 2009.by Todd Mayville on Dec 13, 2009 elephant journal’s Top Reads of 2009. Last year I created a top 20 list of books to give as gifts, but I realized pretty quickly that a list of 20 was pretty overwhelming for not only me to create, but for my readers as well. This year I made the promise that this year I [...] 1,715 views |
 Book review: Yoga for a World Out of Balance: Teachings on Ethics and Social Action (Michael Stone)by Todd Mayville on Dec 12, 2009 Yoga for a World Out of Balance is Michael Stone’s well written follow up to his excellent book, The Inner Tradition of Yoga. In this book, Stone analyzes the five yamas of yoga and discusses how they can (and should) be incorporated into daily life. Yoga for a World Out of Balance can either be read cover [...] 647 views |
 Book review: The Child Thief (Brom)by Todd Mayville on Dec 12, 2009 Let’s face it: Peter Pan is not a nice kid. In the original story by Sir James M. Barrie (not the sanitized Disney version), Peter is a self-centered, arrogant, bloodthirsty boy who convinces children to leave home and follow him back to fight his war. Fantasy artist and writer Brom takes this thought to its logical extreme [...] 411 views |
 Book review: Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness: A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything (Deborah Schoeberlein)by Todd Mayville on Nov 28, 2009 Schools are a whirlwind of activity. Teachers and students, caught up in the hustle and spin of activity, rarely take the time to just notice what is going around them, let alone within them, all in the name of raising standardized test scores. And yet, mindfulness in education is seen by many as important to [...] 1,102 views |
 Movie Review: Oh My Godby Todd Mayville on Nov 25, 2009 Reminiscent of One: The Movie, Oh My God combines interviews with a wide range of individuals around a central theme. In this case, it’s a deceptively simple question: What is God? Filmmaker Peter Rodger travels the world asking people that same question. Their answers range from the sublime and insightful to the outrageous and uncomfortable. Rodger asks [...] 516 views |
 Book Review: Renewing America’s Food Traditions: Saving and Savoring the Continent’s Most Endangered Foods (Gary Paul Nabhan, ed.)by Todd Mayville on Nov 23, 2009 Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, a celebration of native foods eaten by our ancestors (or as close as we can get today), and what better way to observe it than a discussion of the indigenous (or nearly so) foods of the North American continent. This book is by far one of the most unique [...] 241 views |
 Book Review: The Mayan Prophecies for 2012 (Gerald Benedict)by Todd Mayville on Nov 23, 2009 The latest fad to hit pop culture is the impending date of December 21, 2012. Hollywood, in its typical use of paranoia and fear has begun churning out disaster movies related to 2012. Scattered throughout the chaff have been a few, more level-headed bits of information around the date and the Mayan culture. Gerald Benedict’s work [...] 373 views |
 Book review: When In Doubt, Make Belief: An OCD-Inspired Approach to Living With Living With Uncertainty (Jeff Bell)by Todd Mayville on Nov 22, 2009 Uncertainty is a concept with which we are all familiar, and those with OCD seem to be more intimately familiar with it than most. Author Jeff Bell is one of those individuals afflicted with OCD but has learned to understand and even use his disorder to his advantage. Through his disorder, Bell has acquired the [...] 156 views |
 Book review: The Complete Tassajara Cookbook: Recipes, Techniques, and Reflections from the Famed Zen Kitchen (Edward Espe Brown)by Todd Mayville on Nov 19, 2009 There are many cool things about being a book reviewer. One of them is that from time to time, I get a cookbook to look over and review; as an amateur foodie and person who generally loves to cook, this is a super great perk… especially if it’s one of the more useful and interesting [...] 499 views |
 Book review: Emotional Wisdom: Daily Tools for Transforming Anger, Depression, and Fear (Mantak Chia and Dena Saxer)by Todd Mayville on Nov 8, 2009 Emotions aren’t bad, even the negative ones; each emotion we experience in our lives has a message for us, if only we would listen. That is the message of Emotional Wisdom, the newest collaboration between Mantak Chia, a prolific writer and teacher if Taoist Chi Kung, and Dena Saxer, a Taoist Chi Kung instructor currently residing [...] 305 views |
