Books read in 2016

This is the list for 2016. It is not expected that anyone should be impressed. 

I list them, because it seems to help me stay on target for 20-24 books a year.

Night by Elie Wiesel

Ordeal by Hunger by George R. Stewart (cd)

I Was A Child by Bruce Eric Kaplan

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (cd)

Fire Season (Notes from  by Phillip Connors (cd)

Mercy the Pig - To The Rescue by Kate DiCamillo

Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres (cd)

Rocket Boys by Harlan Hickom, jr

Between the World And Me  by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Toys in the Attic by

Game of Thrones  by George RR Martin (cd)

Consider the Fork by Bee Wilson

In the heart of the sea: The story of the Whaleship Essex.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

A Night to Remember by Walter Lord

The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Schools Are Brokn by Bruce Liles

Resolute to continue/begin doing or being these things in 2015

Last year, I emailed two friends my plan. I think they probably, righteously, thought, "yeah, yeah, yeah, more new year's resolutions." But I wrote them the email, not for support, but it can help in the follow-thru if you tell at least one other person.

1) Continue with push-ups. But the pace will be the same throughout the year, 75 crappy ones and 50 good ones a day. Divided into three sets.

2) Read a chapter of 'The Tao of Leadership' a day. The author suggests reading it out loud, so I am. 'The Art of Healing Listening' may follow. I read that book twice last year and I intend to read it at least once a year for as long as I believe in Humanistic Psychology.

3) Reading will continue. A goal of 15-25 books a year is the goal.

4) Continue to keep sugar soda out of my diet. It may be modified to some kind of 'good' soda in the summer. But no pepsi, etc.

5) Stopped eating poultry. No more eating birds.

6) Singing my songs is increased from 10 a day to 15 but repeats are allowed.  I think I have just made this a habit. When I can, I sing.

7) Meditation/5 minutes at least. not 5 seconds. But the rule is only that I have to keep my eyes closed and not be pursuing or listening to anything. 6 out of 7 days is the goal. Mostly because I forgot one day already.

8) I also added walking. I have started a routine but I imagine it will be modified when I find a gym or exercise bike or something that can replace walking. But maybe walking is the base and other things are added.

9) DemocracyNow Headlines everyday they are broadcast. These do not have to be on the exact day but no longer than a week old.

I might need to add more, but if I continue to have more of a life, it may serve to limit me instead of the primary goal of having accomplishments when things are going badly.

Last year, I realized I was teaching myself to implement more discipline in my choices of how to spend my day. I have done that. And the goals last year, as well as this year, intend to touch on mind, body, and spirit.

GoodLucktoUsAll,

Bruce

Books read/finished in 2015

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

This is a classic that I am glad I read and made the movies more interesting and the movies helped me get through the books as I am not that big a fantasy genre fan. 

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

This book reminded me that growth is a lifetime achievement and success looks different at different points in your life. It also prompted me to spend a few minutes everyday just looking at the river that I live upon.

Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman

Yeah, the business of religion.

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

The Longest Road by Jeanne Williams

The Snake Head by 

Beethoven's Hair by Russell Martin

Drift by Rachel Maddow

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Charlatan by Pope Brock

The History of Science by Peter Whitfield

The King Years: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement by Taylor Branch

At Canaan's Edge by Taylor Branch

Prodigal Summer by Barbra Kingsolver

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

Introduction to Psychology by Arno Wittig

Night by Elie Weisel

The Winter Family by Clifford Jackman

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

The War That Ended Peace by Margaret MacMillan

Naked by David Sedaris

Books I Read in the 2014 Campaign to Read More

These books could be in order if I could see a reason for it. But I read in such a random way, random listing seems appropriate. Okay, so the first one was actually first. I thought Alice Walker might lend some dignity to a trove that included a wide variety of material that I picked up at the recycling center in Detroit, or a friend of a friend's moving giveaway or a free pile. 

I embarked on this project for a couple of reasons. First, I could see that I wasn't reading. Wasn't making an effort. So I started this effort on January 1st, 2014. Also, I made this and other resolutions (though it is not my custom) because on January 1, 2014, my life continued to be the mess it had sunk to in 2009/10. I knew that salvation/job was not imminent and I was losing the last of my sense of self-worth. 

In 2014, I did not accomplish or live the life I would expect of myself. But I did read. Here are the books that I finished. I was okay with leaving books or stringing a few at a time. Very okay with both of those. The rule was that every day, I would read at least one chapter. But because I have books that are one page chapters, I wanted to give myself a final goal of 20-25 books. I judged that I would be a decent judge of the accomplishment. And I do not now claim that this is an amazing thing I have done. It is not. It was a piece of a plan that would remind me of my worth and abilities. That has been a lifelong struggle, I am not alone.

I read these books in 2014.