Choosing Joy, by Helen Berger

Helen Berger spent the last years of her marriage to Ady Berger caring for him as he lived with Alzheimer's and its effects.  In Choosing Joy: Alzheimer's: A Book of Hope, she recounts her experiences and offers a sympathetic voice of comfort, hope, and advice.

The theme that stood out the most to me is the Berger's love and affection for each other.  Helen never wavered in her commitment to Ady, and Ady never ceased showing his affection for her, writing her daily notes, always acting as a gentleman when they were out.  The disease did not lessen his sweet, loving nature.  In her case, even with the changing nature of their relationship, she writes "my love for Ady during those six years not only did not diminish, it actually grew."

Helen's commitment to Ady included not giving up on his ability to grow and fight the effects of the disease.  She considered it her mission "to do everything in my power to slow the process of decline and give my husband the greatest fulness of life."  Over the years, she saw a "shocking but indisputable improvement in Ady's memory and functioning."  Even in the waning months of Ady's life, she saw improvements in his cognition.  Her experience, in some ways, contradicts the medical literature on Alzheimer's, but she testifies that due to "constant mental stimulation, love, appreciation, and a nurturing, conflict-free, calm environment" Ady was able to achieve a level of regeneration.

Besides talking about her own experiences and her relationship with Ady, Helen has practical advice for caregivers.  She clearly is not a medical professional, and doesn't claim to be, but her insights on diet, exercise, and lifestyle are worthy of consideration.  She also has insights on selecting and managing caregivers and home health aids, navigating doctor visits and emergency care, and planning the logistics of day-to-day life.

Helen and Ady may have had a charmed relationship, and they clearly have financial means that many families don't.  But no matter what your circumstances or relationship, Helen offers a perspective that caregivers will find worth reading.  If a loved one or family member is living with Alzheimer's, Choosing Joy is worth your time.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Kingdom of the Wicked: Book One -- Rules, by Helen Dale

What if the Industrial Revolution had occurred centuries earlier, in Ancient Rome?  For one thing, the history of Christianity would look much different.  Helen Dale fleshes out this intellectual exercise in Kingdom of the Wicked: Book One--Rules.  In her world, we find the Roman Empire enjoying a level of technological sophistication roughly similar to our own late-20th or early 21st century timeline.  As in our own history, the Romans occupy Judaea, a backwards backwater.  Due to their religious traditions and relative poverty, the Jewish people lag far behind the Romans, technologically and economically. 

Dale's focus is primarily on the legal case against the charismatic teacher Yeshua ben Yusuf (Jesus, son of Joseph, in case you missed it), after he and his followers cause a ruckus in the Temple courts.  The Roman lawyer Linnaeus, despite his nationality, is somewhat sympathetic to Yeshua's case. Blending the familiar historical account with the technology of Dale's world, I enjoyed, for example, the lawyer's reconstruction of the events of that day via reviewing the CCTV footage.  It's fun to imagine what our modern Christian faith would be like if we had some footage from the events of Jesus' life!

Besides Jesus, we meet Caiaphas and Pilate, in their familiar roles.  In fact, their sons are pals.  Yehuda (Judas) is a leader in the revolutionary anti-Roman occupation group.  A very young Saul makes some cameo appearances.  Mary Magdalena is a former news anchor.  Jesus's disciples and other characters familiar to readers of the Gospels appear throughout.

Despite the biblical source material, this is not a Christian book.  It's roughly parallel to the Gospels, but doesn't present the Gospel.  It's a secular retelling that spends much more time depicting the Roman pagan lifestyle, particularly their sexual mores, than Jewish moral traditions, and focusses on the legal machinations of the Roman rule.  (Content notice: the sex is quite suggestive and pervasive, but not explicit.  The language is definitely crude; it would easily earn an R-rating from the MPAA.) 

On one level, I was a little bit in awe of the intellectual exercise that writing this book must have been for Dale.  Like any good alternative history, she constructs a believably intricate alternative reality; much more than simply adding a layer of anachronistic technology on biblical history, she has re-imagined centuries of human history and projected it onto this particular era.  Given this historical effort, I felt bad being disappointed and maybe a little bored by the story.  It sags under its own wait, with little pay off.  My delight in the possibilities of the setting quickly dimmed as I found myself skimming more and more through the book.

