From a Male Point of View
I have two men who follow my blog. One of them is my grandson, the only member of my family who actually appreciates the blog!! The other man is Tom Pinckney, a well-read friend who plays bridge with me and has an open mind about matters. The other day he gave me a list of books he would recommend so I pass them along to you with a short blurb about each one.
- Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet This book was written by Hannah Richie and published in 2024. Richie argues that, while there are increasing setbacks to environmental issues, we can still be optimistic about the future. She looks at some of our biggest problems and gives data about progress made toward tackling them. So, why not look at instructional ideas that are working and build on them?
2. The Coddling of the American Mind, by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, is a book that makes the case against the current use of “safetyism” with American young people. Safetyism, as defined by the authors, is “a culture that elevates emotional safety to a sacred value, leading to an unwillingness to tolerate any form of discomfort or disagreement.” The book was published in 2018, and a lot has happened since then. If, however, you have teenagers or young adults in your home or if you teach them, there is a lot to be learned from the premise.
3. The Demon of Unrest, by Eric Larson, is of particular interest to those of us who live in Charleston, South Carolina. Chronicling the months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, Larson focuses on three individuals who were involved in the choatic unfolding of events. After you read the book, take a trip to Fort Johnson or Sunrise Park on James Island and see first hand where it all started!!
4. The Barn, by Wright Thompson, investigates the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. The book examines the cover-up of this horrendous crime. If you can stomach such brutal violence, you will find out how the entire experience helped the author better understand the event and its impact on Amercian racism.
5. Humankind by Rutger Bregman can be viewed as either an antidote to The Barn or as a complete farce in light of Emmett Till’s murder. Bregman argues the humans are inherently good and cooperative. Really? He gives examples which certainly back up his thesis, and they are heartwarming to read about. Of course, most of us accept the duality of human nature. Reading about the good can keep us in balance.
6. The Year of Magical Thinking is a memoir by Joan Didion that is considered to be a classic on mourning. Didion’s husband, John Gregory Dunne, died in the early 2000’s at the same time their daughter was critically ill. The ‘magical thinking’ refers to unrealistic thoughts and rituals that sometimes accompany grief. The book won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2005.
So, thank you, Tom. You have obviously read some important books, and we are happy you shared your list with us!!