Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World is an essential book for our time. Newport argues — quite persuasively — that smartphones and their constant connection to social media are degrading our quality of life. He offers ample proof of this, and offers a plan that
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wmtc: what i’m reading: poisoner in chief: sidney gottlieb and the cia search for mind control — plus a few thoughts on conspiracy theories
Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction. It is impeccably researched — nearly every page yields another revelation — but written in a clear, accessible style, a true page-turner. The story it unfolds is utterly fascinating. It is also
Continue readingwmtc: 11.11 readers’ advisory meets "at your library" in the north island eagle
At Your Library by Laura Kaminker Celebrate and commemorate Remembrance Day with a good book or three Readers have told me they enjoy the themed booklists I’ve shared. Remembrance Day is an occasion to share another list. The Great War, as it was known at the time, has inspired countless
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: harlem shuffle, exciting new fiction by colson whitehead
I’ve been reading Colson Whitehead since his debut novel, The Intuitionist, caught the attention of critics in 1999. With every successive title — each entirely different than the previous one — I’ve loved and admired his writing more. This blog is full of posts about Whitehead’s work and how much
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: john steinbeck and me
I recently read Mad at the World: A Life of John Steinbeck by William Souder, part of my new-found interest in biographies over the past few years.* Instead of reviewing the book, I thought I would write about the presence of John Steinbeck’s writing in my life — its history, its
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: you could look it up: the reference shelf from ancient babylon to wikipedia
This must be the book-nerd-iest post ever, and unless books are your profession, possibly the biggest book geek-out you’ll ever read. And I’m proud to bring it to you. You Could Look It Up: The Reference Shelf from Ancient Babylon to Wikipedia, by Jack Lynch, is a joy to read,
Continue readingwmtc: a childhood book and a dream for humanity: in henry’s backyard (1948)
When I was a child, my family had a book called In Henry’s Backyard. My siblings and I read it repeatedly. The book tells the story of a man who learns that all the “races of man” are equal. Over many years and decades, my brother has mentioned this book,
Continue readingwmtc: friends and family road trip reunion: day thirteen: portland: books, street art, food
Portland is as advertised: an interesting city with a lot going on. We both look forward to returning, perhaps before or after a family visit. We got only a taste of the town, but it left us wanting more. In the morning, we dropped off the dogs, along with their
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the heartbeat of wounded knee: native america from 1890 to the present
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee is a fascinating nonfiction. Part hidden history, part contemporary journalism, plus a dash of personal memoir, this ambitious book offers a new perspective on the Indigenous peoples of North America, in both the past and the present. Historian and journalist David Treuer, who is Ojibwe,
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: a chance to win great prizes, just for reading
In my last column I highlighted incentives being offered by the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) for kids to read, and for teens to stay engaged in learning, through the Summer Reading Club and the Teen Summer Quest. I briefly mentioned the Adult Summer Reading Challenge, and some readers of
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: stress reduction one of the top 10 benefits of reading
A regular reader of this column asked me, “I spend a lot of time reading, then I feel guilty because I’m wasting time. ….” Reading is many things, but it is never a waste of time! Here are the top benefits of reading. 1. Reducing stress. We live in stressful
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: celebrate asian heritage at your library
As I mentioned here, I’m posting three of these columns each week until I’m caught up. May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) invites you to celebrate. People of Asian heritage have lived in Canada since before Confederation, and have contributed to every aspect
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the cold millions by jess walter
There is an accepted wisdom that socialism and communism failed, and capitalism prevailed, because the former is bad, and the latter is good. That humankind rejected socialism and embraced capitalism, because socialism is unnatural and unsustainable, and capitalism reflects the natural human condition. This accepted wisdom, like so many others,
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: we could use a laugh
As I mentioned here, I’m posting three of these columns each week until I’m caught up. Booklists: We Could Use a Laugh I have one last booklist for you before I write about other things for a while. As the pandemic enters its second year, we could all use more humour
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: hidden gems of historical fiction
Booklists: Hidden Gems of Historical Fiction Here’s a booklist you may want to save: historical fiction. This genre brings history to life, by letting readers view it through the eyes of ordinary people. Sometimes there’s a romance or mystery set against a backdrop of an earlier time. Often there’s a
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: hidden gems of fiction
Booklists: Hidden Gems of Fiction Here’s a list of 10 so-called literary novels. These are great reads that will move you, make you think, and maybe make you sad when they end. Here are ten novels that could be called hidden gems. Title: White TeethAuthor: Zadie SmithA big mix of
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: meet amazing people through reading
As I mentioned here, I’m posting three of these columns each week until I’m caught up. Booklists: Meet Amazing People Through Reading In my last column, I suggested ten travelogues that might tempt you. Today I’m highlighting ten memoirs – great writing by fascinating people with a unique view of
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: book lists: travel the world by book
Book Lists: Travel the World by Book In my last column, I promised you lists of books on various topics. I’ll highlight ten books in each column. You might want to clip and save them! Travelogues The pandemic put all our travel plans on hold, but we can always travel
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: happy new year and happy book lists
Happy New Year and Happy Book Lists 2020 was such a difficult year. Most of us were not sorry to see it go! Your library is here for you, dreaming of a time when we can open our doors wide and welcome everyone back inside. Do you ever wonder what
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: there, there by tommy orange
After finishing and marveling over Kate Reed Petty’s True Story, I picked up There There by Tommy Orange and had a similar reaction. I don’t read a lot of popular fiction, so reading two debut novels back to back, and really enjoying both of them, was a wonderful surprise. What does it mean
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