It's because I'm not done everything I wanted to do this summer.
Prepare for courses is one. But there are so many neat books out there.
Two of the best that I (probably) won't finish soon are Isaac Newton (by James Gleick) and Heavenly Errors (by Neil Comins).
Isaac Newton is great because Gleick is a good science writer; Newton is one of the top 3 mathematicians that ever lived, and I didn't know much about why. Now that I know more (a little bit at least) I am more in awe than ever. I read 20-30 pages and stopped several times wondering how this or that could be correct, and how would *I* show it if I were a great mathematician (sigh). It is definitely one I'll be returning to. So ... Isaac Newton is a great book because it's telling me a lot I didn't know, and allowing me to make connections I didn't have (which is the fun part of learning!).
Heavenly Errors is great because it is approaching astronomy from the point of view that everything you know is WRONG, and explains to you why. And that's an intriguing way to learn something new. It's a great way to learn mathematics too! Everyone - when they learn something new - should also be learning why it doesn't work a whole bunch of other ways .... the trouble is that is a more time-consuming and more difficult way to present something. I have a couple examples in my calculus class for example, but I really should have more. To make it fun, and to really highlight that the connection or pattern is 'this certain way' and not some other. I think if we really knew what some of our students thought about a particular topic we'd be either depressed or much better teachers.
You might wonder how I can decide that a book is going to be great after reading just 30 pages or a little more.
'Cause when I read, it's all about me. Don't get me wrong - you're there too. I have discovered so many "helpful" (heehee) analogies that make me a better teacher that I won't ever stop reading. But my kind of reading is fun - I can skim faster if I'm not as interested in a part, or skip the last half of the book entirely (more often than I did when younger), and really slow down when I discover something that fascinates me. And that happens a lot! I encourage all of you to try reading something different - with a mindset that says that you will discover something in a book that will help you be a better person.
You'll have a better future.
And a full confession here .... I might be more interested in school starting (or I might be getting more work done) if I didn't have a dentist appointment on Tuesday. It's one of those appointments that you dread because - even though I have a tooth that is throbbing now - I'm worried how bad the DENTIST will be.
Crazy .....
See you all soon!
First published August 3, 2008 on Myspace