2012 Book List

Nichols and Sense A Blog from Dr. Dawn Nichols Convent of the Visitation School www.visitation.net/blog Book Ideas for Christmas So many of us at Visitation are voracious readers, and we share our love of books with each other in casual conversation and with our students. Knowing that my colleagues would have great book recommendations, I emailed the entire staff and asked for the names of good books to give as Christmas gifts. Following is a list of my colleagues‟ recommendations, broken into various categories, in their own words. When you are finished with this list, perhaps add a recommendation or two of your own in the comments section of the blog. I look forward to hearing from you! Nonfiction For Adults: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This non-fiction piece follows the planning and development of the 1893 Chicago Exhibition, alongside the story of a notorious Chicago serial killer, one very smart pharmacist who sets up operations near the exhibition. Fascinating, and definitely for teens and older readers. Recommended by Anne Pabst. Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan: I love a good health and wellness read. One I especially like is Food Rules. The book stresses that making healthy food choices doesn't have to be complicated. Food Rules helps make daily decisions about food very simple. The book is only 140 pages long and well worth the $11. Recommended by Mary Pat Ferraro. The Gift of an Ordinary Day: a Mother's Memoir by Katherine Kenison. The author of Mitten Strings for God writes beautifully about her family and her quest for living a simpler, more genuine life. As her children are on the cusp of adolescence, she feels burdened by the life that they are leading in suburban Boston. With a sense that her family needs more time together, more time to slow down and to discover one other, they move to rural New Hampshire. The author insightfully takes us through their journey and their transitions through adolescence and mid-life. I found myself highlighting her words, knowing that I will continue to go back and re-visit this book often. For grown-ups. Recommended by Lizzie Olken-Hunt. Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen. Ten years ago, Jim Collins wrote Good to Great, a book that urged us, among other things, to set a 15 to 25-year big, hairy audacious goal (BHAG) in order to keep companies/school/enterprises of all sorts moving along the road to becoming great. Last year, Collins and Hansen penned Great by Choice, a sequel of sorts to the earlier tome. It shares research that answers the question: Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not? This is a thought-provoking read that I found encouraging and inspiring. Typical to form, Jim Collins did not disappoint. Perfect for anyone interested in exploring how enterprises can survive and thrive in an uncertain world. Recommended by Dawn Nichols. How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman, MD: A great book if you ever have to go to a doctor – which is just about everyone! Dr. Groopman explores how doctors work through diagnoses, and he provides a guideline for patients to determine the best way to present information and ask questions. Perfect for any adult. Recommended by Gingi Hickey. In The Garden of the Beasts by Erik Larson: Ambassador William Dodd is sent to Berlin in the early 30's and notices Hitler's subtle rise to power. His warnings are ignored both in Berlin and the U.S. I thought it was fascinating, although not necessarily a "feel good book." Recommended by Margie Ryan and Jennifer Arriola. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns) is a hilarious collection of autobiographical essays about the life of Mindy Kaling (Emmy award-winning comedian and TV star of The Office and The Mindy Project). This book is an easy read, filled with lightweight anecdotal stories, which often take the form of lists, photos and stream-of-consciousness-type flows of witty thoughts. This book will have any woman (specifically women ages 18-30) laughing out loud while thinking, “Oh my gosh…this is SO me!” Recommended by Julia Dale. The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, SJ: The author was a keynote speaker at the last National Catholic Education Association convention, held in Minneapolis. His book jacket explains that “the way of Ignatius is about finding freedom: the freedom to become the person you‟re meant to be, to love, and to accept love, to make good decisions, and to experience the beauty of creation and the mystery of God‟s love.” I found this book full of humor and wonderful food for thought and actions. Both women and men would enjoy this book. Recommended by Theresa Barry. My Brother the Pope by George Ratzinger: A “cannot put down „til done” type of book that leaves the reader wiser and more at peace. I believe both men and women will enjoy it. Recommended by Theresa Barry. The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon: Here is a book that I've started to read and really feel is important for people experiencing depression. It is an incredibly well- written, thoroughly researched, marvelously insightful journey into the experience of depression – a great resource for those who suffer from this illness or for those who know someone who does. It may prove truly helpful for those wishing to develop a compassionate and possibly helpful response toward others who may be going through this experience. Recommended by Marius Andahazy. North Country: The Making of Minnesota by Mary Lethert Wingerd. Mary is a Visitation alumna (class of 1965) and the sister-in-law of Vis Athletic Director Mike Brill. “North Country” won the Hognander Minnesota History Award, a biennial distinction of the Minnesota Book Awards, and is considered one of the most comprehensive studies of the earliest years of Minnesota's history. The photographs, map and illustrations depict many parts of Minnesota history that have been long overlooked. It‟s a large book, but absolutely captivating. Recommended by Jennifer Arriola. Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls by Rachel Simmons: Simmons does a wonderful job of bringing the world of girls‟ friendships into perspective. Simmons defines and discusses the importance of friendship in the lives of young women and how they can be breeding grounds for the relational aggression that can destroy friendships. It is a frank and insightful guide for parents, teachers and girls themselves to help them identify sources of possible aggression, potential friendship traps, and strategies for preventing and solving these difficult and delicate situations. It should be required reading for all parents of girls! Audience: Parents of girls, middle school and high school-age girls, teachers. Recommended by Zindy Mooney. Republic of Noise: The Loss of Solitude in Schools and Culture by Diana Senechal was one of the books chosen by Upper School teachers for our summer reading and fall discussion. In this book, Senechal “confronts a culture that has come to depend on instant updates and communication at the expense of solitude.” Though Senechal does not disdain the advantages and power of digital tools, she cautions us to use -- and help our children and students use -- these tools wisely. Her constant theme is that solitude has a central place in the education of children and the conduct of life. I recommend this book to parents, alums and educators. Recommended by Renee Genereux. Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey: We run at a frantic pace – especially at the holidays – and this book teaches practical tips for changing your attitude and thoughts so you can slow down your mind and focus on the present moment. Written in short chapters, this book is just the thing to have at your bedside to pick up at the end of a long day and be reminded of how powerful your mind can be. Not only can changing your thoughts make you calmer and happier, but it can also make you healthier. I‟d recommend this book for any adult, college student and even high school-age student needing a gentle guide as to how to slow down. Recommended by Tracey Joyce. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: This nonfiction work about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete- turned-World War II bombardier, is a great book for men and women of all ages – perhaps an even better read for those who lived through the War. Hillenbrand weaves a fascinating tale about Zamperini‟s wild childhood, his development as one of the world‟s best runners, and his time as a castaway on the Pacific Ocean for more than a month after the plane he was flying in crashed. Hillenbrand also chronicles Zamperini‟s time as a POW in a Japanese prison camp and his life as a recovering alcoholic after his eventual rescue. This work reads like fiction. Recommended by Elizabeth Arnstein, Jennifer Arriola and Jeanne Doyle. In The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson follows the journey of three Southern blacks, each representing a different decade as well as a different destination in the early 20th century Great Migration. This exodus of blacks to the North was a continuous phenomenon, spanning six decades of American life and consisting of three geographical streams, the patterns determined by the train routes available to those bold enough to leave. During the 2011-12 school year, this book was a resource for a cross-disciplinary study in Visitation Upper School‟s Social Justice and U.S.

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