What I’m Reading: “A New Model” by Ashley Graham

Supermodel Ashley Graham is a public figure that I have been digging for some time now. From her standing relationship as a spokesmodel for Lane Bryant to her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover, I have always been able to see her confidence through her images. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a copy of her memoir, “A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty & Power Really Look Like”, in the mail back in May. Written with Rebecca Paley (the same co-author as Nadia Lopez’s “The Bridge To Brilliance”, which I reviewed here) the book is published by Dey Street Books, an imprint of Harper Collins.

As soon as I opened the book, I enjoyed the no-nonsense tone, similar to how you would speak to a good friend. It’s not condescending or high-brow, just super down-to-earth, and incredibly informative. We learn the story of a young curvy girl who was discovered in a mall in Nebraska, and her bumpy road to stardom. Having developed womanly curves and her tall stature by the age of 12, Ashley dealt with much frustration and confusion from family, classmates, and society alike. How is a young girl with the body of a woman supposed to dress? In what manner does a small-town, Christian girl deal with success in the big city of New York? What is dating life like? Who can she trust with her finances?

These types of questions, and more, are answered in this easy-to-read memoir by Graham. Aside from learning about her road to supermodeldom (is this a word?), I really enjoy the story of how she met her husband, cinematographer Justin Ervin, on a chance moment at church. She does not hold back in regards to her personal life, struggles, and successes alike, which I believe is helpful for the many young women who may read this book. She reminds you that despite all the glitz and glam, and collections with Dressbarn and Canadian retailer Addition Elle, she is just like us.

I would recommend this book to any young woman who aspires to model regardless of their size, race, or identity. I would also recommend this book to people a little bit further in their careers who need a bit of inspiration in the story of a woman who has found success in truly being herself.

Purchase here: A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, and Power Really Look Like

What I’m Reading: “Neon Soul” by Alexandra Elle

Please excuse the coconut oil fingerprints.

As we round out the month of June and the weather has properly heated up in NYC, it is time to share another book with you beautiful souls! Summer reading is one of those things I HATED in school; remember those awful summer reading lists and the test you would have to take as soon as you got back in class? It seems like the joke is on me now, as I find myself purchasing and reading new books frequently, which has deepened my desire of one day writing a book. More on that later.

So, for this edition of What I’m Reading, we have Neon Soul: A Collection of Poetry & Prose by Alexandra (Alex) Elle. Earlier this month I attended one of my La Brujas Club meetings at Bluestockings, an independent feminist bookstore in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and had a lovely time with the super-inspiring group of women that attend. Upon the meeting wrapping, I took a gander at all the lovely titles in the shop and Neon Soul just stood out to me. Whenever I am in a bookstore I have this thing where I feel that the right book will find me at the right time. Perhaps it was the lo-fi book jacket with bright green accents that initially caught me, but once I opened the book randomly to a page, I felt as though it was speaking to me. The layout of the poems in the book looked extremely familiar to the last book I reviewed, Milk and Honey, and after a quick scour it all made sense as I saw they have the same publisher, Andrews McMeel.

Self-love and discovery have been a constant theme for me in these past few months, and I have noticed that in addition to attending therapy sessions, meditation, and physical fitness, reading titles by fellow women of color who have or are currently experiencing what I am going through, is helping me heal. Yes, I was happy when upon further reading, I realized Alex Elle was a Black girl. Why wouldn’t I be? Representation matters, and when you read the work of someone that looks like you, it is a reminder that your current experience is valid, and a glimmer of hope emerges from the darkness.

when you’re a giver

it’s hard to remember

that you must contribute

and pour into your

well-being, too.

– “fill”

The above poem is one that really knocked the nail on its head of my current experience. I am a giver, and not giving to myself for so long is truly what led to a breakdown of sorts. Finding comfort in words and in my downtime have been so necessary in my process of picking up the pieces. In the book, there are pieces about love, heartache, self-doubt, relationships, and the overall experience of womanhood. It is an easy read given poem length and structure. I personally finished it in 24 hours. I would highly recommend it to women who sometimes feel they are misunderstood for being too much or not enough, letting them know that their journey is not exclusive, but inclusive to us all.

