I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

This is the fourth in the series of Flavia deLuce...the chemist who delights. This one is fun and includes an acting troupe who comes to stay at the mansion...More great characters, more laughter, and a great escape!

The Wild Trees by Richard Preston

Both my dad and my sister Jane recommended this book to me. My dad is famous for his love of redwoods, and that's what this book is all about. It's one of the most engaging nonfiction, scientific books I have ever encountered. I also learned a lot about my home state of California. It was interesting to me that Reed College students figure prominently in this tale, which focuses not only on the redwoods, but also on the people who pioneered climbing them. The story of different climbimg methods and the world they discover up in the canopy is enthralling. There are also good illustrations that help clarify some of the descriptions.

I was also hoping to use this book to increase my knowledge and understanding of nature. There is so much to learn and so much applicability to LIFE! For instance, I know redwood roots are very shallow...but they are interconnected and entwined to help support each other. How long would it take you to come up with a metaphor for THAT!? The problem is, I read this book on a very long flight...and while it made the flight go very quickly, I was also tired, and didn't take notes or do as much focusing on the nature lessons as I should have. I will definitely have to give this a second read and glean more. It will be a pleasure!

V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

Melissa and I share an enjoyment of this series, so naturally when I saw the latest entry at Sam's Club right before Christmas, I bought it for her. She inhaled it and then gave it to me for Christmas, and I spent a couple of nights with it before I devoured the rest of it in practically one sitting. It's a good thing these books are only released every year or so; they kidnap me until I'm DONE with them. The characters are so interesting, and the heroine, Kinsey, is so funny, that I savor every page. This particular one wasn't as funny as others, but the story and characters and plot were engaging.

The Santa Teresa setting and California weather are parts of the context I also find enjoyable. This particular plot centered on a mafia-like Italian, an unhappy attorney's wife, and a two-bit burglar named Pinky. I wondered how all of this would fit together, and it eventually did...very unpredictably and seamlessly. Kinsey's lovable neighbor, Henry, was gone visiting his sibs for most of this story, and I missed him! The ending of this installment, though, was more satisfying than some in the series. This one gave slightly more information about the satisfying conclusion of Kinsey's work... All in all, another good installment in the series. Only four to go...

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Sierra told me something about this book that made me immediately want to read it: "As soon as I finished the last page, I wanted to flip to the front and start reading it all over again from the beginning!" Well, the only books I feel that way about are real winners, so I asked to borrow this book, and enjoyed it very much too. I didn't want to reread it, but I understood Sierra's reasoning. There are some mysteries in this book that unfold as the story unfolds, so it would be interesting to read it again, understanding more of the mysteries.

I only like to reread books that take me to rich and wonderful places, I think. This book, while intriguing and full of interesting characters, was a much darker place than I like to dwell when I have a choice! It is set in Salem, Massachusetts, and reveals a lot about the area and its history as well as its current association with witches and witchcraft. Throw in a weird ultra-fundamentalist religious cult who are fighting the witches, and you have the mileu.

The contextual pieces that I did enjoy were the references to the homes and sailing and the island. Barry made me feel familiar with the area, and I could almost feel the salt spray and the moonlight. Another delight in this book was the dialogue between Rafferty and Towner, the main character. That sparkled, at times, and both were deep and interesting characters.

It was an interesting, intriguing read, and one that helped me understand a bit more about Sierra's tastes. We both like mysteries, and this was a mystery of a different kind. I haven't talked with her (yet) about exactly why she liked it, but I think it's because she is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. She majored in Psychology, and Towner's mental challenges were rife with possibilities for study!

One other part I enjoyed: the idea of reading lace, and some of the metaphysical ideas in the Lace Reader's Guide. Some little gems there that were food for thought. Also acquainted me with something I knew NOTHING about! Cool.

The Lakota Way by Joseph M. Marshall III

I heard Joseph Marshall speak at a recent Indian Education Summit here in South Dakota. He is impressive! Soft-spoken, well-spoken, candid, and real. An absolutely wonderful and authentic presence! I decided right then and there that I had been missing out by not reading his books! So, I asked my friend Doug, who has read them all, "Where should I begin?" He told me that this one is his favorite book...not just his favorite book of Marshall's, his FAVORITE book. Well, I had to start there, didn't I?

I'm so glad I did! The stories are captivating...Marshall is a wonderful story teller and many of the characters in his stories I had heard of before, like the legendary Iktomi. After the stories, Marshall muses on their meaning and application to modern day life. There is warm wisdom here and clear-eyed analysis of history and the way it has been portrayed. Here are the Lakota values he describes:
1. Humility
2. Perseverance
3. Respect
4. Honor
5. Love
6. Sacrifice
7. Truth
8. Compassion
9. Bravery
10. Fortitude
11. Generosity
12. Wisdom

Here are some pearls I marked...
Words from his grandfather after he complained of kids calling him bad names:
"You cannot forget what they said any more than you cannot feel the wind when it blows. But if you learn to let the wind blow through you, you will take away its power to blow you down. If you let words pass through you, without letting them catch on your anger or pride, you will not feel them."

page 9: To truthfully describe one's action in combat through the forum of ceremony was not considered bragging because the recounting--the story of action--was a gift. It became part of the identity and lore of the storyteller's warrior society, and it served to strengthen the entire village--not to mention that the deed recounted served as an example for young men to emulate.

page 49: ..it is easy to respect someone who is as much like us in every way possible. Respecting someone with different beliefs, different dress, or different customs, or something entirely different from us is not easy.

page 56...everything that happens is a gift from life itself, if for nothing else than to teach us a lesson.

page 68-69: ..intertribal warfare had a different meaning and purpose than the usual defensive-offensive aspects of imperialistic warfare. It was in a real sense an intentional proving ground.

