Making Toast is a gentle tale that reads like a reality show camera aiming at this heartbroken family. Unfortunately, although the story is tragic, it is curiously disaffecting. I couldn't help but think of how different this story would be if the family weren't so privileged and had fewer options available.

I will admit that I read the entire book in one evening, it is a compelling, easy read. Within the first 50 pages, I had it categorized--this will definitely be a chick TV movie. We have seen the scenario in many slightly varied forms--abuse, rape, coming of age love, and what isn't predictable in this book, sometimes doesn't ring true. The characters are well wrought, and the initial premise with the suicide is intriguing. So...take this book to the beach, or sit in a hammock and enjoy.

If my science class had been as interesting as "How We Decide", I would have been more likely to consider a career as a scientist. The book has a heavyweight bibliography, extensive technical references and descriptions of brain parts that I will hopefully never have to pronounce, but is in no way a tedious read.

The simple message is to think about thinking, and explains why using examples of people who make or have made different types of decisions. We do make many different types of decisions all of the time and use different parts of the brain for these decisions.

I know I will remember the lessons from this book the next time I find myself ready to make an important decision in my life, so that I can better sort out the various voices in my head ... and think about why I am feeling what I am feeling.

I never really thought that much about how doctors came to their diagnoses or conclusions. To a certain extent like my parents and grandparents, doctors have held a more than human status in my mind.

This book does not really tell me anything that logically, I could have figured out for myself, given some time and thought regarding the subject. However, it is highly unlikely that I WOULD have given the time to the subject unless facing some type of medical emergency (which, thank god, I have not had to). But it does bring the thought processes of doctors in various situations down to a more human level--and, as a result, helps me with any interactions with doctors that I may have in the future.

An easy, interesting, and sometimes disturbing and thought-provoking read.

The author defines the artistic term of "broken colors" as the mixing of two colors to create a third. The mixed color has a muddy cast versus the luminous quality of the pure, unmixed version. Unfortunately, the execution of this story is muddy, with the characters drawn on a two dimensional plane. The story is interesting, but without density or emotion conveyed in a spare narrative style. The most intriguing part of the story is the weaving of the art themes throughout. Perhaps too much ground is being covered in too few pages