Related Update (8/15): Listen to John McWhorter’s interview on NPR titled, “How Welfare Went Wrong.”
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I wish I’d saved the link to a story I read about adults’ reading habits. The statistics were alarming. If I recall correctly, 58 percent of adults don’t read books after college, and the numbers are worse for people who haven’t graduated from college. If you have the link, please send it.
When I was a kid, I thought those old “Reading is fundamental!” commercials were corny. I don’t think that anymore, of course. Reading is fundamental. One of the best ways parents can help their kids succeed in school is to read to them often if they’re too young to read and help them cultivate a love for books once they learn.
What I’m reading:
- Character Building – A collection of Booker T. Washington’s essays. Inspirational, to say the least. Washington’s purpose was to uplift people through the development of good character and a good work ethic. If anybody had a right to shout “Racism!” it was Washington. But he chose to focus on self-improvement, not whining for government handouts.
- Liberty & Learning: Milton Friedman’s Voucher Idea at Fifty – The folks at Cato sent this book after I wrote a post about my libertarian leanings on education.
- The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More by Chris Anderson – Anderson is the editor of Wired Magazine (and a blogger). This book focuses on how the Internet has changed the marketplace of business and ideas. I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying it. It may inspire me to turn LBC into a new media technology blog. (Between you and me — Shhhhh — it’s better than An Army of Davids, which I reviewed twice.)
- Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America–and What We Can Do About It by Juan Williams — Just got a review copy in the mail this morning. I heard that NPR’s Juan Williams was catching it from fellow liberals for writing this Cosbyesque book. Recently, John McWhorter and I talked about how little it takes to be labeled a “black conservative” by other blacks. If your first reaction to problems in the “black community” is to look within the community for the source instead of blaming racism, you must be a conservative. I can’t wait to dig into Enough.
- Winning the Race: Beyond the Crisis in Black America by John McWhorter – This book has been out for a while, but I bought it recently. In a way, it’s a sequel to John’s 2001 Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America.
- The MacArthur Study Bible — I have several Bibles, different translations, but this is the one I write in, study from, and take to church.
I plan to write reviews of the first four books, to be published here or NRO. Check back for updates.
Some people have an aversion to books that I don’t quite understand. I like to read books and I like books themselves. No matter how virtual the world becomes, I’ll always crave the feel of a bound book.
What are you reading?
(Full blogger disclosure: I’m an Amazon Associate. When you click on the book title links and buy Amazon merchandise, you help me buy more books! Instead of cash, I opt for vouchers.)
Update: Commenter Cedjan wrote:
My husband and I saw Juan Williams interviewed on C-SPAN’s After Words by Michael Eric Dyson about his new book Enough. As usual, Dyson talked too much, contradicted himself constantly, and played the victim card…Thankfully, Juan told Dyson point blank that he was obsessed with victimhood, and initiated a heated little exchange between the two. I now have a new respect for Juan who usually appears so liberal leaning when I see him on TV.
He definitely supports Black self reliance, but Dyson and liberals like him can’t get that through their thick heads. Instead, Dyson rambled on over and over about Juan’s need to attack the ’social structure of impediments to Black progress’ as well as self reliance…I can’t wait to read Enough.
Update II: The Angry Independent links to the Williams/Dyson video. I get an error message when I click on the link at his blog. You?
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The book that I am reading now is RACE written by Studs Terkel who is a radio personality that I grew up listening to in Chicago. He has written a number of oral histories on the human condition, alot of them delve into issues between the races, the American Dream, and why people are different. All of the books are fascinating reading.
1776 by David McCullogh. This may have been the worst year in American History. If our “sunshine patriots” of today had been there, all the current problems of The United States of America would have been solved: there would be no United States of America.
I have dozens of reference books on antique and costume jewelry which I am constantly reading. Warmans’s Jewelry Identification and Price Guide by Christie Romero is outstanding.
Our Bible study group is reading The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith, written over 100 years ago and timeless. Text is free on-line, written before copyright laws.
My daughter bought Godless by Ann Coulter and everytime I babysit, I read a couple of chapters while my gdaughter is sleeping. A good read, but a wicked tongue. I’m sure that’s news to all of you..lol
“The Fountainhead” for the 12th time. It has been at least ten years since I last read it.
