Culture Concerns: 7 book recommendations (Part 1)

The opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities could be used to describe the current cultural climate we find ourselves in."It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...". There is joy and love and laughter, but also there is a lot of hardship and confusion. I realize that could be said of any generation at any point in history, but if you're like me, you see a lot of drastic changes happening in our current culture. In 2020 many of my assumptions and beliefs about the world around me were challenged. I responded to that by reading and researching. I know, shocking! After all, this is a book review blog!

I have made a list of 7 books that have impacted me on my journey to better understand what is happening in culture and how to approach it. These books have helped me sort out feelings, challenge my beliefs and gain some much needed chutzpa! I don't expect everyone who reads this to share my convictions or passions, but maybe one or two of these books will resonate with you if you are also feeling frustrated, alarmed, or confused about things happening in our world.

Over the next several weeks I will focus on 2-3 of these books at a time. This first post will focus on two books: Live Not by Lies by Rod Dreher and Battle for the American Mind by Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin.

If you have read either of these, I would love to connect with you and hear your thoughts!

1. Live Not by Lies by Rod Dreher: I read this book in November 2020 and can honestly say it is one of the most important books I have ever read. Throughout the book, Dreher interviews many survivors of Soviet totalitarianism. Their stories serve as both inspiration and warning. He explores the signs of "soft-totalitarianism". The title comes from the essay written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn on the day of his arrest in 1974 urging people in Moscow to "live not by lies" by rejecting falsehood and propaganda. Solzhenitsyn famously said, "The simple step of a courageous individual is not to partake in the lie. One word of truth outweighs the whole world." One huge take-away for me was the importance of being in community with other people who share your convictions and who also refuse to take part in lies. There is strength in community!

2. Battle for the American Mind by Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin. I listened to this book on audio and then had to go buy it so that I could highlight all over it! If you are an educator, have children, or have been educated in America you should read this book. I will warn you, this book upsets the apple cart. You will most likely be offended at some point in reading. My entire life has been shaped by the education system as both a student and a teacher and there were revelations in this book that opened my eyes. I have had some very good experiences both as a student and as a teacher in public school and I know many amazing teachers making a difference every day. This book does not diminish that! What it does is shine a light on education and hopefully help to bring change where change is needed. It also offers a look at alternative approaches that are gaining traction in America today.