Book of the Week: My Wilderness - East to Katahdin

My Wilderness - East to Katahdin

by William O. Douglas

I have not even made it 60 pages into this book but I can't hold back with my Book of the Week post. There are a few reasons for this. First, I am currently living in Dhaka which is not an easy place to get outdoors for that wilderness solitude time that I need. So I crave the outdoors even if it is "Just my 'magination". Second, I just finished a teen novel so a book with substance is very refreshing. Douglas is a great writer and he has an amazingly judicious outlook on the world (no wonder he was a supreme court justice). Third, with the upcoming election it is a painful time for me. It is just incredible that there are so many people out there that have such fanatically different points of view that are so far from the truth. So 30 pages into this book I found a great commentary on our government and (shocker) even though it is written in1961 it is still true.

So here are the pages scanned as I was not about to retype it. Start reading after the break:

I love Douglas' take on the fact that two groups can have such dichotomous opinions on the same topic. He seems to distill it down rather eloquently. It is not about a government agency's regulation of the public land, it is not about the right of the public to have a wilderness to enjoy, and it is not about herdsmen claim to public land. It is about a missing ethic in our country and the fact that we have a responsibility to be stewards of our land. If left to their own devices grazers would plunder our wildernesses for all that they have and then they would no longer have that as a resource. When they are regulated (and it can easily be argued that they are not regulated strictly enough) they complain that they have a right to the land. It is true they do have a right, and so do I.

All I can think about is that this is how the political climate is now. We are a divided country. We align ourselves with these two parties that do not match our beliefs because a 3rd party is not an option. We argue and disagree and support outlandish claims and carry a torch we might not even believe in because that is what we are supposed to do. Like Douglas, I believe that there are two (or more) opinions but there is only one RIGHT way to go. If we all look at the issues from an educated and non-emotional perspective it becomes very clear. There are these "issues" that the parties are oposite extremes and if we really look at it there is only one truth.

As an example let us look at abortion. There are two opposing arguments but only one right way to go. Our government should have no voice in the matter. There have been all these appalling statements about rape and totally uneducated statements about the resulting pregnancy. There is no reason that there should be a law about abortions. This is a decision to be made by only one person and that would be the person carrying the fetus. If someone decides that they are not in a place to take care of a child shouldn't we applaud them for making the right choice? The alternative is a child that will not be loved or cared for, do we really need more of those?

I love the question, "How can a woman vote republican after all that has been said?" Indeed it would seem crazy but what the Democrat questioner does not understand is that there are women that will. Why? It is not because of logic! We are all so intrenched in our parties that the reality is it does not matter what their policies are anymore. True, you should vote for the person/party that you think will make intelligent decisions and the "issues" are a way of testing there decision making paradigms. So even if one of your party's stances does not match, you should vote for the person/party that will do a better job. But, there comes a point when a stance on an issue will make you wonder weather that is the person/party that you want making decisions about your land, government spending, policies, etc. I will say this, I dream of a presidential candidate that runs on a platform of truth. Where the government is responsible for decisions of truth and justice. Not a poster boy for outlandish opinions and uninformed educations.

I want a country with small government and not because of some blind party allegiance but because if people did what was right we would not need big government. We would finally be able to get our spending under control and become a giving country. Not for our own self interests but because it is right. Why do we trade parties in the white house and congress and no real progress is made? Our government is broken and based solely on money. Lobbyists have more power than truth, religion has more influence than what is right. So go out and vote and realize that you actually didn't decide a thing. Here is where you can really make a difference: In your figurative and literal back yard.

Shop locally, not because it has anything to do with politics but because you are giving money to a person business that you can hold accountable. You can go see their farm or shop and see how things are done there. Imagine my lunacy if I had this crazy notion that illegal emigrants should not be allowed into the US and then I buy the cheapest produce in the store. Produce that can only be that cheap becasue it was harvested by low wage earners that probably do not have citizenship. That is called hypocrisy. Local businesses also do not give money to lobbyists in Washington so your money is removed from politics and politics starts to become about issues... so weird. This has gotten a bit out of hand so I will keep the rest short and sweet.

Know your neighbors, eat healthy, get outside and see the beauty of the world, give back to your community, stop using your car for short trips, break bread with friends and family regardless of opinions and be able to discuss different views. The word compassion is incredible but my definition is a bit different that Websters. I would say that it is the ability to understand where someone is coming from without having to agree with them. It is non-judgmental and it is not about changing them. When someone says something I just don't understand I think to myself, "How can they feel that way?" It is not because my poop does not stink, it is more that I have finally realized opposing views are not any less legitimate than mine and people believe their own opinions. If you want to change the way people think you have to speak truth.

