The Read Room

TED Talk > Hans Rosling: No More Boring Data

2010-03-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Watch > Hans Rosling: No More Boring Data

As someone who has always enjoyed data and statistics (I know, I'm weird), this talk was particularly interesting for me to watch. Hans Rosling is clearly so passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about global health, and he is able to effectively communicate his message because he understands that the message can only be as effective as the medium with which it's delivered.

He knows that showing graphs and numbers isn't going to grab someone's attention (not for that long, anyhow) or more importantly, move them to action. He takes his brains and his passion, and fuels it into creating a medium that will help him deliver his message clearly, interestingly and effectively. His foundation, Gapminder, developed a software called Trendanalyzer, which "converts international statistics into moving, interactive and enjoyable graphics" (Wikipedia). And boy, does it work well.

[My Key Lesson]
Many of us are passionate and knowledgeable about something, and when we want to share this with others, we're often not as effective as we would like or hope. How can we apply Hans Rosling's success to our own passionate messages? How can you use your brains and passion to make an impact? What can you do to change the way you deliver your message?

Follow Through

2009-06-20T02:38:00.000-07:00

It turns out I'm terrible at it. Though, I think this is something I've known for a while. I am working on it. Stay tuned this month for plenty of catch-up as my resolve renews itself.

Seth Godin - Tribes (7/52)

2009-02-21T21:11:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, I know - I've already read Godin, but I requested this book a few months back and there is over 100 people on the wait list, so I wasn't about to pass up on the chance to read Godin's latest offering, Tribes. If I had to describe Tribes in one sentence, "a call to a action" would be it. Much like The Dip, Godin attempts to agitate those who are floundering or stuck in the status quo to become movers, shakers, and most importantly, leaders.

Godin describes a tribe as "any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea." He argues that in order for these tribes to be successful, or at least effectual in any way, they need to have visionary, energetic and highly dedicated leaders to lead them... and he insists that you are that person. Now you might be thinking, well that's silly! Not everyone can be a leader... and yes, in most cases that's true. Godin admits that timing is very important, and it may be that at this time, you don't have what it takes (skills, attitude, gusto, etc.) to lead, and that's okay. On the other hand, if you want to lead, then you have the opportunity and absolutely must take advantage of it. You probably don't realize that you belong to a heck of a lot of tribes, and that many of them are probably in need of a great leader like you. Your call to action can come from any of the existing tribes you belong to. Failing that, you can always start a new tribe!

One of my favourite parts of the book is the stories Godin includes about real-life people who have stepped up to lead or create tribes and have achieved tremendous success. As an animal lover, my favourite story was of Nathan Winograd, who is an animal rights activist who has taken it upon himself to reform how the SPCA deals with unwanted animals. It's very inspiring to read these stories because they empower you to believe that you can do the same - that you too can grab the reigns, lead and make a huge impact.

One thing that was quite interesting and rather surprising was Godin's focus on highlighting the difference between religion and faith. As a reader, I thought it an odd subject to cover in a book about marketing, but as a Christian, I found it to be very insightful. Basically he argues that the two are at odds because "faith is critical to all innovation" and religion is the "set of rules that... we have overlaid on top of our faith." Since religion supports the status quo, many religious institutions are flailing due to their inability to change, adapt and remain relevant (*cough*CatholicChurch*cough*). I am very lucky to belong to a church that is indeed very dynamic and open to trying new initiatives, but I do wonder how many churchgoers are lit up and impassioned by their faith and how many are simply going through the motions of religion. A church (or for that matter, any tribe) cannot grow and thrive when its followers are participating routinely - they need to be actively involved and engaged so that the church can flourish.

What's interesting is that while Godin is considered a "marketing guru," I have found his books (at least the two that I have read so far) have focused more on self-development and empowerment. When I first heard of him, I figured he would talk about how to effectively sell products and services through promotions and advertising. And I suppose he is doing that, but in this case, the product is YOU. He urges his readers to realize and unleash their potential and provides them with the tools and words of wisdom to create change and make a difference... and in doing so, develop an attractive brand for themselves. It's definitely a cool concept, and one that I'm glad he has undertaken because reading his books have certainly helped me to figure out what kind of person I want to become and plan out the steps I will take to become that person.

