Nonfiction November Week 4: Worldview Shapers

Thanks to this week’s host: She Seeks Nonfiction 

Won’t you click on the link and go visit her blog? Leave a nice comment. It means the world to bloggers to read nice comments.

Here is this week’s prompt:

One of the greatest things about reading nonfiction is learning all kinds of things about our world which you never would have known without it. There’s the intriguing, the beautiful, the appalling, and the profound. What nonfiction book or books have impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way? Is there one book that made you rethink everything? Do you think there is a book that should be required reading for everyone?

Sadly, after the last several dividing years of American politics the word “worldview” makes me sigh and want to hide. Secularism (or secular humanism), Trump-loving right wing, Christian nationalism, regular Christianity, all things gender or sexuality related–it all makes me mentally exhausted. It makes me want to be a hermit, too. “Worldview” gets dumped into the Mommy wars, too. Breastfeeding, public versus homeschooling–it’s all in there. Exhausting.

As to the idea that everyone should read X book–no. People forced to read something rarely take it it. Books people should read to better understand the world today must be chosen with a desire to widen one’s mind and increase one’s comprehension of other cultures, religions, genders or whatever.  Nor should we read just to be put down those with whom we disagree. We should read to improve our vision, to better get along with other.

For those with such a desire here are a couple of books I’d recommend:

Fascism: A Warning by Maeleine Albright

I chose not to review this–I was way too emotional to give an accurate review. Sadly, in my opinion, I wish more Americans would chose to read this and take heed. The ones I see as needing it won’t–and they see me as alarmist. This book shows the checklist ALL dictators follow to get to power. Never forget, Hitler was elected. Africa saw many who led the fight for independence from Colonial rule be popularly elected then go to dictatorship. It’s a slippery slope.

Sports leagues are not nature. Children need to be outside, exploring, learning, experiencing. They need to get wet and dirty and cold and hot. They need to experience the sensation of nature, it’s scents and textures. Suburban kids today are never unsupervised. If I ran the world, all children would somehow have at least a term of forest kindergarten.[click to read more about this]. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv.

This book was written before “Obama-care” but is still very relevant. It shows how other countries treat the same problems. That alone explains why we need our healthcare system overhauled and paying for care reformed. The Health of American by T.R. Reid.

This book is so eye-opening. How little most people have to eat in the world. Then look at the Northern Hemisphere–especially the US, UK, Germany. You see why we are unhealthy. Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

How about you this week? Did you post any books for us all to read–or consider reading? Leave me a comment or a link to your post–I’d love to see them.