And, by the way, I caught the preview of an interview with Williams on his new book, Enough. I was quite intrigued, given that he’s always been quite a liberal so I’m not surprised he’s getting flack from the left. I may have to buy that book.
I’m impressed that you can read more than one book at a time! I have to finish one before I start another…but then, I also eat “around” my plate – one food at a time. Maybe I should be posting this on Dr.Sanity…!!!
Last book was “Godless” (I agree with Diane!), my next “assigned” reading (my husband bought it and tells me that if I’m going to spout off about the muslim problem, I should read it) is “The Multiple Identities of the Middle East” by Bernard Lewis. I’ve started it, but it’s a bit tough to get into. He has two more for me after this one. He goes through these faster than I do, as the basic material is more familiar to him than it is to me. He studied Arabic in the military, and the language study included history and culture.
And then…gotta keep up on the blogs! including _here_! There are so many that are good – it’s hard to whittle them down. I prefer those like LaShawn’s that also have a good readership group that participates in worthwhile discussion.
Wow,
You are the one big time blogger who not only knows what the MacArthur Study Bible is, actually knows how excellent it is and blogs on it.
Fred
I just finished reading Twisted Tales by Brandon Massey. He’s a black suspense/horror writer.
I’m about to read Burn Factor by Kyle Mills. I am a huge political thriller fan. I like Vince Flynn and David Baldacci too.
Also on my list: The Sweet Hell Inside by Edward Ball. Edward Ball wrote Slaves in The Family (which examined the life of his slave owning ancestors but also the lives of the slaves themselves). The Sweet Hell Inside is about the story of the fascinating Harleston family of South Carolina, the progeny of a Southern gentleman and his slave, who cast off their blemished roots and prospered despite racial barriers.
I love to read. My mom is a teacher and started me off early. I normally carry around a book in my purse constantly!
I appreciate this post Lashawn. I have found myself at the end of my rope! Nothing capturing my attention very long. I finished Neil Gaiman’s American Gods and was underwhelmed.
Keep the comments coming so I can hopefully pick up a suggestion or seven.
I’m reading Toby Young’s latest: The Sound of No Hands Clapping.
I read the blurb about Anderson’s book, and I have to disagree with what I saw about books: publishers want blockbuster novels, so they invest in those types of books. And if they happen to publish a more obscure type of story, they won’t renew the person’s contract. So it’s harder than in the past to publish non-blockbuster books.
Over all, books aren’t read because of the internet and TV and DVD’s, etc. Entertainment is more easily digestible via visual means, so people don’t want to make the effort to read.
One sad thing about being better read than others is that you can fall into despair because you’re aware of more, so you feel alone.
Reading Applied Economics – Thinking Beyond Stage One by Thomas Sowell.
My husband and I saw Juan Williams interviewed on C-SPAN’s After Words by Michael Eric Dyson about his new book Enough. As usual, Dyson talked too much, contradicted himself constantly, and played the victim card.
Thankfully, Juan told Dyson point blank that he was obsessed with victimhood, and initiated a heated little exchange between the two. I now have a new respect for Juan who usually appears so liberal leaning when I see him on TV.
He definitely supports Black self reliance, but Dyson and liberals like him can’t get that through their thick heads. Instead, Dyson rambled on over and over about Juan’s need to attack the ’social structure of impediments to Black progress’ as well as self reliance.
I can’t wait to read Enough.
I just finished “Before the Dawn”, which attempts to put together a history of how man came to be, journeyed out of Africa, and settled the world. He uses genetics, linguistics and archaeology to build his case.
Each chapter is headed by a quote from Charles Darwin, so if are a creationist be forewarned that you’ll find it offensive, especially since he argues that there’s an evolutionary aspect to moving from a hunter-gatherer society towards agricultural societies. It’s a fascinating book. Now I’m reading a history of the 1918 influenza.
I vowed to stay out of the comment section today, but I need to make a couple of comments. 1) A kind reader sent a copy of the influenza book. We probably have the same one; 2) I can’t speak for other Christians, but reading about evolution and what Darwin has said/written about it doesn’t offend me. I like reading about evolution because the very idea is funny, not offensive. Ideas don’t offend me.