You can purchase here -> Neon Soul: A Collection of Poetry and Prose

#WorldBookDay Reads: “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur

Since as long as I could remember, I have been a bibliophile. I would love (and still love) to be surrounded by beautifully bound books, spending lots of time in libraries, and skimming through the collections of family and friends. I am quite old school in the sense that I do love to purchase physical books, a pastime of mine since college. As of late, I make time to wander about in local bookstores to find new and old works from my favorite authors and friends. On a recent jaunt to the McNally Jackson bookstore at the top of the year in New York’s SoHo neighborhood, I found myself searching specifically for a friend’s book, as well as a few more titles to tickle my fancy. My budget is nowhere near endless, so along with the title I was there for specifically, I wanted to keep my spend under $40 if possible. I walked each bookshelf looking for something that would speak to me, and as I got closer to checkout, I decided to pick up Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. I had heard great things about the book of poetry, and with a 20% off ticket on the cover, I was sold.

I was super happy with my purchases, including a beautifully illustrated wall calendar and daily planner, and was pumped to dig into the book. I don’t know if you are anything like me, but I kind of psych myself up to read new books, but often delay. Perhaps it is my anxiety, but for some reason with books, I know I will be moved to read them at just the right time. Fast forward a few months, and I am preparing for my first solo trip to Belize. My intent for the trip (aside from nabbing a super-cheap flight) was to learn more about the stories of my family, specifically the women, and reach out to certain members of the community for work-related articles. I have flown to Belize solo in the past, but never travelled completely on my own as trips prior were with my parents or entire immediate family. I decided to bring Milk and Honey in tow as I knew I would have a bit more downtime to just read and be.

What I Am Reading: “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay

When it comes to journeys in life, some things you have to embark on at the exact right time. Whether it be making a big move, changing careers, becoming more fit, or even, reading a new book. In past posts I have documented my struggles with depression and anxiety over the years, and during this time, I always had the idea in the back of my mind that I had to switch focus, and actively walk in the path to healing. I have had an interest in self-help books for some time now because I have always found the knowledge of experts to be helpful when friends or loved ones could not always help. Suggested by my good friend Moeima, You Can Heal Your Life is one such book.

Written by self-help guru Louise Hay and published by her imprint Hay House, You Can Heal Your Life is one of those books I was told you have to be ready to read, and it’s true. I originally purchased the book in the earlier part of the year, and became quite frustrated with its format. It was not an easy read by any means, as it was set up as more of a workbook. Louise discusses different topics by chapter, begins and ends each chapter with affirmations, and asks questions throughout that the reader is to answer either within the pages of the book, or on a pad of paper. In the early part of the year, I was not ready to do this, but once I began therapy over a month ago, I knew jumping back into the book would be imperative to my healing.

I brought it with me wherever I would go, on my subway trips to and from the city, reading intently and voicing all affirmations in my head. It felt so easy at this time, because my timing was finally right, I could apply lessons and teachings through a clear lens, without the disruption of negative thoughts. Throughout the book Hay reiterates the importance of positive affirmations and truly loving the self in all forms, from the foods you eat, the way you speak of yourself, and the  way you present yourself to the world. Reading more about these teachings made me realize that I may have great ideas for and about myself, but that it is imperative that I truly believe it all, and share it with those in the world around me.

If you are in a rut and willing to actively walk on the road to healing, I would definitely suggest reading You Can Heal Your Life. It will not be the easiest read, and it makes you stop and analyze many aspects of your life, but at the very least, it will help you gain practices to truly love every bit of yourself.

Available at Hay House and other fine book retailers.

Fan Of Chef Masaharu Morimoto? Enter To Win A Signed Copy of His New Book, “Mastering The Art Of Japanese Home Cooking!”

Here at A Life In The Day of Andrea we are super passionate about food and entrepreneurs. It is incredibly exciting when both worlds combine in the form of talks and other live events. IVY, a membership-based social community with a purpose of lifelong learning aimed to ignite young minds, hosts a myriad of events, spanning business networking, talks, and wellness. For their next salon discussion in NYC, they are hosting an evening with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, of the globally famed Morimoto restaurant portfolio.

