Review of Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book3)
Posted: 25 Jul 2021, 21:50
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book3)" by Tom Burns.]
Do you overthink situations? Do you make things more complicated than necessary? When I was a child, my mother would often remind me I could see the forest and the trees if I just used my common sense. Tom Burns picks up where my mom left off in Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book 3), a 64-page illustration book of commonsense advice. In his introduction to this third installment in the series, Burns, “The Common Sense Fellow,” shares his motivation for the format: “You may not want to read books. You may not like to read books. But maybe you would look at pictures about what common sense should be. So look.”
One will notice a few COVID-19 masks throughout the read—Rodin’s The Thinker is sporting a mask, as are Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner—but most of the themes are timeless adages on life. In the illustrations, Burns promotes reading, hard work, and persistence. He also encourages entrepreneurship but hints it might not be the best line of work for everyone. Although the messages are simple, they still give the reader a chuckle and a pause. For example, a gem tucked in the middle of the book is a reminder that common sense would look closely at “good” advice. A well-known quotation, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on,” is sound advice “unless you are a few inches from the ground, then let go!”
The author uses a unique approach by including artwork from thirteen different illustrators. This is my favorite aspect of the read. Each illustrator has their own style, and I recognized the work of my favorite contributors after a while. At the end of the book, there is an index of the illustrators by page. Besides the varying illustration style, the presentation keeps the reader engaged by periodically changing the page orientation.
I rate Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book 3) 3 out of 4 stars. I deducted one star because there were over ten spelling errors. Some misspellings were not noticeable, but others were hard to miss. A few corrections by the illustrators will fix this problem easily.
This good-natured graphic book is for adults, but it is not an adult graphic book. The illustrations are clean and old-fashioned, making them most suitable for older adults looking for simple, old-school adages. Young adults and teens may not find the presentation relatable.
Humor is a personal preference, and the author did a commendable job of keeping the scenes centered on basic common sense, thereby avoiding politically sensitive issues. I found only one page to be marginally objectionable, and I think that’s admirable in a set of 56 illustrations. I recommend this booklet for those who want a quick dose of simple, sound, sometimes corny advice without exerting too much effort. Although there are two prior books in the series, this one can be enjoyed as a standalone treat.
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Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book3)
View: on Bookshelves
Do you overthink situations? Do you make things more complicated than necessary? When I was a child, my mother would often remind me I could see the forest and the trees if I just used my common sense. Tom Burns picks up where my mom left off in Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book 3), a 64-page illustration book of commonsense advice. In his introduction to this third installment in the series, Burns, “The Common Sense Fellow,” shares his motivation for the format: “You may not want to read books. You may not like to read books. But maybe you would look at pictures about what common sense should be. So look.”
One will notice a few COVID-19 masks throughout the read—Rodin’s The Thinker is sporting a mask, as are Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner—but most of the themes are timeless adages on life. In the illustrations, Burns promotes reading, hard work, and persistence. He also encourages entrepreneurship but hints it might not be the best line of work for everyone. Although the messages are simple, they still give the reader a chuckle and a pause. For example, a gem tucked in the middle of the book is a reminder that common sense would look closely at “good” advice. A well-known quotation, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on,” is sound advice “unless you are a few inches from the ground, then let go!”
The author uses a unique approach by including artwork from thirteen different illustrators. This is my favorite aspect of the read. Each illustrator has their own style, and I recognized the work of my favorite contributors after a while. At the end of the book, there is an index of the illustrators by page. Besides the varying illustration style, the presentation keeps the reader engaged by periodically changing the page orientation.
I rate Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book 3) 3 out of 4 stars. I deducted one star because there were over ten spelling errors. Some misspellings were not noticeable, but others were hard to miss. A few corrections by the illustrators will fix this problem easily.
This good-natured graphic book is for adults, but it is not an adult graphic book. The illustrations are clean and old-fashioned, making them most suitable for older adults looking for simple, old-school adages. Young adults and teens may not find the presentation relatable.
Humor is a personal preference, and the author did a commendable job of keeping the scenes centered on basic common sense, thereby avoiding politically sensitive issues. I found only one page to be marginally objectionable, and I think that’s admirable in a set of 56 illustrations. I recommend this booklet for those who want a quick dose of simple, sound, sometimes corny advice without exerting too much effort. Although there are two prior books in the series, this one can be enjoyed as a standalone treat.
******
Common Sense Or The Lack Of It (Book3)
View: on Bookshelves