Page 71...war is really a fight between the good and bad sides of humans...

page 155...Bravery is a requisite virtue because life demands it. Whether it's cancer, a broken heart, a lost opportunity, a bad business deal, an approaching hurricane, a tough decision, or a dark alley, life will continually throw challenges at us. Any challenge is also an invitation, a standing invitation...Lightning-struck ash trees were rare, but they were preferred because they had suffered the ultimate adversity, and ultimate adversity produces ultimate strength.

page 158..If you don't think you know how to be brave, look around; you'll find someone who does know. Follow him or her. If you follow long enough, you'll learn to have courage, or the courage within you will rise to the top. When that happens, turn around, and don't be surprised if someone is following you.

Bonds that Make Us Free: Healing Our Relationships, Coming to Ourselves by C. Terry Warner

I keep this book handy and refer to it regularly! I need the lessons here and I need to live them better. I recognized myself on page ____ when he describes perfectionism and I hope I've made strides since them! I will add more salient points as time allows...

This, below, is from an online review at Amazon that I thought was right on...

The basic premise of the book is honesty, and being truly honest with yourself--which in turn leads you to be honest in your relationships with others. The result of this honesty is a freedom and happiness that is not affected by your circumstances, no matter what those are. I think a lot of people feel unhappy or dissatisfied or even hopeless about certain relationships in their lives, but they don't realize that since the only person they can control is themselves, the ONLY thing they can do to affect change is to make a change somewhere in their hearts. This book discusses, with lots of helpful examples, how to catch the thought processes and emotions that are making you miserable, and how to stop feeding them. Although making a change in yourself often helps the relationship improve as the other person naturally reacts to your changes, the important thing is how YOU change. Reading this book was like looking at my life through new eyes, seeing things more clearly and through a different perspective--a perspective that made me an active agent in my life, instead of the victim of it.

It's a little frightening to realize how much control you actually have over yourself, because it makes you responsible for your own happiness. That may make you feel defensively angry or guilty, but if you're really ready to be honest with yourself and take on this responsibility, you'll feel humble instead--and then, working on these relationships with a new heart, at peace.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Len gifted me with this book, thinking it would appeal to me, and he was right! I enjoyed it all the way through, despite some nagging gaps in the author's thinking. They were nagging to me, because Rubin draws on some excellent research and ideas, many of which resonated with me, and yet she missed so many other possibilities! The biggest miss for me was the idea of happiness being derived from service and unselfishness. These are similar ideas and were pretty much lacking throughout the book! However, her commitment to be happier in order to create more happiness in her family is somewhat unselfish and related to a sacrifice, I guess. And she is young! She only has two small children! Her life will get more complicated and her ideas more sophisticated. More wisdom and less self-centeredness will hopefully evolve! Having said that, there are many tips and tricks worthy of emulation...making and keeping resolutions, setting goals, and being consistent are among them. She admits in the book to being relatively untested and untried by tragedgy and serious challenges, so maybe this depth will come in time! Worthy of a read, and I plan to at least visit the website to see if the online tools might be useful for me. She encourages everyone to create their own "Happiness Project" and offers tools to get going. We'll see...some nuggets are definitely here...and I especially enjoyed the excerpts from the readers who contribute to her blog. One idea that has power is to "Be Gretchen." In other words, really find out what she enjoys and what brings her happiness. This becomes a theme throughout the book as she struggles to find out who she really is. I liked the openness of this struggle and her honesty about wanting to like things that she does not. That theme was refreshing and insightful and one from which I can learn!

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

This is the third Flavia de Luce novel and it was as captivating as the first two! I am definitely hooked. I must have read it a little too quickly, though, first time through because I missed some important clues right up front. I wasn't paying attention! It's hard for me to slow down and enjoy the humor and subtleties when I'm driven by the plot to find out what happens next. The main plot twist I missed was about the Hobblers, so I'm ready to read it again so it will fit together better for me. Despite this gap in my understanding, it was a satisfying read! And I think Flavia's father and one of her sisters are showing signs of actual warmth! This is stunning, and makes me wonder if Flavia is growing up and recognizing these signs or if they are truly indicative of change in the family. This question motivates me to read the next installment, which I have, but have not yet allowed myself to pick up...maybe over Thanksgiving break when I can put my whole mind and time into it! Something to look forward to...

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

Fresh from my enthusiasm for the first book in this series, I was eager to try the second. I was not disappointed! It was every bit as captivating and funny as the first (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie). This author has a knack for quaint settings, quirky characters, and true wit. The new characters here are a couple of actors who put on puppet shows. Flavia and her family are in fine form too, as are the various inhabitants of Bishop's Lacey. Flavia continues her passion for chemistry and this is a neat learning opportunity as well.

The only thing that makes me hesitate to order the third book in the series is that I know it will take over my life! This is one of those delightfully addictive authors that can turn me into a hermit and a grouch when I'm interrupted. I'll have to time this carefully!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

What a find! Wahoo! My friend Sue (whom I met in our Courage to Teach cohort) recommended this book to me, and it was better than I expected. From the first paragraph I was totally delighted and captivated by Flavia de Luce, the 11-year old heroine of the story.

I love mysteries. I love smart characters. I love England as a setting and 1950 as a time period. It has a dark humor that is just hilarious. It's seldom that I laugh out loud, but I did in this story. Yes, all of these are great qualitites, but even better are the intriguing characters. Flavia's father is a piece of work and their relationship is complicated...her sisters are entertaining as well. There isn't a shallow or flat character in the entire book!

I have lent this book to Sierra and my friend Gail. Both of them loved it! And these two have very diverse ages and tastes, so it's obvious this book has wide appeal. This mystery revolves around stamps and so you learn a lot about the history of certain English stamps. The other learning opportunity in this book is chemistry, of all things! Flavia is passionate about chemistry, and shares her ideas and thinking and connections about it throughout the book. I have recommended this book to high school Chemistry teachers and I hope one of them someday takes my suggestion! Reading an excerpt would be a great way to introduce or deepen a chemistry unit.