The Kings of Big Spring, by Bryan Mealer

Growing up in Corpus Christi, I was tangentially aware of the booms and busts of the Texas oil business.  No one in my family worked in that industry, but I remember my friend's dad talking about gauging the local economy by the flares coming from the refineries along the ship channel.  One popular restaurant had a special that was priced according to the daily cost of a barrel of oil.  My summer job as a construction helper building an offshore oil platform taught me a lot about the lives of these hard-working men (and a few women).

Bryan Mealer's family rode the waves of the booms and bust more than most.  His book The Kings of Big Spring: God, Oil, and One Family's Search for the American Dream chronicles several generations of his ancestor's.  Like many families, his left Georgia at the end of the 19th century to come find new opportunities in Texas.  They moved from place to place, but the West Texas town of Big Spring becomes the focus of the book and of the family's fortunes.

The many stories of Mealer's family are mildly interesting.  There is a lot of hard work and rags to riches here.  But to someone who's not related to these people, I thought, "That's nice but I don't really care about what happens to them."  Mealer ties his family's story to the stories of some more significant figures, particularly his father's partnership with Grady Cunningham, who married Raymond Tollett's daughter.  Tollett had led Big Spring's Cosden Oil through tremendous growth.  Grady longed to live up to his father-in-law's reputation as a community leader, and, of course, as a high-rolling oil man.

Mealer weaves these personal stories together against the backdrop of a history of the oil business in Texas.  For interested Texas buffs, people involved in the oil business, and people in Mealer's family or who know his family, this is a great read.  But for anyone else, in spite of Mealer's excellent writing, it barely rises to the level of compelling.  I certainly didn't hate the book, but finished with a take-it-or-leave-it shrug.

Don't Blame the Mud, by Marty Machowski, illustrated by Craig McIntosh

At some point, we all must take accountability for our own sin.  Marty Machowski's story Don't Blame the Mud illustrates this step of maturity in a simple way.  With illustrations by Craig McIntosh, Machowski tells the story of Max, who, despite his mother's warnings to keep his school uniform clean, choosing to walk home on the path by the creek rather than on the road.  After a few close calls, Max falls, soiling his school clothes, just like Mom said.

Feeling an urgent need to cover up the consequences of his disobedience, he sneaks to his room and sheds his dirty clothes, leaving a trail of mud.  He then lies to his parents about how he got dirty: "It's not my fault that I slipped and fell. . . . It's the mud's fault.  It wasn't me."  When his parents confront him with the obvious, he feels a deep sense of conviction, and his parents take the opportunity to teach him about sin, repentance, and God's plan for forgiveness.

Machowski includes tips to help parents talk to their children about the gospel.  It's a simple story, but with a profound purpose: turning children's hearts away from sin and toward Jesus.  The lesson holds for believers of all ages.  Just as Max strayed closer and closer to the mud, so do we place ourselves in proximity to sin.  It's a message we should never stop hearing and a lesson we all need to hear and pass along to our children and other younger Christians.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Life Inside the Bubble, by Dan Bongino

I like Dan Bongino and enjoy his appearances as a commentator on various Fox News programs, as a guest host on Mark Levin's and Sean Hannity's radio shows, and other outlets.  In Life Inside the Bubble: Why a Top-Ranked Secret Service Agent Walked Away from It All, Bongino writes about his formative years, his twelve-year career in the Secret Service, and the perspectives he developed over that time, leading to a run for the U.S. Senate.

Most of the book is Bongino's own story.  He started his career in law enforcement as a police officer in New York City, where he grew up.  Shortly he was accepted in the Secret Service where, ultimately, he led advance teams for presidential trips.  It is interesting to read about what goes on behind the scenes in the Secret Service, and inspiring to read about a kid from humble circumstances ending up in the Oval Office during historically significant events.  But if you're looking for real revelations and inside scoops, there's not a lot here. 

