Book List

**This post has been edited to account for the books I have read and my thoughts on them**

As promised, here is my tentative book list for the coming year.  I am under no illusions that I will be able to read them all (some of them are pretty long) but I like to have goals.  After all: “if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time” ~ Zig Ziggler.  The books I don’t get to this year I will try and get to next year, or the year after that.  I have them sorted into categories for my own organizational pleasure, but I will be reading them in a random order.  I will also likely have several going at a time, ’cause that’s how I roll.

FYI, this is a long post…

I’m very ambitious…

You might want to get some popcorn or a piece of cake.

Is it chocolate?  Can I have a slice?

Ready?

Mentoring the Classics

Do you remember when I told you that I enrolled in a Mentoring the Classics course?  These are the books I will be reading for it and (since I’m paying for this class) they take priority over my other book choices.

Dumbing Us Down - What is wrong with our compulsory educational system.  I have started this already and am amazed (and more than a little horrified) at the insight into our public educational system. – Done – EXCELLENT!

Gift from the Sea - Amazon summary says “In this inimitable, beloved classic—graceful, lucid and lyrical—Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down during a brief vacation by the sea. Drawing inspiration from the shells on the shore, Lindbergh’s musings on the shape of a woman’s life bring new understanding to both men and women at any stage of life.”  To be honest, this doesn’t sound like something I would normally choose to read, but that is why I’m taking this class, to stretch myself and get out of my comfort zone. – Done – Hated it.  Review here.

Pride and Prejudice - A classic worth reading every year or so.

The Present Crisis by James Russell Lowell – an influential, abolitionist poem written in the before the civil war.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona - Shakespeare is always worth reading

The Chosen - Another one that I’ve been meaning to read for years.

Les Miserables - Everyone should read Les Miserables, at least once… this is my year

The Inner Ring by CS Lewis – I’ve read this before but it’s extremely thought provoking.

A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe: Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science - I received this for Christmas

Jane Eyre - My favorite book from high school.

Little House in the Big Woods - you never get too old for some books.

Spiritual

Sadly, my list of Gospel related books is pretty sparse.  I will have to add a few more because these are the books I will be reading on the Sabbath.

Women and the Priesthood - This is a hot topic these days and I’ve been looking forward to this book.

The Continuous Atonement - I read Continuous Conversion and it was EXCELLENT.  I expect nothing less from Brad Wilcox

For Times of Trouble - Elder Holland gives some of my favorite talks.  I fully expect to be equally lifted by this book

The Peacegiver: How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts and Homes How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts and Homes - I read this a few years ago and it was incredibly uplifting and thought provoking.

The Great Divorce - I’ve read this before as well, but it’s certainly worth reading again.

History

I am a sucker for history.  It’s one of my favorite subjects!

The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America - This book show several examples of free market vs government backed business’s succeed (or not) in history.

Execution by Hunger: The Hidden Holocaust - People know about the estimated 11 million people who were killed by Hitler and his Nazi regime over the course of twelve years.  Far fewer people know the about the many instances of execution as a direct result of implementing the communist agenda.  One such instance is the Holodomor in which Joseph Stalin ordered the confiscation of food from and restricted the movement of the citizens of Ukraine.  Up to 12 million Ukrainian citizens were estimated to have starved to death… in one year… because of his policies.  Depressing?  Yes.  Important?  Incredibly!

The Forgotten Man - The Great Depression is one of those subjects that always intrigued me as a child, but my history professors would quickly kill anything interesting or worth remembering.  This book promises to breath life back into the subject with stories of the individual people who were affected.

Camp Adair: The Story of a World War II Cantonment -   Camp Adair is the story of a US POW camp located in Oregon.

Miracles and Massacres: True and Untold Stories of the Making of America - Just because I’m a patriot doesn’t mean I believe our country’s history is perfect.  Our government was responsible for countless atrocities against it’s own people.  This book tells us of both the beloved and shameful parts of our nation’s history. – Done – An excellent collection of unknown stories from our nation’s past.

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot - The last several days of JFK’s life.

A History of US: War, Terrible War: 1855-1865 A History of US Book Six - This is the volume we are currently working on in school for US history.  It’s a little too old for my kids, but it’s easier for me to mentor them if I have actually read about the subject I’m teaching  I don’t own the whole series (I like to judge each volume separately) but I have been very pleased with this one as well as the book five.

Science

Science Left Behind - Debunks junk science that is often touted by the MSM and policy pushing politicians these days.

The Story of Science: Aristotle Leads the Way, The Story of Science: Newton at the Center, The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension - Since I’ve been *mostly* happy (so far) with Joy Hakim’s work in history, I’d like to give her new science series a chance

Exploring Creation with General Science – Lucy starts middle school in September… I need to finish this book before it’s her turn!

Politics

America the Beautiful - My realtor stopped by a few weeks ago and dropped this book by.  I have to admit that I’ve been interested in Ben Carson ever since his talk at the presidential prayer breakfast.  Seems like the kind of guy this country needs!  I read both Romney’s and Obama’s books during the last election cycle (as well as several of the people running in the Republican Primary), so I fully expect to want to read the books of the other people who may be running (though I’m not even remotely interested in Chris Christie… just in case you were wondering.)  Ben Carson is on my short list.  As is Allen West and Rand Paul.