Book of the Week: Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

Another example of how great books are stumbled upon. I was on my way out of the AISD library when I glanced at a new book display and boom, David Byrne... about bikes! This is a book more about society and cities than about bikes, but it is a collection of Byrne's experiences while biking in different parts of the world. I have been a long time Talking Heads fan and recently a fan of all things David Byrne. His solo albums are fresh and thought provoking. His artwork is fun, vibrant and has a great underlying cometary on our society. His interviews are deep, yet accessible. Then there is the bike element, one could say that this book was ordered for me!

Basic premis is that Byrne has been keeping journals while he travels around the world on tour or for projects. He has been using a bike as primary transportation while at home in NYC and then thought, "Why not take my bike along..." He now has a folding bike (Full size, not a small wheeled thing) that he takes with him on all his trips. So his diary entries all seem to have a view from behind the handle bars of a bike. The result of which is that he has been keeping an informal record of the feeling each city has through the lens of a biker. He has also seen changes that have worked and changes that have not worked for various cities in regards to bike advocacy. It is great to hear his take on cycling, cities, and society as well as enjoy some of his ironic humor.

I enjoyed the book as something to read, it is great to see that there are well off people that see cycling as more enjoyable and more convenient than cars, and it is great to partake in a line of thought that Byrne has been developing over two decades into an informed view and has research to back it up. The other nice thing is that it is not just about bikes so it does not get old or repedative. It is about art and people and culture and society and, well... everything. He has a great bit about art and what we consider art. Here are a couple of gems from the book to give a feel:

I sense the world might be more dreamlike, metaphorical, and poetic than we currently believe---but just as irrational as sympathetic magic when looked at in a typically scientific way. I wouldn't be surprised if poetry---poetry in the broadest sense, in the sense of a world filled with metaphor, rhyme, and recurring patterns, shapes, and designs---is how the world works. The world isn't logical, its a song.  (page 194)

I love the heavy aspect that is totally not intimidating but is accessible.  He is writing about a great idea that you could spend the rest of your life exploring but while reading it, it just seems so matter of fact and I get a feeling that even if I can't prove what he is saying is true, I believe it. Or maybe more importantly, I feel it is true. Then there is this one about an event he was attending in San Francisco:

Just as I become resigned to the business of signing books, a marching band bursts through the front doors and begins to play the "Parade." The Extra Action Marching Band has been at a street festival nearby and has decided to stage an "intervention," as they do from time to time--bringing a pleasant dose of music, anarchy, and baton-twirling girls in skimpy outfits to random events that they have decided need enlivening.  (page 225)

I feel like Byrne really captures the spirit of SF and the other cities he writes about. He seems to really get into the culture of each place and can distill those feelings into words. It is a fun and thought provoking book that I would recommend to anyone, even if you did not ever ride a bike. One final thing is that there is a little cyclist on the bottom of some pages that I notice are in different spots. I finally realized that the book is also a flip book with the little rider riding back and forth. Nice little touch.

Book of theWeek: Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford

Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford

The title of this book sums it up very well. This is a well written, deeply researched look into why shop classes are important. Me reading it is a bit like preaching to the choir but there is great research quoted and the author really walked the walk. He struggled through school, got a job in an office and then realized that he hated it. He now owns his own motorcycle repair/restoration shop and has taken the time to look into why he is so much happier now.

Crawford attributes his happiness to three main points. First is job satisfaction, which has two components. At his current job he actually has a relationship to the customer and at the end of the day he can see what he has done and knows why he has done it. Second, working with your hands changes you cognitively. You think about everything. When you hold something in your hands you ask yourself, "how was this made". You appreciate craftsmanship in everyday objects. Third working with your hands requires creativity, problem solving and critical thinking that are rarely used in a profession where you do the same thing every day.

His argument is that we are doing our kids a disservice (especially the ones that are going to college) by not providing them with this exposure to the industrial arts classes (insert whichever one you want here: wood shop, welding, auto shop etc.) One reason we have such a problem is that there are fewer and fewer do it yourself. Dad's no longer pass knowledge and skills down to their kids (either becasue they are always at work or because the dad's did not learn the skills because they were specializing in another are). There are fewer and fewer programs in schools that offer this sort of knowledge and training and the programs that exist need to cater to a lower and lower skill set because kids do not come with any prior knowledge.

This is a quick summary and really on gives a feeling for the book. It is a good read because it was an interesting life story and had compelling argument for shop classes. I always knew shop classes were a good thing but this book creates a well thought and legitimate argument for why they are so necessary for society, for each person individually and for our own happiness. Everyone should take some sort of class in skilled labor no matter if it is cooking, sewing, welding or wood shop. The old adage "Idle hands are the work of the devil" actually has substance behind it.

