Late as usual with my posts. I have been five days in Oslo to visit my son. There were so many things to do, so not so much time for literary achievements. Rebekah reads and writes about social justice, atheism, religion, science history, and more on She Seeks Nonfiction.
Week 4 (11/20-11/24) Worldview Shapers: One of the greatest things about reading nonfiction is learning all kinds of things about our world which you never would have known without it. There’s the intriguing, the beautiful, the appalling, and the profound. What nonfiction book or books have impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way? Is there one book that made you rethink everything? Do you think there is a book that should be required reading for everyone?
Time to look at your reading and answer a few questions.
What nonfiction book or books have impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way?
I don't read a lot of contemporary nonfiction. I think it just affects me so much, since, most of the time, it is about bad things. You just have to go to the news for this. However, I should go deeper into contemporary history and time, to know more in depth about our world. But, for now, it is all about history and some author's biographies.
For the time being I am reading a lot about Ancient and Classic Greece and the Roman Empire. It is the ground of which our Western Society is built, and makes a big impact on our world today. The more you read, the more you realise that many of the words we use today, many things within culture and tradition come from these faraway times. Furthermore, we can still go around and have a look at what they built thousands of years ago. Still here for us to enjoy.
Is there one book that made you rethink everything?
I don't really know. I come to think of Darwin and his thesis. I think he was very brave at the time, to publish his research and thoughts. I have on my TBR Darwin's Sacred Cause, Race, Slavery and the quest for Human Origins by Adrian Desmond, and James Moore. Time to read now? If we look at biology there is the Swedish biologist Carl von Linné. I have a book about his life and achievements; Jag tänker på Linné, Han som såg allt (I am thinking of Linné, He who saw everything, my translation. Unfortunately, does not seem to be translated in English) by Karin Berglund. He arranged the nature and gave plants and flowers a name.
Do you think there is a book that should be required reading for everyone?
I can't really think of any specific book. Although, I think that all people should read about history and politics of their own country. It is always a good way to start. Then you can continue with the world and our whole existence. Does this sound a little bit overwhelming?