Posted on 06/26/2006 6:29:51 AM PDT by Mr. Silverback
What are you taking on vacation this summer? Probably the iPod, the Gameboy, maybe even the DVD player—nothing wrong with that. Music and movies can be enriching as well as relaxing. But they’re no substitute for that classic summer tradition of reading books.
Unfortunately, many of us are so hooked on technology that we’re in danger of losing our taste for good books. But we need books to exercise our mind, to explore important ideas, and to provide great topics for family discussion.
So I’ve got a few recommendations for summer reading, starting with a book by one of my closest friends. Michael Novak and his daughter Jana have collaborated on their second book together, Washington’s God. Michael was asked to write it by James Rees, executive director of the Museum and Visitors’ Center at Mount Vernon, who was always getting requests for “a book on George Washington’s religion.”
Michael and Jana discovered that much of the conventional wisdom about Washington was wrong. You’ve probably heard that Washington observed only the outward forms of religion for appearance’s sake. But by the accounts of those who knew him, George Washington’s integrity was such that he never would have done anything just for appearance’s sake. For example, he would have considered it hypocrisy to keep urging his soldiers to pray for guidance and protection, if he himself had not prayed regularly or believed in a God who answered prayer. Michael and Jana provide a detailed portrait of the man’s faith, in large part by “try[ing] to take Washington’s words about God seriously,” instead of dismissing them as so many historians have done.
Another book you ought to add to your list is Rodney Stark’s The Victory of Reason. This book also reveals truths that political correctness has long tried to bury—namely, that Christianity led directly to the success of Western culture. It was Christianity’s emphasis on reason as a gift from God that gave us our rich heritage in science, politics, and so many other fields. I’ll be talking more about The Victory of Reason in the weeks ahead—so stay tuned.
As you pack the new books, don’t forget to throw in a few old ones as well. It was C. S. Lewis who advised, “You should at least read one old [book] to every three new ones. . . . We all . . . need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period.” On our website, BreakPoint.org, we have lists of recommended books that include many of the great classics—including some by Lewis himself. I urge you to check it out. Or call us at 1-877-322-5527, and we’ll be glad to send you our recommendations.
The last thing I want to do is make your summer vacation sound like work. We all need relaxation. But we also need to nourish and re-energize our minds and spirits as well as our bodies, and that can be just as much fun as the video games. So as you pack the electronic toys, make sure you don’t forget the books.
If anyone wants on or off my Chuck Colson/BreakPoint Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.
BreakPoint/Chuck Colson Ping!
If anyone wants on or off my Chuck Colson/BreakPoint Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.
Can anyone recommend any books about Newton, the scientist?
BTW, if you do anything with advertising and marketing, I heartily recommend "Hey Whipple, Squeeze This!" by Luke Sullivan, and if you like to write you should read "The Well-Fed writer" and "Back for Seconds" by Peter Bowerman. If I hadn't read Bowerman, I wouldn't be managing editor of a trade magazine these days.
Ping...
Not about him per se, but a well-written history of the telescope and those who advanced the design. Book is titled: "Stargazer: The Life and Times of the Telescope."
You could always read The Principia...
I found an abbreviated advance reader copy for Joel Rosenberg's The Copper Scroll, which is scheduled to come out in August. The premise is that HUGE oil reserves are found in Israel (looks like this may actually be true) and all that comes with that discovery. Interesting suspense novel.
I heard his interview on the Limbaugh show the other day. It's been years since I read any fiction (other than reading the Narnia books to my kids), but his stuff sounds really interesting.
I didn't realize he had been on. I know Joel used to write for Rush, and Rush has often recommended his books, but he doesn't usually have him on for interviews. I don't read much fiction at all but his books are worthwhile reads. The amazing thing is that a lot of what he has written as fiction has later come true (i.e. terrorists flying planes into buildings).
Hedgecock was hosting the show on friday (sorry, should have mentioned that) and he always does at least one interview. Joel just came back from a swing through the Middle East, and he says that he thinks there's a big war brewing. Hedgecock mentioned that even John McCain has been heard using the word "Armageddon" lately.
I hope you're reading that "Jesus Papers" garbage for amusement. To believe Jesus is a legendary figure, all you have to do is forget everything we know about the propagation of myths and legends, and about the history of the First Century.
One of my favorite paintings.
Bibliopath ping
(Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this ping list.)
