I have been feeling the need to push myself intelectually...not in a big way, but just in a way that gets me thinking of things other than how to get my one year old to sleep in past 6:00am. Or how to convince Robby that Diego isn't real...even when we saw Diego Live. Or how to teach Erica about how much each coin is worth. I love these moments and they make me laugh. But I miss the structured learning that school had to offer. I loved learning linguistics, about the human body, Japanese and computers. Since it's not the right time in my life to head back to school, I'm hoping that anyone who might still read my blog (despite the lack of posts) can help me.
Do you have any non-fiction books you'd recommend? Preferably ones that don't read like textbooks, because I've become a wimp when it comes to non-fiction. I'm not much of a history buff, although "1776" was highly recommended by my dad and Jan. I enjoy memoirs, although I haven't read too many. I'd probably enjoy books that have to do with how the mind or body works. Not sure about political books...they'd have to assume that I'm a beginner. :) On my short list are "Blink," "Freakonomics," and "Bias."
Also, how do you keep your mind active at your stage in life?
Friday, November 7, 2008
Non-Fiction Plea
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I don't have any great suggestions but likewise need to stretch my mind. That desire will last until the next baby comes and I'm once again a sleep deprived zombie, but until then I hope to indulge in books if I can stay awake. I'll keep an eye out for what others suggest.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of nonfiction, so hopefully here's some ideas:
ReplyDeleteBill Bryson writes really fun books about travelling and other countries.
Mark Kurlansky has also written a bunch of fun, informative books about a variety of subjects. Some of them sound kind of silly (he wrote a history of salt) but they're really interesting.
I really liked the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Two other good books about food are The Omnivore's Dilemma and Fast Food Nation.
A set of fun books are the memoirs A Girl Named Zippy and the sequel She got up off the couch I also liked the memoir Poster Child and Here if You Need Me (those two aren't as "funny", but good)
I thought the book Into the Wild was really interesting and easier to read than I thought it would be. So is the book Complications by Atul Gawande.
I'll stop now, but I hope those are some good ideas for you :) I love nonfiction.
Kimber just bought herself a DS and now I get to play Brainage everyday. That's how I stay smart! :)
ReplyDeleteGarbageland, Bottlemania (same author), Hot, Flat & Crowded (just getting that one today), Tipping Point, And The Waters Turned to Blood, Guns, Germs & Steel, Fast Food Nation, Mountains Beyond Mountains, Dear Senator, Another Day in the Frontal Lobe & Complications, Isaac's Storm & Devil In the White City, Black Like Me, Autobiog of Malcolm X, the Death of Ivan Illyich, the list goes on and on. I would encourage you to not limit yourself just to non-fiction. There is some fabulous brain-stretching fiction out there, esp in contemporary fiction. I love Stegner, Bradbury, Mary Shelley, Tolstoy, Willa Cather, etc, etc. Just beware of the classical trash (ie, books that somehow became classics and therefor "must-reads" that really are just fluff, such as Alexander Dumas)... :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, I was actually trying to think of the last time I read something factual and I think the last time was in college. Oh but I did come across a good college book while going through stuff to take to the D.I., "Deaf in America". Ever think about subscribing to the Times (although not always factual :))?
ReplyDeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean... Nigel is really good at finding great books such as 1776. We also love, Manhunt also by James L Swanson (be careful once you start you can't stop). These are some other ones we enjoy:
The Last Lion by William Manchester
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Truman by David McCullough
I am sure Nigel could even think of more.
Of course we go for the books on tape. I love listening while I am working!
~Kim
I dunno, the only non-fiction books on my list right now are parenting books! The scriptures put me to sleep these days, so I'm just in trouble all around :) Even though I feel like my head is full of nonsense most days, I think we will look back and wonder how we did it. This is HARD! Let us know if you find some good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to echo Maren's comments about how some fiction can be mind-stretching. Stegner is also a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteA few recent non-fiction books I've read are Stiff, Building the Kingdom, and Eliza and Her Sisters.
Also, some friends of mine have been discussing this very topic of how to exercise our brains while we're in the midst of everyday life. We ended up forming a monthly discussion group that reads a scholarly article and discusses it over dinner. Sounds uber nerdy, I know, but you can't hide your true nature from an old friend like me. ;)
Oooh, and also try watching documentary film. A few of my recent finds are Manufactured Landscapes, In the Shadow of the Moon, Helvetica, and Paperback Dreams. Just don't attempt this late at night.
ReplyDeleteIf you're feeling the Americana bug, check out The Great Republic by Winston Churchill. It's an interesting perspective on America, and a very positive one.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard of the magazine Mental Floss?
ReplyDeletehere are some friendly non-fiction books:
ReplyDeleteThe Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
Black Boy by Richard Wright
Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
My two new favorite reads are "Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns". I know they're fiction...but historical fiction and pretty relevent to today, both changed my view on what the war in Afganistan is all about and really made me interested to research the history of that country!
ReplyDeleteGlass Castle
ReplyDeleteBlood Brothers
Lipstick Jihad
Reading Lolita in Tehran
These are a few that I read recently and enjoyed. Good luck!
i am glad you blogged about this, i am loving reading everyone's suggestions.
ReplyDeleteoh and in answer to your question. i don't think i DO keep my mind active at this stage in my life - it is something that i always struggle with. aaaghh!
1776 is good. I liked John Adams even more. I would also recomment Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover!!!! I know how you feel,though. I found it helpful to reread the conference talk given to the relief society by Elder Bednar on the importance of creating. I am not creative but I have been able to come up with a few projects around the house that build me up and give me something to look forward to doing when I wake up. good luck and hang in there!!
ReplyDeleteDitto to Cat's comment... I love all the ideas here! I've heard good things about 1776, but haven't read it yet. It's on my list of things to read after the few I'm reading right now on potty training. Yup, interesting titles on my nightstand! :)
ReplyDeletep.s. My blog is going private in a few days. Would you like an invite? If so leave me a comment at http://kjohnson5.blogspot.com/2008/11/invites-list.html
Isamu recommends a business book 'Never Eat Alone' (building networks and using them to your advantage. Rob would really enjoy it. He might have read it for school.
ReplyDelete