What I'm Reading: March Recap

How has another month passed so quickly? I did not nearly complete everything I had hoped to this month. But without further ado, here is the list as it stands.

	$	$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$
Recommend-ability	I highly recommend not reading this book.	Don't bother.	You might enjoy it.	Would definitely recommend	Absolutely loved it. I will likely recommend to every person I talk to for the next month.
Writing Style	Extremely poor	Well, they know how to spell and what a period is.	Average. Just… Average.	Good job. I might be a little envious of their way with words.	I stand amazed.
Likelihood of Reading Again	Are you kidding? I lost enough brain cells the first time.	Nope.	Maybe, but doubtful.	Probably will read again.	I will definitely re-read. Way too many things I found fascinating.
Thought-Provoking	What thoughts?	I think there was a thought somewhere.	Sort of basic thoughts, but accurate.	Some lingering thoughts. That's a good sign.	So much to think about. My brain is on fire!
Subject Matter of General Interest	There should not have been ink and paper wasted on this book. I now understand tree-huggers.	Not my style, personally, but might be interesting to someone of a different temperament.	Interesting, but may be specific to my personal tastes.	Fun things to think about. May be quotable. Likely to appeal to a variety of personalities.	Positively fascinating. I will be quoting this for years. Absolutely everyone should read this book.

 

Practical Pantomimes
By Louis J. Huber
Acting, Skits, Humor, Fiction; 95 pages, Not available on Audible
Physical Copy
 
Have I read it before?
I have not. I’ve read very few plays and skits.
 
How did I find it?
Thrift store discovery! My copy has definitely seen some hard times. First printed in 1937, this book is readily available in the public domain. For some reason which I did not spend time researching it is considered a culturally significant work.
 
What is it about?
This is a book of short pantomimes in which there is a reader who narrates a story while other participants act it out. These are meant to be simple skits, easily done with things you would have around your house. The acts are meant to be fun and funny and nonprofessional. Some were written more as narration while others are in rhyming form. There weren’t really any of the skits that I would want to be part of producing, but they did inspire me with ideas. I can definitely imagine myself, not re-reading the book in its entirety, but browsing for a specific purpose. I think something could be made out of them. Maybe the problem was that they just didn’t quite fit my sense of humor. Each pantomime seemed to follow a very similar pattern of figurative speech being taken literally, and while this is funny for a while, it doesn’t stay funny for the endurance.
 
Any warnings?
None whatsoever. However, I found Practical Pantomimes very difficult to rate, as you will notice below.
 
What’s a quote?
Oh, I do have a few favorite lines.
“Mary clapped her hands and Jojo entered the room very quietly. That is, he didn’t make any more noise than a locomotive.” (from “A Spy Story”)
“Most dice have only two sixes, or twelve, as their highest number, but this pair was loaded. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we give you an idea of what kind of war it was—even the dice were loaded.” (from “War Is Not Well”)
“He rang the bell, but Adolph thought it was a passing streetcar and paid no heed. Adolph never paid taxes either, so why should he pay heed?” (from “The Gentleman’s Gentleman”)
 
Recommendability: $$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$
 
 
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
By Sarah Vowell
Historical, Nonfiction; 288 pages, 8 hrs. 7 min.
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
No.
 
How did I find it?
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States popped up as an Audible recommendation. Several years ago, I believe I proofread a book about Lafayette for the school library. I fell in love with the romantic heroism of a wealthy young orphan so taken with the idea of freedom that he would leave his own country to fight for such on behalf of another.
 
What is it about?
I found the book well written, a good mix of explanation on the research, different viewpoints, excerpts, and fun information I didn’t know previously, with a little sarcasm thrown in to boot. There were plenty of references made to other moments in the Revolution that makes me fear I have started irrevocably down a Revolutionary rabbit hole. Oh well, there could be worse things than that. Lafayette, if you’ve forgotten, was only 19 when he slipped away from France to help the Americans fight for their freedom. This was without the blessing of his king or his father-in-law. He left behind a young, pregnant wife as well. The book describes how Lafayette longed to earn honor and glory. Not the most Christian sentiment, certainly, but very intriguing to me. Among accounts lifted out you will find the story of the battle in which he was wounded and the winter at Valley Forge.
 
Any warnings?
Nope.
 