Having loved this first book in what is planned to be a series, I could barely wait to get my hands on the second!

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

This book captivated me right from the start! It was one of those books that called to me between chapters and made me want to stay awake to read more. Holling Hoodhood is a seventh grader in 1967 and he is hilarious, sensitive, real, and smart. He imagines his teacher, Mrs. Baker,  is at war with him, and details her dirty looks, quotes her, etc. Each chapter is a new month in the school year, and as their relationship develops, you can feel the mutual admiration. It’s wonderful! My friend Leslie gave me this book, and when she recommends a book, I have learned to listen! Our tastes are similar and I've learned to trust hers!

Another reason I liked it was the time…people are smoking, Viet Nam War is running in the background, and so are flower children. It’s richly and accurately done!

This is alternately tragic and funny…Holling’s parents, particularly his father, are dolts. They are heartbreaking! But Holling’s ingenuity and independence are developed because of this… There aren’t many books that make me cry real tears, but this one did, in several places. The caring teacher, the clueless parents, the big sister’s problems, the POW arriving home, the love between teacher and student, all were very sweet experiences for me.

One of Mrs. Baker’s tricks is to require Holling to read Shakespeare during their Wednesday afternoons together. He is the only Presbyterian student who doesn’t have to attend either Catholic or Jewish services on Wednesday afternoons. This gives him ample time for private tutoring from Mrs. Baker, and the reader gets a fresh chance to appreciate Shakespeare’s lessons as well. Totally delightful!

I was lucky enough to attend Gabriel's parent/student/teacher conference this week, and I was surprised to see this book on the shelf in his 4th grade classroom. I'm sure Gabe COULD read it, but the themes feel a little too sophisticated for him. I think I'll give a copy to Melissa and see what she thinks... I'm sure the Shakespeare allusions would all be lost on him, but perhaps it would kindle an interest for later?

Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute

This book builds on the powerful ideas in C. Terry Warner's book, Bonds that Make us Free. The ideas are explained in a scenario of a new employee in a company. As he is being oriented, the ideas of self-deception are illustrated and explained. It's a quick read and it's easy to follow the idea of the "boxes" we put ourselves in. It feels just a little pedantic or forced in some ways, but still, the ideas come through. And the ideas are quite freeing. This list is helpful (page 105):
Self-Betrayal

1. An act contrary to what I feel I should do for another is called an act of "self-betrayal."
2. When I betray myself I begin to see the world in a way that justifies my self-betrayal.
3. When I see the world in a self-justifying way, my view of reality becomes distorted.
4. So--when I betray myself, I enter the box.
5. Over time, certain boxes become characteristic of me, and I carry them with me.
6. By being in the box, I provoke others to be in the box.
7. In the box, we invite mutual mistreatment and obtain mutual justification. We collude in giving each other reason to stay in the box.

Now here's the list for knowing the material:
(page 174)

• Self-betrayal leads to self-deception and "the box."
• When you're in the box you can't focus on results.
• Your influence and success will depend on being out of the box.
• You get out of the box as you cease resisting other people.

And here's the list for living the material:
(Page 174)

• Don't try to be perfect. Do try to be better.
• Don't use the vocabulary--the box-- and so on, with people who don't already know it.
• Do use the principles in your own life.
• Don't look for others' boxes. Do look for your own.
• Don't accuse others of being in the box.
• Do try to stay out of the box yourself.
• Don't give up on yourself when you discover you've been in the box. Do keep trying.
• Don't deny that you've been in the box when you have been. Do apologize; then just keep marching forward, trying to be more helpful to others in the future.
• Don't focus on what others are doing wrong.
• Do focus on what you can do right to help.
• Don't worry whether others are helping you. Do worry whether you are helping others.

Sometimes these metaphors are too "cutesy" for me, but this one makes sense. It's tough to explain to people, and even tougher to live. But I am trying, and I am succeeding. Hooray!!!

The Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute

I listened to this book on my way to and from a trip to Casper, Wyoming. It is another book (besides Leadership and Self-Deception) built around C. Terry Warner's powerful take on "I and thou" philosophy articulated back in the day by Martin Buber. Wonderful, powerful ways to think. The book unfolds as a drama where parents are dropping off their teenagers at a "reform" experience out in Nature. It can be annoying as stereotypes unfold, but it is mostly very intriguing and entertaining as the ideas are explained through parental dialogue with the camps' founders.

"Getting in the box" is the way self-deception is described, and the misguided thinking it leads to. There are many "boxes" included in the discussion, and they are universal archetypes. "I'm better than..." and "I know more than..." are two that I related to. There are many others. I need to listen to it again to reconnect with this content. It really helped my thinking and my personal change process.

Ancient Futures by Helena Norberg-Hodge

My great reading buddy Mary lent me this book after sharing it with our book club. I hadn't had a chance to read it, but I enjoyed her enthusiasm for it and borrowed it after our meeting in the park. It is an amazing book that challenged my thinking about helping people in "developing" countries. I have always been skeptical of the negative influence the so-called developed world has on others, but I thought there was a contribution that could be made, or at least an exchange. Now I'm not so sure. This author powerfully describes the destruction of the contentment and health of the Ladakhi people have experienced as they enter the "modern" world. Here's a quote from page 196:

• In the past few decades we have seen a narrowing of vision--in effect, an insidious dumbing down of society--at the same time as economic activity has globalized. As we become further removed from the sources of sustanence and other needs, it becomes increasingly difficult to see our impact on the rest of the world. How do we know that the food we buy hasn't been grown with slave labor, using toxic herbicides and fungicides? Because of the huge scale of the economic system, even those who want to do good can unknowingly participate in activites that have brutal and destructive effects.