That new fangled Scientifiction thing. Lots of it. From Baen where ebooks are not DRM crippled but are priced just right. Especially if you buy the “webscription month” version where you get about 6 ebooks for $15
If someomes sends me (francis.turner@di2.nu ) an email the september, october or november webscription months will be theirs – you can state which one you want. If no one else has asked for it, it’s yours.
Now reading: Jesus Mean and Wild, by Mark Galli (of Christianity Today). Just posted a reading-related meme on my blog today. Feel free to play along.
AC
Wow. Interesting post! I have never understood people who don’t read. I even have family members who I consider fairly intelligent, who just won’t pick up a book. I seriously think it has more to do with the way they were brought up than anything else. I had a favorite book at 7 months of age, I used to crawl across the floor, dragging it around with me and hand it to my mother to read to me.
People who I know who don’t read, weren’t really read to as kids. Their parents didn’t buy books for them as gifts; they read when they *had* to, but they didn’t enjoy it.
Something I’ve noticed, too, when observing “readers” vs “non-readers”. When a reader wants to do something, they read up on it before hand. When a non-reader wants to do something, they rely on another person’s knowledge about the subject in order to accomplish it. They don’t think automatically to read the manual or to get a library book about it. Instead they call a buddy who “knows a little about it” to help them out.
I have a pile of books I’m reading right now. I just finished Genesis and Exodus in the Old Testament- interesting the contrast in writing and culture between the OT and the NT.
As far as fiction goes, I’m also reading “the English Assassin” by Daniel Silva. Fictional characters and what-not, but it deals heavily with the Nazi plundering of Jewish art and treasures before and during WWII. (and the Swiss banks that may still be hiding billions of objets d’art)
Incidentally- did you know that Picasso was something of a hero during WWII? The Nazis considered his work “degenerate” because it didn’t live up to their definition of “art”, and because he wasn’t shy about painting his disgust of fascism. Fortunately, his fame shielded him from any sort of serious physical retaliation, a definite threat in those days.
I’m embarrassed to say what I’m reading right now. But, I am reading, nonetheless.
I usually read 20-30 novels per year, and try to fit in a non-fiction/biography or two. And, those are just the books I complete. There are probably dozens that I only make it half through, or skim.
Honestly? The only reason I do it is because there’s nothing on TV that holds my interest.
If TV were good, then I probably wouldn’t read so much.
Magazines and newspapers are becoming more and more horrible. I remember when newspapers, and even the women’s magazines had in-depth stories, and even short fiction, and poetry.
What’s happening to society?
Current reading:
“The Underground History of American Education”, by John Taylor Gatto. Everyone should read this one IMHO, and it’s available to download for free on his website.
“The Lord of the Rings”, JRR Tolkien. I’m reading this one with my daughter, 9 years old, taking turns reading aloud. She’s already stated the book is much better than the first movie.
The Bible, book of Jeremiah at this point.
La Shawn – I use the MacArthur study Bible too. Excellent choice!
Currently I’m reading:
– “Battle for the Beginning: Creation, Evolution and the Bible” by John MacArthur. Debates with atheists lead me to this book.
– “Frederick Douglass” by William McFeeley. Douglass is one of two men who belong on Mt. Rushmore, the other being U.S. Grant. This is the only modern full-scale bio on Douglass, and it’s several years old.
I have the Battle for the Beginning audiobook. Good “read.” – Admin
My reading … has been breached upon the rocks of fatherhood. Last YEAR I read Atlas Shrugged … This year I hope to finish Fountainhead. A few pages every day.
Hi La Shawn,
I’m currently reading the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series (Order of the Phoenix (as you already know)
Also, over the weekend, I picked up my husband’s copy of Authentically Black by John McWhorter, and I haven’t been able to put it down! I am also in the middle of The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie O’Martian. I use the latter mostly as a devotional.
I honestly don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have a good book to look forward to before bed in the evenings. My dad was always reading when I was little, and I used to want to do whatever he was doing. My son is almost 3 years old and I already see the cycle continuing.