What’s a quote?
“While the melodrama of hucking crates of tea into Boston Harbor continues to inspire civic-minded hotheads to this day, it’s worth remembering the hordes of stoic colonial women who simply swore off tea and steeped basil leaves in boiling water to make the same point. What’s more valiant: littering from a wharf or years of doing chores and looking after children from dawn to dark without caffeine?”
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
The Unexpected Adventure
By Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg
Religious, Nonfiction; 292 pages, 7 hrs. 20 min.
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
No, although I was familiar with Lee Strobel’s name.
 
How did I find it?
I saw this book recommended on someone’s status. As I love Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christ, in which the author shares his search for evidence pertaining to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, eventually becoming convinced of truth and turning from atheism to Christianity, I was interested to find out more about this title.
 
What is it about?
The premise of this book is to inspire Christians to evangelism. This is done by a series of stories from the authors, recounting the adventures they have had in telling others the Good News. The most touching story, to me, was one of the authors who felt compelled to speak to his father-in-law about becoming a Christian. Little did he know that would be the last conversation they ever had. Another story tells of motorcycle daredevil, Evil Knievel, and how he turned to Christ toward the end of his life. There are dramatic moments of misunderstandings and debates, but also simple conversations at restaurants or on airplanes.
 
Any warnings?
I don’t feel certain that this book lines up 100% with my own theology, but I still found it worth the time to read. It’s made me reconsider some of my own choices. Why can’t I say “God’s given us a beautiful day!” when engaging in small talk with a stranger instead of “It’s a nice day out?”
 
What’s a quote?
“After all, he is the great evangelist; we’re merely the tools that he uses to fulfill his mission of redeeming the world, one individual at a time.”
 
Recommendability: $$$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$$
 
 
Hypergifted
By Gordon Korman
Fiction, Junior ; 272 pages, 5 hrs. 18 min.
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
No, although I have read the sequels, Ungifted and Supergifted.
 
How did I find it?
I saw it pop up on Audible. I loved Gordon Korman when I was young, and I’m always curious to see what he is writing now. It’s interesting to me to observe how authors change through the years.
 
What is it about?
If you are familiar with Gordon Korman, this book contains many elements that are classic: Junior summer camp counselors, a super smart kid, a kid who disappears and is great at avoiding questions about where he goes, and a kidnapped pig. OK, maybe the last one isn’t quite so classic, but animals do end up in odd places in many books, it seems. I did think this book tied together a number of elements found in older books like I Wanna Go Home and No Coins Please with things found in some of the newer books, like The Superteacher Project what with some of the references to AI. As this is the third book in the series, the characters were already familiar. I did have trouble believing that someone who correctly predicted a pregnancy in book one did not recognize the same signs in book three. I also thought the climax was somewhat lackluster.
 
Any warnings?
I didn’t feel there was as much disrespect in this book as there are in some of Korman’s works, actually, although there were the same elements of hiding things from adults. Also, this story does take place on a college campus, so some references to partying, but if you let your children read other Korman books, this one will be fine, too.
 
What’s a quote?
I guess I don’t have one.
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$
 
 
Here’s hoping that April will give me time to get in a little more reading! I currently have four books in progress, so that seems hopeful. As always, I’m open to your thoughts and recommendations!

Structure

Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

We live in a society that is without anchor. People are swept along by their emotions, their own selfish desires, and their pride. We rebel against being told what to do, become frustrated when our autonomy seems to be taken away, and hesitate to impose limitations on those around us.

I am not here to argue about this. We should not take away someone’s free will. We should not force our own ideas on others. A healthy mind should think critically, not just go with the flow.

Order and structure is obvious in God’s design in nature. Creation all around illustrates His plan to put systems in place: the movement of the planets and stars, the predictable patterns of wildlife migration, the way season follows season, and so many more.

Some have been raised in an era of law and order and did not feel that their emotional needs were met. That may be a valid point. But what I see today troubles me equally. I see adults who are so determined not to raise children under a heavy hand that many have fallen into quite the opposite ditch. We are leaning so heavily into how we feel and the independent desire to live and let live that we are failing to give our children something solid to cling to. Failing to deny ourselves is causing both us and the children entrusted into our care to struggle much more than we would have to.

I’m not talking about being heavy-handed and giving out copious amounts of punishments. I’m talking about providing gentle, firm guidance. We need to give boundaries that are clear. It’s important to have systems and frameworks in place that provide security.

Children long to know they are safe. When we build structure into our lives, we are giving them that longed-for security and providing a good foundation from which to build connection. This doesn’t mean that we can never have spontaneous fun, but it means that when we do break from our normal routines, the child still feels safe because they know the break is only for a moment and that they will be back in the safe structure they are used to within a foreseeable amount of time.