Thanks, no problem. Joel seems to have a good read on the pulse of what's going on over there.
For amusement indeed. I found "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" and "The Messianic Legacy" intriguing, if untrue, and I like alternative history and speculating. I'm a junkie for Grail and Templar books.
And to make matters worse, my B&N has just stocked way the hell up on Templar books! Aieeeee!
Put me on that ping list, please.
Have you seen "National Treasure?"
Rosenberg's blog is linked. Interesting stuff. A lot of stuff about Russia (the elephant in the room that no one seems to want to talk about).
http://joelrosenberg.blogspot.com/
Leaving on vacation July 19. Bump for some ideas.
Right now I'm just finishing "Billie Holiday: Wishing on the Moon," and before that it was Elmore Leonard, "City Primeval, High Noon in Detroit" (from 1980) and of course "Godless" by Ann Coulter.
Nope - Nicolas Cage movies go to the bottom of my list because I find him annoyingly adenoidal and wish he would just blow his freakin' nose already.
I've heard it's a fun fluffy thing, though!
I am definitely interested in "Godless." I've often thought that a similar book, one that deals with the Religious Left, would be really fun to write.
Thanks for the ping.
Nice recommendations from Chuck Colson, whose opinion I highly respect.
My summer reading looks to be all Nelson period Royal Navy. I'm finishing the 7th installment of O'Brian's Aubry/Maturin series. I cannot recommend these books highly enough. Simply brilliant. I usually have no use for historical fiction, but that series is the exception.
I also just ordered a biography of Lord Nelson that should be here any day now.
bump for later when I find my old "book club ping list" that I haven't pinged since last summer . . .
Also, the room where they keep it is very cold. :O)
In lieu of actually visiting it, one can experience it online here.
And, as you may have heard, the premise is that the Masons grew out of the Knights Templar and the Founders were tasked with guarding the Knight's vast treasure.
Thank you again for a great pinglist. My bibliopathy is chronic and advanced.
For anyone interested in a dark mystery, I recommend anything by Irish author Adrian McKinty (Dead Yard, Hidden River, Dead I May Well Be).
A definite "must miss" is The Godfather Returns, by Mark Winegardner. Don't waste your money.
A fascinating individual.
Nine hundred years of wear and tear, not 1900!
Those are among my all-time favorites. I second the endorsement.
Library!
Also, I think everybody should read Freeper LS's new book, "America's Victories." I'm waiting for my copy as of now, but everything I've seen so far promises something great.
Is it still a shameless plug if it's somebody else's book? :-)
Heard his interviews. . .he is on my list for reading. . .funny to see this; as I intended to 'google' him just prior to coming here this morning; but could remember his first name. . .Thanks(!)
Apologies to all for that graphic not working. Let's try another:
Here's a working link to images of the Tapestry (actually an embroidery).
I don't know if any new Newton book that might appeal is out.
But PBS's NOVA had a fairly recent episode on "Newton's Dark Secret"
that covered his dabbling in alchemy and his personal and out-of-the-mainsteam
religious views.
I think there is a link to "links and books" on this homepage for the
episode; looks like books on Newton came out in 2003 and 2004.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/newton/
Here's the "links and books" page:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/newton/resources.html
I would say to get a copy of "Beyond Ban of Brothers-The war memoirs of Major Dick Winters". Major Winters advice on leadership is briliant, and the book is a good read.
It's fluff, of course, but it's fun fluff and doesn't seem to get old.
No.*
* An entirely self-serving statement, since someday I might want your help in that regard... ;O)
Sorry, typing lapse. It is "Beyond Band of Brothers". Published by Caliber Books. The copy I have was a Military Book Club selection.
I have a book with the whole Bayeux Tapestry, including photos of the back. It's about 15 years old, I guess, and was made when the Tapestry was cleaned and rehung in the 1980's.
I've reproduced some of the pages (with modern colors). It's a very interesting stitch. This was before I had all these babies, of course.
Finally, I cannot recommend too highly the superb Baroque Cycle of Neal Stephenson, of which Quicksilver is the first book. Much insight in this historical novel about Newton the scientist (and magician!)
I saw that WWII History magazine carried an excerpt, and wondered if it was good stuff. I'll definitely take a look.
Oh, just wanted to note that I loved the Band of Brothers miniseries. I think it was one of the great achievements in film history.
Life is good. ;-)
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