Bicycle Journeys

I've been interested in the idea of long-distance bicycle touring with families. Recently, I've read several "trip journals" at crazyguyonabike.com (great site!). I've also read the following:

Mud, Sweat, and Gears by Joe Kurmaskie. This book is the story of Joe, his wife, and three children (including a nursing baby) as the bike across Canada. I enjoyed it, but expected (and wanted) something more like a simple travelogue. It's interspersed with stories of Joe's past adventures (that don't always have to do with bikes) and is also a little crass at times.

A Pedouin Life by Bill and Amarins Harrison with Cheyenne, Jasmine and Robin. I couldn't put this book down! It's about the Harrison family's year-long adventure biking from Kentucky to Alaska on quint bike. I loved the writing style and despite the fact that I'd already read their whole blog of the adventure (which I also had trouble peeling myself away from!), the story didn't seem old and retold. I find it especially fascinating that the family is self-described "blue-collar" and left Kentucky with just $300.

The Homeschooling Option

The Homeschooling Option: How to decide when it's right for your family by Lisa Rivero preaches homeschooling as something wonderful. It gives insight into why people homeschool and how their days run and has lots of quotes from a variety of happy homeschooling students and parents. It was interesting to peek into the world of homeschooling, but the book glossed over any homeschooling negatives or problems so isn't necessarily helpful for a parent truly considering that educational option.

Homeschooling Books

I've been curious about homeschooling lately, so have read:

Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling by Marsha Ransom. This book is exactly what the title says it is. I knew little about homeschooling before reading it and after reading it, knew the basics. It briefly discussed common homeschooling philosophies and how to go about teaching your children. It was informative, but I also skimmed large chunks of it that were full of common-sense information.

100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy was a much better book. It went through the different philosophies more in depth and had several lists of questions to help you decide on which type of curriculum best suits you and your child(ren)'s needs. About 2/3 of the book is curriculum reviews.

Long Way Round

I read about half of Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. The book details the two actors' journey around the world on motorcycles. It is a fascinating read, but full of foul language that I decided I'd had enough of.

In Defense of Flogging

In Defense of Flogging by Peter Moskos is an okay book. The author's argument is that prisons are cruel and ineffective and that for many criminals we should give them the option of being caned and released. He doesn't go into much depth on why he thinks flogging is great, but does write an interesting history of prisons and their past and current problems.

Berlin at War

Berlin at War by Roger Moorhouse is an amazingly well-written account of the everyday life of Berlin citizens during World War II. Each chapter touches on a different aspect of life-- food rationing, the bombings, the use of radio, etc. The accounts are very engaging, full of excerpts from diaries and interviews with survivors. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in WW II.

The Soul of Medicine

The Soul of Medicine: Tales from the Bedside by Sherwin B. Nuland is a collection of various doctors' stories that the author retells and then sometimes reflects on. The stories run the gamut from weird cases (e.g. a young man with lungs full of stool) to mistakes that doctors have made to special doctor/patient relationships. It was a quick read and I'd recommend it, especially if you have an interest in medicine-- which, looking back at the books I've read, I guess I do :)