 Book review: In the Face of Fear: Buddhist Wisdom for Challenging Times (Barry Boyce et al, editors)by Todd Mayville on Oct 29, 2009 The concept that we are living in difficult times has become so well understood that it is almost cliche. What is less understood are ways to work with, or at least around, these difficult times. In the Face of Fear is an anthology of essays/teachings from foremost Buddhist teachers and writers with the intent of [...] 188 views |
 The countdown to eternity: taking the Bodhisattva Vowby Todd Mayville on Oct 29, 2009 I’m considering taking the Bodhisattva Vow in a few days. I’ve told a few people about it, one of whom was Waylon who has also taken the vow; he was told to sit down and write an essay explaining why he wanted to do it. I thought that was a great idea, so it’s my turn. [...] 807 views |
 Book review: Momentary Buddhahood: Mindfulness and the Vajrayana Path (Anyen Rinpoche)by Todd Mayville on Oct 15, 2009 In this well-written book by Anyen Rinpoche, the connection between mindfulness and Vajrayana practice is explored. Rinpoche advocates for the idea that mindfulness is not something to be focused on solely at the beginning of practice, but should be continued throughout. Momentary Buddhahood also discusses the idea that achieving enlightenment isn’t an all or nothing [...] 216 views |
 Book review: Smile At Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery (Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche)by Todd Mayville on Sep 26, 2009 I always enjoy reading anything by Chogyam Trungpa, particularly because it was his book Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior that started me on my path into Buddhism. In this newest posthumous work, the controversial Trungpa offers his brand of eminently approachable teaching, this time focusing on fear and the control we have over [...] 2,210 views |
 Book review: Most Good, Least Harm (Zoe Weil)by Todd Mayville on Sep 6, 2009 This book can be thought of in a similar vein to Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits for Highly Effective People; think of it as Habits for Highly Mindful People. Weil presents some fairly straightforward suggestions for the average reader looking to lead a life of more meaning and less negative impact. My only complaint with the [...] 127 views |
 Book review: Integral Ecology: Uniting Multiple Perspectives on the Natural World (Sean Esbjorn-Hargens and Michael E. Zimmerman)by Todd Mayville on Sep 1, 2009 Integral Ecology is a rather hefty tome (700+ pages) that presents and advocates for a more holistic and integrated view of ecological study and policy making. Combining the points of view of the natural world infrastructure as well as human-based systems, this approach attempts to balance out the needs of all interested stakeholders in any [...] 148 views |
 Reflections on becoming a grandfatherby Todd Mayville on Aug 29, 2009 Last Saturday I became a grandfather. I’d known about him for a quite a while, but the reality of my grandson completely overwhelmed the intellectual concept that I had of him a mere few hours before. Seeing my son holding his son in his arms was one of the most incredible and beautiful things I’d [...] 127 views |
 Book review: You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment (Thich Nhat Hanh)by Todd Mayville on Aug 22, 2009 In his newest book, Thich Nhat Hanh uses his simple yet elegant style to discuss the concept of presence in our lives. Mindfulness is one of the most important, yet most difficult to obtain and maintain, aspects of Buddhism, and through discussion interwoven with practice, Hahn guides the reader to awareness within him/herself as well [...] 231 views |
 Movie review: Dalai Lama Renaissanceby Todd Mayville on Jul 29, 2009 Dalai Lama Renaissance could be considered a study in irony. Forty men and women: scientists, artists, and philosophers, gather as “The Synthesis Group,” with the goal of holding a week long conference, then presenting their ideas for solving the world’s problems to His Holiness. Almost from the start, intellectual chaos ensues, resulting in a movie [...] 972 views |
 Book review: The End of Your World: uncensored straight talk on the nature of enlightenment (Adyashanti)by Todd Mayville on Jul 27, 2009 As a typical rule, as soon as someone claims themselves to be awakened or enlightened, I get a little skeptical, having come across too many hippy-dippy, New Age hipsters preaching love, light, and warm cookies to all. Fortunately, that’s not what Adyashanti does in his newest work, The End of Your World. In fact, he [...] 378 views |
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