I ended last year with some very specific goals for myself in 2015. One of those goals was to read more. Instead of waiting until the end of the year to make one gigantic list, I am going to post a monthly book report of what I’ve been reading. And instead of just listing the titles, I wanted to give my two cents while the books were still fresh on my mind.
This Is Your Do-Over (Ruizen)
This book has been a game-changer for me. There was a lot of information in this book but the author took a few chapters at the outset to give a little “mini-medical school” so readers would have some context for his ideas. All of the book’s suggestions are common sense but having the scientific hard data to back them up made wanting to implement the ideas that much more concrete for me. I’ve been walking 10,000 steps a day (or getting darn close) every day since the end of February when I first picked up the book!
Summer versus School (Pedersen)
Despite the fact that my own children left traditional public schools over four years ago, I am still intrigued by educational reform in America. (For one, it further confirms my choice to homeschool). This book was an interesting read. It gave a historical perspective on why schools have long-held a lengthy summer vacation. An antiquated reasoning for sure, it seems as though there are many, many reasons now to NOT take a long summer break. I’ll be honest, when I taught school, having summers off was a major perk. However, now that my educational philosophy has evolved, this is kind of a moot point. Our learning isn’t confined to a school calendar. We live a learning lifestyle all day, every day. I’m curious whether actual classroom teachers have read this study or have a strong opinion one way or another.
Rewire Your Anxious Brain (Pittman)
Whoa Nelly! This book was a major eye-opener for me. As someone who has dealt with (sometimes) plaguing anxiety, reading the neuroscience behind the madness opened up a whole new world to me. For those who are fortunate enough NOT to deal with anxiety, admonitions of just quit worrying or quit thinking about it are actions that are literally impossible. Anxiety is a chemical response and I finally now understand the different roles of the amygdala and cortex. I usually don’t quote from the book or Amazon, but this information is too good to leave out. If you deal with anxiety, I HIGHLY recommend this book.
“In the book, you will learn how the amygdala and cortex (both important parts of the brain) are essential players in the neuropsychology of anxiety. The amygdala acts as a primal response, and oftentimes, when this part of the brain processes fear, you may not even understand why you are afraid. By comparison, the cortex is the center of “worry.” That is, obsessing, ruminating, and dwelling on things that may or may not happen. In the book, Pittman and Karle make it simple by offering specific examples of how to manage fear by tapping into both of these pathways in the brain.As you read, you’ll gain a greater understanding how anxiety is created in the brain, and as a result, you will feel empowered and motivated to overcome it. The brain is a powerful tool, and the more you work to change the way you respond to fear, the more resilient you will become. Using the practical self-assessments and proven-effective techniques in this book, you will learn to literally “rewire” the brain processes that lie at the root of your fears.” {Amazon.com}
I Work at a Public Library (Sheridan)
Finding Casey (Mapson)
Better Than Before (Rubin)