Ishmael Beah - A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (6/52)

2009-02-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

Ishmael Beah was only 13 years old when he was recruited as a child soldier to fight in the war in Sierra Leone. This is his story. Beah is a marvelous storyteller and though his story on its own is quite compelling, his mastery of words truly brought his story to life.

The experiences Beah recounts are so unbelievable and horrifying that the book is sometimes very difficult to read. When he talks about the first time he killed a man, I got shivers up and down my spine. It is heartbreaking to read Beah's story - to see how such an innocent child was systematically and inhumanely transfomed into a killing machine. It's even more heartbreaking to think that he was only one of thousands upon thousands of children who were forced to commit heinous war atrocities. But Beah's story is not one of heartbreak - in fact, it is one of hope and humanity. Beah proves that light can come from even the darkest of places. In telling his story, he has educated and enlightened the world on the horrifying events that transpired during the war and put into motion the beginnings of rehabilitation and healing.

What I really enjoyed in his memoir were his stories of people uniting and helping each other despite the atmosphere of distrust and fear that the war rebels cultivated and enforced through terror. How he and his friends stuck together through thick and thin, and learned more about life and humanity within the span of a few years than most of us will ever experience in our lifetimes. How the strangers they encountered had lost everything yet still shared what little food or shelter they had.

There isn't really much more I can say about this book, other than please read it. It will change your life and the way you regard humanity.

Chris Hedges - I Don't Believe in Atheists (5/52)

2009-02-07T22:07:00.000-08:00

By far this has been one of the most thought-provoking books I have ever read. Chris Hedges, who was a foreign correspondent for nearly twenty years for The New York Times and won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002 as part of a team of reporters that covered global terrorism, challenges the tenets of an emerging movement known as "new atheism." Led by Richard Dawkins, Chirstopher Hitchens and Sam Harris, these new atheists believe that moral progression is achieved, not through faith and religion, but through reason and science. As a result, Hedges argues that they have created a new form of fundamentalism that is startingly similar to the religious fundamentalism it means to attack.

The book starts off very intensely, with a long and weighty chapter entitled, "The God Debate." I was initially put off by Hedges' strong language and bold, often repetitive, statements, but I'm glad I stuck it out because he makes some truly compelling arguments. I think part of the reason it took me a while to really get into the book is because it is catered to an American audience. As Canadians, I don't think we've felt the effect of this atheism movement as strongly since it attacks Islamic fundamentalism, which has played a significant role in American foreign policy. Hedges believes that this new movement has emerged to help justify the American occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan under the banner of freedom, civilization and democracy.

These new atheists believe that "we are advancing as a species toward a world that will be made perfect by reason, technology [and] science" (pg. 9). Hedges vehemently disagrees; his main thesis argues that "the belief in collective moral advancement ignores the inherent falws in human nature as well as the tragic reality of human history" (pg. 10). He supports his arguments by referring to great thinkers, philosophers, scientists and authors such as Marcel Proust, Joseph Conrad, Sigmund Freud, Charles Darwin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Aldous Huxley, the list goes on. Truly it is Hedges' well-articulated arguments, combined with strong evidentiary support and his relevant experience as a foreign correspondent, which required him to live with and learn about the people of the Middle East, that convince his readers of his point of view. Hedges does a great job of informing his readers in the matters of history, politics, religion and science in order for them to fully understand how he came to his assertion and belief that these new atheists are just as destructive and frightening as any Islamic fundamentalist.

What I really enjoyed about Hedges was his ability to remarkably toe the line between science and religion. He is a graduate from seminary of Harvard Divinity School, but is also skeptic of religious institutions, which he argues are too easily corruptible to be trustworthy. In that sense, Hedges is in a unique position to critique both secular and religious fundamentalists without worrying that he has some hidden personal agenda to convert readers to his "side" since he doesn't belong to one. I liked how he presented his arguments and supported them with logic and evidence, without pressing the reader to choose religion or science and reason over the other. Instead he argues in favour of continually investigating new trains of thought to challenge our current ones because we, as humans, are forever evolving and our attitudes always changing, so it is of utmost importance to remain open-minded and avoid absolutist thinking.

