Many scientists deeply involved in the exploration of the solar system (myself among them) were first turned in that direction by science fiction. And the fact that some of that science fiction was not of the highest quality is irrelevant. Ten-year-olds do not read the scientific literature. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Happy Thanksgiving (2019) |
2018 | And Smiles… |
2017 | Or Savor A Little Longer… |
2016 | Sometimes I Just Want To Smell The Flowers |
2015 | One Truth – Done Well |
2014 | Now In Imagination, On The Other Hand… |
2013 | No Plan, No Map |
2012 | Singing About Love |
2011 | The Awesome Power Of Truth |
Posts Tagged ‘Reading’
And Most Adults Don’t Either
Posted in Education, Quotes, Reading, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Exploration, Quotes, Reading, Science Fiction, Scientific Literature, Scientists, Solar System, Ten-Year-Olds on November 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Books And Blogs
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, Writing, tagged Experience, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, Socrates, Time, Writing on November 21, 2020| 2 Comments »
Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for. | |
― Socrates | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | #45 Is The Inverse |
2018 | A Message To The White House Press Corps |
2017 | Eeny Meeny Miny Moe |
Binge, Binge, Binge | |
2016 | Feeling Warm Yet? |
Four Documentaries | |
2015 | Just Like All The Others |
2014 | In My Own Vanity |
2013 | Filled With Words |
2012 | Lectio Auget Existentiae Meae |
2011 | Lied Lately? |
2010 | Born To Work At Faux News |
Lost Again (Uh, Make That Still) | |
Qui Genus Humanum Ingenio Superavit | |
They’re Back… (Part 1) | |
And The Same Goes For Blogs / Posts
Posted in Quotes, Reading, Writing, tagged Blogging, Books, Meaning, Quotes, Reading, W. Somerset Maugham, Writing on July 11, 2020| 2 Comments »
The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you. | |
–– W. Somerset Maugham | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Not Enough |
2018 | One Thing We Do Know |
2017 | Preservation |
2016 | Going Back |
2015 | Just For Today |
2014 | Reaching For Destiny |
2013 | Still Just Passing Through |
2012 | Live Or Die |
2011 | On Secession |
2010 | A Rocky Weekend |
I Think Reading Books Is A Good Place To Start
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Reading, Writing, tagged Empathy, How to Talk To Each Other When There's Little Common Ground, Institutional Change, Novels, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Readers, Reading, Road Rage, The American Conversation, Time Magazine, Tommy Orange, Understanding Others, What Novels Can Teach Us, Writers on September 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »
…The onus is always on us, we the oppressed, to challenge a system that wants to conserve its traditions and traditional values. We come to understand that if we want to be included in the American conversation, we have to work twice as hard while being told that we’re lazy, or that the government gives us money, and then told that we’re angry if we bring up the problem of racism in public spaces or when it doesn’t feel like the right time. So we keep putting off these conversations, or we’re having them on the Internet, where it’s too easy to be anonymous and therefore cruel and selfish. It’s like car drivers behaving dangerously on the road, simply because they’re hidden behind metal, glass and distance. In our more personal online spaces we fill our feeds exclusively with people we agree with. If there is conflict below a post or tweet it never feels like a conversation – only like road rage. | |
So if we can’t seem to find ways to talk in person, or online, when and where and how do we talk? I think a novel is a kind of conversation. Both the writer and the reader bring their experience to the page. The reader’s experiences and ideas can be reshaped, challenged, changed. I know, I’m a writer, so of course I think the answer is books, but I think reading books is a good place to start thinking about and understanding people’s stories you aren’t familiar with, outside your comfort zone and experience. A novel will ask you to walk in a character’s shoes, and this can build empathy. Without empathy we are lost. I tend to read mostly novels and have come to understand the world better through the lens of novels. When someone else’s world is different from our own, we see how we are the same. We not only become more empathetic to their experience but we see how we are equal. We also see how much upper-middle-class white male writing has been the only thing taught in schools, the only experience for so long – most of the time anyway. I think institutional change can come by teaching women, teaching writers of color. We will all be better for it. I like that novels ask us without seeming to ask us to think about other people, to understand the many-storied landscape of this country we live and die in – with or without truly knowing or understanding them. | |
— Tommy Orange | |
Excerpt from his editorial / opinion piece: “What Novels Can Teach Us“ | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine, dtd: 5 November 2018 | |
Online at: https://time.com/5434396/tommy-orange-novels-conversations/ | |
Online the article is titled: “How to Talk To Each Other When There’s Little Common Ground“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | And Pay In Full |
2017 | If Only |
2016 | Equal Justice |
2015 | Not Enough |
2014 | Are You Even Listening? |
2013 | Namaste |
2012 | Looking Up |
2011 | Et Tu Brute? |
What Do Your Children See You Doing?
