Even though I grew up in a Christian family and community, parts of the Bible have always been hard for me to understand how they fit with other parts.  For example, how do all of the battles and kings in the Old Testament have to do with Jesus and his teachings in the New Testament?  I’ve heard pat answers from pastors and friends, but with this book I finally got answers as to why they fit together. Heart of the Story is written by a […]

It’s true.  I’m a card-carrying member of the Game of Thrones nerd club.  And I’m ok with that.  After reading all the books, discussing each episode of the show with colleagues, and debating philosophies for how the books are going to end, who’s going to die next, and if the series is going to end this decade at all.  So it was no surprise to me that I found myself picking up Game of Thrones and Philosophy from my library’s shelf. It’s part of series […]

Homework.  It’s one of those universal things that we have all had experience with.  And, sadly, it has probably been a negative experience.  Most of the time we, as students, despise homework and don’t see it’s value.  For teachers, homework is one of those things we tell ourselves is worthwhile but deep down we wonder if it’s actually valuable. Cathy Vatterott’s Rethinking Homework addresses the old and new paradigms of homework and suggests ways in which teachers can improve their homework practices.  Old paradigms are […]

I love food.  And history.  So any book that can tell me the history of the food that I eat or am aware of is of interest of me.  The American Plate by Libby O’Connell is a book that does just that.  Beginning with the Native Americans and the staples they consumed through the debates over GMO’s and other ethical topics in today’s epicurean debates, O’Connell explains the relationship between food and history.  On top of that, she includes recipes for some of the principal […]