I absolutely recommend this book. It really forced me to think about philosophy (I've got some research reading to do!) and the meaning of life in a different way, which was uncomfortably refreshing. Having said that, part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much is because my beliefs are somewhat aligned with Hedges' in that we both believe in religion and science co-existing in a way that isn't fundamentalist or necessarily contradictory. My only complaint about the book (aside from my initial concerns as stated above) is that I felt there were times when Hedges made his scope too wide, including certain aspects that didn't seem to tie in as directly to and therefore detracted from his main thesis. That said, I still recommend this book because even if you don't agree with what he says and he rambles on for longer than is probably needed, it will at least enlighten you to a different point of view and provoke you to think beyond your current philosophies and beliefs. I will probably do a book by Dawkins or Hitchens soon to counter balance this one, so keep a lookout for that in the coming weeks!

Fluff of the Month: John Grogan - Marley & Me

2009-01-31T23:26:00.000-08:00

For those of you that know me, I am a HUGE dog lover. I’m the kind of person who stops to pet other people’s dogs as they go on walks, squeals audibly when I walk by Kits Beach and see all the dogs playing in the water, and can’t wait for the day when I have a lifestyle that agrees with having a dog of my own. In high school, one of my friends actually had a dream where was I was the “Crazy Dog Lady” à la the “Crazy Cat Lady” from The Simpsons.

I commute to work via bus, so I often read to pass the time and ensure that I stay on track with my resolution. However, I knew I wouldn’t be able to read this book in a public setting when I started tearing up (on the bus!) while only reading the foreword. Yes, I’m that much of a sap. For dogs. Needless to say, I absolutely loved Marley & Me.

The book is an autobiographical story of columnist John Grogan, his family, and his yellow Labrador, Marley. You’re thinking, so it’s a story about a guy and his dog, but it’s so much more than that. You can tell that Grogan really gets in touch with his softie side to write this book. We follow his journey as he switches jobs, moves houses and has children with his 4-legged pal by his side. The fact that Marley is a bit wacko adds a dash of humour to entertain the audience.

I don't know, maybe you have to be a dog person to truly enjoy this book? Both my roommates read it and also enjoyed it, but definitely not to the extent as I did. I was snuffling and bawling my eyes out in bed and covered in blankets as I finished the book. Lindsay actually came into my room to check on me because she heard crying and became worried. I had planned on going grocery shopping later that day and couldn't leave the house for another hour after I finished the book because my eyes were so puffy and my skin blotchy.

If you're a dog lover, definitely read this book. If you're meh about dogs, I'd still recommend it because Grogan is a good writer. If you hate dogs... What on earth is wrong with you? Read this book and you will become a dog lover!

Shirin Ebadi - Iran Awakening (4/52)

2009-01-25T23:45:00.000-08:00

To be perfectly honest, I knew nothing about Shirin Ebadi and next-to-nothing about Iran when I picked up this book. Perhaps that was my attraction to it - to expand my knowledge on topics I knew little about. That, and I figured I couldn't go wrong with a memoir written by a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

While reading this book, I shocked myself with how little I knew about Iran's history. In elementary school, we learned about Canadian history, dabbled a little bit in Mesopotamia (I built a ziggurat for a class assignment!), and spent a unit on Nigeria, of all the countries in the world. In high school, we covered Canadian, American, and European history... because apparently those are the only places that matter. Most of my knowledge of the Middle East comes from what I see and hear from the news and a brief interview with my Dad, who worked in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Pretty much you could fly jumbo jets through the holes in my knowledge of Middle East history and politics, which is probably why I was so enthralled by this book.

I'm not going to summarize her story; you should read the book instead, so I'm just going to jot down some thoughts I had while reading it.

She offers some insight into why Iran (and much of the Middle East) has such a tense relationship with the United States. It is quite shocking how much power and influence the U.S. has over other countries, and how much they have gotten away with.

One of her main messages is that Islam is indeed a progressive and peaceful religion, but it can be twisted and defiled under the power of religious extremists. It's really interesting how she remains a faithful believer in Islam despite the horrendous atrocities the shah and his followers committed in the name of Islam. As a woman and an intellectual, Ebadi suffered terribly - she was stripped of her judgeship, she was forced to wear the hejab under penalty of arrest, she watched helplessly as women's rights were obliterated through the institution of the Islamic penal code (which stated laws such as the value of a woman's life was half that of a man's and a woman needed her husband's permission to divorce), and she was imprisoned several times for her beliefs.