As to the subtitle, he really left the Secret Service so he could be home with his family more.  That's admirable and worthy, of course, but the tone of the title makes it sound like he left over some big scandal or something.  When he reentered private life, he took on the not-so-private task of running for the U.S. Senate.  He won the Republican nomination, but in heavily Democratic Maryland, he fell short of the win.

If you like Bongino, or if you're interested in the Secret Service career track, you'll certainly enjoy the book.  But in the end Life Inside the Bubble is a pretty pedestrian memoir of a decent guy who has had an interesting career.

Muzzled, by Juan Williams

I like Juan Williams a lot, based on his role on Fox News's "The Five."  As the oldest member of that show, and the token liberal, he carries the persona of the cranky old leftist, fending off Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld as they pepper him with barbs (in a friendly way--usually) and respond to Williams's defense of his liberal views.  In Muzzled: The Assault on Honest Debate, Williams tells the story of how he ended up as a full-timer at Fox News and bemoans the lack of balance virtually anywhere in American media.

The impetus of the book, and much of its content, involves Williams's firing from NPR.  In the days after 9/11, he made a comment that he would be "worried" if a group of men in "Muslim garb" were on a flight with him.  For this comment, NPR fired him.  Fox News, on which he was a regular commentator, gave him a full-time gig as the resident liberal.

If you have suspected that NPR has a definite leftward slant (it seems obvious, but they try to present themselves as centrist or unbiased), Williams's account will convince you.  While Fox is regularly dismissed as non-serious, biased news coverage, the reality is that outlets like NPR and others militantly exclude points of view that don't fit their agendas.

Muzzled was published in 2011, so it doesn't touch on the 2016 election or the Trump administration.  Besides his own firing controversy, he covers several policy positions, presenting his mostly predictable liberal positions.  Even though I disagree with Williams on most policy issues, I appreciate the reasonableness with which he discusses policy, in the book and on TV.  These discussions are pretty standard, but the account of the NPR debacle is worth the time to read the book.  We could use more voices like Williams's in public discourse.

Under the Banner of Heaven, by John Krakauer

Author Jon Krakauer has a good sense of relating the human experience, as he writes about summiting Everest, living in the wild, rape in a college town, or military service.  In Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, Krakauer examines the case of the murder of a young mother and her baby, and the fringe Mormon group that inspired it.

Krakauer gives us a history lesson on Mormonism, with a focus on the fundamentalist, polygamist sects that have spun on the main branch.  As long as I can remember, I have considered Mormonism to be a non-Christian offshoot from orthodox Christianity, with too many fundamental theological aberrations for them to be considered Christian.  Krakauer points out some of these aberrations (although he himself doesn't claim faith one way or another), but more importantly, he describes the questionable historical foundations on which Mormons base their faith.

However, he does a disservice to Mormon history by focussing on fringe groups that have split from "official" church teaching.  I would expect practicing Mormons not only to be upset by his narrow characterization but by his tendency to lump fundamentalist Mormons together with mainstream Mormons.  This led me to consider what parts of my own tradition's history could be represented (or misrepresented) as problematic.  What fringe groups or independent congregations could be described that would embarrass me or that I would call heretical?  To take a glaring example, for much of my life I have been a Baptist, but I in no way identify with the radical Westboro Baptist Church (few Baptists do).  More broadly, sociopaths and criminals regularly justify their actions in the name of religion, but in almost every case, actual adherents to those religions disavow those bad actors.

Krakauer tends to present the bad actors in this book as representative of the fundamentalist sects to which they belong, leaving the reader with the impression that the polygamy, incest, autocracy, and, ultimately, murderous acts, are typical of Mormonism, and that mainstream Mormonism has simply found ways to keep it covered up, both in their history and in contemporary life.  I remain no less convinced that Mormonism is a cult, but I don't believe Krakauer has given them a fair shake in Under the Banner of Heaven.

This was an interesting book to read, even with its anti-Mormon tendencies.  Hopping back and forth between Mormonism's beginnings to current events, and between mainstream Mormonism and many of its offshoots, the story tends to become fractured.  Krakauer used some shocking events as a springboard to paint a biased, unflattering picture of Mormonism.

