In March, I read 11 books and they were all very different. I read a very fun, but serious fiction book. I read a book about a Syrian refugee. I read about people persecuted for their faith.I read two classics and only enjoyed one of them. I learned an author’s thoughts on art and faith. I learned more about how our president thinks. I read a book about marketing and a book about organizing. I read a book about how one man helps hundreds of veterans. I also read an inspirational book full of adult language. I really like the variety of books that came into my life this past month. Here’s what I read:
Creating art can be a very spiritual experience? But how much does a spiritual life affect art when it’s created? Madeleine L’Engle, the author of A Wrinkle in Time and numerous other books, explores the bonds between faith and art in Walking on Water: Reflections of Faith and Art. Her honest thoughts of how her faith journey can be seen in her writing gives great encouragement to Christians who create, but don’t fit the “Christian art/music/book” mold.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ckis full of adult language to discuss a very adult topic – being an adult. Being an adult is all about setting priorities, making decisions and living with the consequences of those choices. The book is full of solid advice – not about how to not care about things, but about how to care for the right things. Once you set priorities, much of life doesn’t need as much time and attention. If the book had a subtitle, it would be “But Learning to Give a F*ck About the Right Things.”
Called to the sea, Robinson Crusoe defies his parents wishes and joins a ship’s crew. His first few voyages are successful, although there was one where he ended up being a slave for a few months before escaping – with his own slave in tow. He ends up buying a farm in Brazil and settles down for a while before heading out to sea again – to join the slave trade. The boat is shipwrecked and he is the lone survivor on an island. As the days turn into years, he realizes that his chance for rescue is very slim and he focuses on creating a life for himself on the island.
Eleanor’s life thrives on a routine – well, thrives might be the wrong word. It’s a rather boring life, but it’s a life Eleanor can handle. The less emotion in her life, the better. She doesn’t know how to deal with being happy or sad. She can handle being bored. She works, eats, listens to the radio, reads and drinks vodka – over and over again. Until one day a coworker follows her as she leaves work and they see a man fall unconscious and they both help get him to the hospital. Her routine slowly gets shaken up from then on and she can finally find a way to deal with why she is the way she is.
Florentina Ariza has been in love with the same woman since he was a teenager. They swore their love to each other and even planned marriage, but after some time apart, Fermina Daza turns him down after they meet again. In his despair, he tries desperately to get her to change her mind, but nothing helps. So, his mother intervenes to send him away, but he ends up getting a job with his uncle in the same town. Fermina Daza goes on to marry a doctor, not knowing that Florentina Ariza keeps a close eye on where she is and what she does.
Gary Sinise is a champion for veterans, overseeing the Gary Sinise Foundation that helps veterans with housing, supports widows and provides fun opportunities for children who lost their parents in military service. But, how did he become such an advocate for veterans when he never served in the military? His roots trace back to Chicago where he knew his grandfather had served and he knew the treatment that Vietnam veterans received when they returned home. While pursuing a career in music and acting, his respect for the military showed when they would have veterans nights at his acting company, Steppenwolf. Then, he got the role of Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump and he started joining USO shows. The more veterans he met, the more he wanted to help.
Outer Order, Inner Calm is a great book on getting your life cleared of clutter. Rubin follows a mantra of letting each person find their own way out of their clutter, but offers some solid tips in the book to help you find the right way. I have implemented some of the tips, including the “One-Minute Rule,” where if something can be done in one minute, do it now. If you are ready to get your life organized, read this book now!
What does a typical day look like for a successful businessman? For Donald J. Trump, there was no typical day. Each day had its own unique collection of phone calls, meetings, press coverage, family time, site and building inspections, talks with lawyers – but it was all part of making deals. When The Art of the Deal was written, Trump was one of the richest Americans.
Doaa had big dreams growing up in a peaceful town in Syria. However, when she was in her teens, war came to her country – her own government was attacking its citizens for wanting more freedoms. Eventually, the military came to her town and made life dangerous for everyone – but especially, Doaa as she was participating in the protests. Finally, her family decided to leave and go to Egypt as refugees. Their own country was not a safe place anymore.
Hearts on Fire tells the stories of eight women who faced persecution because of their Christian faith in countries all over the world – Russia, Romania, Bhutan, Indonesia, Pakistan and China. Some women face imprisonment, some are kidnapped, some are tortured – yet, each woman stands firm. Their stories are inspiring.
Why do some things go viral and others miss the mark completely? Contagious: Why Things Catch On explores the world of marketing and what works to catch people’s attention. Marketing campaigns need to contain at least one of five key elements – social currency, triggers, emotion, public aspects, practical value and a story. As a person who helps people with public relations, I found this book very insightful!
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What books did you read in March? Share on the blog – I’m always looking for good books to read!
