Do you like to read? I like reading. I just finished a book called the Undoing Project by Michael Lewis. Lewis tells the story of Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, two Israeli behavioral economists who have changed the way we think. I also recommend Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow where he describes in understandable terms the theories that helped earn him a Nobel prize in economics. Kahneman argues that "our cognitive biases act like optical illusions."
When I'm not reading, I often garden. Right now my family and I are up to our necks in fava beans after picking them in preparation to plant tomatoes. And, I like to hike and run marathons. This last weekend I "ran" the San Francisco 50k which takes place in the Marin Headlands. Do you know what an awesome place we live in? It's amazing. I’m also running the Skyline 50k on August 5. And, I'm coaching X-Country this next year, again.
Your first assignment is to find a nonfiction book either off the list or one you have consulted with me about. Essentially, I want you to check-in and begin reading. Your responsibilities are to 1) provide the title and author for the book you are reading 2) give a brief summary of what you know about the book; read the first page and describe what you expect from this book 3) describe why you chose this book, besides its placement on my list; make a connection between the content of the book, the author's style, or simply the author and YOURSELF; why this book?
Some things to mull over as you read. First, all authors make choices about what they include in a work and how they say it. A nonfiction work purports to be truth, but we see that writers, speakers, artists shape the truth. What choices does your author make? Is s/he leaving anything out or focusing on one idea or incident too much? Speculate why. Is their style academic, hifalutin or conversational? What choices do they make in terms of syntax(word arrangement; sentence length; parallel structure; conventions) and diction(word choice) or what is the tone? Consider who the author is, their purpose and the audience they are writing to. Just some ideas to ponder.
Also, if you're an undisciplined reader, create a calendar for yourself which says you will read x amount of pages this week or day so that you finish by August. Because we’re quite a bit this summer, you will want to be systematic about it-- don't leave it for the end-- it's too much. I schedule the blogs so that we respond to the non-fiction book, then the articles, and then I will post questions specific to The Awakening starting on August 1.
RECAP: A) answer the questions around your nonfiction book B) as part of this, make a personal connection to the book. Respond by 10:00 PM June 17. Next blog will be due on June 24. Cheers! I look forward to reading your responses.