I’m reading the Idiot’s Guide to Ancient Egypt. This is my first book in my crash course in Ancient History. I’ll be working through the tougher books with my children this fall but this is to help get me up to speed. (I never had Ancient History in school. Did anyone?)
I’m also reading What the Bible is All About by Henrietta Mears. First written in the late 1800’s this is one of the first books on my children’s reading list for the fall.
When I get bogged down in ancient times, and need something more current, I’ve been reading Barbara Curtis’s new book, Reaching the Left From The Right, Talking about social issues with people who don’t think like you. This women lived the first half of her life as liberal woman, and now she’s a conservative mother of 12. She’s been on both sides. I’m enjoying this book a lot. We both have similar thoughts but arrived at them so differently.
Throw in a little Dr. Seuss for my preschool and that about covers my reading for the past month.
Regarding the “social structure of impediments” everyone needs to see the movie, “The Lost Boys of Sudan” It tells the story of young men who have a chance to choose their own destiny under adverse circumstances. Out of all the refugees only one of the “lost boys” decides that he needs an education and goes about getting it, on his own and with great determination.
Glamchild,
I don’t think you should be embarrassed about what you are reading. Everything you read doesn’t have to be heavy literary fare. I read commericial fiction with the best of them.
At least you are reading something, which is still more than a lot of prople can say.
I’ve been reading:
“The Idiot’s Guide to Dating”
“Stop Getting Dumped!”
“Why She Thinks You’re Ugly”
“How to Get Anyone to Say “Yes” in 8 Minutes or Less”
“Learn How to Find a Good Lawyer… Fast”
Notice a pattern?
La Shawn,
My first time to comment at your blog (am a very occasional reader, so thanks for letting me jump in without a track record lol), but I’d suggest The Ascent of a Leader by Thrall, McNicol, and McElrath. Solid analysis of leadership levels and practical application for those of us who want to “develop extraordinary character and influence.”
Now to a lighter note: Here are 13 Classics I Never Read in HS but Still Want To (lol) Thanks for reading and suggesting we read!
Lyn from Bloggin’ Outloud
Seriously? ‘The Star Fraction’, by Ken Macleod, and ‘Knowing God’, by J.I. Packer.
A little bit of secular humanist science fiction, offset with the weight of God.
Hello LaShawn…
I was just about to send an e-mail on this topic.
But since you brought it up here… I’ll post in comments.
A Must See
http://mirroronamerica.blogspot.com/2006/08/juan-williams-micheal-dyson-discuss.html
Later
Oops… I noticed that our hostess has not read “Enough” yet. Just want to warn that there may be a few spoilers in the above blog entry…
A Must see anyway though…
The link to the video is not working. Got another? – Admin
Error message?
Here is the direct link…
Maybe copying and pasting will work… I tested the link on my site… works fine.
You can also get it from the C-span site…
rtsp://video.c-span.org/archive/arc_btv/arc_btv081206_4.rm?mode=compact
I’m reading “The Brief History of the Dead” by Kevin Brockmeier at the moment. It’s a fascinating novel about the afterlife and the connections between both “worlds.” I’m on a brief “fiction kick” right now and last week read James Lee Burke’s latest “Pegasus Descending” and John Updike’s “Terrorist.” Two weeks ago it was “Warlord,” Ilario Pantero’s account of his experiences in Iraq and Ron Suskind’s “One Percent Doctrine.” I can’t imagine life without books and find it impossible to understand how so many people can live without them. I can’t even imagine being dependent on movies and television for entertainment and a knowledge of current events.
My wife and I are currently reading/have recently read the following:
The Prey and The Kill by Allison Brennan
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Left To Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza
Darwin’s Black Box by Michael Behe
Saving Milly by Morton Kondracke
Darfur: The Ambiguous Genocide by Gerald Prunier
Night by Elie Wiesel
Suspect by Michael Robotham
Moo Baa La-La-La by Sandra Boynton (our 8mo son’s current read)
Reading some apropos titles considering what is going on in the world.