Twelve Rules for Life, by Jordan Peterson

I first became aware Jordan Peterson, psychology professor at the University of Toronto, when he came  under criticism for his statements against political correctness in Canada.  Since then, he as become a folk hero of the Right in the U.S., even though some of his views on Christianity and politics aren't quite in line with traditional American political conservatism. 

In 2012, he began taking part in Quora, a web site where people ask all sorts of questions and other users spout their opinions and still other users upvote the answers.  In response to the question, "What are the most valuable things everyone should know?" and generated a bunch of positive responses.  He refined that initial response into 12 "rules for life" and now has expanded the list into the book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos.  I have listed the rules below.  If you don't want to read his book, at least read and reflect on these rules.  They're pretty straight forward and can impact the way you live and think.

If you like the rules you will love his book.  He expands on each rule in very personal, sometimes humorous, and usually profound ways.  Some themes persist throughout.  One is a rejection of the totalitarianism of Communist movements in the 20th century.  Peterson makes repeated reference to the dark, murderous results of Communist ideology--one of the primary sources of the chaos he refers to in the title.  Another theme is responsibility.  We must take responsibility for ourselves and those under our care and in our circles. 

Every rule has the potential to stick with you, and every chapter has multiple points of potentially profound revelation.  A highlight for me was Rule 4, Compare yourself with who you were yesterday, not with who someone else is today.  Under rule 1, he points out how few people in any field--music, writing, scientific inquiry, wealth--accomplish widespread success.  (Google Price's law.)  This idea frees me from the self-condemnation that can come from my feelings of inadequacy.  Peterson would say be proud of what you have accomplished and determine to improve each day.  This may be an over-simplification, but that's what I got out of it. . . .

Each of the rules and Peterson's discussion lends itself to self-discovery and challenge.  He writes with a lot of wisdom and wit.  Please, if you have a perception of Peterson that he's some kind of racist or radical right-winger, forget it.  He's not.  Here's what he is: a resource to offer solid advice for improving yourself and the world around you.

Rule 1 Stand up straight with your shoulders back

Rule 2 Treat yourself like you would someone you are responsible for helping

Rule 3 Make friends with people who want the best for you

Rule 4 Compare yourself with who you were yesterday, not with who someone else is today

Rule 5 Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them

Rule 6 Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world

Rule 7 Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)

Rule 8 Tell the truth – or, at least, don’t lie

Rule 9 Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t

Rule 10 Be precise in your speech

Rule 11 Do not bother children when they are skate-boarding

Rule 12 Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street

Rediscovering Americanism, by Mark Levin

Mark Levin is one of the more thoughtful and intelligent voices of right-wing radio today.  He worked as a lawyer in the Reagan administration, and has published a number of books dealing with the founding principles of the United States.  His book Rediscovering Americanism: and the Tyranny of Progressivism challenges current American political thinkers (and non-thinking followers) to reject the siren song of progressive ideology.

Much of Levin's argumentation is based on the idea that "the principle of natural law permeated American thought from the beginning of our republic and well before."  Progressivism is bound up in the denial of natural law, but, Levin writes, "the abandonment of Natural Law is the adoption of tyranny in one form or another, because there is no human or benevolent alternative to natural law." 

Levin then digs into some of the roots of American progressivism.  Some of the names you will recognize, others will probably be new to you but wielded influence on the more well-known thinkers and leaders.  The progressive idea, according to Levin, boils down to the idea that "the American heritage and founding principles must be thrust aside if there is to be human progress."  This idea took hold in the early years of the 20th century and is enjoying a resurgence today (even if it never really went away). 

Levin argues convincingly against the "administrative-state tyranny" that progressivism yields and in favor of constitutional republicanism and property rights.  While his argumentation and sourcing are sound, his exposition is somewhat lacking.  I respect the reliance on the original sources, but at many points his lengthy quotes could have used some condensation and his own exposition could have been refined.  This was especially true listening to the audiobook, as the quotes and Levin's own contributions were hard to distinguish.  Similarly, in the Kindle version, there are no block quotes or variations in font, so while reading it's hard to distinguish between Levin and his sources.  I have not consulted a print version to see how it treats extended quotes.  This may all be a result of my own inattentiveness, I don't know, but I would have liked more distinction between the quoted part and Levin's text.

