Category: Book Reviews

The Duties of Parents

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[amazon_link id=”1441433368″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Duties of Parents[/amazon_link]

The Duties of Parents
J.C. Ryle

This is a very short review on a very short book/article!

This book was originally written back in 1888, and it is still very true today!  I found this book nice and short and easy to read!  Some parenting books I’ve read kinda get you down and make you think your kids are going to need major therapy and counseling by the time they are in 3rd grade!   This book I found encouraging and uplifting.  It was also inspirational.  It made me proud to be a parent and excited that by God’s immense grace and my willingness to parent His way can produce children that honor and serve God!

The book is divided up into 17 duties which are short, thought provoking and easy to read.  There are so many profound truths, but it is easy to bite off a little, chew over it and meditate on it before moving on to the next section.  Some of the topics include: Train with tenderness, affection and patience, consider the soul of your child first and foremost, Train in prayer, Train in the habits of obedience and in the importance of speaking the truth, and so many more.  I soaked in each of these duties and found so many precious bites.  PLEASE take the time to read this!  It is so refreshing and encouraging and enlightening!

God bless!

 

Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part V – Salt Spices & Additives, Beverages, Food Allergies & Special Diets

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Our next instillation of Nourishing Traditions is hot off the press!  Enjoy!

Salt Spices & Additives:

Sally Fallon states that salt is one of the most controversial topics in the medical world.  How much do we need?  What is the best kind?  What health problems does it cause?  And on and on.  Traditional medicine constantly preaches that if the salt intake is too high it will cause high blood pressure, however there is very little scientific proof to support this.  Salt is very important and necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system and digestion of carbohydrates, BUT excessive salt will actually deplete potassium and calcium causing a whole other host of problems.  A salt free diet can help cure acne, but it is also needed to activate enzymes in the intestine which are important for proper and effective digestion. Continue reading “Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part V – Salt Spices & Additives, Beverages, Food Allergies & Special Diets” →

Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Shots

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[amazon_link id=”1881217302″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective[/amazon_link]

Neil Z. Miller

I happened upon this book by chance and I’m so glad! It is short, easy to read and offers important information in a usable format. Other vaccine books that I’ve read seem to have detailed scientific information that is hard to understand and doesn’t help me make my decision of what is best for my kids. The other genre of book that I’ve read is politically charged or appeals to the emotions. I don’t want to decide not to vaccinate out of fear or because I’m persuaded by good arguments. Continue reading “Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective? A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Shots” →

Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part IV – Vitamins, Minerals and Enzymes

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Vitamins:

Vitamins were first discovered in the early 1900s and the population was soon infatuated with them and it hasn’t really stopped.  Vitamin rich foods depend on the farming methods and how healthy the soil is.  Canning and high temperatures can be destructive to some vitamins, but freezing has little to no effect on them.  Air and sun drying are also kind to the preservation of vitamins as well.  Continue reading “Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part IV – Vitamins, Minerals and Enzymes” →

Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part III – Carbohydrates, Proteins, Milk & Milk Products

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Carbohydrates:

So are you surprised? Fallon and Price both basically state refined carbs are BAD BAD BAD!!!!! Digestion of refined carbs actually uses the body’s stores of vitamins and minerals just to digest and process them! We are usually taught that refined carbs are “empty” calories because they don’t harm or benefit… but actually they are “negative” calories. They actually rob our bodies of nutrients we had previously stored up. Continue reading “Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part III – Carbohydrates, Proteins, Milk & Milk Products” →

Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part II – Fats

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Fats:

This section of the introduction was only about 16 pages, but it took me a few hours to read because of all of the minute detail, chemistry and facts.  I found it fascinating, but there is no way I can completely summarize this portion.  It is VERY well written and it didn’t seem like there was a good way to condense or reduce the amount of information or just convey what was most important… so I had to just summarize what I found most interesting.  I hope you find this helpful! Continue reading “Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part II – Fats” →

Into Thin Air

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[amazon_link id=”0385494785″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster[/amazon_link]

 

Into Thin Air
By Jon Kraukauer

As you can see I haven’t written a book review in quite a while. I’m running a little behind on my goal! I’m still whittling away and making progress though! I’ve had a lot of great magazines given to me and I’ve been enjoying a different pace of reading, but need to get back on my book track! I also have 2 or 3 other books on my list started, but not making a lot of progress. As I said before… I’ll get there. And I feel like it’s better to take my time and enjoy the process of reading instead of just reading for the sake of finishing my list and getting to add the check mark! Continue reading “Into Thin Air” →

Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part 1 – Introduction

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So I’m finally getting around to reading this tome. It looks quite daunting, but by reading it bit by bit I think I’ll make it through. Also, by planning to post on each chapter as I read it, it will probably help me keep on top of it and make it all the way through the book. I’ve already read here and there throughout the book, but now I’m determined to read it cover to cover and try some of the recipes. I’ve already posted the mayonnaise and the sauerkraut that I’ve tried and have turned out great. Since I’ve success with the first two it gives me encouragement to press on! Continue reading “Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part 1 – Introduction” →

All Over but the Shoutin’

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[amazon_link id=”0679774025″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]All over but the Shoutin'[/amazon_link]

All Over but the Shoutin’
By, Rick Bragg

This is memoir is a sad read, but amazing as well.  Bragg grew up in poor Alabama with his two brothers, mother and extended family.  His father was an abusive drunk and after time left the family.  This is an amazing story of how this young man through hard work and dumb luck finds himself as a journalist for the New York Times.

The types of stories he covers are pretty sad and depressing, but isn’t most of the news like that?  I didn’t think about it before this book, but there probably isn’t a lot to report on expect people’s losses, tragedies and sorrows.

In reading this book it reminded me of some of our own nations more recent history like the poor relationships between blacks and whites in the south during the 60s and 70s, the riots of the early 90s in Miami and some of the sad and famous stories that were in the headlines for weeks at a time.  Rick also went to Haiti twice to cover the oppression of the poor and the atrocities that were occurring there.

I found this a fascinating book and very well written.  I came to understand his life a little bit.  It made me feel more compassion on the poor and overlooked; the downtrodden.  It also makes me appreciate the families who don’t look for a free hand out, but work hard, shoulder burdens and press on.

This book is an example of the American Dream.  Bragg does rise from poverty to stability, but you can certainly see how that does not cure his past and he isn’t able to throw away childhood and how it shapes his life.

Photo by Mathias-Erhart

Shepherding a Child’s Heart

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[amazon_link id=”0966378601″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Shepherding a Child's Heart[/amazon_link]

Shepherding a Child’s Heart

By, Tedd Tripp

Ok, so this book is a MUST read!  It has so many amazing truths and insight! I can’t believe the depth of what this guy writes!  I’d like to know what his family looked like!  In reading this book and the examples he gives it sounds like it was perfect with no anger, no yelling, no nagging, no pleading, no begging, no deceit, … pretty much no sin!  I know it wasn’t that way… but it certainly give me hope that things can get better! Continue reading “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” →