Further exploration of this topic can be found in The Hand: How Its Use Shapes The Brain, Language and Human Culture a book by Frank R. Wilson. There is also an interview with Wilson on NPR that is worth a look.

Book of The Week: Callisto by Torsten Krol

This is a great book on many levels. First it is funny. Second it is well written. Third it is a great commentary on the politics and society of the USA. Basic plot: The main character, Odell Deefus, is just as he sounds, a doofus. A nice guy that finds himself in situations beyond his comprehension. He has been compared to Forest Gump in his inability to see the reality in people and situations. So he sort of stumbles into the life of the small Kansan town of Callisto. While there he finds a body, falls in love, becomes a terrorist and more. It is a realistic account of what life would be like if you were to just float along and become the victim of the American machine. Odell ends up in way over his head which just makes everything that much funnier. If you enjoy Christopher Moore you will enjoy this book.

Book of the Week: The Complete Meadmaker

The Complete Meadmaker by Ken Schramm

Photo from www.brewersassociation.org

This has been my reading companion for the last few weeks. It is a filled with knowledge and more importantly is entertaining to read. He goes into detail about the history of mead, the process of making mead, the ingredients and has a section of recipes. The "Complete" part of the title is not a misnomer, he goes into extensive detail in each of these section. The only thin part of the book is when he talks about sparkling mead but I think I will be able to figure it out. My second batch of mead is fermenting away right now and I feel 100% confident that it is a recipe that has been tested and will turn out amazing. The ingredients section will be useful for years to come as he talks about all of the ingredients to add to mead. He even has a heat chart for adding chiles! Each ingredient has a great section where he talks about its effect on the flavor, pH, fermentability, and aging. This book is makes technical information easy to read and understand. I would recommend this book for someone who does not know what mead is and I would also recommend this book for someone that has been making mead for years. At only $19.95 it has already paid for itself!

Book of the Week: FUP

FUP by Jim Dodge

This book is H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S! I read it once as a teen and laughed my ass off. Then I reread it in college. I was in the Cal Poly library trying to be quiet about it, but I could not stop laughing. I was crying and my stomach hurt. I finally found my own copy while browsing a thrift store! I think it it the first hardback copy and it has some great illustrations. So what is it all about you ask?

This is a story about a young boy and his father and a duck named FUP. The dad is known for his moonshine, the son is known for his fences and the duck is known for his never say die attitude. There are only 94 pages and you would read those pages quickly. I would gladly loan it out but I would need some collateral as this is my only copy and it is not exactly a common book. Well written and has a great commentary on what is important and what is fun.

Book of the Week: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Photo from my scanner.

I am careful about the words that I choose and I have thought about this for a while; If I had to describe this book in one word, I would say, "Masterpiece". I know, strong word and probably an overused one but I really think it applies here. This is a book that is based on the true events of the Chicago Worlds fair and the first known serial killer in the US. The amount of research and the depth of detail that Larson was able to conjure with this book is incredible. As was his intention, the contrast between the fair and the killer creates a great basis for a story and also mirrors the dichotomy of man.

The main focus of the book is the planning, construction and opening of the Worlds Fair otherwise known as The White City. Larson's ability to create an image of what Chicago was like, how people felt, the smells and the sights (the reality not an incomplete and glorified version) is impressive. It was not until I finished the book that I really understood what an undertaking creating this book was. His list of primary sources is amazing in terms of length and also in terms of depth of research.

In the final pages of the book Larson talks about his research, "The more I read about the fair, the more entranced I became. That George Ferris would attempt to build something so big and novel-and that he would succeed on his first try-seems, in this day of liability lawsuits, almost beyond comprehension." This is soon followed by 30 pages of sources... Incredible recreation of events that happened more than 100 years ago.

I was hooked by the planning of the fair and was disturbed by the accounts of the "Devil": a man named H.H. Holmes. By all accounts a captivating individual with an un-remorsefully twisted side. The entertainment value of the book will have you saying, "There is no way that this is true." But the facts are there with little in the way of embellishments. Larson, did recreate scenes that no one could have witnessed but he did not do so blindly.

This was an interesting read because it was entertaining, informative and made me think about what is possible and how we really do not push ourselves as a group like we did in the past. Think huge projects like the great wall and the pyramids. Are people still pushing themselves to achieve these seemingly insurmountable tasks? Could this be the reason why the youth are so ambivalent and wishy washy? Maybe what we need is a good old fashion worlds fair! Something to push our thinking to solve problems we might have thought were not possible to solve. Shifting thought and changing opinions but most importantly instilling some awe. People need that, and I feel like I got it reading this book. I could feel the emotions of seeing something like the original Ferris Wheel for the fist time (it was 246 feet tall! Taller than the tallest skyscraper of the day). Walking into a building that was the largest enclosed space in the world (the largest building enclosed over 40 acres of exhibition space). Experiencing new cultures face to face. It really was a magical thing and I wish I could have been there... but reading this book was as close as I will get without a time machine.

