23. The Satanic Verses

The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie

I actually read this one back in September, in preparation for Rushdie's visit to campus and because I had somewhat foolishly agreed to co-facilitate two book discussions.

It took me three tries to read the first chapter. It's totally disorienting and I couldn't keep the two main characters' names straight or what was happening. After this, it got easier, but I was never sure if things were happening for real or in somebody's dream.

The Satanic Verses is an amazing novel, and one I think needs rereading to appreciate. I was trying to move through it quickly so I'd have it done for the discussions, but slowly enough to have something to say about it. Next time I read it, I'll be more careful to make connections between the plot and characters and history and religious symbolism.

18. Inside the Undergraduate Experience

Inside the Undergraduate Experience: The University of Washington's Study of Undergraduate Learning, by Catherine Hoffman Beyer, Gerald M. Gillmore, and Andrew T. Fisher (2007)

This was a Center for Teaching and Learning selection from back in June. I invariably enjoy the books chosen for discussion, and this one was no different. There's a lot to get through, but it's not as dry as many research studies. The authors included plenty of direct quotes from the students they studied, which made it a much nicer read than I was expecting.

As a humanities librarian, I was most interested in a few specific chapters: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (ch. 5), Writing (ch.6), and Information Technology and Literacy (ch.8). These sections really got to the heart of what I want to know about what students are thinking as they go through college. The chapters are framed by the researchers, but the students' learning processes are described in their own words. The other thing that really resonated with me was the way students made connections across disciplines and talked about how they became adaptive learners. Fascinating stuff.

14. Generation Me

Generation Me, by Jean M. Twenge (2007)

Finally, something a bit more substantive! I read this one for a book discussion on campus, which I always like. Honestly, Twenge, who's around my age, kind of lost me with some really broad generalizations that didn't ring at all true to me. Some of my fellow discussors (discussioners? discussion members?) seemed to agree.

I lent my copy to Rick, so I don't have it on hand to find examples I can point you toward. Basically, I disagreed with the entire premise that the kids just now graduating from college and those coming out of high school have a bleaker work outlook that people my age, for example. Remember the early 90s? I'm not going to argue that I walked uphill both ways, but let's acknowledge that late adolescence and early adulthood are really difficult and transitional times, and always have been. I'm thinking of my grandparents and what they had to look forward to at that age, namely the tail end of the depression and World War II.

The other thing that really bugged me was Twenge's heavy reliance on pop culture, which she frames as evidence. No. I watched Dawson's Creek, too, but I wouldn't use one conversation between Dawson and Joey as some kind of revelation about teen hopelessness. Sure, pop culture is a reflection of our society (and sometimes that reflection turns back on itself in truly scary and meta ways), but surely there's some real evidence that could shore up what I would call cute illustrations of phenomena.

Still, I liked reading Generation Me. It made me angry and I often disagreed, but it made me think. It was also the object central to one of the best discussions I've been part of here on campus. Lots of people are critically examining the experiences of our students and working hard to improve their opportunities for learning and future success. So, it was pretty cool to read this and talk about it with smart, interested people.

19. Choosing Civility

Choosing Civility (P.M. Forni, 2002)

This is another selection from a book discussion group on campus. It probably wouldn't have been on my radar otherwise. I've always been fascinated with ettiquette and have developed strong opinions on the subject, parsing out rules that I believe in implicitly and those I have no use for. Forni's book isn't exactly a primer on ettiquette; it's more a reminder of how we should treat one another. It's mostly common sense, but bears repeating. I like that Forni calls the book " a handbook for the practical use of civility." The 25 rules are a nice guidelines for all aspects of life, both in the workplace and out. It's nice to see such a well-written little reminder of the ways we can be more thoughtful, or maybe mindful of the ways we interact with others.

2. Recovering the Sacred

Recovering the Sacred: The Power of Naming and Claiming (Winona LaDuke, 2005)

I read this book for a discussion group on campus during the Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Dialogue on campus. Winona LaDuke also spoke on campus, but I was on the reference desk during her keynote.

It's hard to describe Recovering the Sacred because it really spans many themes. Of course it centers on native culture, but it made me think a little differently about environmentalism and agriculture. I recommend this one.