As I have noticed in Levin's other books, the bombastic, confrontational voice we hear on his radio show does not show up much in Rediscovering Americanism.  This is not quite an academic tome, but it is dense in its argumentation and source materials.  Wrestle through it and you will be rewarded with a better understanding of the intellectual foundations that underpin today's political controversies (whether or not today's politicians realize it).  You will also gain a deeper appreciation for Levin's radio show, as he shows the substance behind his on-air discussions.

And the Good News Is . . ., by Dana Perino

I have to admit, I have developed a bit of a crush on Dana Perino.  She is so much fun to watch on The Five, playing the straight man to Gutfeld and Watters.  She seems so smart, level-headed, well-informed, even-tempered, and, of course, quite lovely.  Her book And the Good News Is . . . gives insight into her personality and background that might not be so evident watching her on TV.

Throughout the book, Dana's positive outlook and appreciation for her life sets the tone.  She writes lovingly about her family and upbringing, riding horses and working on the family's ranch.  She clearly is crazy about her husband, with whom she quickly fell in love during a flight.  And of course she loves her dog--that goes without saying!

The most substantial part of the book deals with her work in Washington, culminating in her time as George W. Bush's press secretary.  She holds nothing back in describing her admiration and appreciation for President Bush.  I especially loved her stories about his visiting injured troops in the hospital.  She got to see first-hand on many occasions the way President Bush could connect with people, both strangers in public and among close friends and staff.  If you don't have an appreciation for President Bush, read these portions of Perino's book and you'll love him the way she does.

And the Good News Is . . . was published in 2015, so we don't get any tidbits from the Trump era of American politics.  But Perino's tone in the book, and her consistent tone on Fox News is of someone who is kind and civil, no matter the circumstances or opposition.  I love that about her.  She is exactly the kind of voice and personality that we need more of in American news media.

Running for My Life, by Lopez Lomong

When Lopez Lomong was snatched away from his village and his family during Sunday morning worship, his life was forever changed.  In Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games, he tells his sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes miraculous, and consistently inspiring story.  At only six years old, Lopez was taken by Sudanese rebel soldiers who wanted to train him to be a soldier.  With the help of some older boys, he escaped the soldiers' camp and bushwhacked all the way to Kenya, where he found a place in a refugee camp. 

With thousands of Lost Boys of Sudan and other refugees, he made a new life in the camp, going to school, scrounging for food, and playing soccer.  The older boys who controlled the soccer field mandated that everyone had to run the perimeter of the camp before they could play.  It was a big camp--that daily run was 30 km, about 18 miles.  Little did he know where those runs would take him.

After ten years of life in the camp, Lopez was accepted to immigrate to the US.  A family in Syracuse, New York adopted him, so with only the clothes on his back and very limited English, he moved to the United States, was embraced by this white American family, and started school.  He didn't have much education up to that point, but he could run, and led his high school to state championships.

Lopez's love of running and his adoptive parents' supportive insistence that he get a college degree led him to run for Northern Arizona University, where he enjoyed enough success to enter a professional career.  Eventually he made the US Olympic team, and was selected to be the flag bearer for the opening ceremonies in Beijing.

As he built his career, he never forgot where he came from, and has spearheaded efforts toward development in his native Sudan.  After more than a decade of believing his parents to have been killed at the time of his abduction, he was reunited with his parents and brothers.  He continues to work, in partnership with World Vision, to improve life in South Sudan.

Running for My Life shows the best of the human spirit, as Lopez overcame so many obstacles to fulfill his dreams.  It shows the best of the United States, as the country, and specifically his adoptive family, welcomed him, supported him, and contributed to his success.  His life has been so positive after coming out of such miserable, tragic conditions, that I couldn't help but to be deeply moved and inspired.  As a runner, I enjoyed reading about his training and racing experiences.  But on a much more profound level, I enjoyed reading about his journey and the hope he gives to others.