But what does structure look like in everyday life? Are people given resources in plain language that spell out how and what they can do to build this safe, secure connection with the children in their lives? I think many of us walk into parenthood or classrooms with only vague ideas and memories from our own childhoods of how things should operate. These ideas are often biased from the childish perspective from which we experienced them. Maybe the adults in our lives weren’t the role models they should have been, but we have little else upon which to base our own actions.

I am not here to speak to parents because I don’t have experience in that department. I am sure there would be lots to be said about regular mealtimes and bedtimes, the order of events in a morning, and how children can be given a healthy wind-down routine in the evening before bed, but I’ll let someone else tackle that.

Neither am I here to speak down to my fellow teachers because I have far too many former students out there who can tell you that my own structure has not been perfect. I have had moments where it felt like things were falling apart around my ears, when students weren’t where I expected them to be or they’d gotten into mischief I didn’t predict. Too often those moments have reflected my own lack of structure. I’m supposing you, too, have had those moments when it feels like you’ve lost order.

This isn’t about control shown by a display of power. This is about putting a structure in place that gives you control of your class through respect. It’s about always having a plan in place which gives less room for disobedience. It’s about holding yourself to a way of doing things that will not only ease your own stress levels, but give your children the security they crave.

Children respond to our expectations. When we expect them follow the patterns we’ve laid out for them, they will generally do so. When we respond to discrepancies with love and small, consistent consequences, they not only learn that structure (and the teacher) needs to be respected, they also understand that they are in a secure environment.

So what are some ways to introduce structure into your classroom?

The first thing is to be very clear about your expectations. Let the bells in the morning be a firm indication to your children of what they should be doing. Maybe the 5-minute bell indicates time to be in their desks or time to quit talking. Either way, whatever action is expected of them should enable you to start your day immediately upon the ringing of the tardy bell.

Your students need to understand how many are allowed out of their seats during the day. Some teachers have a system in place in which a student raises one or two fingers to indicate a need to get out of their chair. Others allow one or two students up at a time. The method you choose isn’t so important as the fact that you have a method and stick to it. If I say I allow one student up at a time, but I often find three students up and milling about, I am not only breaking down my own structure, I’m giving my class the impression that I may not mean what I say.

In lower and middle grades (and honestly, upper grades, too, if they are struggling with respect) you will find it automatically adds a touch of order to have your students line up for everything. Line up before you leave the room for recess. Line up by the door when you come in for recess. Line up to exit for lunch. Line up to go to school devotions. Lining up is not demeaning. This is part of our everyday lives—we line up at banks, grocery stores, and gas stations.

Speaking of recess, be clear about starting games. Many classes are dismissed and the teacher has things to quickly do inside while the students mill about outside or finally start the game themselves. It provides security when the students know who is in charge. One way to do this is to do your best to go outside at the beginning of recess and indicate the start of the game. I prefer to use a whistle to do this, but there are other methods as well. Of course, it’s unrealistic to think that you will be able to be there every single time, but consider giving the responsibility to one of your students to start the game if you can’t be there. That way, it’s still clear that there is order and the rest of the children know that the chosen student is acting under your authority.

Respect the bells and time schedules at your school. Yes, definitely do finish the batter in softball and absolutely have some fun days where you stay out for an extra time allotment, but when we are consistently late going out for recess or coming in from recess or dismissing at the end of the day, we are indicating that the structure set in place for us by our school board is not necessarily worthy of respect. Another perk is that if staying out is a treat, you can use it for leverage and rewards.

Teach your boys to tuck in their shirts after recess and your girls to tidy their hair. This leads to a recognition that learning is serious business and it’s important to show up for it in a neat way.

During class time, many of us like our students to be free to respond and take part. I love the spontaneous interaction as much as anyone, but we need to be sure it is plain to them when we want them to answer freely and when we expect them to just be quiet and listen. Some teachers tap their desk with a pointer or give some other signal to differentiate. I like to extend an open palm toward the class when it is a free-for-all and hold up my hand like a policeman when I expect them to be quiet.

Lunchtime is one of my favorite times of the day because I just get to hang out with my class and listen to them talk and probe their minds to figure out how they think. It’s a special opportunity to get to know them. But even lunch must have structure. Take the time to teach your class that you expect them to sit properly. Instruct them on basic good manners. Be attuned to the level of structure your class needs. Some need to know what table to sit at. Some need to have specific seats assigned. Some may need a “no talking until you are finished with your hot lunch” guideline. None of these are harsh or overbearing. They are simply providing the secure environment your children long for, a routine that anchors their day.

