Ecological Sanity

This books was written in 1977 and is now out of print. You can find used copies here and there, including through Amazon at the link above. This book more than any of the other hundreds read by Lynn's stepfather and myself started us realizing what the "environmental movement" was really all about. It's not an easy read, but neither are other scientific books worth reading. You can borrow the copy I have with a $1000 deposit.

Jamie

The Physics of Christmas

Those who know me will recognize two of my passions blended here into one book, The Physics of Christmas. Fascinating stuff from the science of snow flakes, to the search for the Star of Bethlehem, to the thermodynamics of turkey cooking (and of other holiday treats)! The author does a great job of sharing a great deal of information with just enough tongue firmly planted in his rosy cheeks so as to not upset your sensibilities too much.

Jamie

The True Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas is something of an enigma. Is he for real or not? What do we know about him, for sure? What exactly is his status as a saint? Is it from Saint Nicholas that Santa Claus evolved?  This is the matter of the book, and Mr. Bennett does an appealing job of fairly reviewing what is known or thought about Saint Nicholas and explaining why it matters to Christmas. It's a wonderful, quick read.

Jamie

This Train is Bound for Glory

Did you know that chapel cars ran on the rails of this country from the late 1800s into the early 1900s?! Chapel cars were sponsored primarily by the Baptists and the Catholics to spread the word across the untamed west. I've been a railfan all my life, and grew up a PK (Preacher's Kid), but it wasn't until a few years ago that I discovered this connection between those two worlds. I got so into it that I developed an experience for our local Methodist church that involved a presentation on the subject followed by a ride on a "chapel car" (well, we turned it into one for the day) on the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, onboard worship service and all. Here are some photos from that event: http://www.worshipweekly.com/090606.html. If you'd like to have one book on the subject, it's the one shown here.

Jamie