And from page 195:

• The so-called global village--hailed by government and industry as uniting all nations in pursuit of the fruits of the global economy--is in fact a highly volatile monoculture based on on community or connection to palce but on universal consumerism.

And from page 194:

• Beyond these widely recognized problems, another crisis is only now beginning to be acknowledged. This is the human suffering--the psychological and spiritual poverty--of people pushed to produce and consume at an ever-accelerating rate. The resulting stress and time pressures are proving almost unbearable...

This book is powerful because the author describes in great detail the life of the Ladakhi people and one can see what a hard and yet satisfying life it is. Then she describes the effects of the developing world on the people in this isolated area and it's heart-rending. In the Afterword, quoted above, she brings it all together in a way that made me wonder at the wisdom of even offering medical care to developing countries. If a life is hard, healthy, and self-sustaining, it doesn't make sense to interfere. She also describes policies that are having a negative effect on these countries. It all reminded me of what I see very close to home--life on our Lakota Indian Reservations.

To me, this is another voice in the cry for more local living in smaller communities. I think of big high schools and how kids are lost there. I think of our urban cities and how people feel lost there. Living in smaller communites with food produced nearby seems to work on so many levels! Another connection I am thinking about is how in my church, we have a built-in mechanism to stay small and local--wards are divided when they get too big, and they are based on geography so one is always with one's closest neighbors. This makes sense!

The Jumping-Off Place by Marian Hurd McNeely

This delightful book is published by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press and includes black and white illustrations by William Siegel. It would make a perfect "read aloud" for children from eight or so upwards. It tells the story of four siblings who homestead in South Dakota in the early 1900s. Their challenges are many yet their fortitude and courage are great! This book is based on the actual experiences of the author, which makes it even more interesting to me. The characters are reflective of their time--hard workers and optimistic. I have read this book twice, just because I enjoy where it takes me. I gave a copy to my friend Terri, who has given away additional copies too. This is a keeper; I plan to read it again before too long.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

This book captivated me right from the start! It was one of those books that called to me between chapters and made me want to stay awake to read more. Holling Hoodhood is a seventh grader in 1967 and he is hilarious, sensitive, real, and smart. He imagines his teacher, Mrs. Baker,  is at war with him, and details her dirty looks, quotes her, etc. Each chapter is a new month in the school year, and as their relationship develops, you can feel the mutual admiration. It’s wonderful!

Another reason I liked it was the time…people are smoking, Viet Nam War is running in the background, and so are flower children. It’s richly and accurately done!

This is alternately tragic and funny by turns…Holling’s parents, particularly his father, are dolts. They are heartbreaking! But Holling’s ingenuity and independence are developed because of this… There aren’t many books that make me cry real tears, but this one did, in several places. The caring teacher, the heartless parents, the big sister’s problems, the POW arriving home, the love between teacher and student, all were very sweet experiences for me.

One of Mrs. Baker’s tricks is to require Holling to read Shakespeare during their Wednesday afternoons together. He is the only Presbyterian student who doesn’t have to attend either Catholic or Jewish services on Wednesday afternoons. This gives him ample time for private tutoring from Mrs. Baker, and the reader gets a fresh chance to appreciate Shakespeare’s lessons as well. Totally delightful!

I sent this book as an audio gift to Annabee for Christmas this year. I can't wait to see how she likes it! Gabe's fourth grade teacher has it in her classroom collection, but I think it's too sophisticated for him...I wonder if Ann will think it's okay for hers? I really think she'll enjoy it!

Dancing with Mr. Darcy: Stories Inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House edited by Sarah Walters

Border's in Rapid City was closing its doors. Everything was down to 80% off. I was shopping with nine-year-old Gabriel who was disappointed the Lego sets were all gone. I saw this and thought, "Why not?" I love Jane Austen and this sounded like a way to enjoy how other authors see and interpret and mimic her. I was right! This is a delightful short story collection and I totally enjoyed all but two of them. There are twenty stories total, so those are pretty good odds.

Some of the ideas and approaches were extremely creative! Although it wasn't my favorite story, "One Character in Search of Her Love Story Role" really knocked my socks off as an idea. Characters from different novels visit and shadow each other to learn character traits! Absolutely delightful and novel. And I don't agree with the choice of "winners" but that's okay...It was interesting to read how they were chosen. One of my favorite stories is #6, "Eight Years Later."  It's a decidedly feminine book, with all of the authors, the editors, and introduction written by women. It may have benefited from a masculine influence. These stories also increased my desire to visit Jane Austen's world in England someday.

The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton and completed by Marion Mainwaring

I have long wanted to read Edith Wharton and finally took the plunge this past summer. Perhaps I shouldn't have begun with an incomplete novel, but the title intrigued me. And Wharton's biographers on Wikipidia included a description of this novel that sounded promising. The plot sounds romantic and interesting and describes life in the upper classes in America in the 1870s. I thought it would help me understand more about this time period. Unfortunately, it did not. The novel focuses almost exclusively on the characters, their conversations, and their actions. But the characters are not seen particularly closely; there's a real distance there. It felt almost like these people were strangers. Their lives were focused on status, position, and money. It was really quite depressing in many ways. I kept wondering, when will they wake up and get real? They never did, and perhaps that's one of the points Wharton was trying to get across. I'm not sure. It was not one of those books I found particularly engaging; however I was able to finish it and say, ho hum. Guess it's over. The supposed wit and irony Wharton is known for was completely lost on me. Will I try this author again? Perhaps...but not anytime soon.

Choose to Learn: Teaching for Success Every Day by Russell T. Osguthorpe and Lolly S. Osguthorpe

These authors are incredible people, so it's not surprising their book is, too! I love the Osguthorpe's, and got to know them when they presided over the Rapid City Mission for three years. Their love and enthusiasm comes across in this "tiny but mighty" book. Russ teaches at BYU and Lolly teaches sixth grade, so they alternate voices and examples in the book, giving plenty of variety in experiences and levels.