Hold students accountable for following along during oral reading. Expect them to stand up with good posture when it is their turn to read. You may have students that struggle with reading to whom you give a bit more leeway, but for your average student there is no reason to constantly remind or prompt. I learned my favorite way of dealing with this at the Pensacola Christian Academy. If a student is called upon to read and doesn’t start reading at the correct spot within a few seconds of standing up beside his desk, another student is called on and the first one remains standing until the end of the page is reached. I have found this very effective. The structure and consequence are all built in together. Again, the consequence is not a big, heavy thing—just a consistent reminder to the child to do what he knows to do.

Keep job time orderly. There does not need to be communication between students unless one of your class jobs demand such. You may find it helpful to tell your children only one of them is allowed out of the room at a time during jobs, or have them request permission to leave. I like my children to return to their desks after their job is completed and make sure their desk is clean as well. When they are finished, they sit quietly and wait for me to come and check both their desk and job. If they pass, they get a high-five. This is a simple way of making sure order is maintained, not only in the busy last moments before dismissal, but before they even arrive at school the next morning, their desk will show the result of structure. It also provides a tiny moment of one-on-one connection with each child every day.

Expect students to stick to a certain structure, even on field trip days. They need to know if they are allowed to run or if they are supposed to walk. They need to know how far ahead of the group they are allowed to go. They need to know that it’s polite to listen quietly and that it’s respectful to show interest in what a guide is telling them by asking questions at appropriate times. They need to know they may be expected to walk in an orderly line, just like they do at school. I like to take my afore-mentioned whistle along, even on field trips. One blast on it tells my students to stop and wait where they are, while two blasts mean “come here.” I don’t need my class to constantly be at my side and be quiet on those fun outings, but I do need a sure way to get their attention and maintain a semblance of order.

I don’t expect you to do everything like I do. Some of you have better ideas and are probably more self-denied and structured than I am, but I do know that the more structure I have introduced into my classroom, the easier my job has become. I’m not suggesting that we turn our students into robots or dampen enthusiasm. There is plenty of room within structure for excitement and fun. But I think we do ourselves and our students a huge disservice when we allow them to drift during the school day.

Maybe you’ve read this and thought you’d like more structure in your own classroom. It’s not too late to start. And you don’t have to start with everything at once. Choose just one thing—maybe lining up—for the first week, and add others in as you become more confident and comfortable with your role as a guardian of routine and order. If you have any students in your classroom from difficult home situations, they need the structure even more than the other students. Ironically, they will often fight it the hardest. They want to know, “Does this adult actually mean what they say? Can I trust them? Is this going to be a safe place for me?”

Show up for those students. Provide the security they need. Build structure into your day with love, knowing it’s one of the most important gifts you can give.

Wishing each one of you many successful days in the classroom!

What I'm Reading: February Recap

Welcome to my February reading recap! I did manage to get in more physical books this time, but I’m also sort of panicking because I’m not getting as far in my list of titles as I’d like. Maybe I can blame it on the fact that February is a short month.

I also became disturbingly aware that part of the reason I listen to so many audiobooks is because that’s where I look first for books that are recommended to me rather than just getting a physical copy. I do have a valid reason, though, I think. Audible books don’t take up space, and I’ve been trying to downsize my book collection some in the last several years and get rid of the ones I don’t love. Not sure how that project is actually going. Still, I also know science shows you don’t comprehend books as well when you just listen to them, so I’m a bit uncertain how to balance all these little bits and pieces into something that’s realistic for me.

Definitely two overwhelming favorites this month—you should be able to tell pretty easily which ones!

 

	$	$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$
Recommend-ability	I highly recommend not reading this book.	Don't bother.	You might enjoy it.	Would definitely recommend	Absolutely loved it. I will likely recommend to every person I talk to for the next month.
Writing Style	Extremely poor	Well, they know how to spell and what a period is.	Average. Just… Average.	Good job. I might be a little envious of their way with words.	I stand amazed.
Likelihood of Reading Again	Are you kidding? I lost enough brain cells the first time.	Nope.	Maybe, but doubtful.	Probably will read again.	I will definitely re-read. Way too many things I found fascinating.
Thought-Provoking	What thoughts?	I think there was a thought somewhere.	Sort of basic thoughts, but accurate.	Some lingering thoughts. That's a good sign.	So much to think about. My brain is on fire!
Subject Matter of General Interest	There should not have been ink and paper wasted on this book. I now understand tree-huggers.	Not my style, personally, but might be interesting to someone of a different temperament.	Interesting, but may be specific to my personal tastes.	Fun things to think about. May be quotable. Likely to appeal to a variety of personalities.	Positively fascinating. I will be quoting this for years. Absolutely everyone should read this book.

