So many people ask me what I read. I don’t know why this is of such interest but
I must admit my reading list takes on a certain manifesto vibe. It all makes sense to me though. My interests are many and I believe I look at
books the same way I look at religions, I do not judge.
You may come away from anything you read with
a new perspective or set of thoughts. I
get a kick from champagne as well as a fresh idea…
Long Long ago in a Lake Community Not too far away, a young
girl of about twelve was finally allowed to walk up ‘Old Coach Road’ and down ‘Pleasant
Valley Drive’ to the Dorothy E. Henry Memorial Library. On summer vacation she would average this
trip every two to three days. Armed with
an orange library card she would walk through the doors to that quiet destiny
of peace. She would gaze upon walls and
walls of books bound in various colors like jewels in a dusty long secured
tomb. She knew that within each volume
26 letters (arranged and then rearranged) would take her anywhere she wanted to
go….teach her many things she needed to know.
For books are entities, souls of their own,
cast unto this world like bottled messages on the sea, destined to wash upon the
shores of our minds when the time is right.
It was ritualistic in
nature for me…It still is.
Many times when I finish a book, I close it somewhat
ceremoniously with a satisfied sigh and gaze wistfully upon the world around me. If I am infused with the idea of someone who
would also enjoy the book in my hands, I
will mail it out to them the next day. My good
friend Cheryl is the recipient of many. Below
is a sampling of what I have enjoyed in the last few months.
Happier by Tal Ben Shahar – This began as a
course in Harvard with a class of 15.
Today it has grown into a class of hundreds and is broadcasted into assembly
rooms for the overflow. It talks about
Happiness as being the ‘ultimate currency’ and causes a shift in perception,
and the culling of aspects of our lives that may be causing unhappiness. Tal Ben Shahir can also be found on
TedTalks.com
One Step Can Change Your Life: Kaizen - by Robert Maurer – Based on the
principal Kaizen which was brought by an American to rebuild Japanese Industry
this was a wonderful read of slow and steady wins the race. Small changes to build and bring about
desired outcome. You cannot run a
marathon without being able to walk a mile etc.
The Feast Nearby – Robin Mather – The true
story of a food critic who takes refuge in a small cabin on Lake Michigan and
makes the intentional decision to become a locavore with a food budget of
$40/wk. Interesting tidbits – Humanly raised
bacon cooks out with less than half the grease of the Big Box Food
industry. Know where your food is coming
from and support your local people.
The Geography of Nowhere – James Howard Kunstler
– Describes how the insidious sprawl of our gluttonous consumerism and our
dependency on oil has destroyed small town living and local economy. How architecture is set up to dupe us into
values society no longer upholds.
WARNING Acerbic Wit and Reality Check – You will never pass a strip mall
in the same way ever again.
The World Made By Hand – James Howard Kunstler – A
fictional work to flesh out his call for attn to a post peak oil society set in
a small town in Upstate NY. The breakdown and
rebuilding of the human psyche, laws, and habits. The sequel to this book is the Witch of
Hebron.
The Tracker – Tom Brown – The grandson of an
American Indian who has learned the ways of the Ancient Trackers and now
teaches the Military and Special Police forces.
As A Man Thinketh – James Allen – An older work
which discusses how positive thoughts create positive outcomes and negative
thoughts are our demise.
The Last American Man – Elizabeth Gilbert - The story of
Eustace Conway and how this brilliant mind lives his truth daily. He singlehandedly accumulated a watershed
mountain to create Turtle Island Preserve.
He is featured in the TV show Mountain Men but this show does not do
this man justice in my opinion.
Blue Zones – Dan Buettner – See previous Blog ‘Live
to 105’
Dies the Fire - RL
Stine – An EMP has hit and a renegade group takes to the
wilderness to survive – Dark Ages type of battles, attire set in modern day
apocalypse.
Made from Scratch – Jenna Woginrich – My hero!! She doesn’t wanna change your world just
maybe your next Tuesday! A young farmer
and sustainable decisions. She is also
featured in the collected work The Greenhorns about new up and coming young farmers and their
ideals.
Twelve by Twelve – William Powers – A world
travelled editorialist takes refuge in a one room cabin off the grid and learns
that less is more in this intrinsic cultural shift.
There were many more but this list was just a few of the
ones I really enjoyed. Those of you that
asked feel free to email me if you need to chew that bacon fat or if you’ve
read something you have fallen in love with!
