A List

Because, I've continued to read through all our preparations to move, but have no time to blog.

I've now read the first two volumes in the three volume series of Call the Midwife. I have enjoyed them. The writing is nice, but could have used a bit more editing. I'm looking forward to the third volume. I watched the first episode of the television series, but don't plan to watch anymore. The first volume deals more with birth stories, the second not so much. In fact, I can't recall a single birth story in the second volume. The second volume deals with workhouses and wars. I would recommend the books, but there is a lengthy section in the first volume dealing with prostitutes, which is sad and bleak enough, but within that lengthy section is a lengthy and all-too-vivid description of a strip show performance. It did not seem to be intended to titillate its readers (unlike Water for Elephants, which I couldn't finish reading), but it was still WAY TOO MUCH. I didn't need it for my heart to be broken for the women (girls) held in slavery.

The Self-Propelled Advantage, by Joanne Calderwood. This book was written to encourage parents to allow their children greater freedom in pursuing education, greater freedom being an incentive to greater performance. I was struck by both the similarities and dissimilarities with Tiger Mother. Both mothers (Mrs. Calderwood has eight children, whom she home schools) desire their children to strive for excellence. Mrs. Calderwood believes greater freedom increases a child's desire to do well. Ms. Chua micromanages. Ms. Chua really is a helicopter parent. Mrs. Calderwood is not. Ms. Chua believes she ought to make most of the decisions for her children. Mrs. Calderwood believes the child should be taught how to make decisions, and then allowed to make them. I would recommend The Self-Propelled Advantage to parents, and we will be changing things in our house on account of my reading the book.

I checked out a book called Drive, by Daniel Pink, and a book called Don't Eat the Marshmallow...Yet!, by Joachim de Posada because they are recommended in Self-Propelled. I am looking forward to reading them, and think I may find them of even greater benefit than Self-Propelled.

I guess that's it, though I had thought I had read more than that recently...

A Perfect Mess, by Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman

What if complete organization of one's home or office did not deliver all it promised? What if its benefits did not outweigh its costs? What if, in fact, it stripped one of something valuable?

Mr. Abrahamson and Mr. Freedman articulate in this book about mess and organization what I have long felt about time and schedules: that too strict standards too stridently enforced cost more than they are worth. Companies, families, individuals who do not enforce or require complete organization are more resilient and more resourceful than those who do.

Some amount of mess may actually lead to connections being made which otherwise would not be. The authors talk about scientific discoveries which were made because of mess, messy offices or messy laboratories. I see this also in the way in which my children think about the books on our disorganized bookshelves: they connect books in ways which I expect they would not if I imposed something resembling the Dewey Decimal system.

The authors turn their attention to homes and to businesses and find repeatedly that some amount of mess is actually more beneficial than complete organization. They do not, however, advocate complete mess.

Any system of organizing requires resources both to develop and to maintain, and in plenty of cases developing and maintaining a system of organization use more resources than the organization is worth.

I agree with many of the authors's conclusions; however, some of their assertions were more forcefully put than their evidence and arguments for the assertions warranted.

I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with mess, especially to those who feel shame over it. Embrace the (perfect) mess!

Money Saving Mom's Budget, by Crystal Paine

I won a copy of this book on a blog giveaway. This book and Crystal's blog (moneysavingmom.com) have revolutionized my thinking about the money in my control. I've always tried, with more or less success, to spend within my means, but now I'm trying to spend below my means. Now I'm trying not only to spend less money by buying less expensive items, but actually to keep money in reserve.

Several of the specific, practical suggestions aren't viable for us at this point in our lives, but the impact on my thinking has been invaluable already.

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs some advice or encouragement for managing their personal finances in a better way.