Not Forsaken, by Louie Giglio

Louie Giglio is well known to American Christians, especially those who are 40 and under.  Founder of the Passion Conferences, sixsteprecords, and Passion City Church in Atlanta, Giglio has made an outsized impact on American Evangelical Christianity.  Giglio's new book, Not Foresaken: Finding Freedom As Sons and Daughters of a Perfect Father, explores fatherhood and reminds us that we are children of the perfect father.

A major issue Giglio addresses is comparing our earthly father to our heavenly father.  He writes, "No matter what has happened on this side of eternity between you and your dad, you are not forsaken by God.  No one who knows Him as Father will be forsaken."  Giglio points out that "the number one image of God that Jesus paints for us again and again is that God is a Father.  He is our perfect Abba Father."

As anyone who has heard Giglio speak can tell you, his speaking is captivating and lyrical.  He tells great stories, both from his own life and from the Bible.  Not Forsaken captures his speaking style very well.  (Apparently this is a result of an author who helped him transcribe his sermons and prepare them for the medium of print.)  In a way, this is a great strength.  But it's also a deterrent--he takes a long time to make a point, and at times the book seemed repetitive. 

Not Forsaken is a great reminder to us all that we are children of the perfect father.  No matter what wrong or incomplete perceptions we have about fatherhood based on our earthly fathers, God is the remedy.  He calls us to know Him and to be like him.  To this I say, Amen, brother!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Feels Like Home, by Lee Eclov

Long-time pastor Lee Eclov points out that the Bible uses many metaphors to describe the church: the bride, the field, the temple, the body.  But "God's household is the very definition of the church.  We're not like a household or family.  We are one."  In Feels Like Home: How Rediscovering the Church as Family Changes Everything, Eclov challenges the church to live up to this calling, to be the family of God--and act like it.

Unlike a biological family, physical resemblance doesn't mark the church family.  Rather, "among Christians our distinguishing family feature is this: 'By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.'"  Our problem is that, like virtually any other human endeavor, we tend to be numbers driven.  Eclov writes, "The Bible never tells us to grow our churches bigger, but it tells us again and again to love one another. . . . Still, it's much easier to count noses than to measure love."

One of the weakness of Feels Like Home is that Eclov never satisfactorily answers the question of church growth.  He writes, "The larger our church grows the harder it is to keep track of people who slip away quietly."  He calls on churches to deemphasize numerical growth, and offers ideas on having smaller groups within the congregation in which the functions of a family can be seen, but his model and mindset seem to stay away from the culture of the megachurch.

That said, Eclov's emphasis on family life, corporate prayer, and the natural evangelism that emerges in Christian community is right on.  Like Eclov, I have seen numerous examples of people whose lives have been changed and who have become Christians as a result of being connected to a church family.  Eclov is right, a church that feels like home is "a gospel miracle."

The bottom line is that church leaders must resist thinking of a congregation as an organization, and remember that the church is first and foremost God's family.  Any Christian who has experienced this--and hopefully you do, every single Sunday and many days between Sundays--can attest to the truth of this. 


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Rockstar Grandparent, by Chrys Howard

As my 19-year-old son reminded me recently, it won't be too long before he graduates from college, then he might get married, and, shortly, he and his presumed future wife will make my wife and me grandparents!  Slow that bus down, brother!  But he's right; time marches on.  Fortunately for him and for my wife and me, he has terrific grandparents.  We only need to look to them for examples.  But it doesn't hurt to hear from others who have been there before.  That's where Chrys Howard comes in.  In Rockstar Grandparent: How You Can Lead the Way, Light the Road, and Launch a Legacy, she tells great stories and offers guidance for grandparents (and future grandparents, like me).

In case you don't recognize her name, Mrs. Howard is part of the extended Duck Dynasty family.  She is Korie Robertson's mother, Sadie Roberton's grandmother.  I have never actually seen the show (I know, I know) but apparently she appears on the show regularly.  She certainly has the good humor and deep faith for which the family has become famous.  In Rockstar Grandparent, she names each chapter after a popular rock song of her youth, cleverly using the lyrics as a springboard into grandparenting wisdom and anecdotes.