Ebadi is fiercely nationalistic and she recounts how she refused to speak with her friends and colleagues who left Iran during the post-revolution oppressive rule of the shah. As I read the book, I was torn several times between thinking that she was incredibly strong for staying in Iran to fight against the injustices and that she was stubbornly stupid for staying in a country where she was treated like a second-class citizen and thus would never be able to reach her full potential. I know that if I were in that situation, I never would have been able to endure what she endured. I pondered why she didn't leave Iran, couldn't she have done more effective human rights lobbying on the outside? That's debatable, I suppose, but truly, she was able to make huge differences within the context of an extremist Islamic regime.

Whether or not you agree with her religion or her politics, it's undeniable that Shirin Ebadi has had an incredible influence on the people of Iran and on human rights internationally. I really enjoyed reading her memoir, and learning about the life of an Iranian woman growing up in post-revolutionary Iran through her eyes. Definitely worth a read, and has inspired me to learn more about Iran, the Middle East, and Islam.

David Bornstein - The Price of a Dream (3/52)

2009-01-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

I first heard about the Grameen Bank and the idea of micro-loans during my final year at UBC (which sadly reveals my delayed knowledge in international affairs). I had heard that the founder, Muhammad Yunus, had won a Nobel Peace Prize for this innovative loan management program, so I figured that as a business student and a self-proclaimed "global citizen" I should read up on the Grameen Bank. So I did.

This was an interesting read in light of the fact that I haven't read Banker to the Poor which is written by Yunus himself. Bornstein provides a great perspective in that he explores both the successes and failures of Grameen. His book is based upon his two visits to Bangladesh, during which time he interviewed Grameen employees, members, and Yunus. The book is thoroughly researched - it delves into the history of Bangladesh to give the reader a more in-depth understanding of the underlying causes of the severe poverty faced by its people and carefully tracks Yunus's progress from the fledgeling Three Share Farm to the now infamous Grameen Bank. Bornstein also does a great job of explaining to readers how the entire Grameen system works, which is paradoxically both simplistic and complex.

It all started when Yunus met a beggar named Sufiya. She explained to him that she tried to earn money by weaving bamboo stools for sale, however since she had no collateral, the bank wouldn't loan her the money she needed to keep her business afloat. The only person who would give her a loan was the same person who purchased her final product, so she ended up only earning two pennies a day. Yunus was appalled; he calculated that it would only cost Sufiya $26 to purchase her own materials and be able to work independently. Years later, he testified before the U.S. Congress Select Committee on Hunger: "I felt extremely ashamed of myself being part of a society which could not provide $26 to [someone who was] trying to make a living (pg. 39)."

Essentially, Yunus believes that poverty cannot be eradicated through foreign aid. In fact, he argues that foreign aid helps to entrench and deepen the poverty line, and that Bangladesh would be better off if it had never received any aid - "After $25 billion, you don't see any positive change in Bangladesh (pg. 240). He believes that the most effective way of solving poverty is by empowering the poor through micro-loans. By offering them an alternative to traditional banking (which enforces and widens the gap between the rich and the poor), Grameen helps them to earn an income with which to feed their families, build homes, and stimulate the local economy. One of the things I really admire about Grameen is the fact that it has helped to bring so many women out of poverty. It has helped them to become self-sufficient instead of precariously relying on their fathers and husbands, who may die or divorce them, leaving them peniless.

My favourite parts of the book are his interviews with Grameen members. With a program as phenomenally successful as the Grameen Bank, it's easy to get lost in the numbers and statistics - the high repayment rates and number of families transformed. But it's through these one-on-one conversations that one really experiences the immense difference that Grameen has had on so many people. I really liked his segments on "rich Aleya" and "poor Aleya". It never ceases to amaze me how people facing the most difficult circumstances are still able to be happy and hopeful. The people that Bornstein encountered were unthinkably poor, living on one bowl of rice per day, and yet they laughed, played and shared what little they had with their neighbours. It really makes me question how Western thinking got it so wrong.

