We read a textbook titled Understanding the Times by David Noebel over the last two or three months. Every night when I returned home from work, I spoke with Lorena for a half an hour or so over the Greek salad she always has waiting for me. Then, we made some popcorn and I read to Kelly and Christian while they worked on their comics. One time, about half way through the book, Christian picked out Home Style popcorn rather than the regular stuff we normal get. We were pretty disgusted with him until we had some, realized we like it better, and gave it our official, reading-aloud-with-the-Chapmans seal of approval. Now that is the only kind we ever get. We finished reading a Sonlight curriculum book, The Gammage Cup, just a few days before we finished Understanding the Times.
The book was very good. At places, the reading got a little tedious, but each of the worldviews we studied was covered well. It was not all tedium, but what there was, was a result of material that was repeated both for clarity and as a way for it to stick with the reader. We notice now that we can often identify the worldview of writers and speakers on the radio, magazines, and the internet. It was something we did not much consider before we read this book. When we can identify a person’s worldview, it makes it easier to understand and respond to them in appropriate ways. It has been particularly useful to help us interpret what the politicians say during the current presidential election season.
Between now and when Lorena and the kids leave for Mexico for the wedding, we will read a book about evolution that I will talk about in a little more detail later. We have decided not to start another Sonlight novel until we are all back home in North Carolina after the wedding in Mexico.
Lyle
Speaking of books have you ever read “What Einstein Told His Cook”? I picked it up at my Aunt’s one time and it looked very interesting.
Lyle, I have not read that, but I checked it out at Amazon. I am ordering it! It looks awesome.