Current Readings
Finished November 1, 2012, Started May 4, 2012
Charles Dickens, Little Dorritt Part 2 Riches. The second part read much quicker than the first, but was still a typical Dickens slouge through a plot full of twists and dead ends. You could see the end of this part coming for a long time, not nearly as entertaining look at English society as the first part.
Finished May 4th, 2012, Started March 30th, 2011
Charles Dickens, Little Dorritt Part 1 The Marshalsea. This is an interesting look at English society. The government is controlled by the Circumlocution Office whose primary job is to make sure nothing gets done. The Marshalsea is a debtors prison and Mr. Dorritt finds himself there for life. Little Dorritt is born there and grows up there, taking care of her father and older siblings. Little Dorritt is pure and innocent, and English society, is corrupt and filthy. Was a really slow read, but well worth the time.
Finished July 2, 2011, Started March 29th, 2011
John Burroughs, Wake Robin. I have the complete series of Burroughs and read them in Seattle in the late 1980s. Picked up volume one to have something different to read. Burroughs was a shotgun naturalist – you couldn’t properly study birds (or other animals) without a gun. He was certainly a utilitarian naturalist, bemoaning declines in fish, or birds, or game at the same time he jacked deer, trapped/caught way more fish than needed for dinner. On the other hand he was not an armchair naturalist akin to most of the kids I see going through our environment program.
Finished March 28th, 2011, Started November 7th, 2010
Andrew Vietze, Becoming Teddy Roosevelt – How a Maine Guide Inspired America’s 26th President. If you ever think you can’t have an influence on someone, consider this story. A backwoods Maine guide had an influence of Theodore Roosevelt that transformed him from a scrawny, sickly city boy into the rough rider that became President. It is a story of friendship and mentorship that is unlike any I’ve read.
Finished March 24th, 2011, Started October 26, 2010
Theodore Roosevelt, Winning of the West, Vol. III The War in the Northwest. The third volume focuses on the trials and tribulations of pioneers settling the Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois regions. The savagery by both the Indians (Native Americans) and the invading pioneers is clearly presented. While certainly biased toward the plight of the pioneers, Roosevelt places blame were blame lies and leaves neither side guilt free. The role of the British militias in stirring up the tribes and encouraging massacres is clearly shown.
Finished October 11, 2010, Started August 15, 2010
David E. Morine, Two Coots in a Canoe, this is the best book I have read in a very long time. It is story of two college friends, later in life, taking a canoe trip down the length of the Connecticut River. They freeloaded the whole trip, lunches, dinners, and places to sleep. While the book is about the trip and the natural history of the Connecticut River, it is also about the vagaries of friendship. Highly recommended read.
Finished October 25, 2010, Started April 12, 2010
Paul Roberts, The End of Food, I read this as a follow up to Micheal Pollan’s books. It is well researched and points out some of the serious flaws in the industrial food sector. While thought provoking, it is far too doomsday for me – it is kind of a modern “Silent Spring.”
Finished April 11, 2010, Started September 6, 2009
Theodore Roosevelt, Winning of the West, Vol. II In the Current of the Revolution. The second volume of Roosevelt’s detailed American history series. The detail that he documents really should be must read material for any one who wants to understand the thought and motivations of the American Revolution. It should be required reading for anyone seeking Federal election.
Finished September 5, 2009, Started July 1, 2009
John Shelton Reed and Dale Volberg Reed, Holy smoke, The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue, I bought this book at a visitors’ center on the the Blue Ridge Parkway. Since I am always on the lookout for good BBQ and always trying to perfect my craft, I couldn’t resist this book. It is both a history, guide, and recipe book all in one. If you love BBQ (not grilling as most people do and call BBQ), then this is a book for you. It is a tribute to wood smoking pork. It is ironic that I finished the book the same day I was smoking beef ribs. My wife asked for them instead of pork ribs and then commented that she liked the pork ribs better – I married a smart woman.