O Jerusalem, Collins and LaPierre, the classic story of the 1948 war before and after the formation of the state of Israel. To be followed by:
Six Days of War, by Michael Oren; a comprehensive history of the Six Days War. To be followed by:
Yom Kippur War, Rabinovich; history of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Guests of the Ayatollah, Bowen; from the author of Blackhawk Down, the story of the 1979 Revolution and takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran.
A New Age Now Begins, Page Smith; The beginning of this historian’s wonderful multi-volume retelling of the American Experience. I remember reading excerpts in high school and I always wanted to tackle the entire series!
The Last Lion, William Manchester’s two volume biography of Winston Churchill; rich in detail and personalities.
Just finished Robert K. Massie’s Dreadnought; a wonderful account of the pre WWI arms race between Great Britain and Germany. Don’t forget Robert Massie’s Castles of Steel, an account of naval warfare in World War I between Great Britain and Germany, the sequel to Dreadnought.
Wa-a-a-y off topic La Shawn, but have you ever thought about writing a book? Perhaps about Christainity and/or race relations?
Or a book about politics? Culture? History? I think that whatever you wrote about woyuld be a smash hit!
Or a book about politics? Culture? History? I think that whatever you wrote about would be a smash hit!
I have a book half written. lol (about 100 pages).
Been sitting around for about a year and a half.
I can never seem to finish what I start (when it’s a big project). Hard to get motivated… then i’m worried about publishing what I have… thinking it will hurt me later…. since folks are losing jobs and getting blacklisted left and right for books and blogs that they have done.
It’s the kind of stuff you heard about from Nazi Germany, the USSR, or China… It’s now happening in America.
Writing a book can be risky business….& it’s HARD WORK…. Harder than I thought it would be.
I’ve been thinking that i’m probably better off with a blog.
Mwalimu, I LOVED Moo Baa La-La-La when my kids were little!!! Also, her book But Not the Hippopotamus
Right now, I’m reading the Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation. Just finished Philippians and will start Colossians tonight. Funny, but ever since I went through years of Bible Study Fellowship, I never read the study notes in my Bible, so that part is wasted on me.
Other reading almost non-existent lately, because I’ve had to work so late so much that all I can do when I get home is take my little dog out and then crash.
I’ve been in the middle of Michael Crichton’s State of Fear for a while. I take it with me when I need to get the oil changed.
Just finished Ann Coulter’s Godless (loved it) and John Stossel’s latest (liked it OK). I’ve got a stack of books waiting for me. I could spend a fortune buying books…
One of the hardest times of my life was the month I had mess duty and only had time to work, eat, and sleep. What drove me crazy? Not having time to read for a solid month.
On my bed right now? The Poetry Home Repair Manual by Ted Kooser and the Novelist by Angela Hunt.
I enjoyed this post, LaShawn. Very interesting. My problem is I’m reading TOO MANY books at one time. Pride and Prejudice, Joyce Meyer books, Strong Women Stay Young (a book about strength training for everyday gals like me), and of course the Bible.
Hiya there
The link you were looking for
http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/para/resources/statistics.cfm
Hopes this helps!
Blogs with a Face
Reading…ah yes, I remember that. Unfortunately I don’t make the time for it like I should, except for Scripture. I try and read at least one passage every day, even if it’s just a few verses. Sometimes it’s for encouragement and sometimes just to ease my mind after a long day. There’s nothing like the calm that comes from reading the Word.
I love your site and I couldn’t resist posting for this one. I am studying to be a librarian, that probably has something to do with it! LOL
Actually I agree with Michele; I am reading WAY too many books at once, including Pride and Prejudice for a bookclub!
“The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community” by Ray Oldenburg
“Bowling Alone : The Collapse and Revival of American Community” by Robert D. Putnam
“Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild” by Michelle Malkin (I just finished this)
“The Story of Civilization: The Age of Faith, Part IV, A History of Medieval Civilization–Christian, Islamic, and Judaic–from Constantine to Dante: A.D. 325 – 1300″ by Will Durant
“The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History” by Thomas E. Woods, Jr. (just finished it)
“Winning the Race: Beyond the Crisis in Black America by John McWhorter – This book has been out for a while, but I bought it recently. ”
Out of curiosity, I was wondering if Ms. Barber and inner city youth were victims of poorly funded inner city libraries, like they may have been in the 1950s. It seems like the Washington DC library has 18 of the books, but only 3 are checked out. At this rate, more blacks are killing each other then reading the leading academic “conservative†book. Not that they should agree with everything they read, but everyone who claims to be smart should read – know your opponents – all major points of views.:
305.896 M177W 2005
Winning the race : beyond the crisis in Black America
McWhorter, John H.
