Books

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I have found a way to partially fill in those gaps: Complete Idiot Guides...
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Philosophy
The Complete Idiot's Guide to 20th Century History
The Complete's Idiot's Guide to the History of the Old West
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology

I have also discovered that Barnes and Noble offers free online courses in various subjects, such as Business Etiquette, Your Home Spa, Herbal Medicine, as well as home decorating, literature, history, computer programming, etc. The course usually last about a month. I am using these courses to "fill in" my education as well.

These courses have gotten me reading other books: Fisher's and Ury's Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Covey, Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach, From Dawn to Decadence by Jacques Barzun, for example.

I also read How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci by Michael Gelb for a Free Barnes and Noble class of the same name. I have a little problem with this book: 1) Gelb states the Renaissance was the beginning of new things after years of nothing in the Middle Ages, which is a commonly held belief. I disagree. Those artisits and writers didn't create something brand new out of a vacuum. There was something that came before. If you read From Dawn to Decadence by Jacques Barzun and / or take the B&N class by the same name, you'll see what I mean. 2) Why does Gelb associate being New-agey with guillible? New Agey (as Gelb puts it) encompasses spirituality and religion. Is he equating religion with being guillible (it's on one of his tests-I don't have book next to me right now). Further on, Mr. Gelb recommends aromatherapy! If that isn't new age, I don't know what is.

In addition, the way he presents using sight-as the end all and be all of thinking like Leonardo DaVinci, is insulting to people living with visual impairments. He seems to be implying that, if you can't see (or see well enough to do the exercises in the book), you can't think like DaVinci. He states the second most important sense after sight is hearing. So, if someone lives with a hearing impairment,... I guarantee you there are a ton of people with visual impairments (Ray Charles) and hearing impairments (Beethoven) who think like DaVinci (and have way surpassed any abilities I, who have the use of all of my senses, will ever achieve).

Then, wait until you read how DaVinci loved beauty and it's opposite, so he would follow people with disfigurements or handicaps around and then go home and draw them. One time he invited to dinner every disfigured/ugly person he could find then got them laughing so their features became even more grotesque, and he spent the next day drawing all of them! And we're supposed to admire him for that????????

Or maybe we can implore Mr. Gelb to edit his book and choose better (and less offensive) examples from DaVinci's life. Picture yourself living with some kind of impairment and reading this book. Truly put yourself in that person's place, then justify the examples Mr. Gelb has chosen. (Notice I have not mentioned DaVinci here-DaVinci's life has been lived and his decisions have been made. He IS dead. Mr. Gelb, on the other hand, as far as I know, is not).

I have a list I still want to read as well: John Adams by David McCullough and Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis to name two. My Christmas list has over 30 books on it-want to buy me one:)?

UPDATE: I got both books for Christmas-Founding Brothers and John Adams. Both excellent books. I recommend reading Founding Brothers first, so you can get a "feel" for what these men were like (Adams, Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, Burr). This book uses vignettes from each person's life to explain how politics worked during the revolution and the beginning of our country.

Once you have read Founding Brothers, you have a basis for understanding John Adams. This book is very well written (as is Founding Brothers), and gives you an understanding of John Adams, the man. It follows somewhat of a chronological order, but not always. By the end of the book, however, you understand what motivated him, and how he really didn't change as a person over time. He had a good idea of who he was and what he wanted, and pursued his dreams. They didn't always work out perfectly, but John Adams had no doubt about who he was-good and bad.
I am always interested in the personal stuff-especially how many children lived until adulthood. I caught one error. The author has the death of one grandchild on the family tree- but "forgets" about it throughout the book. I emailed the Massachusetts Historical Society, and they confirmed the child did die at age one (it was Nabby's son, Thomas). Some of John Adam's grandchildren lived until the early 1900's.



And just for fun...

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , Harry Potter and the Secret Chamber , Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Akzaban , and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling--Okay so they're not real, but they are fun! My 20 year old--who NEVER reads for pleasure--read these books, after seeing the movie. She convinced me to read them, and I'm glad she did. All of the books are entertaining even for adults. I recommend them!

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Occasionally I love a good murder mystery, too.

My favorite science fiction writer is Isaac Asimov , especially his robot short stories.

There are so many great books on adoption. My reading list has included Lois Melina�s Raising Adopted Children plus books by Jayne Schooler, David Brodzinsky, and The Broken Cord by Michael Dorris . I�ve read Barbara Tremetiere�s Large Adoptive Families; A Special Kind of Normal and Cherry Register�s Are Those Children Yours? Claudia Jewett�s two books on adoption and the grief process (Helping Children Cope With Separation and Loss and Adopting the Older Child) are not to be missed.

I try to read as broadly as possible on adoption, and not just read books that relate to our son�s adoption. He was adopted out of foster care, but I have read how-to books on international and private infant adoption, also. I have read books by birthmothers and by adult adoptees. I also read books about the history of adoption (The Orphan Trains by M.I. Holt) and books written for adoptees (How It Feels to be Adopted by Judith Krementz) and for children in foster care (Lost in the System by Charlotte Lopez , Suitcases by Anne Hall Witt, and The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson).

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Biographies