Finished June 18, 2009, Started January 25, 2009
Stephen E. Ambrose, Undaunted Courage, Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West, Yvonne bought this for me for Christmas – a really good pick. Ambrose gives us an intimate picture of the relationship between Jefferson and Lewis and the evolution and execution of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Ambrose has dedicated his life and his family to the expedition and gives us a picture of the people behind it that can only come from someone with a true passion for the subject being studied. I had never heard the tragic ending of Lewis’ life. It was fitting that I finished the book on a flight to Portland, OR. I complained that it took me 14 hours to do what Lewis did in 30 months. I spent the next week hiking the Columbia River Gorge and it surroundings – I am sure I probably hiked the some of the same trails Lewis took.
Finished January 24, 2009, Started November 27, 2008
Micheal Pollan, In Defense of Food, A continuation of his Omnivore’s Dilemma. The principles are simple: eat less, dine more; know your grower; and if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it. Food is simpler, but much more complex, than the nutrients that make it up. It is a great book for anyone who can’t be bothered to cook, but it might make you reassess that outlook.
Finished November 27, 2008, Started September 18, 2008
Theodore Roosevelt, Winning of the West, Vol. I The Spread of the English Speaking Peoples. This 6 book series was written in the 1880’s when it was still a source of pride to talk about the American conquest of the North American continent. Volume 1 focuses primarily on Kentucky and Tennessee, but also looks at Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. It primarily deals with the white – native interactions and details atrocities on both sides. The classic American view of small populations of natives with little or no claim to the lands is presented. While Roosevelt tried to be unbiased, his pride in the spread of the English is clear, he also failed to realize that Indian populations has been largely conquered by small pox before the first settlers moved into the region. I think we have let our sense of political correctness and what’s “fair” under our current litigation system dull the sense of pride in the spread across the continent. This is a good read for anyone who wants to try to understand the spread in light of the values and norms of the day.
Finished September 18, 2008, Started August 24, 2008
John McPhee, Irons in the Fire, Somehow this book has sat unread on my shelf for 7 years! Really interesting group of essays, especially the geology ones. As with any McPhee book – highly recommended read. I’ve never been disappointed.
Finished August 24, 2008, Started August 11, 2008
William P. Young, The Shack – The husband of a friend of my wife’s recommended this book – apparently it is the new spiritual craze book – it is always interesting to see what captures so much attention. This is indeed a very good and beautiful book, unfortunately all the hype is turning it into a celebrity super model. It is too bad, why can’t we just enjoy a good book or learn from a good book without getting all bound up in it? I think most bestsellers become so because people want to be part of the human experience rather than opening themselves up to the experience of the book. This book is worth a read, not because I say so or a million others say so, but because it is one person’s view of God and his interpretation of how God interacts with us, and it is a very different view.
Finished August 8, 2008, Started July 23, 2008
Annie Dillard, Maytrees Like all of Annie’s books it grabs you right from the beginning (or it will simply turn you off). Just don’t expect a linear plot. All of Annie’s books are about being and understanding how to come to grips with being. This one explores love and does a very good job. It is an exegesis on inter-relationships between place, friends, time and love. Read it.
Finished July 21, 2008, Started April 9, 2008
Pollan, Micheal The Omnivore’s Dilemma. If you have ever thought about your food and where it comes from, this book will open your eyes. If you are quite content to eat fast food, then leave this book alone. If you think Whole Foods is a wonderful place, I’d leave this book alone too. This book was introduced to me by a guest speaker at a banquet at the Central Hardwoods Conference in Lafayette, Indiana in April 2008. If you read this book, you’ll want to grow your own food and take up hunting – our food has become an industrial commodity, regular or organic, with a rather large carbon footprint, so the next time you buy kiwi or starfruit or strawberries in February, think “How much carbon has been spent on getting this to my mouth?”
Finished July 11, 2008, Started May 16, 2008
Roosevelt, Kermit and Theodore, Jr. Trailing the Giant Panda. This book describes the adventures of Kermit and Theodore Roosevelt as they trek through Tibet and southeastern China on a search for Giant Panda and other big game animals virtually unknown to the western world. The original plan for this trek was for Theodore Roosevelt (former President) to come along, unfortunately he died about a year before they undertook the trip. Throughout the trip Kermit and Theodore, Jr. collect cultural and biological samples for the American Museum of Natural History. While not as well written as the Brazilian Wilderness, this is an interesting and engaging book on exploration.