Book of the Week: The Tracker by Tom Brown Jr

Tom Brown Jr grew up learning everything that he could from the teachings of an elder native American. He has written many books and each focuses on a different area of native American life. The Tracker is a collection of stories from Tom's childhood through adulthood. You will find details of how to track and stalk animals, insight into native American beliefs, the challenges of a young man dealing with a changing world,  great philosophical argument of how people should be taught and riveting adventure stories. This book has affected my teaching more than any other source that i can think of. It is also a great read for being here in Dhaka where it is challenging to get out in nature.

I don't know if I could pick a favorite of Tom Brown's books as I like them all for different reasons. Tracking has always fascinated me so this was a natural choice for the first of his books to be featured here. Makes me want to get in the woods and observe. I am also motivated to get my kids into the outdoors as much as possible; giving them an appreciation of the outdoors and confidence in their abilities to flourish in survival situations.

Some of the principles of tracking presented in this book were used in the movie The Hunted. Tom Brown Jr was consulted to make the movie realistic. In interviews about the movie Tom says that there are some really good aspects to the movie but at the same time it is Hollywood and they took some liberties. He sights the knife fight scene as an example saying, "Any one of those wounds would have been fatal..." It was an entertaining movie and a good glimpse of how to track.

You may also have remembered Tom Brown Jr's name from my bucket list. He also has a tracker school where you can go and learn the principle from the book. I would like to attend, and now I am thinking that going with my kids would be amazing.

Book of the Week: A History of the World in 6 Glasses

A History of the World in 6 Glasses

by: Tom Standage

Photo courtesy of http://tomstandage.wordpress.com

Early in my Cal Poly career I developed a habit of strolling through the library (yeah, mostly procrastinating). The place was huge and I could head up to the 4th floor and find the architecture section and lose 2-3 hours grabbing interesting books and looking/reading through them. I was exposed to so much that I never would have seen if I went to the catalog and looked up something specific. So I still stroll through libraries whenever I get the chance, and that is how I came across this title. Seemed appropriate because I have been interested in the processes of making alcohol and have recently developed an addiction to coffee...
The basic idea is to follow 6 of the most influential beverages in human history looking at what they made possible and how they shape our lives. It has the feel of The Botany of Desire which was a book about 4 of the most influential plants in human history. The drinks that are detailed are beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and cola. There is also an epilogue about water that is probably the most interesting section. An example is how beer became a way to store grain and basically became a form of currency for early civilizations. Egyptians that built the pyramids were paid in beer. In fact it might have been the reason that civilization was possible (conjecture and opinion but it is interesting to think about). This book is a bit egocentric in the sense that it looks at history through the lens of these drinks and so makes a history that is centered around the drinks... The author backs up his thoughts with facts and historical sources but I can't help thinking that he was just choosing sources that meet his needs. Interesting and a quick read. So go browse your local library and find something fun or go there specifically for this book.

Book of the Week: Of Men and Mountains by William O. Douglas

William O. Douglas was a Supreme Court Justice that grew up in Yakima, Washington. He has a crazy story during his childhood where he ended up bedridden and was told he would not walk again. Lucky for him, he did walk again and he savored every moment from then on. This book is collection of stories from all ages, about fishing, camping and hiking in the wondrous Cascade Mountains. He has stories of hiking by himself or with wild friends. Stories of near death experiences and soliloquies about how the outdoors has saved his life and changed men. He has a bit of a philosophical take on the world but also has a great sense of humor. This was one of my favorite books for reading when I could not get out into the woods. I have read it 3-4 times and enjoyed each and every moment. My copy has been passed around and shows its use. Out of the dozen "Best Outdoor Books of all Time" list that I have read this book made it onto... none of them and I can't understand why. This is a much better book than a lot of the books on those lists. This is a must read for any outdoors lover, especially if you are a Washington State native.

Book of the Week: Intro

I have been compiling a list of great outdoor books that have somehow not made it on  "The Best" outdoor books lists found on the internet. Some are current, some are historic, others are hysterical, some are young adult and some are old codger but all are amazing for one reason or another. I was going to post them all at the same time but then I figured that I would just do one, in depth review a week. This is good because it will allow for time to reread in order to really do a quality review. Hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any good reads to add.