Giveaway Tickling the Bear: How to Stay Safe in the Universe by David Wann

Join Us for this Tour from January 4 to January 17, 2022

Book Details:

Book Title: Tickling the Bear: How to Stay Safe in the Universe by David Wann

Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 279 pages

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publisher: Chokecherry Press, Golden, Colorado

Release date: May 2021

Formats Available for Review: print-softback (USA and Canada), e-book (Gifted Kindle, MOBI for Kindle and pdf)

Tour dates: January 4 to January 17

Content Rating: PG13 + M: There’s no offensive material but there is a tasteful, semi-comic sex scene and scene in which characters experience MDMA, a mild hallucinogenic.

​Book Description:​​​

Anthropology professor Marc Blake is on a “hero’s journey.” His challenge is to overcome a troubling medical diagnosis –a virus from a tick bite. Along the way he shares his deepest thoughts as the reader follows his courageous efforts to survive. May, an attractive Danish woman, also endures setbacks with resilience, gradually coming center stage in the story. Her husband Kai has a passion for growing herbs and healthy vegetables, marveling how gardening provides a sense of purpose, good health, direct contact with nature, and companionship. Marc’s niece, a natural beauty and ex-model, offers readers a comical, on-again, off-again romantic episode with a Silicon Valley genius she fears might outshine her. Will she prove to be his equal?

Quirky humor injects both lightness and conflict into a 30-year marriage. A six-year old’s “best summer ever” is a reminder that life’s an absolute miracle. Collectively this extended family contests a widespread belief that life is happening to us – that we are passive consumers. On the contrary, each character in this upbeat book is actively self-guided, perfecting their passions and offering generous support to family and friends.

​Though author David Wann has previously written non-fiction books about sensible, sustainable lifestyles, in his first-novel these themes are woven right into a compelling story. “Our lives don’t look much different than most Americans,” the characters might say. “Really, we are not ‘doing without,’ more like doing within.” Kai enjoys investing in regional businesses, and also loves to travel effortlessly on Denver’s bike paths. Meatless Mondays or grilled-salmon Sundays are a great way for the outgoing May to bring friends together for active conversation. Each character would insist that kindness and gratitude are encoded in our genes and are far more powerful than anger. In a world that’s currently so full of disruption and confusion, they offer both a sense of direction and grounded hope.

Buy the Book:Boulder Book Store​Amazon ~ B&N ~ BAM ~ IndieBoundadd to goodreads

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Reading the title of this book, it seemed to be a fun and enjoyable read, and it was indeed, just in a little different way. David Wann is telling Marc’s story of how to survive a tick bite diagnosis by living a somewhat healthy life. And we follow Marc’s journey.

Wann does a pretty good job with research and writing this novel. The characters were believable and the story itself was intriguing. I found some areas dragging a bit but overall I think this book is a good read, and has some valuable lessons we can all learn. An interesting book I feel we can all learn something from. I encourage you to check this one out. This is Four Stars for me.

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH DAVID WANN, AUTHOR OF TICKLING THE BEAR

After writing a trio of books about sustainable human designs and behaviors – Affluenza, Simple Prosperity and The New Normal, David Wann was driven to write a novel about people who lead intentionally modest yet remarkable lives, rooted in their places and steadily mastering their passions. “It took me five years to write,” he says, “and one by one the traits described in Simple Prosperity came to life in the quirky, amiable characters in Tickling the Bear.”__________________________________________________________________________________What is your book Simple Prosperity about?It describes an emerging American lifestyle in which we finally break free of over-consumption – what we called “affluenza” in a previous book. Our current way of life is also not a great match with the equipment we were – like our psyches, genes, and hands. This mismatch of psychology, biology, and politics prevents us from taking care of ourselves and the environment. Fortunately, we are already inventing a new way of life that is twice as satisfying yet uses only half the resources we currently use. What will take the place of consumption, since it’s become the centerpiece of our way of life?I can easily imagine a lifestyle that is culturally richer yet materially leaner and more efficient. Information is much more precise and customized, eliminating a lot of waste; people are more involved socially, more aware aesthetically, and better caretakers of living systems – including ourselves. Instead of deadlines and dying species, they want lifelines and living wealth. Are there examples of culturally rich lifestyles like the one you describe in the book?Yes, when I travel to countries like Costa Rica, for example, the people appear to be every bit as happy even though their incomes are very small compared to fluffed-up U.S. incomes. In countries like Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Italy, peoples’ homes are much smaller – often half the size – yet Europeans in general are far more politically active; they have wider social networks; fewer violent crimes; better health; much more time for leisure activities like being in nature. We Americans like to think we are number one in all things, but the data doesn’t support our arrogance. We may be on top when it comes to Gross Domestic Product, health care expenditures and the average size of our house but we also lead the world in debt per capita, pollution, military expenditures, children in poverty, percentage of people in prison, obesity, and infant mortality. So what is all the spending really buying us?You write that happiness depends on how well basic human needs are met. So if needs like social connection, stimulating work, and creative play are not met, you’re saying we resort to consumption instead? Absolutely. Over-consumption is an addiction, and addictions arise when we’re off-balance and insecure, as our society now is. Because so many feel empty, in effect we want something to want. But consumption can’t really fill us up unless we’re consuming something of real value in moderate, sensible amounts. When we are healthy, active, and stimulated by life’s many adventures, we don’t need or want to buy as much. Gratification is about infinite and often insatiable wants, while happiness is more grounded in meeting achievable, satisfying needs. We’re stuck in the gratification mode, not tapping into the REAL wealth. Instead of more stuff in our already-stuffed lives, we can choose fewer things but better things of higher quality; fewer visits to the doctor and more visits to museums and friends’ houses. Greater use of our hands and minds in creative activities like playing a flute, building a table, knitting a sweater, or harvesting the season’s first juicy, heirloom tomato. These are the things that matter, and we can choose them if we spend less time, money, and energy being such obedient, desperate consumers!We can ask, what kind of buildings and neighborhoods should we design to ensure high rates of social connection? What kind of agriculture not only provides a good living for farmers and the food industry but also delivers the sort of nutrition that human bodies actually need? Simple prosperity is not about what we give up, but what we take back: clarity, sanity, purpose, meaning, hope, and momentum.My new novel, Tickling the Bear, portrays a small band of colorful, change makers on the cusp of a new society – one in which simple prosperity is the new normal.

Meet the Author:

David Wann has been a self-acknowledged author since second grade. He’s written hundreds of articles and columns; ten books – one a best seller; and produced five TV documentaries viewed by 20 million. He’s lived in a cooperative neighborhood (cohousing) for 26 years where he has been the organic gardener for 27 households. He’s an amateur musician and the proud father of two. His greatest ambition is to make a difference in a world that urgently requires “all hands on deck.” His books include Affluenza; Biologic; Superbia; Simple Prosperity; The Zen of Gardening; The New Normal, Reinventing Community and others.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreadsTour Schedule:

Jan 4 –Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Jan 5 –@twilight_reader – book review / giveaway
Jan 7 –Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Jan 8 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 10 – Kam’s Place – book review / author interview
Jan 11 –Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 12 –Stephanie Jane – book review / giveaway
Jan 12 – Books for Books – book review 
Jan 13 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Jan 13 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book review ​
Jan 14 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 17 – Books are a Blessing  – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 17 – Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway