Last week during small group my friend RuthAnn recommended today's read to me. It was an audio book that she had checked out from the local library and said she flew through it. Since I was going to be traveling to my parents' house for the long weekend, she offered it to me for entertainment on the drive.
The author discusses the differences between introverts and extroverts and how individuals who fall into either category can understand and work with someone of the opposite temperament. In Western culture (and American culture, more specifically), it is considered abnormal to be introverted, to need quiet time to recharge, despite the fact that at least 20% of the population would be considered to be introverts. Cain uses anecdotal evidence of a number of famous people who are introverts: Steve Wozniak, Albert Einstein, JK Rowling, Dr. Seuss, Charles Schultz, JM Barrie, Gandhi, and many others. Throughout the course of the book, a number of scientific studies are referenced and discussed as well as her personal research.
While listening to this book, I found myself often wanting to go back and re-read portions so that I could fully wrap my brain around the topic. The narrator (Kathe Mazur) did a wonderful job with this book--the narrator can make or break an audio book--but there were times when my brain couldn't keep up with what she was saying. This is a title that I would actually like to have in print so that I could go back and reread portions.
If you had asked me 20 years ago whether I was an introvert or an extrovert, I would have said that I was a little bit of both. Today, while I enjoy spending time with friends and family, I am much more an introvert than I ever was in high school. This book provided me with insight into why I do some of the things I do and also gave me lots to think about as well.
If you are an introvert, you love an introvert, or even simply work with an introvert (and chances are you do), this book gives great insight into how an introvert thinks. I would highly recommend this book!!!
Happy Reading!!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
#23--Women Doctors and Nurses of the Civil War by Lesli J. Favor, PhD
One of the things I love about my job is that every so often I get to go into the classroom and teach with one of my teachers. I especially love it when research of some sort is involved, whether on my part or the students'. Tomorrow I will be co-teaching a lesson on medicine in the American Civil War with one of my 8th grade social studies teachers. As I was working on finding information for this lesson, I read through today's book as part of my research. One of the things that we wanted to find was information that will really grab the students' attention--especially the gory and gross, since middle schoolers, boys in particular, seem to love that stuff.
I have done some reading on the Civil War in the past, but most often it has come in the form of a work of fiction instead of a nonfiction book. One of the things that fascinates me about this time period is how the women were involved, particularly those who participated in a non-traditional role--doctor, soldier, or even as a nurse (it was considered unseemly for a woman, especially one of good-breeding, to see a man in any state of undress, who was not her husband).
Favor's book covers eight different women who worked tirelessly during the war as either doctors, nurses, or administrators/matrons. I had previously heard of some of these women, like Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, and Mary Ann Bickerdyke. But others, Phoebe Yates Pember, Dr. Esther Hill Hawks, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Sally L. Tompkins, and Kate Cumming, were all new to me. For example, I knew that Dorothea Dix had been a champion of the rights of those who were mentally ill; but I did not know that she headed up the all-female nursing corp for the Union army. Two of her standard requirements for applicants were that they "were at least thirty years old and plain-looking".
The author offers up anecdotes for each of her subjects, but one of my favorites was about Mary Ann Bickerdyke. "On one occasion, a surgeon, angry with Bickerdyke for accusing him of misconduct, complained to General Grant. Though Grant responded with humor, he meant every word he said: 'Mother Bickerdyke outranks everybody, even [President] Lincoln. If you have run amuck of her I advise you to get out quickly before she has you under arrest.'" A drunken surgeon who Bickerdyke had removed from service asked General William T. Sherman for reinstatement and Sherman replied, "I can do nothing for you. She [out]ranks me." :)
Overall I thought this was a great overview of some of the important women of this time period, some of whom were very influential, but in medicine and beyond. There were also some great photos and drawings in the book to help the reader visualize some of the situations these women were put in during the war.
Now to put the finishing touches on the lesson for class tomorrow!
Happy Reading!
I have done some reading on the Civil War in the past, but most often it has come in the form of a work of fiction instead of a nonfiction book. One of the things that fascinates me about this time period is how the women were involved, particularly those who participated in a non-traditional role--doctor, soldier, or even as a nurse (it was considered unseemly for a woman, especially one of good-breeding, to see a man in any state of undress, who was not her husband).
Favor's book covers eight different women who worked tirelessly during the war as either doctors, nurses, or administrators/matrons. I had previously heard of some of these women, like Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, and Mary Ann Bickerdyke. But others, Phoebe Yates Pember, Dr. Esther Hill Hawks, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Sally L. Tompkins, and Kate Cumming, were all new to me. For example, I knew that Dorothea Dix had been a champion of the rights of those who were mentally ill; but I did not know that she headed up the all-female nursing corp for the Union army. Two of her standard requirements for applicants were that they "were at least thirty years old and plain-looking".