 

A Secret History of Brands
By Matt McNabb
History, Trivia, Marketing; 160 pages, 6 hrs. 22 minutes
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
No.
 
How did I find it?
Audible recommendation; I have about a 50% success rate on those, but I continue to try the ones that are free, and occasionally spend credits on ones that look exceptional.
 
What is it about?
A Secret History of Brands is full of random information about things from the brands’ pasts that most would not like to talk about today. Some of the brands included are Coca-Cola, Ford, Adidas and Puma, Bayer, and Winchester. Almost all of the dark secrets refer to things that happened during World War II. Some of them I was slightly aware of, but didn’t realize how deep the involvement went. Ford was a particular disappointment in this respect. I mean, there was an actual thug going around beating up employees. I did appreciate the author’s clear message that the terrible things these brands had been involved in had no bearing on the current values of the brand.
 
Any warnings?
Yes. I skipped one chapter and maybe part of another.
 
What’s a quote?
Oops. I didn’t grab one. Maybe there wasn’t one.
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
Atomic Habits
By James Clear
Personal Development; 254 pages, 5 hrs. 35 minutes (on Audible)
Physical Copy
 
Have I read it before?
It’s been on my bookshelf for several years, but no.
 
How did I find it?
Maybe 6 or 7 years ago I started hearing this book mentioned occasionally and it was given glowing reviews. Shopping at a small-town bookstore with some friends, I saw it on the shelf and decided to buy it. I figured it looked like something I probably needed in my life, but I didn’t necessarily want any more hard work at the moment, so it just sat.
 
What is it about?
This book breaks down habits in about every way you can think of. Why and how we form them and step by step instructions on how to change them. I love that it makes breaking old habits and creating new habits feel possible. I also love that pretty much every chapter started out with an illustration story. I feel that the habits we build have an impact on our Christian lives. This book provides good reminders on why being aware of our choices is an important component to succeeding.
 
Any warnings?
Yes, actually. Be aware that once you read this book, you will no longer feel helpless to change some of your habits. Instead, you will bear a responsibility you may wish you didn’t.
 
What’s a quote?
So many quotes for this one.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
“When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.”
“Keep your identity small.”
 
Recommendability: $$$$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$$$
 
 
Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans
By Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
Nonfiction, Historical; 270 pages, 5 hrs. 45 min. (on Audible)
Physical Copy
 
Have I read it before?
No. Several years ago I was with my family in Galveston. We watched a little historical film that mentioned the Lafitte brothers, commonly thought of as pirates or privateers, depending on your viewpoint. Somewhere in there, it mentioned their involvement in the Battle of New Orleans. I found this intriguing, and as I read bits and pieces about the Lafittes, I’ve also become more aware of how fascinating the entire battle was.
 
How did I find it?
A happy chance discovery! I was at the local library book sale and this beautiful, hardback copy caught my eye. It looked brand new. When I saw the subject matter, I knew I’d capitulate to the purchase.
 
What is it about?
The title is a good description. I enjoyed the amount of quotations taken from both British and American sources. There are also a number of small maps throughout the book, which are very helpful in understanding positions. The book briefly mentions Jackson’s childhood and entrance into politics. Also mentioned are battles in Pensacola and Mobile. I never realized how ill Jackson was throughout the New Orleans campaign. I’ve been mostly familiar with the side of Jackson seen during and after his presidency, in which he sometimes seemed a bit unstable or unhinged. This book gave a completely different perspective of him as a trusted leader, an instinctual warrior, and almost fatherly to the soldiers under his command.
 
Any warnings?
Not really. I mean, yes, it’s a battle, but I don’t like things that are too gruesome, and this didn’t even make me cringe except maybe once or twice.
 
What’s a quote?
Here are a couple:
“Say to the ladies,” Jackson instructed an aide, “not to be uneasy. No British soldier shall enter the city as an enemy, unless over my dead body.”
“The British, confident that the people of New Orleans were too newly American to have any sense of patriotism, were sure they would divide and conquer.”
 
