March 2020
Adventures in Reading
The Value of a Good Book
In particular, I really enjoyed reading James Clear’s “Atomic Habits.” Clear pitches the idea that our habits and tendencies are rooted at an atomic level, and in order to change our habits, we have to believe and act toward our goals from a cellular level. To find success at the gym, you have to believe you’re the kind of person who goes to the gym. To learn a new language, you have to begin living like someone who is bilingual. It’s a powerful perspective at letting your habits take root. The other genre I generally enjoy could be morbid or fascinating for you, depending on where you fall. When I’m not learning about leadership, I tend to choose books on true crime. I’m truly fascinated by the dark side of humanity and understanding the details of stories that are so crazy you cannot make them up. It’s far more interesting than any piece of fiction I can read. At the time of writing this, I’m reading “Call Me God: The Untold Story of the D.C. Sniper.” If you’re unfamiliar, the D.C. Sniper case follows the story of two men who senselessly murdered innocent people running errands and terrorized Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. It’s an interesting case because the book details an adult’s influence on a young child, and in it, the adult convinces him to do some pretty horrendous stuff. I can’t help but think about the power we have over
My wife and I stepped through a minefield in parenting recently. Our eldest son was reading a book that’s become a rite of passage for many kids over the years: “Old Yeller” by Fred Gipson. For many kids, this book is an emotional roller coaster full of harsh life lessons. But for our eldest son, who wears his heart on his sleeve and is fiercely kind-hearted, this story rocked him. My wife and I waited on pins and needles for him to get to the end of the book, and it was every bit as heartbreaking as we expected. I’ll admit that the book was far harsher than I remember the movie being. I can remember the gut-wrenching feeling of reading about Old Yeller’s heroic antics and ultimate sacrifice, but Disney surprisingly does a good job of making the story cheerier than Gipson did. Regardless, I’m just glad this story hasn’t turned our son off from reading. We encourage our boys to read when they can. I’m even proud to say that my younger son is excellent at reading! He does a great job of sounding out the words and breezes through books. It’s very cool to watch your kids’ personalities unfold before you like this. As for my personal bookshelf, I typically gravitate toward two genres. I believe self-help and leadership books can help you answer interesting questions about yourself and offer fresh perspectives.
other humans and how completely horrible people use this power for terrible actions. It’s very intriguing, but I also understand where some people have limits and reservations. But I think that’s the power of reading. It’s an escape and a chance for us to learn more about ourselves and the world around us. While we may be listening from the comfort of our car or curled up on the couch, we’re introduced to worlds beyond our imagination. Whether it’s "Old Yeller" or the tragic story of the D.C. Sniper, we learn a little bit about ourselves every time we read. If you have any books for me to check out, let me know! I’m always looking for ways to expand my bookshelf.
–Dr. Josh Satterlee 1
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