Wednesday, September 11, 2013

On the Night Stand: Books to Read and Review

I'm busy with canning and yard work, but we are reading some mighty good books, so I thought I'd share what we're pondering.

As the days are full to the brim, I'm reminding myself that winter evenings are fast approaching. Time to read will come soon enough. The earth is tilting and the dark hours arriving. I wonder: Do we learn best in the dark?

 My Book List

Every Good Endeavour by Tim Keller 

Finally finished this. Great thoughts on working in our world in a way that is fulfilling. Keller does a great job of identifying the idols of traditional/ancient cultures, modern cultures, and now post modern culture and how these idols affect our joy and ability to work. He presents what the gospel shares about work that we might be free and at peace in our work in God's world.

Mindset by Dweck

I can't share enough positives about this book. Dweck is very practical in helping you understand mindsets and how to work on changing them when growth is needed. This has been a great book to read alongside, Say Goodbye to Whining, and Complaining, and Bad Attitudes in You and Your Kids. Trying to grow my "growth mindset".

The Rocks Don't Lie by Montgomery 

Because we have a pint sized geologist and rock hound. Because we seek the truth, even in differing perspectives. Because we want to engage our world and engage in our world. That means understanding differing opinions, so we can legitimately take our place at the conversation table, and have a genuine dialogue, not debate.

Life in the Soil by Nardi

Reading snippets with the boy. Last night we read that all mineral soils come from parent materials (weathering of the rocks), slope of land (topography), exposure to wind, rain, and sun (climate), and time. The ultimate result of the weathering of most rocks is the formation of sand, silt, and clay and we discussed particle sizes. We also learned that lichens cover about 8% of the earth and are made of both alga and fungal material. Alga doing the nutrient fixing and fungus providing water and other materials. He was fascinated, and I admit, I didn't know dirt could be so interesting! 

Autumn Across America by Teale 

Reading this series again. A lovely story of time travel across America by a naturalist and his wife in slower times. Teale reminds me that only in slowing down will I see the heron and deer that are sitting right in front of me.

Booked, Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior

"...but for much of my life, I loved books more than God, never discovering for a long, long time that a God who spoke the world into existence with words is, in fact, the source of meaning of all words." 

Reading Booked because I didn't discover a love of literature until my late 20's, but I have a child who loves literature now, and I believe God is drawing her near to Him through the world of story.

What He's Reading

The Trouble with Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next by Smolin

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Kuhn

The House on the Cliff (Hardy Boys) 

The kiddos got some new Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books from grandma, and they are being enjoyed!

What The Kids Are Reading

The Elements (He is loving this book, I heard there is an app).
Word After Word After Word by MacLachlan
Eight Cousins by Alcott
Navigating Early by Vanderpool
National Geographic Daniel Boone
Do Re Mi, If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido d' Arezzo
What Do You Know About Plate Tectonics?
Special People, Special Ways
In Jesse's Shoes, Appreciating Kids with Special Needs
Digging on Dirt
Describing Words
Ben Franklin, His Wit and Wisdom, from A to Z
Experiments with Rocks and Minerals
Kenny and the Dragon by DiTerlizzi
Betsy Ross
The World of King Arthur and His Court by Crossley-Holland
Gross Brain Teasers
The Day That Changed America by Wheeler (Remembering 9/11)
Henry and the Cannons
Magic School Bus Gets Programmed
The Most Magnificent Mosque 
Electric Ben 
Geography Encyclopedia (afternoon mapping)
Fizzing Physics
The Beetle Book by Jenkins
Rock On! Groovy Gems
The Eagles Are Back by Jean Craighead George 
Bill Nye Earthquakes
Felicity (American Girl)
The Men Who Built America (PBS DVD)

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.

~ C.S. Lewis

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