In his salon event, Chef Morimoto will discuss his newly released book, Mastering The Art of Japanese Home Cooking in a Q&A style, his road from chef to world-renowned restauranteur, and conduct a book signing for attendees to wrap up the event.

Are you a fan of Chef Morimoto, Japanese cuisine, entrepreneurs, or do you just love books? Want a chance to win a signed copy of his new book? Hit us up on social media and tell us why you should win, and be creative! Let us know about new skills you want to learn in the kitchen, food history, anything that stands out. Be sure to include the following in your tweets/Instagram posts/Facebook posts:

• Your testimonial as why you should win a signed copy of Chef Morimoto’s new book. Extra points for photos!
• Social handles: @alifeinthedayof | @IVYConnect | @chef_morimoto
• Hashtag: #IVYConnect or #TheSocialUniversity

If you reside in NYC or the surrounding area and want to attend the salon event, check out the IVY website to become a member. Good luck to you!

What I’m Reading: “The Bridge To Brilliance: How One Principal In A Tough Community Is Inspiring The World” by Nadia Lopez

A few weeks back, I recapped the book release and conversation event for Dr. Nadia Lopez’s newly published work, The Bridge to Brilliance, at BRIC Media House in Downtown Brooklyn. As I have completed the book, I wanted to share my experience in reading it, and the lessons that have rang true to me. The Bridge To Brilliance is a non-fiction work by Dr. Nadia Lopez, principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn. She quickly rose to fame on the internet in the past year when a student of hers named Vidal mentioned to Brandon Stanton of the popular Humans of New York blog, that she was the person that most influenced his life. The viral reaction of this post led to a full profile on the school, its staff and students, and a massive crowdfunding campaign to send the students on annual trips to Harvard, which was fully funded over 10 times over.

The book recounts Lopez’s own childhood, growing up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to immigrant parents (from Guatemala and Honduras, respectively), and how good teachers affected her life and livelihood in her younger years. It focuses on  Lopez’s transition from the corporate world working at Verizon to the NYC Board of Education as a Teaching Fellow, to her current position as founder and principal at Mott Hall Bridges Academy. The tone of the book is very no-nonsense and easy to read as it is the words of an educator. Lopez clearly gives breakdowns on the NYC Board of Education and its processes in funding, mass gentrification and its effects on students, and the importance of taking students outside of their school and comfort zones to experience the vast world outside of Brooklyn, New York.

As the daughter of immigrant parents from Belize who have worked for (and continue to work for) the NYC Board of Education in special education the majority of my life, I immediately connected with the majority of the stories in Lopez’s book. A lot of jargon, specifically in the special education sector, which Lopez worked in in her earlier years, was easy for me to understand as I have learned it from my parents. It felt like with each page I turned, I was reading the experience of someone just like me, which I do not often experience when reading books. The words are very familiar.

What I did not entirely expect, was the amount of trials and tribulations that Lopez went through, both in her personal and professional life, to get to where she is today. She mentions that she was on the point of giving up when Brandon Stanton visited her school. It made me realize that everything is not as it seems, and that sometimes in life we have to reach rock bottom in order to go up. Her steadfastness and relentlessness did not allow her to give up on herself or her students when the future was not promised. I really enjoy this story because it really did inspire me to keep going, but to be kind to myself. Women, particularly Black women and other WOC are often expected to be strong, but it is necessary to have a tribe of women and men to lean on in the tough times to get through it all.

If you are interested in learning more about the NYC public school system, or are a lover of inspirational stories (or both), I would definitely suggest picking up The Bridge To Brilliance. The book is available for purchase at booksellers nationwide, with all online retailers listed on Dr. Lopez’s official website. Happy reading!

 

*Photo via Amazon.com

Recap, The Stoop Series: Nadia Lopez in Conversation w/ Michaela Angela Davis

To live in an ever-changing Brooklyn, NY, in a world where women are STILL fighting for equal rights can prove to be exhausting. To quote the late Malcolm X,

The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.

As a Belizean-American woman who identifies as Black, I make it my duty to seek out empowering spaces, activities, and events, for women and girls. I always welcome the opportunity for verbal exchange, as I see it as a form of self-care.

