Follow Me
I’ve learned more than I thought I would
Posted on
4
Apr
2010 - by
TheBookFetish In:
Reading
When I set out on this quest, I thought I’d read 52 books, post my thoughts, and maybe my Mom and one other person would ever bother to take a look at this. In other words, my original motivation was to do this for myself, as a hobby of sorts, and save what I learned by reading the actual books, I didn’t really expect to learn anything else through this experience. I was wrong.
First, I don’t think my Mother’s read the blog. At all. Because she’d certainly have something to say about my opinions on a few of the books I’ve read if she had.
Second, this little quest I’ve set out on is great for conversation. It is something different, and when you’re around other bibliophiles, it makes for very interesting conversations. It has even opened the door to a few new friendships. And, equally as important, it has opened the door to so many recommendations of books I’d never heard of and expanded my network of other readers and writers beyond what I anticipated.
One way that has happened is through Twitter. I created a Twitter profile to be all about the blog. In following some authors and book lists that interest me, I’ve seen references to other profiles I would have known nothing about otherwise. Some of the books I’m reading are from the authors I’m following in this little virtual world.
But not everything I’ve learned has been fluffiness and light. I’ve learned that sometimes, I’d rather spend time with the characters in the novels than the characters in my real life. That can be a bit disturbing, and indicate a need to get rid of some dead weight in my life, or figure out why I prefer fiction to reality.
Second, I’ve been drawn to a great deal more non-fiction than I expected. This is showing me that there is an area of my life I think needs focus. So I love reading about it but it just makes me wish there were more hours in the day… to read more, to play more, to think more.
As an update, I’m currently reading 3 books. I don’t know which one will become Book 20, although I suspect it will be Luke Romyn’s “The Dark Path” as I will have much opportunity for using the eReader in the coming days. Also in contention are “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin- which came to me via one of those random conversations I mentioned earlier- and Jon Harwood’s “The Seance.” I’m really enjoying both, but I have to be careful when I read “The Seance” because it is creepy in a good way, but also has the potential to disturb my ability to sleep peacefully.
It is a gorgeous day outside here…. I’m off to do some more reading.
Book 19: Work Hard, Be Nice
Posted on
28
Mar
2010 - by
TheBookFetish In:
Reading
There’s so much I want to say about this book, this story of two young men from Teach for America, who thought they just might be able to make a difference in the lives of some children.
With the idealism and enthusiasm that youth brings, Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin wholeheartedly tackled their Teach For America assignments in low-income Houston are schools. They quickly discovered that while they had the desire to be incredible teachers, they really didn’t know what they were doing. Enter Harriett Ball, a colleague of Levin’s. This was the type of teacher Feinberg and Levin wanted to be: inspiring, motivating, challenging, caring. Ms. Ball took Levin and Feinberg under her wing, mentoring them in what she had learned to be the most effective teaching methods.
As Levin and Feinberg began to adopt these approaches themselves, as well as innovate and incorporate tactics from other nationally known education mentors, they discovered they were passionate about helping economically disadvantaged kids succeed. And, they had a knack for it. So began an experiment in education called KIPP- Knowledge Is Power Program- that has now expanded into one of the most successful charter school networks in the nation.
Work Hard, Be Nice. This is the KIPP Motto. It became the foundation for schools that refuse to let a child’s economic circumstances be a barrier to their capability for success. KIPP schools have five essential pillars, and a set of standards they expect each school to uphold. For example, the KIPP school day is 7:30-5:00, rather than the standard six hour day; scholars attend Saturday school two or three times a month. Teachers, students, and parents sign a contract for performance at the school. Teachers give out their cell phone numbers, instructing students to call them in the evenings for homework instruction if it is needed. In the fifth through eighth grade schools, reading is a part of each discipline. Beyond that, school leaders and teachers are empowered to innovate and do what they need to do to make their students successful.
Jay Mathews recounts the founding of the KIPP school in his easy to read, entertaining, and engaging Work Hard, Be Nice. He shows how Feinberg and Levin simply refused to take no for an answer when it came to things hindering their student’s progress.