They assert that learning and success are inseparable. A powerful idea that has changed my thinking...

They take "The Three D's of Success" (Desire, Decision, and Determination) and illustrate how to use them to achieve success--all kinds of success. I think it's a good template for changing, overcoming addiction, or whatever you want to LEARN.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"Do your very best and your best gets better." (page 88)
"...excuse-making is limiting their own power to choose. Each excuse a person makes causes success to be a little farther out of reach...Those who choose to learn choose not to whine. Rather, they find ways to solve the seemingly unsolvable. They work their way to success in spite of any obstacle that confronts them." (page 91)
"We are always moving in the direction of our most dominant thought." (quoting Waitly, on page 9)

I also appreciated Chapter Two that differentiates between PRESSURE and URGENCY. One creates stress and the other creates energy. This is a great dichotomy that has helped my thinking.

The Osguthorpe's gifted us this book in 2009, and I've read it and reread it over and over. It's one of my "go to" books for motivation and direction.

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

This book was recommended to me by Lois Zachary, mentoring guru, who was in South Dakota recently advising us on one of our projects. After she recommended this book to our group, she told me, "It reads like buttah!" She was right! It's very insightful in so many ways, and it's a joy to read. Each chapter has a different "practice" that helps transform one's life and thinking. It's very accessible and full of great little stories. I love the music metaphors!
One of the more powerful ideas is, "It's all invented!" The practice goes like this: Ask yourself, "What assumptions am I making, that I am not aware that I'm making, that gives me what I see?" And after you answer that question, you ask this one: "What might I now invent, that I haven't yet invented, that would give me other choices?" This line of thinking opens up all kinds of possibilities!
Something I underlined: In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold." I'm pondering this one to see how it might apply to my driven self!
Other ideas in this book coincide very nicely with one of my all-time favorite books: Bonds That Make Us Free: Healing Our Relationships, Coming to Ourselves by C. Terry Warner. The me vs. we, the barriers we build, etc., etc. Powerful ideas that have transformative powers if I would live them! When I do, I feel their power!
Rule #6 is also a delight--to take yourself lightly. Remember this one!
A very motivating chapter is called "Giving an A" and would resonate not only with teachers, but with everyone! I liken this idea to unconditional love, and the authors give wonderful examples of how this plays out in individual reactions to being loved and motivated this way. Here are some quotes I underlined in this chapter:

• Standards can help us by defining the range of knowledge a student must master to be competent in his field. It is not in the context of measuring people's performance against standards that we propose giving the A, despite the reference to measurement the A implies. We give the A to finesse the stranglehold of judgment that grades have over our consciousness from our earliest days. The A is an invention that creates possibility for both mentor and student, manager and employee, or for any human interaction. The practice of giving the A allows the teacher to line up with her students in their efforts to produce the outcome, rather than lining up with the standrads against these students. In the first instance, the instructor and the student, or the manager and the employee become a team for accomplishing the extraordinary; in the second, the disparity in power between them can become a distraction and an inhibitor, drawing energy away from productivity and development.

Early in the book, on page 21, this quote stopped me in my tracks: "In the measurement world, you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold." Definitely food for thought for this goal-driven person!!!

One place where I strongly disagree was with Roz when she advised one of her clients to ask her mother for money...although it illustrated her point of opening up possibilities, I don't agree that giving money helps those who don't seem to manage it well. Just had to go on record here about that!

I have really enjoyed picking up this book for an uplift from time to time, and now that it's all marked up, I enjoy it even more. My friend June sent this book to her musician son, who knows Ben, so his reaction will be very intriguing!

Inevitable: Mass Customized Learning by Charles Schwahn and Beatrice McGarvey

My working notes...

Why do schools exist?

Ready for life? What are the spheres of learning?

FIN paper

Know, be able to do, and be like if they are going to lead a successful economic life…

Quality is defined by how this looks…

Organizational effectiveness model – Invevitable is – so business people and leaders “get it” quickly.

Education Research and Organizational Effectiveness – these two entities are synergistic!

Are your children (grandchildren) reaching their fullest potential? – great starting point!

This is cost-neutral. Start-up may be more, but otherwise MCL should be comparable to what we are doing now.

Pyramid of costs – x, 10x, 100x

Cost factor of products when they are in design, in production, and then in distribution—if you need to fix something…compare that to kids!

Strategic design – the work; implementing the design is the heavy lifting. Alignment, etc.

What is my leverage point in building understanding or implementing MCL? What are my next learning targets?

Book studies – next step for school boards…

Adjunct faculty on the internet

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

My friend Mary is so generous with her books! She handed me this one on my way to a family reunion, and it was the perfect inflight read. It's the story of how the French police rounded up Jewish families and children during the German occupation of World War II. It is a novel, but it's an accessible way to learn about the tragic events in this dark part of France's history. While it was hard to read of the hardships these people suffered, it doesn't go into these hardships deeply enough... What I mean is, it's a disturbing but somewhat shallow treatment. The author tells two stories, one old and one modern, and then brings the stories together. She has the annoying habit of drawing out and repeating phrases when I wished the story would just move on. One the plus side, the Parisian setting in the modern story was enjoyable and recognizeable. The characters were fairly flat and predictable... that was disappointing. Overall, it helped me learn about some interesting history, but I wouldn't recommend it as being particularly compelling or memorable.