While browsing the BRIC website, the leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn, I was excited to see a free event on the calendar entitled, Bridge to Brilliance: Nadia Lopez in Conversation with Michaela Angela Davis. As coins are a bit low for me, the FREE was a huge draw, but the women featured were most important. By now, you should be familiar with Dr. Nadia Lopez, the Principal at Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Her story became viral via popular Instagram account & blog, Humans of New York, when her student Vidal, mentioned to Brandon that she was the person who has influenced him the most.

The conversation, moderated by CNN contributor and image activist Michaela angela Davis was to serve as the release event of Lopez’s book, BRIDGE TO BRILLIANCE: How One Principal in a Tough Community is Inspiring the World. I purchased my copy of the book prior to the event as I figured the inspiring story would help lift my spirits, and help me get out of the “I’m 30 and I have no idea what I am doing with my life” rut.

The event, held on the evening of Tuesday, September 20th, took place on “The Stoop” at BRIC, where many public community events are held. At 7 PM, introductions were made, and we began the night watching Dr. Lopez’s TED Talk “Why open a school? To close a prison”, which was filmed in November 2015.

What I’m Reading: “The Kindness Diaries” by Leon Logothetis

When writing is how you make a living (for the most part), sometimes it is quite difficult to take a step back and read a full book from cover to cover. I have expressed in previous posts in the past few months that I have been experiencing the ups and downs of life, regarding direction of my career, family, and love life. I believe that is what the age 29 brings, a lot more WTF moments before the EUREKA!

Always looking for inspiration around me, I finally decided to pick up and read The Kindness Diaries by Leon Logothetis, that I was gifted from the author/publisher. I read the short reviews in the inside cover, along with the synopsis and thought, “this idea, of a middle-aged white man traveling the world on ‘kindness’ alone sounds a bit far-fetched”. Despite my initial reluctance, I decided to read the book anyway.

I was admittedly feeling a bit down and figured a story of kindness could possibly brighten my day. I turned the pages and was welcomed by Logothetis’ conversational tone; it felt like I was reading the tale of a friend I had known for years. We get the background of what brought him to deciding to travel around the world on a yellow motorbike without money and the will of surviving on the kindness of the people he met around the way to survive. Having been unfulfilled in his career as a stockbroker in his native London, Logothetis begins his story setting out to the bright lights of Los Angeles to get his foot in the television industry.

As time passes, he notices that he has become a bit jaded in his L.A. life, and sees the signs around him that point to going outward, to bring love and kindness inward. Logothetis sets out on his yellow motorbike, affectionately named Kindness One from L.A., leaving his girlfriend and dog behind to circumnavigate the globe on kindness alone. No money, food, accommodations, gas money; nothing but a small bag of clothes and a laptop to check in with family back home. The only catch here, which is a good catch, is that Logothetis would promise to pay back each person that helped him, with a meaningful gift.

Reading his detailed accounts of human interaction worried me a bit; would people believe his story and help? Would he really pay back those that gave him food and shelter as they struggled to feed themselves? These were my questions throughout, that were silenced through reading further. I do not want to give the entire account away, but in reading Logothetis’ tale, I was truly in awe with humanity, mainly the kindness he received simply by asking for it, in a genuine way. It really opened my eyes as I know it is hard for me to ask for help at times, to think that he traveled the world solo without any money and was cared for along the way is astounding!

If you need to take a step back, and be reminded of the kindness in humanity, I would definitely recommend reading this book. The Kindness Diaries is available for purchase now on Amazon.

 

I received a complimentary copy of ‘The Kindness Diaries.’

What I’m Reading: “Happy Is The New Healthy: 31 Ways To Relax, Let Go, And Enjoy Your Life Now!” By Dave Romanelli

COVER

Life is all about timing. People come and go, opportunities show themselves, we live, and we learn. We receive advice that we may or may not take, but there are always those lessons or teachings that come at just the right time. I received one such message whilst reading Happy Is The New Healthy by Dave Romanelli. It’s really quite interesting how I even got my hands on the book, a signed copy at that.