Posted in Education, Quotes, Reading, tagged Books, Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia, Quotes, Reading, Students on July 1, 2019| Leave a Comment »
The best students come from homes where education is revered: where there are books, and children see their parents reading them. | |
— Leo Buscaglia | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | Is #45 STILL Losing America |
2017 | We Sleep To Remember And We Sleep To Forget |
2016 | Useful Gift |
2015 | Who’s The Boss? |
2014 | What Counts In The Future |
2013 | Improper Sequence? |
2012 | Two Gems |
2011 | A True Test |
And/Or A Great Soulmate
Posted in Family and Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, tagged Great Books, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, William Styron on June 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »
A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading. | |
–– William Styron | |
[In life, a great partner / soulmate / spouse should share their life and deepen yours. — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | Dead Red |
You Ain’t Done Yet | |
2017 | Just Because |
2016 | As Close As They Can Get |
2015 | And So I Blog |
2014 | Take Flight |
2013 | Contributing Joy |
2012 | More Than A Race |
2011 | Institutionalized Leadership |
A State With No Business
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Books, Films, Movies, Philosophy, Politics, Privacy, Quotes, Reading, The First Amendment, Thurgood Marshall on May 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »
If the First Amendment means anything, it means that a state has no business telling a man, sitting alone in his house, what books he may read or what films he may watch. | |
— Thurgood Marshall | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | Reflections |
2017 | Opposites Attract |
2016 | Completely Unreasonable |
Starting To Be A Reacher | |
2015 | Avengers Assemble II |
But If I Had To Perish Twice… | |
2014 | Turning Pages |
2013 | We Are All Accountable |
2012 | American Sign Language |
2011 | Happy Disproof |
2010 | Book Review – Managing Your Government Career |
Maybe A Slight Advantage
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, tagged Advantage, Good Books, Mark Twain, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading on February 9, 2019| 2 Comments »
The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. | |
— Mark Twain | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | As I Recall |
2017 | Truly Generous |
2016 | Choose Your Destiny |
2015 | Fast And Firm |
2014 | Neither Head Nor Heart |
2013 | Lonely, Foolish, Love Songs |
Batting 1.000 | |
Coward, n. | |
2012 | At Least A Little More Difficult |
2011 | Speaking Of Fear |
Let Us Dare
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Daring, Leadership, Philosophy, President John Adams, Quotes, Reading, Speaking, Thinking, Timidity, Writing on December 9, 2018| 2 Comments »
The true source of our suffering has been our timidity. We have been afraid to think. . . . . Let us dare to read, think, speak and write. | |
— President John Adams | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Two Good To Be Real |
Secrets | |
2016 | Learning Subtle Differences |
2015 | Dog Eat Dog World? |
2014 | And Sometimes Blogs About It |
2013 | Outside-In |
2012 | They Are All Perfect |
2011 | Delegation – The “How-To’s” |
2009 | Diet Update and Other Bits & Bobs… |
Maps For Those Difficult Times
Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, tagged Answers, Books, Difficult Times, Echo Boy, Maps, Matt Haig, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, www.mylittlebookblog.com on October 17, 2018| Leave a Comment »
A book is a map …. There will be times in your life when you will feel lost and confused. The way back to yourself is through reading. There is not a problem in existence that has not been eased, somewhere and at some time, by a book. … The answers have all been written. And the more you read, the more you will know how to find your way through those difficult times. | |
― Matt Haig | |
From his book: “Echo Boy“ | |
Quote found on: mylittlebookblog.com | |
The specific post is located at: http://mylittlebookblog.com/2015/05/04/a-book-is-a-map-there-will-be-times-in-your-life-when-you-will-feel-lost-and-confused-the-way-back-to-yourself-is-through-reading-there-is-not-a-problem-in-existence-that-has-not-been/ | |
[Another of the many blogs I follow. It doesn’t seem to be updated as frequently as it used to be, but it still has some interesting posts and is worth a visit if you have some time. — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | A True American Hero |
Or Desserts | |
2016 | What #AmnestyDon Is Really Afraid Of |
2015 | What Are You Doing? |
2014 | The Ideal Man |
2013 | Daring Ripples |
2012 | Evermore |