Drive by Daniel Pink

Drive notes – Daniel Pink

Carrots and Sticks: The Seven Deadly Flaws

1.      They can extinguish intrinsic motivation

2.      Then can diminish performance

3.      They can crush creativity

4.      They can crowd out good behavior

5.      They can encourage cheating, shortcuts, and unethical behavior

6.      They can become addictive

7.      They can foster short-term thinking

From the flowchart on page 69:

Concentrate on building a healthy, long-term motivational environment that pays people fairly and that fosters autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Avoid “if-then” rewards in almost all circumstances. Consider unexpected, noncontingent “now that” rewards. And remember that those rewards will be more effective if:

1.      They offer praise and feedback rather than things people can touch or spend

2.      They provide useful information rather than an attempt to control

P. 174: “We’re bribing students into compliance instead of challenging them into engagement.”

P. 178: Offer praise the right way (Carol Dweck):

1.      Praise effort and strategy, not intelligence

2.       Make praise specific

3.      Praise in private – one on one

4.      Offer praise only when there’s a good reason for it

Page 194 – Peter Senge quote:

            “People with a high level of personal mastery are able to consistently realize the results that matter most deeply to them—in effect, they approach life as an artist would approach a work of art. They do that by becoming committed to their own lifelong learning.”

Page 73 – Behavior scientists Deci and Ryan: Human beings have an innate inner drive to:

1.      be autonomous,

2.      self-determined, and

3.       connected to one another.

And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.

Page 79

Type I behavior is made, not born. These behavioral patterns aren’t fixed traits. They are proclivities that emerge from circumstance, experience, and context. Type I behavior, because it arises in part from universal human needs, does not depend on age, gender, or nationality. The science demonstrates that once people learn the fundamental practices and attitudes—and can exercise them in supportive settings—their motivation, and their ultimate performance, soars. Any Type X (extrinsically motivated) and become a Type I (intrinsically motivated.)

Pink’s 3 elements:

           

1.      Autonomy

2.      Mastery

3.      Purpose

The Motivated Student by Bob Sullo

My notes...

Page 33:

Every time we learn something new, master some difficult concept, or increase our level of competence, we are internally rewarded. When we achieve success, our brains release endorphins…that make us feel good. The natural reward for learning is the good feeling we experience when we accomplish something. Paradoxically, working for external rewards diminishes the power of the internal reward system already wired into us. When we externally reward students in the classroom, we devalue learning and interfere with the body’s natural mechanism for rewarding learning and achievement.

Students thrive on feedback, and letting them know how close they are to achieving individual or group goals is helpful. Because students are naturally driven to achieve, it is helpful for them to see their progress. Keep the charts and posters, but let the excitement of achievement be the reward, rather than contaminating the joy of learning with a movie, pizza party, or even worse, a homework pass… When you recognize and celebrate learning for its own sake rather than providing external rewards, you will support your students’ natural deire to learn.

Monumental difference between rewarding and affirming. Rewarding is externally imposed and unintentionally implies that hard work and learning are not valuable in and of themselves. (p. 34): Affirmation is a very different, powerful way to support the drive to achieve. Ask: How do you feel about that success? Say: You have every reason to be happy and feel proud of yourself. Congratulations. I’m happy for you. This is affirming.

By affirming rather than rewarding, we are helping our students discover that learning feels good and that we are there to celebrate with them. Let them OWN the experience first. Then ensure that they make the connection and support them in their natural desire to become increasingly competent.

Maintain your celebrations, but give up reward programs that diminish the joy and value of learning.

page 38

Quotes Maslow…

All behavior, from birth until death, is purposeful, engaged in so that we can meet five human drives:

1.      To survive and be safe and secure

2.      To connect and belong

3.      To achieve power and competence

4.      To be free and autonomous

5.      To play, enjoy, and have fun

The difference in need strength among our students highlights the importance of differentiated instruction.

Page 39: When we introduce fear into the educational environment, the need for safety and survival dominates the attention of our students, and they are less driven by the need to develop academic competence.

Page 40: Individuals with an especially high need for safety and survival tend to avoid taking risks.

Regardless of the strength of their need to connect, all students have some drive to belong and connect. Since students are driven by a social imperative, effective teachers structure their lessons so students can meet this need while engaging in rigorous academic work. Failure to offer students a chance to interact for long periods only invites off-task behavior that compromises learning.

…you intentionally provide some choice and autonomy within a structure that supports your teaching objectives and the highest academic standards.

Page 48 (summary)

As we live our lives, we encounter people and engage in behaviors that help us satisfy these needs that drive us incessantly. We put need-satisfying people and behaviors, as well as values and beliefs, into our unique internal world, the source of all motivation.

We can move beyond the carrot and stick model of external control psychology and intentionally create environments that will inspire more students to do higher-quality academic work.

Maybe use this process below to brainstorm our project goals with our partners:

Page 155

WDEP – Bob Bubbolding (1989) created this tool:

            W: Identify what you want

D: Determine what you are doing to achieve your goals (both now and in the future (p. 159)

            E: Evaluate your progress

            P: Plan how to maintain your success or improve your performance

Page 160- Remember that effective self-evaluation depends upon both a well-defined picture of what you want and an accurate perception of what is happening. You have to know exactly what you want in order to know if you are being successful. That is why it is necessary that you develop specific goals for yourself. Then, to self-evaluate in a way that promotes growth, you must be completely honest with yourself about how things are going.

