Sunday, May 1, 2011

Reviews on Recent Reads

I've never been a reader. Ever. (I'd say school beat it out of me, but that would just be taking a cheap shot). But I've been so interested in home schooling, freedom, and politics lately that I suddenly feel the need to be educated on many topics I've never cared to read about before. Here are just some of the books I've been reading:

Three of my favorite Titles I've read since December are:
  • The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil by H. Verlan Anderson, a late seventy for the LDS Church, a lawyer, and a Law Professor at BYU. This is a political as well as religious book and expertly weaves the details of religious ideology with political ideology to make a case for "prostituted government" being THE great and most abominable "Church," and socialized education as its most effective "chapel." Although he does not claim that his interpretation of the subject is church doctrine, he supports his views with scripture and quotes by prophets. He then challenges the reader to find anything else that fits the scriptural description of "The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil" if you disagree--and I'll confess I am bound to agree since I can think of nothing more closely aligned. Even if you are not LDS but still a lover of freedom and our founding fathers, you will LOVE this book. Find a free copy of this and other books by the same author here. I can not recommend it with more enthusiasm. If you'd like a copy of my highlighted version (easier for skimming), leave a comment or email me at natalie (dot) hunsaker (at) gmail.com
  • Stand for the Family by Sharon Slater. This books exposes the shocking agenda that is starting at the UN and filtering its way into our local schools and communities. I will personally buy a copy of this book for anyone who promises to read it.
  • The 5,000 Year Leap by Cleon Skousen. This is a book that outlines the phenomenal miracle of our Constitution and the Republic for which I stand. It explains some of the intents of our Founding Fathers that I had never learned before. I will also buy a copy of this book for anyone who promises to read it.


The books I've read in the past few weeks are:
  • How to Discipline Kids without Losing Their Love and Respect by Jim Fey (great book with good ideas about how to increase a child's feeling of power to choose and then accept the consequences)
  • Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood by Jim Fay & Charles Fay, PhD (very similar to the other book)
  • How to Teach Your Baby to Read by Glenn and Janet Doman (Very redundant. I skimmed most of it. However, the meaty chapters had some good ideas, and were eye opening, but still a little too regimented for my taste. Even still, I've used some of his concepts to start Brynn on an early reading program)
  • How to Teach Your Baby Math by Glenn and Janet Doman (again, very regimented program, but interesting nonetheless. I'll likely implement some of it.)
  • Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto (Very enlightening, even if a bit on the "angry" side)
  • Weapons of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto (again, very enlightening)
  • How Children Fail by John Holt (just like re-living my school days. VERY interesting to see children's tactics for surviving school without learning anything)
  • How Children Learn by John Holt (another fabulous classic)
  • Learning All the Time by John Holt (Although I've always been hopeless at doing math in my head, I became much better after reading this book. Very enlightening on other topics, too)
  • Instead of Education by John Holt (only half way through right now, but totally absorbed. Fantastic book, although one of Holt's lesser known titles)


And off the topic of kids or education, I've also been reading:
  • Isreal's Prophets by Sidney Sperry (the Isaiah chapters are a refreshing approach compared to the verse by verse analysis of some scholars)
  • C.S. Lewis's Case for Christ by Art Lindsley (Interesting, but I skimmed most of his fictional dialogue and just read about C.S. Lewis' views)
  • The First 2000 Years by Cleon Skousen (interesting, but a lot of personal opinion and extrapolation in there)


Whew! Why did I not discover this great thing called READING until recently?

2011Res: To Matt: I love how much you offer to help neighbors--like helping with the controlled burn for our friends up the street. You are awesomeness in action. To my girls: today I savored Heidi's emphatic vocal play, and Brynn's immediate observation, "Heidi's gwunting!" Dear Mr H: today I started off on the wrong foot, but then tried really hard not to nag you again about being on time for church because I love you.

2 comments:

Alyson said...

I remember how much fantastic reading I was able to do when I was nursing a baby. I miss those quiet reading times. I do love H. Verlan Anderson—my favorite of his is _The Book of Mormon and The Constitution_.

John said...

We have recently been into more of the political seen. I find it surprising how much an average citizen actually can do. In fact, Thursday I am taking a class on how to influence your representative.

In case you are interested: We find United Families International to be a very good place to support. They work really hard for family values at the national and the international levels. They are good at keeping you up to date on what is going on in law regaurding religion and family. We get a weekly email from them. They let you know when to contact your senators and house reps on family law issues. I highly recommend them.

I will try a couple of your books. But I can probably get them from the library.