15 copies available at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Capitol View Neighborhood Library, Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library, Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library, Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library, Northeast Neighborhood Library, Palisades Neighborhood Library, Petworth Neighborhood Library, Southwest Neighborhood Library, Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library, West End Neighborhood Library, Woodridge Neighborhood Library, DC Mayoral Library, and Mobile Branch Service
I mostly read conservative books
I am currently reading Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis along with Pursuing Joy by John Piper. I might have the name wrong on the second book.
The Reformation Study Bible (ESV) edited by R.C. Sproul.
A Case for Amillenialism by Kim Riddlebarger.
Godless by Ann Coulter – interesting anti-evolution arguments in there. Every single “evidence” for evolution that she debunked was found in my high school AP biology textbook. I think the Bible is still the best scientific explanation for how we got here. And I’m a scientist.
The Problem of Pain by Lewis and The Peloponnesian War by Kagan.
Now reading: The Pursuit of Happyness by Ghris Gardner, Letter to a young brother by Hill Harper (finished yesterday), The federalist Papers
I am reading Chaco Canyon by Brian Fagan. I read a lot but am totally spending too much time reading blogs since the war started. I read mysteries I consider good “mind candy” for relaxation and non fiction for knowledge. I am almost 70 and have never been to Chaco Canyon although we have been to many other archaeological sites in the west. We are planning a trip west this fall and hope to get to see these sites.
You are an example of how much talent we have in this world. I think that is one of the very good things blogging has revealed, that is there are a great many deep thinking people out here. BTW, thanks for the spell checker!
I love this blog.
Last books read- Night by Elie Wiesel and Winning the Future by Newt Gingrich. Now reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. Going back every once in a while to Patroit’s History of the United States. In the queue, Collapse by Jared Diamond. On my wish list-Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam.
Dear LaShawn,
I love your website, I found it looking for info on Thomas Sowell, so now I’m completely hooked. Finally I find some common ground. The books I am reading are:
‘Art Held Hostage’ by John Anderson- about the cooping, or actually the theft by the Pew, Annanberg, and Lenfest Foundations of the great Barnes Collection from Lincoln University Board of directors of the Barnes foundation. This happened with inside collusion, as usual, we don’t appreciate our great gifts, and let others take the most valuable of them for a mere song, in this case a 4 million $ gymnasium, and updates to the school in exchange for an at least 50 Billion dollar art collection (at last count, probably more than that). Fascinating story of why the principal of ‘Pride cometh before a fall’ is so important.
‘Islam and Dhimmitude (Where Civilizations Collide’ by Bat Ye’or
A book about the history of Western beliefs and Islam, and the tactics of both over the years. I will also be reading ‘Constantine’s Sword’ soon and a book called “Why I am not Muslim” by Ibn Warraq, a man who converted from Islam to Christianity, and talks about the differences, he is a man along the lines of Walid Shoebat.
Oh and I very often read Proverbs, or Psalms.
I’m reading:
“Freakonomics” by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner-This book has been out for awhile and I’m about halfway through. So far it’s been very entertaining, the chapter I’m reading right now is titled “Drug Dealers Living with their Moms”
Ever since reading “The Power to Destroy” by the late Senator William Roth, I’ve come to question the necessity of the income tax at all. The horror stories documented in that book will make you do the same.
Doing internet searches on the subject of the income tax led me to:
“The Federal Mafia: How the Government Illegally and Unlawfully Collects Income Taxes” by Irwin Schiff – This book has been around for decades (he’s sold hundreds of thousands) Ever since he got sent to prison he’s been giving it away as a free download. I’ve read the first couple of chapters and he makes his case pretty convincingly.
