This week I finished:

The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery, by Eric Foner: Another great book by another great writer about Lincoln. This one focuses on his views and actions on slavery, which evolved over his life, especially during the Civil War. Wikipedia wrote “The Fiery Trial won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for History, the Bancroft Prize, and the Lincoln Prize. The New York Times Book Review listed The Fiery Trial as one of its 100 Notable Books of 2010, writing, ‘Foner tackles what would seem an obvious topic, Lincoln and slavery, and sheds new light on it.'”

My Life on the Road, by Gloria Steinem: I saw her speak twice this year, once at Cooper Union the other at an event for Population Media Center with podcast guest Bill Ryerson. They gave out copies of her book at the latter event. I was curious to read it and compare it to podcast guest Warren Farrell. The book also prompted me to talk to my mom about Steinem and Ms. Magazine. I remember copies of it around the house all the time growing up. She said it revealed possibilities she’d never considered in professional life. In any case, reading the book, she seemed more down on men and promoting women than I expected, which is a different perspective than pursuing equality.

On another note, she got some great endorsements, which you can see on the publisher’s page.

I reread a bunch of podcast guest J. B. MacKinnon‘s Once and Future Earth. I can’t recommend it enough.

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Comment on My Octopus Teacher and sidchas: I forgot to mention last week a thought about the movie. Most reviewers commented on the beauty and quality of the filmography. It was great, but what I liked the most was that the movie and everything in it resulted from his doing something he chose that was challenging, healthy, and active—swimming in cold water and looking around himself—that is, a sidcha.

Everyone can find things as valuable in their worlds even if they aren’t octopuses. If you explore nature daily, you can find as much wherever you are.

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