The author offers up anecdotes for each of her subjects, but one of my favorites was about Mary Ann Bickerdyke. "On one occasion, a surgeon, angry with Bickerdyke for accusing him of misconduct, complained to General Grant. Though Grant responded with humor, he meant every word he said: 'Mother Bickerdyke outranks everybody, even [President] Lincoln. If you have run amuck of her I advise you to get out quickly before she has you under arrest.'" A drunken surgeon who Bickerdyke had removed from service asked General William T. Sherman for reinstatement and Sherman replied, "I can do nothing for you. She [out]ranks me." :)
Overall I thought this was a great overview of some of the important women of this time period, some of whom were very influential, but in medicine and beyond. There were also some great photos and drawings in the book to help the reader visualize some of the situations these women were put in during the war.
Now to put the finishing touches on the lesson for class tomorrow!
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
#22--Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
Noelle's life is a mess. She is bullied at school; her single mother neglects and verbally abuses her. The only bright spot is her best friend Sherae and her art. Oh, and Julian Porter...the boy of her dreams.
But Noelle has kept the extent of her miserable home life and the bullying a secret for so long from everyone, including Sherae, that when she starts to make other friends in Simon (the co-editor of the literary magazine) and Julian starts to pay attention to her, it completely freaks her out.
When Ali, a fellow classmate and bullying victim, commits suicide, Noelle decides to be done--done with putting up with everyone's insults and bullying, done with being made to feel less and done being afraid.
Overall, I thought this was a good book, with a great message. However, at the end it felt too preachy and heavy-handed to me. I think my students who liked Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why or Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak would like this book. I may have to add it to my wish list for next year.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free galley copy of this book by the publisher. It will be available for purchase on May 31, 2012.
Happy Reading!!
But Noelle has kept the extent of her miserable home life and the bullying a secret for so long from everyone, including Sherae, that when she starts to make other friends in Simon (the co-editor of the literary magazine) and Julian starts to pay attention to her, it completely freaks her out.
When Ali, a fellow classmate and bullying victim, commits suicide, Noelle decides to be done--done with putting up with everyone's insults and bullying, done with being made to feel less and done being afraid.
Overall, I thought this was a good book, with a great message. However, at the end it felt too preachy and heavy-handed to me. I think my students who liked Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why or Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak would like this book. I may have to add it to my wish list for next year.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free galley copy of this book by the publisher. It will be available for purchase on May 31, 2012.
Happy Reading!!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
#21--Sex God by Rob Bell
If you just looked at the title and not the author, you may be wondering what kind of book it is that I'm actually talking about today....I was somewhat surprised when I received it as a gift, but it was from my sister, and I trust her judgement (and she is a minister, so she wouldn't be giving me one of those books). It has been sitting on my shelf for a while now, but after a frustrating church service for me last week, she suggested I take it down off my shelf and read it. The issue at hand was women in the role of pastor of a church....for me, it is a no-brainer--if a woman is called to that position, it is good and right. And, I would feel this way even if my sister were not in this vocation.
This is my first real encounter with Rob Bell, other than hearing him mentioned at conferences or in discussions with friends. The premise of the book is that there is a connection between being a spiritual being and being a sexual being--and not necessarily of the having sex kind of being. (That was a lot of "being"s to have in one sentence!)
The book was a quick read, in that it is less than 170 pages and lots of white space on said pages. However, it is a book that I think I will be thinking about for some time. Bell challenges the reader to examine their life and how well they know themselves--how naked (emotionally, that is) are you willing to get with yourself, and therefore, with others.
I will be ruminating on this book well into the future, as it has some heavy questions, but he also takes a light-hearted approach to much of the subject matter, injecting humor and vignettes as appropriate. This one will definitely be staying on my shelf for future reference! This would be a good read, whether you are married or single, searching or firm in your faith.
Happy Reading!!
This is my first real encounter with Rob Bell, other than hearing him mentioned at conferences or in discussions with friends. The premise of the book is that there is a connection between being a spiritual being and being a sexual being--and not necessarily of the having sex kind of being. (That was a lot of "being"s to have in one sentence!)
The book was a quick read, in that it is less than 170 pages and lots of white space on said pages. However, it is a book that I think I will be thinking about for some time. Bell challenges the reader to examine their life and how well they know themselves--how naked (emotionally, that is) are you willing to get with yourself, and therefore, with others.
I will be ruminating on this book well into the future, as it has some heavy questions, but he also takes a light-hearted approach to much of the subject matter, injecting humor and vignettes as appropriate. This one will definitely be staying on my shelf for future reference! This would be a good read, whether you are married or single, searching or firm in your faith.
Happy Reading!!
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