This reminder captures her attitude toward being a grandparent: "I'm sharing all this to say, again, to all you grandparents out there, you have the greatest job ever!  You are the link to the past that your grandchildren need in their lives.  The past is what gives our present and future a sense of security and purpose."  Much of her activity as a grandmother is designed to build memories and a legacy with her grandchildren.

Mrs. Howard is very honest about some of the hard parts of her life as 2 Mama.  (There's a cute story behind that name, of course!)  Her kids have not been perfect spouses and parents (whose have?) but she has been able to be a consistent, positive force in their lives.  Part of the ongoing success of their family has to be their shared faith in Christ, and their shared lives.  Most of the extended family lives close by, and many attend church together every week.  That shared faith and community, along with Howard's commitment to building a legacy in her family, is worth emulating for any grandparent (and future grandparent).


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

The Stressed Years of Their Lives, by Dr. B. Janet Hibbs and Dr. Anthony Rostain

Anyone who has been to college or who has a child in college can tell you those years can be stressful.  But why does it seem so much stressful now than it did 30 years ago when I was in college?  (30 years??  Yeah, I'm getting old. . . .)  Psychiatrist Anthony Rostain and psychologist B. Janet Hibbs have first hand experience as counselors and parents observing and treating college kids.  In The Stressed Years of Their Lives: Helping Your Kid Survive and Thrive During Their College Years, they provide parents and educators with some tools they need to deal with their college kids.

Hibbs and Rostain write both as professional counselors and as parents.  In their own families and among their college clients, they see the trends among students.  Over the last few decades, college students are under stress like never before.  They write, "We are now recognizing that our widely accepted education benchmarks--standardized tests, honors in high school, the increasing necessity of a degree from a name brand college--all intended to prepare children for adult success, are often toxic to emotional development."  Getting into college is pressure-filled enough, but "the feeling that if you fail even once in college your entire future is over, that pushes students over the edge."

In this atmosphere of pressure, college counseling offices are busier than ever before.  But it's more than academic pressure and social pressure that impacts many college students.  Hibbs and Rostain explore mental illness and psychological issues that increasingly impact college students.  Anxiety and depression often goes undiagnosed, or are dismissed, sometimes with tragic results.  Thankfully, the stigma attached to these mental illnesses is disappearing, so hopefully college kids and others will be more likely to seek help.

The problem with The Stressed Years is that by the time most parents take time to seek out this book, it's probably too late.  Unfortunately, most parents are not aware of the deep problems their students are having until they are deep into trouble.  Hibbs and Rostain hope to give parents the tools and information they need to prepare their children for college and to recognize warning signs of anxiety, depression, and other issues.  With lots of personal stories and practical steps, parents and their college kids can stave off the inevitable stress of college.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge

In Book 2 of his Zones of Thought series, Vernor Vinge rolls back the clock thousands of years before the events of A Fire Upon the Deep to an earlier time in human's reach around the galaxy.  A mysterious star, appropriately called OnOff, goes through periods of decades of brightness and decades of darkness.  The sentient spider-like species who lives on a planet in that system are on the verge of a technological revolution, roughly parallel to the late twentieth century on Earth.

Meanwhile, two groups of humans, the Qeng Ho and the Emergents, meet up on a mission to investigate OnOff.  Their competing visions lead to a devastating battle.  They need supplies to return back to open space, but the spider world doesn't have the technological capacity to provide supplies.  So they wait.  And wait.  For decades.  The humans develop a new cultural symbiosis of victor and victim, while the spiders develop their technology.

A Deepness in the Sky is long and slow to develop, but I must say that Vinge doesn't waste a lot of plot.  The story elements work together and drive forward to a satisfying, expansive conclusion.  For the patient reader, the payoff of the story is solid.  Epic in scope and decades in the telling, A Deepness in the Sky is worthy of the awards it was given.