I have firsthand experience with a KIPP school in my city. I’m serving as an Advisory board member for the KIPP WAYS Academy. I have seen firsthand how this innovative approach to education can work. Our students are far exceeding state averages on standardized testing. This year, two of our students have been offered full scholarships to the Philips Exeter Academy for high school.
When parents, faculty, and students work together to make education important lives can be changed.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in education innovation, charter school programs, areas for community involvement.
- 2 Comments
- Tags: Dave Levin, Education, Jon Mathews, KIPP, Mike Feinberg
Book 18: Devilish
Posted on
25
Mar
2010 - by
TheBookFetish In:
Reading
I just realized that right after a book called Godless, I’m blogging one called Devilish, as if reading some series. As you’ll see from this post, though, the subject matter couldn’t be more different.
Devilish is actually a work of Young Adult fiction by Maureen Johnson. I came across Maureen Johnson through some other authors I have read, and decided to pick this one up. Or rather, download it. This was an audiobook I listened to this week.
Set against the backdrop of a Catholic girls’ school in Rhode Island, without giving into every Catholic Girls’ School cliche, Devilish tells the story of Jane Jarvis’ quest to save her best friend, Ally, after Ally sells her soul to a demon for popularity and panache.
Johnson’s characters are well-drawn, believable. Even the immortal ones. She writes with a sense of realism, without being overly dramatic, or using that teens-talk-like-adults approach. You feel like you probably knew these characters in high school. I had flashes of Buffy, the TV version, as I listened to it. There’s just the right mix of wit and angst, sarcasm and silliness. Our heroine is not tall and thin and rich and beautiful- in other words, someone normal.
There’s a bit of gore, plenty of drama, some action, and cleverness, which I admire. A bit of snogging, but not the unresolved sexual tension of Twilight. This is more along the lines of Cassandra Clare, who I think has written some of the best YA Fantasy out there. Strong, likeable, characters who are flawed, but want to do the right thing.
A quick listen and a quick read, appropriate for middle years through high school, and not so bad for those of us who are somewhat older.
I’m in the process of reading two other books right now: The Seance, a creepy Gothic thriller, and Work Hard, Be Nice, which is the story of the founding of the KIPP Charter School program. These will be books 19 and 20, I think. I also have some Luke Romyn coming up, and I’m beginning to look at recommendations from some friends for the next books. Next audiobook is Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter from the author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Book 17: Godless
Posted on
21
Mar
2010 - by
TheBookFetish In:
Reading
This is the toughest posting I’ve done to date. The subject matter in Godless is something very personal to me and something I’ve struggled with for the last few years. I’ve made peace with my beliefs, and I’m still fascinated by the subject. There’s so much that occurred to me as I was reading this book. I do tend to write in my postings about how the work affected me specifically and I intend to do that here as well. I’m doing my best to not turn this into a manifesto or say so much that the posting takes ages to read.
In Godless, Dan Barker recounts his journey from growing up an evangelical Christian, to becoming an evangelical minister, and eventually becoming an Atheist. I found myself underlining sentences in the book, making notes in the margins, and even digging up a bible here at the house to check the cited verses and their context for myself.
In his days as an evangelical, Barker would assign spiritual significance to everything. He recounts how if he lucked upon a parking space, he’d thank God for providing him a place to park; if he had to walk six blocks, he’d be grateful to God for the lessons in patience (pp 29-30).
When he began to question his faith, Barker explains that it wasn’t as if a switch flipped but a “slow, sometimes wrenching, halting, circuitous process.” That is true. It takes a lot of effort and work to figure out what you believe and why. It is painful to realize that what you learned as a child, no matter how well-intentioned the teachings, just doesn’t work for you as an adult.