I also really liked his interviews with Grameen employees, the people doing all the grunt and administrative work to keep the entire machine running. Bornstein reveals the stress and pressure faced by overworked Grameen employees as they travel to remote villages to hold hundreds of meetings and deal with unending amounts of paperwork. I have such a tremendous amount of respect for these people who have committed their lives to a cause that they truly believe in.

Yunus has some very extreme views (some of which are hard to swallow) and Grameen has been criticized for some of its business practices (such as teaching members about birth control and unwaveringly enforcing repayment rules despite mitigating circumstances), but I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who can deny the impact that Grameen has had on eliminating poverty in Bangladesh and throughout the world. This is definitely an interesting read for anyone looking to grow their knowledge on international economics and politics. This will likely sound hokey, but this is a great book for anyone who wants know what it's like to live in somone else's shoes for a bit - someone who is a poor Bangladeshi villager. This book will definitely expand the confines of your traditional trains of thought by relaying unique experiences that you will likely never have in your lifetime.

If you're interested in learning more about micro-loans, there is a great little organization called Kiva that is doing some amazing things using the Grameen model.

Seth Godin - The Dip (2/52)

2009-01-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

Recently, one of my Sauder classmates, NJ Thompson, was accepted into Seth Godin's Alternative MBA Program. I followed her blog and read her application, and was absolutely inspired by her passion for the program and the opportunity to work under Seth's direction. Naturally, I had to check out his books to see what the big deal was. Who was this Seth Godin and why did all these people think he was so great? One of the questions on the Alternative MBA Program application was, "Have you overcome a Dip?" Since I had no idea what a "Dip" was, The Dip was a logical first choice for my first Godin read.

At first glance, I was quite surprised at how short The Dip was. After reading it though, I discovered that the length was just right. Seth said everything he needed to say, and did so effectively, in only 80 pages. He challenges the old adage of "Quitters never win" and instead proclaims that winners do quit and quitters do win. His main message: "Quit the wrong stuff. Stick with the right stuff. Have the guts to do one or the other."

He uses simple language and real life examples to get his point across and drill it home. He explains that without the Dip, there would be no barriers and everyone could become a world-class doctor, lawyer, teacher, marketer, you name it. The Dip exists to create scarcity and it is this scarcity that creates value. There are two important kinds of curves (and a third called "The Cliff"):

1. The Dip - "the long slog between starting mastery". How many of us have started a hobby or project, been really excited at the beginning and then reached that point of... blah. Of reaching a plateau and then just... stopping. Think of the wasted effort, energy and money involved! Seth argues that anything worth doing probably has a Dip. The first step is deciding whether or not something is worth doing, the next is to prepare yourself to stick it out for the long run and break through the Dip to achieve greatness.

2. The Cul-de-Sac - "a situation where you work and you work and you work and nothing much changes. It doesn't get a lot better, it doesn't get a lot worse. It just is." I'm sure there are many of us right now who are on a cul-de-sac and can feel the complacency wrapping around them like a comfortable blanket. It's just easier to stay on that path. But you need to ask yourself whether it is the easy life or the extraordinatry life that you want. Once you realize you're on a cul-de-sac, you need to quit and get off fast!

Everything Seth says in the book are things we all know intuitively (he even says so himself), but rarely take seriously and even more rarely, bring to action. That's why there are so many people stuck in dead-end jobs, who dread getting up every day to go to work. Because the equivalent, quitting, is too hard, scary, embarassing, unthinkable. I'm sure you have a list of excuses too. But if you're truly serious about developing yourself, being the best you can be, creating the best product, running the best company, then quitting may be the right move. Seth challenges you to ask the hard questions and make the hard decisions. It's painful, yes. But it's getting through that pain, when it stops everyone else, that will propel you to the top!

I would highly recommend this book to everyone, particularly anyone who is currently in a Dip and just needs a nudge in the right direction. If you need a kick in the pants to finally get a new job, write that screenplay, or execute that business plan, or just a dash of inspiration to remind yourself of the incredible potential you have to be the best at anything you put your mind to, pick up this book now! I will definitely be reading more of Seth's works.

