books.

Every summer, I try to read as many new books as I possibly can. Unfortunately, I get sidetracked and re read some things. I like to embrace my inner teenager, not even going to lie about it. So, here are the books I read this summer, and some thoughts, in case you might want to read them too.

1. A Short History of Nearly Everything : Bill Bryson
-loved it. It's been sitting on my book shelf for a very long time, but I finally got around to it. It was probably the most comprehensive, enjoyable book about all of science that I've ever read.

2. Packing for Mars: Mary Roach.
-loved it and love her. I've read 2 of her other books, Bonk (about the science of sex), and Stiff (about the science of cadavers). She has another book named Spook (the science of the afterlife) but I'm too afraid to read it. I absolutely love her style of talking about scientific research without it sounding too, well, boring. She definitely has a way of finding the most interesting stories about the topics she's writing about. If I ever decide to write a book, I hope it's as good as one of hers.

3. Sex on the Moon : Ben Mezrich
-don't think I liked it. Well written, for sure, and easy to read, but I'm glad I got the discounted version on my kindle. For those of you who don't know, it's based on a true story. There was this really smart dude (like, super smart, like he's a physicist now, smart) who was working for NASA and on the road to being an astronaut. Then he stole moon rocks from them. (he had a bad childhood, lost relationships, blah blah blah...) So, really, he's super smart, but super stupid. I think I love NASA too much to be amused.

4. Harry Potter : JK Rowling
-love them. Read all of them/saw all the movies for the first time last summer, and I read books 1-6 again this year before going to see the final movie. I mean, let's be honest, who doesn't love Harry Potter?! I think the thing that most intrigues me is the fact that she's developed this whole world of quidditch, chocolate frogs, and owl post along side the Muggle world and nobody has any idea it's there. Which is why I also love...

5. The Twilight Saga : Stephenie Meyer
-love them. Read all 4 in 2 days. To quote my brilliant friend Alyson, "they're the literary equivalent of marshmallow fluff," as in, no nutritional/educational value, but you love it and you can't get enough. (I must also thank Al for making me read them in first place.) When I was student teaching in college, the first book came out and had I known then what I know now, I probably wouldn't have told those high school girls to put them away when I was teaching. It's got all the things it takes to be a completely ridiculous/awesome story: sexy vampires. damsel in distress. teenage werewolves. discussion of the chromosomal count of fictional creatures. what more can you ask for?

6. The Pluto Files : Neil deGrasse Tyson
-loved it. Very educational. I was never one to be too offended that Pluto isn't a planet anymore, but it seems lots of people were. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen so many angry (yet hilarious) letters from elementary school kids. The book explains, very eloquently the science of why Pluto isn't a planet anymore but in a very, very funny way. If I could get 30 copies of it, it would be my textbook for my astronomy class next year. (and, funny enough, I read this after I read A Short History of Nearly Everything, which was written in 2003, and even then, scientists realized that Pluto really didn't fit the role of planet.)

7. Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by the Most Brilliant Teacher : Richard Feynman
-so glad I read this. I'm not a physics person by any stretch of the imagination, and even though I've been teaching basic physics in integrated science for the past 2 years, I don't really love it. Hearing about it from someone who clearly loves it is very motivational. Even though I learned a bunch of stuff that will help me with the physics standards in my Astronomy class, I think the thing that impacted me most was in the introduction. As most of you know, teaching isn't exactly in the best place right now, and to hear someone who is considered "the Most Brilliant Teacher"  admit in the introduction that his style of teaching didn't actually reach all of the students was humbling.

8. Von Braun: Michael Neufeld
-in the process. I'm not the hugest fan of biographies, but I love him, so I'm pushing through. I'm learning alot, but it's taking me awhile.

9. The Sportsman: Dhani Jones
-didn't start it yet, but I won a signed copy from a twitter contest, so I'll be reading it soon. If you don't know who Dhani Jones is, you should. He's an NFL player, but he also hosted a show on travel channel where he traveled the world and learned a new sport in every country he visited. It's a brilliant show and the book is based somewhat on the things he learned while traveling. I'm looking forward to it.

and that's it. 15 books down, 2 more to go. Not a bad summer at all.