I finished Winning the Race a week a ago Monday. I just finished reading Godless yesterday. I was going to read the book by Joseph Phillips next, but I will read it in a few weeks. I now want to read Enough. I just ordered it and the Booker T. Washington Book (I got the last one in stock at Amazon)While I await the “in 2 days delivery” I am reading Praying the Ten Commandments: Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement.
“Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen
“The Great Heresies” by Hilaire Belloc
“G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense” by Dale Ahlquist
“Four Witnesses: The Early Church In Her Own Words” compiled by Rod Bennet
“The Poetry of Mathematics And Other Essays” by David Eugene Smith
“Way To Happiness” by Fulton Sheen
“That Every Man Be Armed” by Stephen P. Halbrook
“Voices of the Saints” by Bert Ghezzi
“Finding God’s Will For You” by Frances de Sales
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.
Why does he spend so much time explaining all the intricate details of Waterloo? It seems so strange to read 150 pages before you even meet the main character. But good reading, nonetheless.
I learned love of reading from my family. We used to read aloud from the classics, like Around the World in Eighty Days, or Lord of the Rings, as well as popular series. Whenever the latest Mrs. Polifax book came out, we’d voluntarily cancel all evening activities, so that as soon as my father walked in the door, we could have a quick dinner and start reading. Even when I grew into a teenager, there were times when one of us would “declare” a family reading session, because the book they were reading was so darned good, they simply had to share. Also, it avoided the arguments over who gets which book, when. I highly recommend group reading for the next Harry Potter book!
I’m reading The Master by Colm Toibin. It’s a biography of Henry James written as a novel. It took a while to get into to it, but now I’m loving it. It makes me want to read or re-read all of James’s novels.
Unfortunately, though, I only read a few pages a day. Getting old has really cut into my reading. When I was younger, I would copyedit dense nonfiction 8-9 hours a day and then go home and read novels until midnight. Now I still edit all day, but I’m lucky if I can get in half a chapter of pleasure-reading before my eyes start to cross or I nod off. And I used to laugh at my mom dozing on the couch over an Agatha Christie book.
I am currently starting on an attempt to completely read The Bible. It’s actually rather interesting, for it has kept me thinking about religious issues more during my day-to-day living.
I also just finished reading Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked” which is a very odd, but entertaining, book.
The first time I read the whole Bible, I was awed by the overaching redemption theme and the symmetry between the Old and New Testaments.
“Widow’s Walk” by Robert B. Parker (It’s summertime and I LOVE the Spenser and Jesse Stone novels) at lunchtime and “Invasion” by Michelle Malkin (2nd time around) at home! Probably should reverse those two because “Invasion” ticks me off royally as I read through it and then I have trouble sleeping! Ah well – don’t want to bring my politics into the workplace too forcefully!
i am reading the bible
LaShawn, great idea for blogging. With so much craziness happening right now, it’s great to share something somewhat light. And I’ve gotten great ideas for reads (I have the library website catalog on my computer, placing holds as I find books that sound good!).
I just finished reading Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green. My daughter had to read it for school and it was awhile since I read it, so I read it again.
I also just finished reading Grandmother and the Priests by Taylor Caldwell. This is now out of print so I buy copies whenever I find them at used book stores. It’s about a little girl who visits her glamorous grandmother’s house whenever her parents fight, and the grandmother has fancy dinners with several priests as guests. Each priest tells a story about topics such as good vs. evil, redemption, and the devil. The characters often become lost in the religious discussion.
I have The Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card on my nightstand, waiting to be opened. This is the story of Moses, but with a Mormon bent.
I also have The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue on my nightstand. I think I might read it before Stone Tables because it looks good!
Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I have one more suggestion for any of you who might be interested, one of my favorite books, The Color of Water by James McBride. This is a biography of the author’s mother, a white Orthodox Jew who married a black man in the South back in the Civil Rights era. Her family was decidedly not pleased, to say the least, and the way this strong woman raised her children is absolutely beautiful. The title comes from one of her children asking her if God is black or white. Her response is that He is the color of water… I love that.
I just started a blog just for this purpose. Check out my fledgling blog and leave a message to tell me what you think.
http://thebibliofile.blogspot.com/
Im reading MYTH,LIES ,AND STUPIDIDLY by JOHN STOSSELL its got some pretty great articles
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