Thinking Critically – Stop Being a Lazy Thinker
Thinking critically is easier than you think, but it is rare. Professors, pastors, and politicians are not modeling what it means to think critically and it drives me crazy. Once in a while, I’m going to write to you, my reader, out of frustration. Today is that day. I am tired of being surrounded with […]
Courage and Mourning the Loss of Harper Lee
Courage and Mourning the Loss of Harper Lee I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You […]
10 Blog Writing Tips With Book Recommendations
I regret nothing. I say that in the spirit of the beautiful French song that is now synonymous with the 2010 Christopher Nolan film, Inception, “Non, je ne regrette rien,” I, too, regret nothing about my blogging journey. The 10 blog writing tips are ones I learned the hard way. Nonetheless, it’s fun to assess […]
The Anatomy of the Perfect Reading Space
My friend, Sky, and I share a love for all things books and she knew how much I would appreciate the reading space her husband designed for her. And I do. It brought my heart joy, knowing how special this gift has to be for her. It’s one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever […]
Reading With Friends
A few years ago, I felt intellectually isolated and started praying for something that felt a little peculiar: friends. We are wired for connection, and everyone wants friends, so why is that peculiar? Well, I had a ton of friends at the time, and still do. They are wonderful, seriously, wonderful. The only thing wrong these […]
Write Like Murakami! The Best First Lines of His Mind-Bending Stories
It takes so little time for writers like Haruki Murakami to abduct you into their mind-bending worlds. Revisiting some of these first lines will make you laugh, while others will make you wonder. The rest might even bore you a little, despite how exciting the novel ends up. Here are the best first lines from his […]
3 Reading Strategies for Exhausted Minds
I’m pleased to introduce you to Dan from the insightful blog, Country of Quinn. Dan happened to read my post on reading crutches last week and decided to share some really great tips with us about how to rekindle your motivation for reading when you are over-tired, overwhelmed, or simply don’t feel like it. Sounds like a great fit for […]
Big Flavor Foods to Enhance Brain Function
“Simply by starting to cook again, you declare your independence from the culture of fast food. As soon as you cook, you start thinking about ingredients. You start thinking about plants and animals and not the microwave. And you will find that your diet, just by that one simple act, that is greatly improved.” Michael […]
10 Books I Can’t Wait to Get My Eyes
“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” Mortimer J. Adler This isn’t your typical to-be-read list. These new books span a variety of areas, including education, fiction, philosophy, spirituality, minimalism, and more. […]
How to Improve Reading Comprehension
Reading more books is not just about consumption – it’s about digestion. When Alberto Manguel recounts A History of Reading, he reminds us that the prophet Ezekiel is the first record we have of reading being compared to digestion. That is really what we aim for when we read: we want to get to a […]
How to Keep a Super Nerdy Book Reading Schedule
A super-nerdy book reading schedule helps me organize my books and achieve my reading goals for the year.
How to Achieve Your Goodreads Reading Challenge
My heart breaks every time someone tells me they don’t have time to read. I believe most people don’t lack time, but imagination. We all live busy lives, but that doesn’t mean we just give up growing intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and okay, okay, you get the point. Reading is the water and the sunlight […]
Reading Challenge: 30 Pages a Day
30 Pages a Day Reading Challenge Since Christmas just turned the corner and my heart is overflowing with gratitude, I want to make sure you know how thankful I am that you are part of our reading community at Book Oblivion. Last year was a full year of books, teaching, and writing in my corner of the world. But […]
One Sentence Reviews of the Best Reads of 2015
Life is short. Read fast. The following books are the best I’ve read all year. And if you missed it, check out 2014’s books here. Professional Development: Engaging Ideas: The Professor’s Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom by John C. Bean and Maryellen Weimer Whether you are a writing […]
Give the Gift of Play With Coloring Books for Adults
Earlier this year, I was sleep deprived and exhausted and decided one random trip to Walmart that I was going to paint a lion for my son’s nursery. I got my canvas and starter set of acrylics, and some sponge brushes (I don’t know the real name). I used my son’s pajamas as a guide […]