2011 | Unpredictable Opportunity |
2010 | Giants Fall In Game 2 (1 to 6) – Leave PA With 1-1 Split !! |
Don’t Break It
Posted in Quotes, Reading, tagged Books, Edward P. Morgan, Quotes, Reading, Thoughts on June 13, 2018| Leave a Comment »
A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it. | |
– Edward P. Morgan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Representative Government For The 99% |
2016 | Trying To Ignite Ice |
2015 | Or Increasingly Unwilling To Pay For… |
2014 | Returning Time |
2013 | Gentle Invitation |
2012 | Pleading The Insanity Defense |
2011 | Graduations And Conservatives |
The Big Sin | |
Daydreams And Wanna-Be’s
Posted in 2018 Book Review, Book Review, Reading, Reviews, Writing, tagged 2018 Book Review, Book Review, Half-Price Books Store, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft -- book review, Reading, Stephen King, Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, Very Highly Recommended Book, Writing on June 9, 2018| 1 Comment »
“On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” (2000©) — book review | |
Who hasn’t day-dreamed of writing the “great American novel” and becoming wealthy and celebrated? Okay, maybe not me in over 40 years, but still… | |
Today’s book review is for “On Writing“, by Stephen King. Yes, that Stephen King. The horror novelist / writer. Well, actually, he does write in other genres, too, but that’s the one I know him for. This book came recommended to me by various sources – some “best of” lists and also a couple of blogs / sites I follow. I found it on sale for $3 at my local Half-Price Books store, so I snatched it up. | |
The book is basically a three-part tome: King’s life leading up to writing, how to write well, and finally, advice on life and how to get started getting your writing published. Part one is extremely interesting and amusing. I got several belly laughs out of it. Part two is mundane, yet (probably) useful. I have already begun applying some of King’s suggestions in my own writing here on this blog. Part three will probably be useful if I ever (again) imagine myself sitting down to write the great American novel or autobiography. One of King’s recommendations is to write about what you know. I’m afraid the only thing I know the most about is me. (Sad, but true.) | |
So, final recommendation: very highly recommended! Is this the finest book I’ve ever read on being a writer. Yes! With the qualification it is also the only book I’ve ever read on being a writer. Having said that, it is a fast read at less than 300 pages and I found it enjoyable and informative. And, of course, multiple quotes will appear on this blog in the future… | |
One last mention: King recommends all wanna-be writers start off by reading Strunk & White’s “The Elements of Style“. (According to part 1 in the book, King is a former high school English teacher. Go, figure.) Fortunately, for cheapskates like me, the book (“Elements“) is out of copyright and you can find it in pdf format at multiple locations on the web. At fewer than 30 pages, it should also be a quick read. The book cover on Amazon looks very familiar, so maybe King’s book is the second book I’ve read on writing. LOL… I probably read “Elements” in high school and blotted the contents out of my memory. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Summer Pale |
2016 | Ain’t It Funny |
2015 | At Both Ends |
2014 | Whiner(s) |
2013 | Just Passing Through |
2012 | Dog-gone Heaven |
2011 | Occasional, Sad Results |
Booking My Trip Into The Expanding Universe
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, Science and Learning, tagged Books, Learning, Madeleine L'Engle, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading on May 30, 2018| Leave a Comment »
A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe. | |
— Madeleine L’Engle | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Fear Instead Of Convictions |
2016 | Memorial Day – 2016 |
2015 | A Handful Of Reviews |
And You Can Quote Me | |
2014 | Get Wisdom |
2013 | Enjoying The View? |
2012 | Adam’s Rib |
2011 | I’m Sure I Remember That… |
Memorial Day, 2011 | |
And Blog To Word Up To The Universe
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, tagged Aloneness, Philosophy, Quotes, Reading, William Nicholson on May 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »
We read to know we’re not alone. | |
― William Nicholson | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Or Revisiting A Blog Site |
2016 | Alas, Too Often The Latter |
2015 | Either / Or |
2014 | Memorial Day – 2014 |
Perfection | |
2013 | Memorial Day Video |
Equal = Equal | |
2012 | Congrats, Nephew!! |
Doggie Vision Networks | |
The Flash: Omnibus | |
JLI: vol 1 | |
Flash: Rebirth | |
Burning Images | |
What Do You Believe? | |
2011 | Are We Still At War With The Poor? |