Barker’s doubts began innocuously enough. He realized he could no longer reconcile the inconsistencies in the bible with what he knew to be true from a reasoned perspective and his own experiences. This was the part of the book that I really enjoyed, and where I found myself looking up passages and verses to check my own perspective. More often than not, I found myself agreeing with Barker. I don’t like the God of the Old Testament. As a “loving father” how could he ever ask another parent to sacrifice their child for him? Most people will say it was a test of faith for Abraham, and that he got a bye in the end, and Isaac lived. But Jephthah, in Judges 11, received no such reprieve. There’s a litany of examples like this throughout the book, and I won’t cite them all here.
Part of the book is a bit more mmmm, academic, I’ll call it. Barker provides an analysis of God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence, explaining how omniscience and omnipotence are somewhat at odds with each other. He also explains the fallibility of the concepts, as an example. The book got rather deep when Barker presented analysis around the incongruity on the origins of God.
I learned a lot reading this book. I did not know until now that the last verses in Mark regarding the resurrection were not in the original text of the gospel, and were added some years later. I also did not know how much of the story of Jesus shares its origins with many of the pagan religions- it really is all quite fascinating.
Another part of the book that I found interesting was Barker’s exploration of the need for religion in determining whether or not a person will be moral and/or ethical. I don’t think religion is required to determine morality. Consider the number of different religions and their differences, yet the similar moral code shared by many people regardless of their faith. I have many Christian, Jewish, and Muslim friends who are moral and ethical people. But I know several people who are very vocal Christians who engage in immoral and unethical behavior. Their religious beliefs do not preclude this behavior. I single out Christians here merely because most of my friends profess to be of the Christian faith. I don’t mean that statement to say that only people of the Christian faith would be immoral or unethical, I only say that having faith doesn’t give one a lock on being a “good” person.
Parts of the book I did not like. Barker spends a fair amount of time explaining why faith/Christianity/Religion is wrong and trying to convince readers to move to atheism. I think faith- or lack of it- is a very personal journey. I applaud Barker’s efforts to encourage free thinking and reason in determining what one believes, but I almost felt a bit- pardon the pun- preached at in the book. I’m happy to discuss my beliefs and my questions with anyone who asks, but I am not on a mission to convert anyone else into thinking like I do. As long as one’s belief is reasoned, I’m very respectful of differing viewpoints.
Many people get a great deal of comfort from their faith, and if that works for them, I’m happy to hear it. I prefer to think of myself as a free thinker, accountable for my actions. I do believe in good and evil, and I think that we all have some capacity for both in us. Great things have been accomplished in the name of religion, but so have terrible atrocities. It is an interesting journey to start questioning faith. Some people end up in the way of Dan Barker, turning away from their beliefs. Others have their beliefs strengthened by questioning. It completely fascinates me.
From an enjoyable read perspective, I liked Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America better. But from the perspective of more detailed analysis of why a number of precepts of the Christian faith don’t hold up under study, Godless provides a lot of good, factual information.
I’ve no idea what I am going to read for Book 18. Potentially Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth but I may also go for some fiction as well. There are some books that have been sitting around the house for a while that I’ve not read yet.
- 0 Comments
- Tags: faith, non-fiction, Reason, religion
Random Update
Posted on
21
Mar
2010 - by
TheBookFetish In:
Reading
I’ve got a few random updates before I get to Book 17 in the next posting. First, according to the calendar, if I am truly supposed to be reading a book per week to meet my goal, I should be starting book 12 this afternoon. Instead, I’m blogging Book 17! I’m glad to be a bit ahead of the game, as I’m quite certain that there will be times when it takes me longer than planned to get through a book.
I get two questions about this project from people. The first is, do I have an idea of what each of the 52 books will be? No, I don’t. The only one that is pre-defined is Number 52. It will be my all-time favorite book, and is due for a re-read. The second question I get is if I am buying each of the books that I am reading. The answer is that it depends. So far, the books I’ve read are ones I’ve picked up this year through either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. But I also have a stack of books in the house I’ve previously purchased and that I want to get through.
I’ve not decided what Book 18 is going to be, but I have started a new Audiobook by Maureen Johnson that I hope to be blogging soon as well.
Now, I’m off to blog the next book.