As I have been focused on fitness as of late, running, yoga & core strengthening specifically, I always search for classes in the city, specifically those that are free. I saw on Athleta’s calendar for in-store events that they were hosting a Yoga & Chocolate session with Romanelli, whom is a yogi, life coach, and chocolate connoisseur. How could I say no to that? I woke up early that Sunday morning to get a spot in line for their Flatiron store event, and was one of the lucky ones allowed in. We had a wonderful restorative yoga session with Dave, who told stories about living life to the fullest throughout our workout. We ended our practice with a tasting of three exotic chocolates, and were treated to a complimentary copy of his book. I felt so lucky to be there, as I wasn’t expecting all these perks!

MESSAGE FROM DAVE

I’ve had the book for some weeks now, and finally decided to pick up the book to read last week. I turned right to the inside cover where Dave signed, “Andrea, Don’t Wait…live life now!”. Prior to reading his message, I had been going through a period of indecision, and those simple words were the impetus to read the entire book, and get to my dreams. Dave’s style of writing is very lighthearted and visual, it feels like you are his friend and he is sharing some of the best stories he’s heard from others, or experienced himself throughout the book’s 161 pages. To me, the book is truly a written version of what you would want a life coach to be, or at the very least, that positive force in your life that keeps pushing you forward.

The chapters are concise and end with a quote to meditate on, to bring the good vibes forth, and create a happier you! I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a positive push in any way, and wants to find simple ways to make their lives that much more happy on an everyday basis.

Happy Is The New Healthy is available now for purchase on Amazon & other book retailers.

Book Review: “Blow Me A Kiss” by Alice Harris

I love lips, and I love to see how lips have been portrayed over the years, in everyday life, advertising, and more. Personally, I am a fan of a bold lip as it brings attention to my face, and it forces the observer to focus in on the words that are coming out of my mouth. This is why I love to wear a nice bold lip for on-camera interviews and shoots.

Author Alice Harris explores lips as a symbol of beauty in pop-culture in her latest offering Blow Me A Kiss published by powerHouse Books. The coffee table book’s 103 pages are laden with gorgeous images with lips as the focus from yesteryear up until present day. We see the works of famous artists and photographers, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Mario Sorrenti, as well as famous faces including Elizabeth Taylor, Cindy Crawford, and Tina Turner. Along with this, there are also contributions from street-style photographers Tommy Ton and Scott Schuman, which I felt rounded out the image mix perfectly.

I believe Blow Me A Kiss is a must have for those that love gorgeous imagery, with a keen eye for fashion, photography, and style. Harris curated an unforgettable grouping of images in this book, which is certain to keep you turning the pages. For that alone, I highly recommend it.

Blow Me A Kiss is available now for $35.00 from powerHouse Books. Proceeds from the book are to benefit Library For All, a “a non-profit organization that exists to unlock knowledge to those without access to books in developing countries”. A great addition to your style book collection!

 

*Photo courtesy of powerHouse Books

What I’m Reading: “Shadow Type” Steven Heller & Louise Fili

Cover image via Louise Fili

When you live on the internet, you are constantly surrounded by and exposed to various visuals at a lightening speed. It is a constant conversation of who published it faster, who designed it better, and overall, who worked it. It is so easy to get sucked into this vortex, so every now and then, you have to take a step back and feast your eyes on imagery from yesteryear.

As a fan of graphics and typography, I was delighted to review Shadow Type, somewhat of a three-dimensional type master archive. The book is comprised of loads of three-dimensional typography spanning decades from all over the United States and Europe. Shadow Type is the joint venture between two type experts, Steven Heller, co-chair of the MFA Design Department at the School of Visual Arts and author of various art books, and Louise Fili, principal of Louise Fili Ltd, a NewYork City-based design studio specializing in logos, food packaging, restaurant identities and books.

Steve Heller and Louise Fili Discuss Their New Book: Shadow Type from Designers & Books on Vimeo.

The book borrows wonderful typography from advertising, movie posters, food labels, shop signs, billboards, posters and much more. I found Shadow Type particularly interesting as it helped open my eyes to new graphic design inspiration. I design all my logos, so reading this book has sparked a new creative edge in that sphere for me.

I would recommend Shadow Type to anyone who loves art and graphics, and wants a visual to study the similarities and differences in three-dimensional type over the years in various regions of the world. Shadow Type is available now on Amazon.

