He was Atkins before Atkins was cool

I have just finished reading Discovery, the autobiography of arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Steffansson. I found it very engaging. It has an index and Steffansson recounts his failures as well as his successes. The book also has an interesting chapter on the Cold War’s negative effects on scientific advancement.
But that’s not why I’m writing this morning. [...]

Book Review: Religious literacy : what every American needs to know–and doesn’t

I have just about finished the audiobook version of
Religious literacy : what every American needs to know–and doesn’t and I am impressed. I’m especially impressed because the book is read by the author, Stephen R Prothero.
As a rule of thumb, I don’t enjoy books read by the author. Some people write well, others [...]

Milk for babes, drawn out of the breasts of both Testaments

While listening to a great audiobook called Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, But Doesn’t, I came across a mention of the oddest catechism title I have ever run across:
Milk for babes, drawn out of the breasts of both Testaments chiefly for the spirituall nourishment of Boston babes in either England, but may [...]

Book Review: Three Cups of Tea

I finished the book Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin in two late nights reading. This story about how a failed mountain climb in 1993 turned into a lifetime of school building is as gripping as any novel I’ve [...]

Book Review: Thomas Merton in Alaska

Trappist monk and author Thomas Merton visited Alaska for several weeks in 1968 on his way to an ill-fated trip to Asia. Nearly two decades after his death, his journals and conferences he gave in Alaska during this trip were published as Thomas Merton in Alaska. If you are a regular reader of this blog, [...]

Book Review: V for Vendetta

I recently finished the graphic novel V for Vendetta after having seen the excellent movie with Hugo Weaving. Overall, I liked the movie better, but the graphic novel had two things over the movie:
1) It did a great job of explaining how V knew so much about his victims, the system and how he was [...]

Considering the military? Read Battleground Iraq

Last night I finished the book:
Battleground Iraq : journal of a company commander
by Todd S Brown; United States. Dept. of the Army.
This book isn’t available online, but you can find it in many Federal Depository Libraries under the SuDoc number D 114.2:IR1. You can also purchase it from the GPO Bookstore. If you work in [...]

Book Review: Carved in Sand

Carved in Sand by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin. ISBN 978-0-06-059869-3.
Feel like you’re losing your mind? You’re not alone and help (within reason) is available. That is the core message of Ms. Ramin’s book and one that should be shared with anyone you know over 40. Drawing on surveys and interviews from hundreds of successful yet memory [...]

Book Review: Made to Stick - Librarians must read!

I feel fortunate that my library participates in a downloadable audiobook project called Listen Alaska through Overdrive, inc. It’s given me the chance to do try out books on my mp3 player that I might not have picked up to read but turned out to be great books.
Such is the case with Made to stick [...]

Book Review: Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett

A friend lent me the book Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett. Since this book is also available at my local library and many others, I figured I’d write a quick review.
This book is a quick and enjoyable read. It weaves together at least three stories — the story of Death, who goes on holiday after [...]