|
Happy 2023, everybody!
As we enter another year, I want to thank you all once again for your ongoing interest in my book recommendations. I love reading the books, writing up my meandering thoughts, and blasting it all out into cyberspace– so thank you for letting me take up space in your undoubtedly overflowing inbox.
If you have a friend or ten who might enjoy some possibly weird recommendations from yours truly, please forward them this email. They can sign up for future editions here.
Alright, enough blabbing. Here are some books I read and enjoyed over the past two months:
The Majic Bus: An American Odyssey by Douglas Brinkley - Like many history buffs, I have long considered Brinkley to be my own personal history professor. Specifically, I owe him for teaching me everything there is to know about Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy and for creating much of the source material for my understanding of public lands. So, in preparation for my interview with him, I wanted to understand the foundations of Doug’s career as an educator. This book is the story of the then-31-year-old Professor Brinkley, leading a busload of Hofstra University students on a six-week, cross-country road trip where they immersed themselves in the complex, perpetually fluid culture and history of the United States. From Washington DC to the Badlands of North Dakota to the Redwood forests of Northern California, Brinkley rejects textbooks and memorization and instead provides an opportunity for these students to truly understand US history– with all its warts and confusion and contradictions. Even if you don’t read the entire book, his introductory warning about the risks of “historical reductionism” is worth reading and is more important now than ever. [In our podcast conversation, Doug and I talk about how teaching is the foundation of all of his work.]
Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening by Douglas Brinkley - It had been way too long since I tackled a serious, super-long history book, and this one reminded me of just how much I love the work of world-class historians. This 800-page+ tome examines the third wave of conservation in the United States, a movement that spanned three presidents and birthed our nation's modern-day environmental consciousness. What I did not realize is that a single individual was the catalyst for our environmental awaking (and the laundry list of associated bipartisan conservation legislation). That individual? Rachel Carson-- ocean lover, marine biologist, prolific writer, and author of Silent Spring. While I loved learning more about JFK, LBJ, and Nixon, I was especially inspired by the idea that a single “normal person” like Carson can be such a powerful force for change and can shift the trajectory of the world toward good. [To understand the first two waves of American conservation, read Brinkley’s Wilderness Warrior and Rightful Heritage.]
Fight Club: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk - I spent all of December laid up recovering from shoulder surgery, with the first half of the month spent bumbling around in a low-grade painkiller-induced haze. My altered brain chemistry is the only explanation I can come up with as to why I decided to read this book– I’m generally not a fan of dark, weird, disturbing satire. But I loved it. The novel digs into themes that are much more pressing and in-your-face today than they were when it was published back in 1999: Young men’s failure to find purpose in modern-day, cubicle-based work, the need for “right of passage” ceremonies, a wave of growing anger and emptiness fueled by consumer culture, lack of community, and more. I cannot imagine how out-of-left-field this book may have seemed back in '99, but, unfortunately, its themes make perfect sense to me some 23 years later. [For more on our societal lack of purpose and community, read Tribe by Sebastian Junger and Lost Connections by Johann Hari.]
Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Ryan Holiday - If you’ve read any of Ryan Holiday’s other books, then you know exactly what to expect here: Pithy, easy-to-read chapters jam-packed with historical references that are fun to underline, highlight, and revisit months later. I have skipped several of his most recent titles, but picked this one up because of my often-futile obsession with self-discipline. Following his usual formula, Holiday references a wide range of historical figures, offering real-world examples of how they demonstrated exceptional discipline (or an embarrassingly exceptional lack of discipline)... and how you can too. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of Queen Elizabeth II, who I knew next to nothing about and had no appreciation for her stoic, calm approach to service and life. I’m looking forward to reading more deeply about the Queen and several other new-to-me historical figures that this book introduced me to. [If you’re looking for a New Year’s instruction manual for building discipline, the best one I’ve found is James Clear’s Atomic Habits.]
In my last email, I mentioned my partnership with Threadable– an awesome new reading app that allows bibliophiles to enjoy and discuss specific chapters of excellent books for free. I’ve found it to be a great way to zone in on a specific topic, without the commitment or cost of having to read an entire book. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been reading Chapter 8: Indian Country from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States and Chapter 2: Teddyland from David Gessner’s Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt's American Wilderness. If you’ve got an iPhone and want in on the reading and discussing, you can join us here.
While I was laid up and not in the state of mind to devour entire three-to-four-hundred-page books, I was especially grateful for my friends at Adventure Journal, The Surfer’s Journal, and Modern Huntsman, who produce the most high-quality, artistic, substantive periodicals that make me smile every time I see them in my mailbox. Like my books, I keep every copy of these works of art, and I’ll be proud to display them on my shelf for many years to come.
And not that anyone cares, but I have set two non-negotiable reading goals for 2023:
-
I will read no more than two self-help/personal development/productivity books.
-
At least ⅓ of the books I read must be by authors who do not share my skin color or gender.
In my most recent Patreon video update, I blab at length about my reasons for setting these goals, as well as my overall lack of reading direction over the past seven+ years. But 2023 is going to be a year of action and intention, so I’m excited to be strategic about my book choices for the next twelve months.
---
Thanks again for subscribing to my bimonthly book recommendations. I've discovered most of my all-time favorite books through suggestions from friends like you, so please let me know of any must-read titles.
Please forward this email to any of your friends who may be interested… the more the merrier!
If you were forwarded this email and want to receive future editions, you can either sign up here or send me an email. One email every other month with a few books that I’ve recently read, enjoyed, and highly recommend.
Ed
---
Website: www.mountainandprairie.com
Podcast: www.mountainandprairie.com/podcast
Good News!: www.mountainandprairie.com/good-news
Book Recommendations: www.mountainandprairie.com/reading
Support: www.mountainandprairie.com/support/
Events: https://mountainandprairie.com/events/
Shop: shop.mountainandprairie.com
Instagram: @mtnprairie
|
LoginMountain and Prairie Book Recommendations
