The past month has been harried and hectic for me-- two trips, a ballet and bookbinding class, friends in from out of town, work events. Suddenly reading was not only not a priority, but was hardly even an option for relaxation. After hosting book club yesterday, I settled on the couch to finish Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy by Lindsay Moran and thought about some of the techniques presented in that book as well as The Guinea Pig Diaries by AJ Jacobs that could help get my life under control.
The premise of Jacobs' book is to live his life according to such varied rules as George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour" and cutting out multitasking. For a series of months, he even outsources his life to India. Moran, meanwhile acts on a dream and applies to the CIA, where she is trained as a case manager to serve overseas. She learns how to use an alias, how to avoid being trailed and how to manipulate agents into committing treason and giving her info about their countries.
Was I able to outsource my life, for example, I could have forgone nights at home doing laundry and packing and instead gone to the gym or to the symphony with friends, while someone else prepared for my trips. Were I a master of disguise, I could have traveled the Baltimore light rail without feeling completely out of place. If I were a master of foreign language, I could have understood Turkish and better bargained at the Grand Bazaar. Had I decided to abide by "decent behaviour" I might not have had too much to drink with my co-workers.
Both books were light and easy reads. 3/5 stars each.
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