What I’m reading
Persuasion: The Art of Influencing People
By James Borg
ISBN: 978-0273734161
#163;12.99
As an English teacher I find it hard to read fiction that is not related to what I’m teaching. Borg describes how body language, listening, and ways to win attention generate success in work and life. I thought I would be able to use his tips with my new classes.
The book I loved as a child
Guinness Book of Records 1997
Edited by Mark C Young
ISBN: 978-0965238304
This was the book I always picked up before going to sleep. It might seem an odd choice, but it offered a window into a strange world. This was a time before Wikipedia-style facts, and I found the information fascinating. It fuelled my thirst for knowledge about the people and places behind these records. The book is jam-packed with brilliant photographs and illustrations, with an easy-to-read lay-out.
Read this before you die
Peace Like a River
By Leif Enger
ISBN: 978-0385602426
This is a beautifully crafted novel that has had a literary and spiritual impact on me. Set in midwest America, it has some of the most original and memorable landscapes I have ever seen committed to page. Narrated by 11-year-old Reuben Land, his younger sister Swede and his janitor father Jeremiah, it offers unique insight into miracles and family relationships. It is being made into a film next year, so I’m glad I’ve already read the book. It is a truly remarkable masterclass in writing.