Recommendability: $$$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
The Reluctant Dragon
By Kenneth Grahame
Children’s Fantasy; 59 pages, 53 minutes (on Audible)
Physical Copy
 
Have I read it before?
No, brand new to me, though it’s been around for about 90 years, apparently. It took maybe 20 minutes to read to myself.
 
How did I find it?
Discovered at a thrift store.
 
What is it about?
The Reluctant Dragon is a very cute story about a boy who befriends a dragon. The townspeople assume that because the dragon is a dragon, he is a bad dragon and call St. George out to slay him. In a twist of events, the boy convinces St. George to come up to the mountains and meet the dragon in person. When St. George discovers the dragon has an artistic soul and loves sonnets, he realizes how silly the townspeople have been. My childish side thought it was a funny little story, while my grown-up side thought the townspeople accurately portrayed human nature.
 
Any warnings?
No. Unless you don’t like stories about dragons and such, in which case you have already received a warning by reading the title.
 
Fun fact, though: This book is available on Audible in Catalan, Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish besides English. If you’re studying any of those languages, it might be a random way to practice. Plus, it is currently free on Audible as well.
 
What’s a quote?
“Haven’t got an enemy in the world,” said the dragon, cheerfully, “Too lazy to make ‘em, to begin with. And if I ever do read other fellows my poetry, I’m always ready to listen to theirs!”
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
Dinner With King Tut
By Sam Kean
Archeology; 464 pages, 15 hrs. 53 min.
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
Nope.
 
How did I find it?
Another Audible recommendation; how could I say no to archeology? For sure to a book with Tut in the title?
 
What is it about?
Dinner With King Tut is a series of experiments in archeology interspersed with fictionalized accounts of life in ancient times. The stories happen in places such as Turkey, Egypt, Polynesia, Viking Europe, Northern Alaska, and Mexico. The author takes you along on his adventures learning old methods of mummification, tattooing, cooking, medicines and surgeries, poisoned arrows, trebuchets, cannons, and games. I found the activities absolutely fascinating. Would I want to do them myself? No. But I’m sure glad someone else did.
 
Any warnings?
Sadly, yes. Read with caution. There were a few things I skipped, mostly in the fictionalized sections. Also, there was far too much death and dying in my opinion in those same fictional parts. I mean, sure, the author wanted to add drama, but must we continually kill people off in order to do so? And of course there is reference to the earth being tens of thousands of years old.
 
What’s a quote?
“There’s indirect evidence that humans have been using poison arrows for tens of thousands of years: archeologists have found arrows in Africa so slender that, unless they were used to hunt butterflies or something, they simply would not have been effective without poison.”
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
The History of Chocolate
By Sam Bilton
History; 3 hrs. 31 min., Not available as physical copy
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
No.
 
How did I find it?
Audible recommendation. This is from Audible’s Great Courses, and I’ve enjoyed quite a few others from that series. Plus, I love chocolate.
 
What is it about?
This book takes you back to the origins of chocolate in the Mayan culture. It follows the winding path of both taste and cultural importance to the present. You will learn many interesting facts. For example, cacao beans were once used as a form of currency. Chocolate was mostly served as a drink and was often part of ceremony. And there was once a woman who made special chocolate products with poison added for unhappy wives to feed their husbands. You will also learn how the chocolate candies we know today were developed, why chocolate is the romantic candy of choice at Valentines, and become familiar with what innovations have helped some of the world’s top chocolate brands become the businesses they are today.
 
Any warnings?
Honestly there were a couple of little things that I thought, “Oh, do I need to warn about that?” but I can’t remember what they were any more. So there might be a few things, but nothing too major.
 
What’s a quote?
I do believe there was probably a quote somewhere, but I wasn’t able to stop listening and take one down, so you’ll have to do without.
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
And that’s the end of my list for the month. I hope you are inspired to read at least one of these titles after which we can get together and discuss all our thoughts about it.
 
As always, leave recommendations in the comments or send them to me personally. I can’t promise when or if I’ll get around to them, but they’ll definitely go on The List. And I’ve already been recommended Martyr’s Mirror, which is the only book of that length currently waiting, so if you are considering sending me something of similar length, maybe hold off on that idea.

What I'm Reading: January Recap

I’m always enthused about books. I read a couple of lists other people wrote of books they read throughout 2025, and I started wondering what my actual reading history would look like. The obvious answer was to keep track, so here is the first step in that effort. I plan to post a monthly update on what I’m reading. I will count the book in whatever month I read (or listened) to most of it. Some books I may have read before.
 
