I am not a religious person in the traditional sense. Here in the USA in 2023 it remains that most religious people are part of an institution filled with traditions, rituals and rules. The vast majority subscribe to their faith because their parents and ancestors did and because their community does. The Christian religion aptly…… Continue reading Lapham’s Quarterly – Religion
Category: Books
My notes on books I’ve read.
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth
Ever since I studied abroad in Toledo, Spain in 1997 I’ve been fascinated by history. Toledo itself is historic being founded by the Romans, overrun by the Visigoths, transformed by the Moors and conquered by the Christians. Now, the entire place is a relic, full of priceless churches that serve as monuments to the historical…… Continue reading Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth
Dreamland – The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic
I read this book because a big part of it takes place in my home state of Ohio and I’m familiar with Mexico having studied there for a time. I learned that the opiate epidemic first began around 1997 when I was a student at Ohio State and then grew from then until around 2012…… Continue reading Dreamland – The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic
Infinite City – A San Francisco Atlas
It has been a decade or so since I first read this book. I’ve been meaning to re-read it for the past couple of years as I remembered it had some interesting information that I wanted to highlight and record in this journal and hadn’t done so before. This atlas shows San Francisco in times…… Continue reading Infinite City – A San Francisco Atlas
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
I grew up Catholic as that was the religion of my family, of my Grandparents, of their parents and so on. However, after traveling and discovering the world, especially from my time in Spain, a bastion of Catholicism, I began to question that belief. I now hold no religion or dogma but am always searching.…… Continue reading The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America
I’m fascinated with ancient history. I love to read articles that uncover something from thousands of years ago which, with recent technology has been happening more often. From my educational experience I feel as though I only learned history back to the Roman Empire and what I learned was always through a western lens. Technology…… Continue reading Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America
Lapham’s Quarterly – Education
In middle age I think many look back somewhat fondly on their school days. The experiences change considerably between elementary school, high school and college and some many have not enjoyed some of these years but for me I remember all of them fondly. As I read my first quotation lamenting about learning about nature…… Continue reading Lapham’s Quarterly – Education
Five Women Who Loved Love – Ihara Saikaku
I learned of this book in a very round-about way. I read an article about the declining population of Japan when I noticed a sharp decrease in the year 1966. I learned this was the year of the Fire Horse which according to superstition women will grow up to kill their husbands. The next one…… Continue reading Five Women Who Loved Love – Ihara Saikaku