Columbine by Dave Cullen

why: I've been wanting to read this book for a while. After the Arapahoe shooting, I figured it was time.

when: January 2014 (took me about a week)

how: as an ebook on my iPad, purchased from my local independent bookseller

thoughts: The author says this book took him 10 years. And I believe it. It's exhaustive. It pours through the writings and videos that Klebold and Harris left behind to try to understand what drove them both to murder. In short, Harris was a psychopath. Kelbold was depressed and suicidal. Together they were a deadly pairing. I also learned that their plans were to kill far more people than they did that day. Their bombs failed to detonate. As a high school teacher, it's terrifying to read and learn about these events, but I'm more and more convinced that prevention is not about arming teachers, but doing everything you can to have a healthy community that seeks out and supports kids who struggle. There were plenty of opportunities to do just that with these two but it didn't happen as it needed to.

Click on the book image to go to the author's website.

review haiku:
terrifying simply
terrifying. That's all.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

why: I've been thinking a lot about how change actually happens in a place like a school, and the presentation I did at NCTE recently with some FHS colleagues was all about how we've seen change spread like a virus here, so I wanted to read this book. It's all about viral change. 

when: start 11/10, end 12/2

how: as an ebook on my iPad

thoughts: This really does help me to think about how change happens. The book has been spinning in my head all week. Definitely some frameworks here to think about how to make meaningful change for people. 

Click on the book image to get to the wikipedia entry about the book. 

review haiku: 

sticky ideas tip

spreading change like a virus

making things better

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Why: I've always wanted to read this book. I wondered if those who engage in extreme physical activities (like the cavers in the last book I read) might be outliers. Not sure if the connection will work or not...

When: start 10/18/13, end 11/8/13

How: as an ebook on my ipad (purchased as always through our local independent book seller)

Thoughts: This book didn't help me much with my thinking about extreme human activities and why people do them, but I'm really glad I read it. Interesting story about human success and how it happens.

Click on the book image to get to the author's website.

Review haiku:
ten thousand hours
what it takes to be expert
mine are in teaching

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Why: Yet again my SLCC class started out the year with this book.

When: start 8/23/13, end 9/20/13

How: I read my teacher's copy of this text, filled with my notes and thoughts in the margins and on sticky notes and complete with my index card book mark where I've written one-sentence chapter summaries to help me find what I need in this book.

Thoughts: This is such a great place to start the school year. Generally I've found my students enjoy reading this book, and it gives us a lot to talk about and think about, which is cool.

Click on the book image to get to the wikipedia entry for the book.

Review Haiku:

Wild potato seeds
watch out for them when you hike
or just bring a friend.

(This makes book # 31 for 2013 for me.)

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson

Why: book club

When: Start 1/10/13. End 1/19/13

Thoughts: Am I a psychopath? I don't think so, at least not according to what I learned in this book.

How: as an ebook on my ipad, purchased through The Boulder Bookstore

(click on the book image to read about it on wikipedia)

review haiku:

if I wonder if
I might be a psychopath
than I am not one