The Books that Changed Our Lives

The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture by Wendell Berry

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

First, a confession: I haven't read Mr. Pollan's book. I imagine I'll read it eventually, but there are only so many pages a working mother of two can get through.

I did just finish the Wendell Berry book. Josh urged me to read it now that he's become a great believer in the small family farm, including convincing me it should be our family goal. I have no problem with the small family farm; perhaps because it's already in my genes, but I agreed to read the book because he was so excited about it. I found it a convincing argument against commercial agriculture at the expense of the small farmer. I can understand how Josh feels because having read it, I'm now anxious to begin our little family organic farming experience, complete with draft animals. (The desire for draft animals may die down, though Josh and I have discussed keeping a horse once we're established, for riding and other fun.)

I'm not going to write much here simply because I haven't the time, but if you're interested in the Papsdorf family dream, these books will give you an idea where we're headed.

Wow - I Read a Book

It's been a long time since I posted about a book. I've actually read a few (including skimming an entire list of over 50,000 baby names), but this is the only one really worth talking about.

Gulag: A History
by Anne Applebaum

Ok, so it's not really happy reading, but it's a great book. It's well-researched, well-written, and well-documented. I grew up during the Cold War and remember the breakup of the Soviet Union, but am ashamed at how little I really know. This book was a great introduction to some Soviet history, even if the main topic was a bit disconcerting.

On a lighter note, it was nice to have this to read when I was delayed at the airport last July. It helped put some perspective on my situation.

I'd write more, but I'm tired. You should read this book.

Timepieces of the Past

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
by Dava Sobel

Ms. Sobel is a science writer with a special place in her heart for John Harrison, whose exquisite clocks are at the heart of this book. She describes their movements and innovations in flowing prose. More importantly, John Harrison was a genius who was unfairly treated during his lifetime. It's a quick little read and well worth the time, especially if you have any interest in history, engineering, timepieces or sailing.

Special thanks to Dan who suggested I'd enjoy this book and even leant me his copy.

Fighting Diseases, Again

The Forgotten Plague
by Frank Ryan, M.D.

This book took me ages to get through. I can't really explain why since it is a well-written look at the lives and research of the scientists and doctors that pioneered the advances against tuberculosis. The best reason I can give is that the binding is a little tight and it hurt my hands to hold it open (already suffering from tendonitis from all the typing and clicking I do for work).

If you are interested in the fight against germs and want to go a little farther back in time, I do highly recommend Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif.

The Way We Never Were

Huck's Raft: A History of American Childhood
by Steven Mintz

This is a long but interesting book that covers the experiences of children in America from Puritans and Colonial periods through the present. I was very impressed with it right up until we reached more modern times. I first checked the notes when I read broad generalizations about how divorce doesn't really hurt children as much as people feared and found (instead of supporting evidence) references to studies that did find dramatic effects into adulthood. It made me wonder then about some of Mr. Mintz's scholarship for the earlier chapters, though not enough to go back and check all the previous notes.

I gleaned a few overall points from the book. First and foremost, the way people remember childhood and the way we view childhood in past generations always leaves out the roughest lives. So Americans remember a childhood that never really existed. Childhood today is usually much better than for the majority of children in any given time in the past. (One difference for the worse seems to be an increasing proportion of children living below the poverty line, though the effects of poverty can be mitigated with some programs available today.)

Secondly is his belief that adults today view childhood and youth with ambivalence and therefore create greater stress and confusion for young people. The young are protected from "real life" in a world created for them (schools segregated by age, organized activities organized by age, lack of employment because of child labor laws, the need for advanced degrees before entering the work force) and yet are exposed more than ever to the harsh realities of life through TV, increased stress in schools with mandatory testing and the race to get into the "best" schools (from preschool to college), youth culture and consumerism. "The result is a deepening contradiction between the child as a dependent juvenile and the child as incipient adult."

Personally, as a woman of child-bearing age, I'm glad to live when I do. He calculates a Puritan woman's "lifetime chance of dying from childbirth ran as high as one in eight." Yikes. Also, throughout history, the mortality rate for children was enormous. Our children are much more likely to live to adulthood.

I do agree that children are separated too much from adults and other mentors. Extended families are spread throughout the country so aunts, uncles and grandparents are not as involved. Even interaction with adults in the community is curtailed, partly by the fact of school taking up so much time and also from parental fears (not entirely unjustified) of letting children roam around town with other adults.

I also think young people are not allowed to take on responsibilities as they grow older. I'm not suggesting I'd like to return to a time of child labor or that we'll need Caleb to contribute to the family welfare by working on the farm, but a 16 year old boy should be developing a sense of maturity and responsibility in some way besides getting good grades and not crashing the car. I know I didn't have much responsibility at that age - not even cooking dinner once a week. I survived, of course, but I think there could be great benefit in asking young people to contribute to family and society with activities appropriate for the age.

Luckily, we have some time to figure that out for our own kids.

New York Tragedies

Triangle: The Fire that Changed America
by David Von Drehle

Usually I don't post the books I've read because I'm too busy. Recently, I've been too busy to even read. I did have a chance to check out this book from the library a couple of months ago. (Yes, this is the last book I read. It's been a very busy time.) It is a well-written history of the worst workplace tragedy in New York City until 2001. My favorite parts of the book were those that focused on the individuals trapped in the fire or those that narrowly escaped. I love learning the stories of real people, especially when I feel like the author has scoured primary sources as the notes to this book suggest. You might also be interested in this book because the author draws a direct line from the Triangle fire to the people and politics of the New Deal (which is how the fire changed America).

Personally, I just love reading about New York City. I found this book fit in well with what I learned watching the New York documentary (ahh, the glory of Netflix), which I also highly recommend.