I began this year with a goal to increase my annual reading load to fifteen books from last year’s twelve. I also had planned to blog about each one. Oops. Since finishing What Americans Really Want… Really by Frank Lutz,…
Blog Archives
Book 4 of 15 – What Americans Really Want… Really
Dr. Luntz’ survey data is compounded by his years of polling experience and time spent observing and recording human preference. Some of his data points are startling while others are really not that shocking.
Book 3 of 15 – Blue Like Jazz
…Blue Like Jazz makes me feel a little more normal about feeling bad. Miller is a fantastic personal story teller, and his insights into his own spiritual growth are engaging, enlightening and motivating. One of the underlying themes is learning to love (God, others, yourself), which Miller introduces as being like learning to appreciate Jazz music…
Book 2 of 15 – The Reluctant Fundamentalist
This story of a young Pakistani coming to America and finding both academic and professional success only to reject it all and return home within five years is quite compelling. I really liked this $2 discount book, and I felt a bit insulted for the author that Barnes and Noble was practically willing to give it away.
Book 1 of 15 – Virtual Light
Virtual Light begins the Bridge trilogy, a trio of stories set around what has become of the Bay Bridge between Oakland and San Francisco, California. The book is excellent, though not quite as dweeby as some of his earlier stuff.
The Book-A-Month (Plus) for 2010
A semi-repeat from last year, when I aimed to read one book per month, I’ve set a goal for 2010 to read fifteen books, which seems/feels a tad ambitious. These are the first eight in my pile for the year:
Book-A-Month – December 2009 (#2)
Tom’s church underwent a transformation into a megachurch over the course of a few years, shifting its focus from its traditional, family-focused roots toward more contemporary, performance-driven styles of worship. Tom’s criticisms of his fictionalized self are the most interesting part of the book. Overall, this was an excellent book, and even if you haven’t read The Screwtape Letters, it’s quite a good read.
Book-A-Month – December 2009
Shane and Chris spin an excellent yarn here, and I’d strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in digging deeper into their walk with/for Christ. There is a lot more to say about this book, but my words would not do it justice. I do think, however, that I may read it again in a few months as a refresher.
Book-A-Month – November 2009
Jay Rossier’s Living With Chickens gives a great overview on raising these creatures, be they for food (meat), food (eggs) or fun (as pets). It looks like fun to raise chickens! On the other hand, it also looks like a TON of work. I have a toddler. Gosh, that’s enough work by itself, and I’m in the office 50+ hours per week! Maybe the chickens will wait a few years.
Book-A-Month – August 2009 #2
It caught my eye as I walked past my basement bookshelf last week. My favorite Stephenson novel, Zodiac, sitting squarely between The Big U and Snow Crash, looking particularly tempting, was too hard to resist. So, over the course of 3 or 4 shockingly long baby naps, I breezed through the 308 pages that make up this entertaining, thought-provoking and possibly-way-too-informative eco-thriller.
