John Wilson’s Current Reading List
Jan/101
by John Wilson
Inspired by my friend Lauren’s Website about Books I wanted to list a few of the books I am reading now. I’m typically a nonfiction book reader, but every once in a while I’ll pick up a classic. Mostly because it makes me feel smart. I also have a habit of reading more than one book at a time. So here is what’s in my “library” currently:
I’m on page 150 of 900! of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. This is one of those books that I’ve always wanted to read, and had heard great things about, but have never taken the time to pick it up. The story is great so far, the lessons (at least 1/6 of the way through) are timely and the characters well-developed. I’m looking forward to knocking this one off, as it was one of my New Years Resolutions to finish it.
Another one of my resolutions was to read the Bible. You can read my adventures of purchasing a Bible here. Instead of plowing through it from page 1, I found a great website that guides you through it depending on your interests. Go to Bible Gateway.com to choose your path. I am using this one.
I recently finished Glenn Beck’s Arguing with Idiots. Regardless of how you feel about Beck’s politics, his books are always humorous and well written. This book shines a very bright, conservative light, at subjects such as the economy, unions and the public school system. I believe it’s a strong read for folks on both sides of the aisle.
And, with only a week or two to spare, I’m reading Caveman’s Guide to Baby’s First Year: Early Fatherhood for the Modern Hunter-Gatherer. I’m only a quarter of the way through this book, but it is very informative and entertaining. It leans a little too much on the caveman history side, but the baby-content is very useful and friendly.
Lots to read, and coming soon, probably very little time or energy to read.
Adventures in the Bible Aisle
Dec/094
by John Wilson
If you go to www.bn.com and search for “Bible” there are over 51,000 results. As I stood in the “Bibles” and “Specialty Bibles” and “Study Bibles” at our local Barnes and Noble, I felt like there were more like 1,000,000. I’m very interested in reading it for the historical background and stories and was hoping to find a version with pictures (I’m a little ADD). The longer I stood there, the more interesting (and funny) it got. Here are some of my observations:
One of 1,000,000 Possibilities
1. Did you know there is a CAMOUFLAGE version of the Bible? Is that in case you get real bored shooting God’s baby deer? There is also a Stock Car version you can read between laps and Bud Lights, and a “Green Version” for in between tokes. There’s a “For Him” version and a “For Her” version, a “For Couples”, “For Teens” and “For Children” version as well as “Large Print”, “Micro Print” and a cornucopia of Red Text versions. There is literally a Bible for “Everyone.” What I couldn’t find was a Bible with pictures which is what I was really looking for and would have been the Bible for John Wilson. Besides the obvious translations differences, is there really a need for all of these versions?
2. Bibles are expensive. I know there is no material substitute for the teachings of the Book, but even the non-hunter friendly versions average about $30 bucks. This didn’t include the versions with leather covers, hard bound, soft bound, metal bookmark, child friendly, blind friendly, gold leaf, thin pages, thick pages, bold text, large margins, small margins, pocket friendly, airport friendly, friend friendly, Jewish friendly (not kidding), etc. which were upwards of $60.
3. No one helps you in the Bible aisle. In my Barnes and Noble, the Bible aisle is right in the middle of the store, right beside the giant help desk. I really wanted a Bible with pictures, and for someone to help me make sense of the madness and the only things around were tumbleweeds, a co-ed (see below) and an occasional cricket chirp. For fun, I jumped over to the Fiction section, and literally within 20 seconds someone was all over me ready to help. After asking them a few questions I moved backed towards the Bible section and she snuck away. The employees even avoid direct eye contact. I’m telling you I’M RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORE. Nothing…
4. Is it wrong to check out girls in the Bible section? I of course am not looking, but when a very attractive girl entered the Bible Aisle it got me thinking…”Would I feel guilty hitting on this girl if I was single, in the Bible Section?”
“Would it be a quick ticket to hell to start making out with this girl in the Christianty row?
Not that anyone who works there would ever come by to see us.