What I’m Reading: “Damn Good Advice (for people with talent!) by George Lois

…or should I say, “What I just finished reading”. Let’s start off like this. I am a huge fan of arts’ book publisher Phaidon as I connect with a slew of the titles they publish. I am drawn to their advice-style books for creatives, so when I saw this title by the revolutionary communicator George Lois, I knew I had to purchase it and read it immediately. I impulse buy books; call me a nerd or something like that.

“Damn Good Advice (for people with talent!)” gives the reader a list of 120 bits of exactly that, damn good advice! Lois’s no-nonsense tone helps light a fire under your ass (for lack of better words) for the creative individual that needs some direction, as he gives concrete examples of his experiences and results throughout the book. I was drawn to this book as I feel I always need a dose of advice from someone who has realized their creative endeavors. Here is a snap of one of my favorite tips from the book:

Check out the video below of Lois’s thoughts on his book.

Available at Phaidon, $9.95.

The Coveted: Holiday Gifts For the Ladies, Andrea’s Picks

The holiday season is in full swing, so you know what that means? Time for gifts! I’ve put together a list of my favorites right now, specifically for the ladies. Hope you like!

Andrea’s Picks

Rebecca Minkoff x Baby G Watch

• My favorite handbag designer Rebecca Minkoff has teamed up with Baby G to create this gorgeous, limited edition watch! It combines femininity and function, showcasing a black ion plated steel band with rose face that is completely waterproof. The watch retails for $200 and will be available at fine jewelry stores, along with shopcasio.com.

Cole Haan Stephanie Air Chukka

•  Who doesn’t love a Cole Haan shoe? The Stephanie is a great style across all realms (pump, heeled oxford, etc) but specifically in this chukka style. Made with Nike Air technology, the Stephanie Air Chukka is a great bootie style that can make the smooth transition from day to night. Retails for $278 (on sale at some locations) and available at Cole Haan retailers and colehaan.com.

What I’m Reading: “Bringing Home The Birkin” Michael Tonello

Fancy, fancy are those Hermes Birkin bags! We hear about them in songs, see them in fashion magazines, and secretly lust to one day be a proud owner of this gem of a handbag. But did you ever think about the process of attaining such a treasure? Well, let me tell you. In most cases, it involves adding your name to a list, with a wait time of up to a few years. Author Michael Tonello was intrigued by this concept, and set out to prove Hermes wrong in their “system”.

“Bringing Home The Birkin” is a light-hearted tale of Tonello’s travels and tribulations on the road to become one of the biggest Hermes Birkin bag resellers on eBay. He gives a detailed account of his “formula” which he uses to score Birkin bags at Hermes locations around the world, along with the various personality types he encountered in his quest. Family, love, jetsetting, luxury goods, food and wine are all scattered throughout this tale of an extraordinary lifestyle. I found this book to be quite entertaining, as Tonello’s tone is satirical at times, laced with expletives when necessary. Haha! I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the inner dealings  of Hermes, or those who just want a great read with elaborate storytelling.

Available now on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

What I’m Reading: “The 4-Hour Workweek” Timothy Ferriss

Books about business and entrepreneurship can often be intimidating, whether it be the type and cover art, or the overwhelming size. I am one, at times, that judges a book by its cover. I almost always stay clear of books over 300 pages, because I see it as an intense time commitment (yea, you can judge me). On the contrary, if a friend/family member/colleague suggests I read an AMAZING book about (insert topic here), I oblige. The 4-Hour Workweek is one such book.

With a full title of “The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich “, how could I not be intrigued to read? The book in essence, is an almost autobigraphical and “how-to” account of  author Timothy Ferriss’s journey to became one of the “new rich”. He defines this group of people as those that have outsourced the majority of their menial tasks, and are able to work remotely, thus having the liberty to travel at a whim and take “mini retirements”. I’m sure you may be thinking, “this sounds a bit far-fetched”, which is understandable, but he gives concrete examples and resources to back it all up. I think it’s a great book for those that aspire to be entrepreneurs, along with current employess who want to discover a more fulfilling lifestyle.

Sounds of interest to you? The book can be purchased from Amazon for under 15 bucks! Great deal for a comprehensive resource.