What makes the WDEP process such a powerful tool (p. 161) is that it ensures our self-evaluation is conscious. Many people go through life without full awareness of what they want, what they need to do to succeed, if they are being as successful as they would like, and what plans they should make for future action. The WDEP process allows us to bring intentionality and consciousness to our lives. 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I first saw this book in a booth at an Indian Education conference, and the title and cover art intrigued me. I read it in November 2010, and marveled at the author's ability to be funny and tragic simultaneously. It reveals so much of what I have seen during my many visits to our Indian reservations. After years of visits and hours of listening, I understand there are no simple answers to the problems there. This book brings many of the dilemmas to light in a poignant, sensitive, and sometimes harsh way. I especially enjoyed the illustrations in the book; they add to the authentic feel of the stories and definitely enhance the humor! I was so impressed with what this book has to say that I lent it to my good friend Pat. He also has experience on the reservation and I wondered what he would think about this book. He kindly gave me permission to share those impressions here:

 I finished Diary of a Part-time Indian yesterday and want you to know how impressed I was. While a bit of a struggle getting through all of the crude references, I felt that it was unfortunately fairly reflective of the age group and the issues they deal with. But more impressive, as you might suggest, was the theme of the book itself. It certainly paints an accurate picture of the reservation world. The author was very skillful at drawing out the comparisons--hope vs despair, pain vs love, change vs risk. In fact, each of these were relevant themes that made an impact on me. The whole discussion of a culture attached to the reservation yet in so doing depriving itself of any hope of betterment/improvement is worthy of debate. Do I deprive myself of hope by not risking, changing or leaving? I liked the author's point that we are all made up of tribes--subsets of a larger culture. That discussion alone gives some hope to such youth struggling with so many deficits. What are other tribes you are connected to that aren't so dysfunctional? I was very impressed with the theme that to nurture hope in that environment you have to leave (both Arnold and his sister left). I likened that to how when we left the pre-existence we did filled with optimism and hope, yet recognizing that to leave is both angst causing and risky. How many of our bro/sis are giving up on our own "reservations" of life now? The metaphor of alcohol representing Satan is worth discussing as well. He literally will lead us down to hell using any addiction, crutch, or vehicle we give him. Sin is indeed addicting.

Rarely do I finish a book with an interest in reading it again immediately. The more the author delved into the reservation world the more you wondered if Arnold would indeed escape its entrapment, hopelessness. I also appreciated the positive aspects of the Native culture--the connection with family, the ability to laugh, etc. I found it interesting, however, that he didn't mince words about reservations being concentration camps, about the curse of alcohol, etc. I look forward to one more quick read.

I have to admit that Pat's deep thinking made me feel like a lightweight! And it shows the value, too, of not just reading a book, but reflecting on its message and application to my life. I never thought about how this life presents us with our own "reservation" experiences! Very interesting thing to ponder. What is it in our lifestyle that is holding us back? So often we think that we can withstand temptation rather than fleeing it!

Like Pat, I appreciated the author's description of the positive aspects of the Native culture. I wonder if Alexie is saying that the only hope is to leave the reservation? Some believe their life's calling is to work to improve life there...not to flee it. I wonder, how does one retain the glorious aspects of one's culture and language if one leaves the tribe? Does one transplant it within a larger culture? And how often does the dominant culture choke out and persecute the transplanted ones? I keep thinking about the safety and security of the family unit, and how Native people view the family unit as much larger than we traditionally have viewed it...It's a wonderful wide web of aunties and cousins and adopted-in members, and everyone is connected. I know I am viewing this through my own limited lens, but it seems generous and open in a way that sometimes our dominant white European nuclear families are not. I love how the richness of the Native culture (and I realize there is not just one) has been opened up to me and enriched my thinking and life. I know my view is limited by my own culture, so I'm very grateful to the patient teachers who have helped me understand my limitations. Grateful, too, for honest authors who will give us an intimate view...

The Help

I had a day of traveling through airports and my sister Jane gave me the perfect traveling companion: The Help. It was a delightful blend of humor, history, very interesting and real characters, and poignant story. We're reading it in our book club, and I can't wait to hear what others thought of it. Two things I noticed...the author began and ended the book in the same house. I thought that was kind of cool, considering how the story spans several homes and years. The other thing I noticed is that it's a very feminine book. I know many women who have read it, but haven't heard of any man reading it. There is only one main male character, and we never learn what he's thinking. The story is told from three different women's point of view, and there is only one mail character that comes up much. So that was interesting...it describes a primarily woman's world from women's points of view.
When I really like a book a LOT, I tend to want to be in it til I'm done, despite what other things might be going on. I call this the addiction factor. I would rate this book as having an addiction factor of 9 on a 10-point scale. It's also a measure of the engagement of my brain in the story and this one was high. I also appreciated all of the wonderful philosophy and love and forgiveness that were shown by the characters. The courage was astounding. It was amazing to think, too, that all of this hatred and racism existed without question in Mississippi as recently as the 70's. I know it still exists, but this was very overt and violent without the benefit of protection of the law or system. Amazing...

Collected Wisdom and Seventh Generation: Native Students Speak About Finding the Good Path

South Dakota Teach For America uses two books to help orient their new teachers to life and school on our American Indian reservations. Collected Wisdom is teachers' voices, and Seventh Generation: Native Students Speak About Finding the Good Path has students' stories. Both of these books have helped me understand on a small scale the struggle and the pain of life as an American Indian today. There is also great hope and wisdom here! The hope comes from promising practices like supporting and honoring native languages and customs. These are both rich resources for anyone working in schools in South Dakota, whether or not they are located on a reservation. Both books helped me understand why there is such an urgency about preserving the Lakota Language and culture.

I read these books in the Spring of 2008, and in the intervening years have verified that these are accurate and hopeful resources for anyone wanting to understand better what they see on reservations.

Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart

At a Laramie boomers' reunion in October of 2010, Lona brought each of us a copy of this slim little book. She loved it and wanted to share it with us. As I read it, I understood why Lona loved it so. This homesteader is a lot like Lona! She's resourceful, brave, and a very hard worker.

I love the fact that these are a real woman's words describing her real experiences. It gave me a greater appreciation for all of my creature comforts! This woman was also incredibly brave and generous as she interacted with her neighbors and her harsh climate. In one chapter, "Among the Mormons," she encounters a polygamist group and the description is lamentable... It does give a glimpse, though into their lives and shows perhaps some of the reasons the practice was discontinued.

