It's been a while since I've posted a On My Bookshelf article. Want to know the real reason why? I haven't read an entire book in a long time! I've been doing something I normally hate doing--
reading picking up and putting down about 3 to 4 books at a time.
Here's another weird thing for me- they are all non fiction books and I normally only read two to three nonfiction books a year!
So I thought maybe if I share with you the books I've been slowly flipping through, I could make myself accountable to actually finish them!
1)
Dumbing Us Down: the Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling
Okay, time for some real truthfulness... there is a lot in this book that I actually AGREE with! This book, written by John Gotto (a 30 year teacher and recipient of Teacher of the Year in New York), talks about what schools are doing wrong. I am a certified teacher, so I think it's safe for me to say that many things he talks about as being harmful to students, I've actually seen and done! This is not to say that teachers are bad or don't care about their students, but the system in which they are forced to teach doesn't allow for a different kind of teaching.
This is a very interesting book that I think most parents and teachers should read.
Progress: About halfway through.
2)
Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life
I bought this book because I love the writing of Emily Freeman (I visit her blog occasionally). This is a great book for any woman who struggles with being "good" all the time. You might be a "good" girl if you think that you can hide your fears, struggles, anxieties, sins, and weaknesses behind a cheery disposition. You think that if you let the world know that your life is not perfect, that you'll no longer be a good girl, a good Christian, a good person. This books reminds you that God's grace is big enough for you, and that God doesn't want or expect you to be perfect; it doesn't point others to Him when you pretend that you are strong enough to handle life on your own!
This is a great book for any woman to read.
Progress: only a few chapters in...
3)
What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms
I love Angie Smith! I love her honesty and how "real" she is. I read her last book, "I Will Carry You" in about 2 nights (ooh! There's a book I
did finish... have to do a separate post on that one!). What Women Fear is amazing. So
so much in this book spoke to me; I think I've highlighted every page so far!
Angie Smith (wife of lead singer of the Dove award winning group Selah) takes real fears that women have (Fear of rejection, Fear of the What If?, etc) and highlights a woman from scripture to reveal truth. God will transform you if you give your fears over to Him and not try to "fix" them yourself or allow your life to be taken over by these fears.
Considering that this book has a 5 star rating by 149 reviewers on Amazon, I think it's safe to say that most women would benefit from and enjoy this book.
Progress: Almost done!
4)
The Resolution for Women
My husband bought this for me this Christmas after reading and leading a Bible Study on the Resolution for Men book. This book is based off the film Courageous. I haven't started it yet because I want to finish all the other books on my nightstand first so I can give this book my full attention. I have read books by Priscilla Shirer before and liked her a lot so I am excited to read this book.
Progress: Next book I read after finishing the above! Has anyone read this?
5)
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
Here's another book I bought and picked up a few times but haven't started yet! I bought this book because Amazon recommended it to me (I'm an easy sell, I guess!) based on other books I've looked at, and it also gets rave reviews. In this book, Ann Voskamp
"invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It's only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted--a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others."
Progress: Can't wait to start this one.
What are you currently reading?

On My Bookshelf... Non fiction books