Rafe Mair - What the Bleep Is Going On Here? (1/52)

2009-01-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, I finally got a Vancouver Public Library card (well technically, they just added VPL borrowing capabilities to my Fraser Valley Regional Library card, but that's besides the point). A quick gander through the "New Releases" section led me to Rafe Mair's What the Bleep Is Going On Here? I picked up the book mainly because the name Rafe Mair sounded familiar and important, and partly because I was giddy with the thought of unlimited book borrowing privileges.

As a first time reader of Mair, I have to say I quite enjoyed myself. What the Bleep Is Going On Here? is an easy read because it's formatted into short articles organized into various sections. Mair gives his opinion on everything from the Israel/Palestine situation to Quebec's separatist movement to media censorship to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and what bold opinions he has! Regardless of whether or not you agree with him, it's clear from his writing that he is very passionate about his beliefs, and that's part of the joy of reading Mair. He infuses his writing with a wicked sense of humour, a healthy dose of self-deprecation, biting sarcasm, and is not afraid to use "bleep-y" language (in fact, he encourages the use of the "f" word to improve the English language)!

As a long-time British Columbia citizen with an embarassing lack of knowledge of B.C. history or politics, I really enjoyed reading his articles on how the Vancouver Club dealt with the acceptance of female members and why Gordon Campbell is indeed a douchebag. Mair covers Canadian politics comprehensively: from declaring that Members of Parliament have no power to laughing at Canada's "democracy" to calling out political leaders on their scandals and guffaws. This is one of the few times I have read a Canadian, let alone a local Vancouver, author, and thoroughly enjoyed it because it was a much more intimate read. It was satisfying to read about issues that I knew about and that would directly affect me as a citizen, such as salmon farms in B.C. and Canda's flawed electoral system.

One of my favourite sections is entitled, "Some People I Have Met" wherein he describes encounters and interviews with such prominent figures as Jimmy Carter, Jim Pattison, Anita Roddick, and Ralph Nader.

With careers in both politics and journalism, Mair has led a very interesting life and has had the opportunity not only to meet such an interesting cast of characters, but also to have an enviable list of experiences including being the highest rated talk show host in Vancouver and serving as a cabinet minister. He also has insider knowledge and perspectives on a wide variety of provincial and federal issues, so I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn more about B.C. and Canadian politics.

This is Mair's 8th book, and I will definitely be looking into reading his other works (especially his memoir).

Mair continues to belt his opinions to any audience willing to listen in his weekly column for the online newspaper, The Tyee.

The Resolution - 52 Books in 1 Year

2009-01-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

As a kid, I loved to read. I loved to read so much that I often got into trouble for forgetting to set the table or put away the groceries because I was so engrossed in the book I was reading. It's a running joke with my family now that my parents would get more mad at me for reading than at my brother the time he backed the car into our house (with no damage, but still!). I would sneak the flashlight away and read under the blankets, or if I was feeling very bold, just stuff the bottom and sides of my door with blankets so my parents wouldn't see that my light was still on. I was your typical bookworm.

Then, university happened. All of a sudden, I barely had time to keep up with my assigned readings, let alone read for fun. Reading for pleasure became a laughable thought. I would cram in all my "fun reading" during winter and summer breaks. I told myself that once school was over, I would return to my neglected first love. Little did I know I would end up getting a job after graduation that would have me working some days as late as midnight. And those times during the commute where I told myself I would get so much reading done, I spent asleep due to exhaustion. Well that job has ended now, and I find myself turning over a new leaf to welcome 2009.

I'm one of those people who always has a million and one resolutions they want to achieve, and this year is no exception. This year's list includes:
- eat out less and cook at home more in order to improve cooking skills (with which to attract a rich husband)
- exercise more; potentially start training for Sun Run
- read the newspaper every day
- volunteer; submit Big Sister application

Then I realized I needed at least one resolution that was a bit SMART-er, or at the very least, slightly less vague (and cliche). I thought to myself, what's a resolution that I can really hold myself accountable to and be passionate about achieving? The lightbulb turned on, and this resolution, 52 Books in 1 Year, was born. This encompasses my quest to reclaim my love of reading and continually improve myself through learning more about the world. As such, many of the books I choose will focus on a topic on which I have little or no knowledge. That said, a little fluff is bound to turn up once in a while. In choosing my readings, I am inspired by the World Citizen Reading Challenge and my good friend Chris's website, Goose Educational Media.

Enjoy!