Scott's thoughts

So here is a list of all the books I've read this year.  It's a lot of books.  Some of them I haven't finished yet, but the majority I've read the whole book.  78 books.  It represents over 11,000 pages so far.  And the year has 6 months yet to go.  Wow!


Books for 2012:

*in progress/not finished

*The Biggest Brother by Larry Alexander
Pegasus Bridge by Stephan Ambrose
Hanging by the Thread by Donald Anderson
Abraham Lincoln: God’s Humble Instrument by Ron L. Anderson
Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews
Leadership and Self Deception by Arbinger Institute
*Archimedes
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
*Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
All the President’s Men by Bernstein
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Deception Point by Dan Brown
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
*How to win friends and influence people by the Carnegie Institute
Our Sacred Honor by Paul Carter
The Robe by Lloyd Douglas
*As a Man Thinketh by John Dewey
Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd Douglas
*Cesaer and Christ by Will Durant
*Mindset by Carol Dweck
First  Family by Joseph Ellis
*Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis
Hank the Cow dog: Case of the Fiddling Fox by John Erickson
Hank the Cow dog: Case of the Bone Monster
*The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson
*Civilization by Niall Ferguson
Papa Married a Mormon by John D. Fitzgerlard
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America by Steven M. Gillon
*The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt
Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
The Jack Rabbit Factor by Leslie Householder
The Great Conversation by Robert Hutchins
Profiles in Courage for our time by Caroline Kennedy
Bendigo Shafter by Louis L’Amour
The Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour
*The Walking Drum by Louis L’Amour
Mathematicians Lament by Paul Lockhart
And There Was Light by Jacques Lusseyran
The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
Are you Liberal, Conservative, or Confused?  An Uncle Eric Book by Richard Maybury
1776 by David McCullough
*History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil McGregor
The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt saved Football by John J. Miller
*With Malice towards None by Stephen Oates
Plato’s Apology
Plato’s Crito
12 Pillars of Success by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener
*On the Wealth of Nations by P.J. O’Rourke
A Treasury of Philosophy by Dragobert Runes
*The Price of Civilization by Jeffrey Sachs
German Boy by Wolfgang Samuel
Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara
The Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara
The Steel Wave by Jeff Shaara
No Less Than Victory by Jeff Shaara
*The Final Storm by Jeff Shaara
*Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
*The Making of America by W. Cleon Skousan
*The Naked Communist by W. Cleon Skousan
*Decade of Hope by Dennis Smith
7 Tipping Points That Saved The World by Christ Stewart
The Great Apostasy by James E. Talmadge
Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmadge
The Last Patriot by Brad Thor
*The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkenson
All the President’s Men by Bob Woodward
*The Brethren by Bob Woodward
The Secret Man by Bob Woodward
Shadow: 5 Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate by Bob Woodward
Pillar of Fire by David G. Woodley
Power of Deliverance by David G. Woodley
Place of Refuge by David G. Woodley


Anyways,  I think the reason I read so much is that I love to learn.  Some of these books are novels, which my grandpa doesn't think we should read because they don't teach us anything.  I do not agree with that.  The book "The Dream Giver" and "Jack Rabbit Factor" are two fiction novels, but have taught me some very important lessons.  All the books by Jeff and Michael Shaara listed above are historical novels, which make a point in history seem real and personal.  Of course, I shouldn't believe everything they say in the novels. 

But Many of the books are about history, which I love.  Why do we study history?  I finally have an answer to that question.  We need study history because in doing so we can see how human nature has played a role in the past, and how it will continue to affect the future.  All humans have basic tendencies.  Whether they are good or bad, moral or immoral, they share similarities with others.  We see that Hitler was evil, yet George Washington was not.  Why were they the way there were? 

It boils down to the choices they made.  From history we can see some of those choices.  If we want to be good, we need to make similar choices to Washington.  If we seek power and domination, we should follow Hitler. 

Of all the 78 books I've read these past months, my favorite author would have to be Jeff Shaara.  It's a close call between him and Bob Woodward.  They are both wonderful authors, ones I wish to be like when I'm older.  Shaara wins because I've read more of his books, (Logan Library doesn't have very many of Woodward's books) and also the books are more entertaining.

My favorite book from this year has got to be Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour.  That book has influenced me the most.  It deals with L'Amour's education, and how he constantly read, discussed, and thought of great ideas.  He was a ver prolific author, and added things he had learned to his novels.