May 2010

by Lisa Miller

Utah Humanists Share Book Recommendations

We have some great recommendations from fellow humanists this month. My to-read list has definitely grown. By the way, Wayne is graciously offering to print book reviews in the newsletter for anyone willing to submit a report now or in the future. Please consider it! Also, take a look at our website for more humanist reading suggestions. Many of these have links to reviews provided by members. http://www.humanistsofutah.org/BookRecommendations.html

Enjoy!

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (Jason Cooperrider)

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson and Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Lisa Miller)

Island and Ape and Essence by Aldous Huxley, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov: Favorites dealing with themes of religion, violence, war, politics, social stigmatization for beliefs. (Justin Howland)

Still Alice by Lisa Genova: Gave new insight into how to think about what is going on in the mind of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. (Lauren Florence)

Passion and Principle by Sally Denton: The story of the lives of one of America's first "power couples", John C and Jessie Fremont. It includes the history of Fremont's Western explorations, the California gold rush, the Mexican war, the Civil war, and an interesting early reference to "plausible deniability" on the part of a US president. (Rob Duncan)

Slapstick or Lonesome No More by Kurt Vonnegut: Favorite book ever. Though for someone who has never read Vonnegut, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater would be a better introduction to his works. (Wayne Wilson)

Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough: Deals with the beginnings of the F.B.I. in the 1930's and their war against crime, specifically Bonnie and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, the Barker Gang and John Dillinger. It is very interesting for those who enjoy history about old time gangsters and outlaws. (Richard Cushing)

The Road by Cormac McCarthy: The story of a father and his young son trying to find safety after an apocalyptic event. Not always an uplifting story, nevertheless, compelling and hard to put down. (Richard Cushing)

The Conversation for May:

WHAT IF... states actually started seceding from the United States? Given Utah's track record this year (joining in to sue the federal government over the health care bill; the legislature calling on the EPA to desist on CO2 reduction programs since that climate change stuff is all unsubstantiated science; further policing of women's reproductive systems with a specifically tailored criminal law against inducing miscarriages; talking about following Arizona in their radical immigration law) I'm betting Utah would be joining them. So, a little poll for this "what if" world. Will you be staying in the seceded state?

A) No. I'm outta here.

B) Yes. It wouldn't make any difference in my day to day life.

C) Yes. I like a good fight. I'll stay and be a voice of reason.

Send your responses to Lisa at HumanistsofUtah.org for next month's newsletter. The deadline is May 28.

--Lisa Miller