I notice this month leans heavily toward Audible books. This is partly due to the fact I was working on a project that was fairly brainless for a while, so I had lots of time to listen. I also noticed this month's reading was mostly nonfiction. Although not included, I have been working through a bunch of proofreading for the school library and have a couple other physical books beside my chair as well. That doesn’t count The Messenger, the German books I’m slowly struggling with, paragraph by paragraph, or the other random things I read.
 
I do not plan to apologize for my eccentric taste in books. I never know what to say when people ask me for book recommendations, because I feel like my interests are a little different than many of my friends. That being said, I enjoy a wide variety of book types—Everything from The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion to Lord of the Rings to Sherlock Holmes to the Killing series by Bill O’Reilly to books of poetry. I am well acquainted with Elizabeth Bennet, Anne of Green Gables,  Jeeves and Bertie Wooster, Mrs. Pollifax, and Hercule Poirot. This is basically just to warn you of the possible unpredictability of what I might read.
 
What is a list of books without some type of recommendation attached? I’ve decided on system using dollar signs instead of stars, because one needs to know if books are worth the time and money, and time is money, right? At least, that’s what they say. Hopefully the following chart will help you sort out my opinions on what I’m consuming. And so, without further ado, may I present the January list of What I’m Reading.
 
 

	$	$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$
Recommend-ability	I highly recommend not reading this book.	Don't bother.	You might enjoy it.	Would definitely recommend	Absolutely loved it. I will likely recommend to every person I talk to for the next month.
Writing Style	Extremely poor	Well, they know how to spell and what a period is.	Average. Just… Average.	Good job. I might be a little envious of their way with words.	I stand amazed.
Likelihood of Reading Again	Are you kidding? I lost enough brain cells the first time.	Nope.	Maybe, but doubtful.	Probably will read again.	I will definitely re-read. Way too many things I found fascinating.
Thought-Provoking	What thoughts?	I think there was a thought somewhere.	Sort of basic thoughts, but accurate.	Some lingering thoughts. That's a good sign.	So much to think about. My brain is on fire!
Subject Matter of General Interest	There should not have been ink and paper wasted on this book. I now understand tree-huggers.	Not my style, personally, but might be interesting to someone of a different temperament.	Interesting, but may be specific to my personal tastes.	Fun things to think about. May be quotable. Likely to appeal to a variety of personalities.	Positively fascinating. I will be quoting this for years. Absolutely everyone should read this book.

 
 
The Knight in the Rusty Armor
By Robert Fisher
Allegory; 74 pages
Physical copy
 
Have I read it before?
Yes. Many times.
 
How did I find it?
OK, this is actually a random story. Years ago, I purchased a couple boxes of what were supposed to be children’s books, sight unseen, from the Oklahoma City Booksale. They were cheap, and I love surprises. One box was most definitely not children’s books. Apparently, it had been accidentally mis-labeled. I think I threw away everything in the box except this one book.
 
What is it about?
This is one of my favorite allegories. It tells the story of a knight who becomes stuck inside his armor of pretense and fails to even know the truth of who he really is. There is a lot of food for thought about being vulnerable, learning to be comfortable in silence, and real honesty with yourself. It is more lighthearted than many allegories. You might find yourself smiling at places.
 
Any warnings?
One thing I noticed reading it this time, was how humanistic the story really is. I think many times when I’ve read it, I sort of just inserted my own thoughts, like, “Of course that’s true, when God is involved.” But the book doesn’t actually say that. I think there is still a lot of food for thought, however.
 
What’s a quote?
“Look,” Sam replied, “if you face the dragon, there’s a chance it will destroy you. But if you don’t face it, it will surely destroy you.”
 
Recommendability: $$$$
Writing Style: $$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$$
 
 
Unreasonable Hospitality
By Will Guidara
Memoir, Leadership; 288 pages, 8hrs. 37 minutes
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
No.
 
How did I find it?
This book was discussed over Thanksgiving dinner! I added it to my Audible Wishlist so I could remember the title.
 
What is it about?
Will Guidara tells about commitment to serving others, particularly in the restaurant industry and specifically in the capacity of fine dining. The books contains some insightful tidbits, and I enjoyed the peek into what affluence really means in eating out, though I have no desire to experience it for myself. One outstanding moment is when a server hears a family visiting the U.S. talk about their desire to go sledding. They round up sleds and help the family’s wish come true. Generally included with your service when dining out? Absolutely not!
 