The Liberty Amendments: Restoring the American Republic - This book has some proposed amendments to the Constitution that would clarify and restore the principles that we were founded on, as well as some that would stop the runaway spending and never-ending bureaucracy of the government.

The Naked Communist, The Naked Socialist, and The Naked Capitalist - I have been working my way through The Naked Communist and was astounded by the kinds of policies that were put in place in communist regimes.  For example, a decree issued in the Soviet of Saralof said:

…the right to possess women between the ages of 17 and 32 is abolished [aka marriage]… this decree, however, not being applicable to women who have five children… no woman can any longer be considered as private property and all women become the property of the nation… Any man who wishes to make use of a nationalized woman must hold a certificate issued by the administrative Council of a professional union, or by the Soviet of workers., soldiers or peasants, attesting that he belongs to the working class… Every worker is required to turn in 2% of his salary to the fund… Male citizens not belonging to the working class may enjoy the same rights provided they pay a sum equivalent to 250 French francs, which will be turned over to the public fund… Any women who by virtue of the present decree will be declared national property will receive from the public fund a salary equivalent to 575 French franks a month..

Any pregnant woman will be dispensed of her duties for four months before and three months after the birth of the child… One month after birth, children will be placed in an institution entrusted with their care and education.  They will remain there to complete their instruction and education at the expense of the national fund until they reach the age of seventeen.  All those who refuse to recognize the present decree and to cooperate with the authorities shall be declared enemies of the people, anti-anarchists, and shall suffer the consequences.

In layman’s terms, women of childbearing age are sold into prostitution with the government acting as her pimp.

Another Soviet document says “There is no such thing as a woman being violated by a man; he who says that a violation is wrong denies the October Communist Revolution.  To defend a violated woman is to reveal oneself as a bourgeois and partisan of private property.”

This, my friends, is Communist “liberation”.

Economics

Capitalism and Freedom - Matt knows how I love Milton Friedman.  He decided it was time that I stopped watching his videos on YouTube and started reading his books  Thomas Sowell is another economist I want to read, but since Friedman was his mentor, I’ll start with him.

The Road to Serfdom - Another book I’ve been meaning to read for ages.

Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business - I’m STOKED to read this one!  It’s by the founder/CEO of Whole Foods.  A communist turned libertarian

Biographical

Biographies is one of my favorite ways to learn history.  It’s the people and the stories that make it come alive, after all

Stalin - This is a man who was responsible for twice as many deaths as Hitler (not including the soldiers who died in the WWII).  It’s unfortunate that more people don’t know about his life and rise to power.

The Last Lion: Visions of Glory, The Last Lion: Alone, The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm - This series comes highly recommended.  Winston Churchill is England’s George Washington.  I’m eager to learn more about him.

Witness - American journalist and Communist spy, Whittaker Chambers later renounced communism and later exposed and testified against Alger Hiss, another spy.  Are we seeing a pattern here?

Peter the Great: His Life and World - again, a highly recommended biography about a man during a time often overlooked in Russian history.

  George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist (Done, very good except for a few politically leading remarks) and Up from Slavery - I’m excited to read these books and teach the kids about these remarkable men!

Exposing the Real Che Guevara - Another dude I’ve been wanting to learn more about.

Military

 

American Sniper and Lone Survivor - Matt’s favorite genre of book is military.  These are two I’ve had my eye on.

Educational/Parenting

A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion and Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens are the two of the four books I have yet to read about implementing a Leadership Education

Parenting the Ephraim’s Child: Characteristics, Capabilities, and Challenges of Children Who Are Intensely More - I have two boys (so far) who are very… um… intensely more.  Yes, that’s a good phrase for it!  I’m looking forward to some tools to help raise them well without squashing their little spirits.

Novels

I like a good story as much as the next gal, so here are my novel choices for the year.

A Light to My Path - This is the third in an historical fiction series on the Civil War.  I have LOVED them so far and am eager to finish the third and final book. – Done – I love Lynn Austen and this book was just as fabulous as the others in the series.  A wonderful view from a slave’s perspective.

The Eye of Moloch - This is the sequel to The Overton Window.  A political thriller.

The Lonesome Gods - This is a classic by Louis L’amour.   It’s on the recommended reading for a Leadership Education.

   The Walking Drum and Last of the Breed are two of Matt’s favorite books.  I think it’s about time I read them, don’t you?

The Book Thief - I’ve heard good things about this one and I’m excited for the movie

 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Two classics I’ve never read.

The Freedom Factor - This is a fictional account of what our country would be like if we did NOT have the Constitution.

 The Emperor’s Soul and The Rithmatist are both Brandon Sanderson novels.  I love him!  His books are the only ones that consistently surprise me.

We the Living - Atlas Shrugged was extremely enlightening.  I hear We the Living is similar but without the smut.

The Great Gathering (Standing in Holy Places) - I have heard good things about this series.  Kind of a “what might happen to the faithful Saints when the world falls apart and our government collapses”.  Sounds right up my ally – Finished the whole series of five books.  Very thought provoking premise but would have been a much more enjoyable read in the hands of a better author.  That being said it is definitely worth reading.

A Woman’s Place - This is a novel that takes place during WWII, when the women were asked to leave their homes to fulfill the roles their husbands vacated when they went off to fight.

Well, there you have it.  A glimpse into my soul.  An up-close and personal view of my inner-most educational desires.  How does it feel to know me this intimately?

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