Here's an excerpt showing how this pioneer spent her days: "I have done most of my cooking at night, have milked seven cows every day, and have done all the hay-cutting, so you see I have been working. But I have found time to put up thirty pints of jelly and the same amount of jam for myself. I used wild fruits, gooseberries, currants, raspberries, and cherries. I have almost two gallons of cherry butter, and I think it delicious... There was a tang of sage and of pine in the air, and our horse was midside deep in rabbitbrush, a shrub covered with flowers that look and smell like goldenrod. The blue distance promised many alluring adventures, so we went along singing and simply gulping in summer."

That description is SO Wyoming! It probably stood out for me, because after living ten years in Laramie, I knew what she meant about "gulping" in summer! It's entirely too short there, so you savor every moment. A truly joyous book, rich desciptions, and wonderful real people as characters. This is a treasure. I only wish she had written more letters so we'd have a deeper look at her life and thoughts.

Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo

I think someone in my Courage to Teach work recommended this book, and the title intrigued me. So during the Fall of 2010, I picked it up at the used bookstore here in town. Basically it's the story of an uptight man loosening up during a road trip with a Buddhist. I enjoyed the descriptions of some of the towns they went through, enjoyed the way Otto's character developed, and also valued how Rinpoche lived what he believed. There were amusing parts as their two worlds collided, and it made me think a lot about being open to the present moment. Not a great read, but okay.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

I am a big fan of Jane Austen! I lived several decades where I read Pride and Prejudice annually and loved it every single time. And each year as I grew older, I loved it and appreciated it more. I had also read some reviews of Shannon Hale's other books. I had heard she is LDS, and that piqued my interest. I ordered it used from Amazon.

The premise is rather unlikely...a young American woman is gifted with a several weeks-long reenactment of life during Austen's time on an estate in England. The lines between acting and "real life" become blurred, and several complicated romances ensue. I enjoyed the lightness of this book, and found the humor to be bright and fresh. But it somehow missed for me...too many weird plot turns, and characters that were somewhat flat. Still, it was enjoyable for the most part. I read it on the road during the Fall of 2010.

French Dirt - The Story of a Garden in the South of France by Richard Goodman

Michael gave this lovely little French blue book with a sunny cover to Sierra, and she brought it over to me one day, thinking I would enjoy it. I did! It was the perfect summer read in 2010. The author took a year off of life in New York to spend it in southern France gardening.

It combines two things I love...France and gardening! The author has a knack for describing the French and assorted other characters and the little village in which they live. The chapters are more like meditations or essays rather than moving through a plot, although time and story do progress. He describes a way of life that resonates with me very strongly: "I was dirty. I was tired. I was sweaty. I was happy."

Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

I gave Melissa Prodigal Summer for Christmas 2010, which she loved. I hoped she would! I read it about every other summer and enjoy it every time. This book set Melissa on a path of other Kingsolver work. So, she asked me if I would be interested in borrowing Lacuna when she was done with it. "Yes!" I said, enthusiastically. I eagerly started in...and, surprisingly, found it hard-going. It was hard on several levels. First of all, I wasn't sure I understood what was going on. The structure was hard to figure out. And what in the heck did "VB" mean? The sentences were short, yet very descriptive. It wasn't at all the usual lyrical Kingsolver I was used to. And yet occasionally, there were glimpses of insights that were powerful. So I soldiered on.

About two weeks after she lent it to me, Lu asked how I liked it. I said I found it kind of depressing! I didn't enjoy the setting at all, found it all a little cryptic, and was surprised at how I wasn't loving it. I was determined to stay with it, though, and she agreed I should. She liked the setting...the craziness of Mexico and life with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera...I found it weird and couldn't relate at all. I was half-way through the book and still wondered if I would ever like it.

Then, about the time Violet Brown entered the scene, it all changed for me. The descriptions came alive and I fell in love with the characters. Something about Harrison Shepherd had grown on me...his utter humility and poverty of advantages. The second half of the book, I savored. Since most of it is written in Shepherd's voice, it was dawning on me how "his" writing and personality were developing over the course of the novel. I marveled at Kingsolver's subtlety! I also grew to love and appreciate the characters of Kahlo and Trotsky. Amazing how these are portrayed and would often cause me to laugh out loud or shed tears. The conversations were truly wonderful to read. It also makes me want to study Rivera's and Kahlo's art...

Other amazing things about this book are the way she teaches history...the level of detail and research that went into this are incredible. And how did she capture the mind and heart of a gay man in such a sympathetic, understanding, and heart-wrenching way? And how did she ever capture the patter of Tom Cuddy, the hep cat??? The closing years of this epic overlap with the year of my birth. It's crazy to read of the political realities that were extant in that era--the witch-hunting of Communists. Kingsolver brings this despicable chapter in our history into reality in a very painful way. Americans being unamerican and all that meant. I will definitely reread this book, and probably enjoy the first half more, now that I know what is going on. The structure is so unique...part diary, part letters, part editor additions...

A sampling:
Violet Brown: "It's true I lost a husband in the flood of the French Broad River in '16, Freddy Brown, and that broke a young girl's heart. But this was worse. My heart had grown older, with more in it to break. I can't put words to that afternoon. He would know words for the feelings I bore, but I only knew the feelings."

"Memories do not always soften with time; some grow edges like knives."

There is a whole deeper level of understanding one would get from the humor and pathos if one understood Spanish. There's plenty in the book; not all of it translated. That is a layer that eludes me. An evocative book. 
Read in February 2011

War Dances by Sherman Alexie

This is my second Sherman Alexie book and it wasn't as good as my first (Absolutely True Diary etc). These are loosely connected essays rather than a novel, which is what I was expecting. Some typically great Alexie humor and insights here...but not real engaging or compelling. Too bad! Luckily, I didn't buy it! I picked it up off a "free" table when Len and I were walking around a hotel in Kauai! So I read it on the plane on the way home...January 2011