Any warnings?
None.
 
What’s a quote?
“If you let your ego get in the way of asking for what you need, you’re going to let the whole team down.”
 
Recommendability: $$$$
Writing Style: $$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$$
 
 
Edison’s Ghosts
By Katie Spalding
Historical, Trivia; 352 pages, 10hrs. 53 minutes
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
Honestly not sure. I thought it was new to me, but then some parts sounded familiar and I wasn’t sure if I’d heard those stories other places or actually listened to the book previously. I might have listened to part of it at an earlier date and then abandoned it.
 
How did I find it?
This book was an Audible recommendation. I thought it looked interesting.
 
What is it about?
This book tells about the strange and quirky sides of famous people from history, including Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Isaac Newton, Nicola Tesla, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, NASA, and more. These stories are a good illustration, in many cases, of how genius is often accompanied by a lot of eccentricity. Nicola Tesla not paying for his lodging, Isaac Newton gazing at the sun, Albert Einstein getting rescued from drowning multiple times, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle completely believing the fake fairy photo was a genuine image of tiny beings are some of the things included.
 
Any warnings?
Several warnings accompany this book. There were a few chapters that I ended up skipping because they didn’t meet my moral markers. The book would have been better with less profanity. And the story telling is done with a great deal of snark and sarcasm which I actually started becoming weary of by the end.
 
What’s a quote?
I didn’t find anything really worth quoting.
 
Recommendability: $$
Writing Style: $$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$
Thought Provoking: $$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
The Puzzler
By A. J. Jacobs
Journalism, Memoir; 368 pages, 9hrs. 18 minutes
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
Yes. I can’t be sure, but I might even have a copy on a bookshelf somewhere.
 
How did I find it?
One of my cousins talked about a different book by this author years ago. I found it interesting, and looked for other books by Jacobs.
 
What is it about?
This author is known for choosing a topic and then living it out in every way he can. For this book, Jacobs was sure that puzzles have made him a better person. He determines to try out every type of puzzle he can, and devotes a chapter to each. He often ropes his family into trying out some of the world’s hardest challenges along with him. This book mentions Rubik’s Cube, mazes, crosswords, escape rooms, ciphers and codes, scavenger puzzles, and Japanese puzzle boxes. The Japanese puzzle boxes completely intrigue me. I’d love a chance to explore some of them.
 
Any warnings?
Jacobs is agnostic, which is apparent by his view of the world. There may be some inappropriate language. The content of this particular book is fairly clean, but before you seek out any of his other books, I personally have found chapters in some of them that I skip.
 
What’s a quote?
“During our meeting, Peter told me one of the keys to solving crosswords is to keep your mind flexible. Keep it open to new perspectives. Don’t fall in love with your hypothesis. Good advice for both life and puzzles.”
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
House of Rain
By Craig Childs
History, Archeology; 512 pages, 15hrs. 21 minutes
Audible
 
Have I read it before?
No. The book and author both were new to me.
 
How did I find it?
It came up in conversation, so I added it to my list of things I wanted to read sometime.
 
What is it about?
This book is an interesting account of the author’s search for information and insights into the ancient Anasazi culture and the mystery of their disappearance. I loved that Childs went out and spent time walking in the desert to better understand the people he was searching for. There were definitely new facts introduced about the advancement of this native people’s civilization. Their art, trade, farming, and engineering may have actually been as up-and-coming as that of other cultures, such as the Mayans. One thing that caught my attention was a reference to how parrots were raised commercially.
 
Any warnings?
My reaction to a particular book generally tells me as much about myself as it does about the book. What I discovered with House of Rain was that when I’m reading a factual book, what I want is facts. OK, maybe any book that isn’t poetry. Childs’s writing style is beautiful, but I got impatient sometimes because I wanted to get to the root of the idea. It reminded me of how I often skip the descriptions in Anne of Green Gables. Please don’t disown me if you are one of my friends who loves those flights of fancy.
 
What’s a quote?
“The words unfolded from my mouth like origami.”
 
Recommendability: $$$
Writing Style: $$$$$
Likelihood of Reading Again: $$$$
Thought Provoking: $$$$
Subject Matter of General Interest: $$$
 
 
If you’ve read any of these books, please feel free to share your opinions in the comments. Also drop in titles you think are must-reads, and I might add them to my list as well! We will ignore the fact that The List is already ridiculously long.