Insightful books for spring.
Insight doesn’t come easy for most of us.
On social media, we post our thoughts about politics, world events, or the weather but crafting engaging prose for a large audience requires some thought and practice.
These books have hit a nerve with readers and are full of incredible insights about the world around us, how we interact with each other, and what we believe.
1. What's Gotten into You: The Story of Your Body's Atoms, from the Big Bang Through Last Night's Dinner
My favorite book this year and a recent discovery, What's Gotten into You is one of those books that I don’t always agree with but always appreciate. The author knows how to spin a yarn, even when it is related to the universe around us.
2. A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe
Written like a novel with frequent quotes and stirring accounts that paint vivid details, this historical book about how Edgar Allan Poe died has been lighting up on social media. And, for good reason — it’s a page-turner from start to finish.
3. The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America
There are so many things I didn’t know about generational differences over the last few decades, but this historical look is filled with statistics and clear examples. The book offers an explanation of what we’re facing in terms of how younger generations view the world.
4. The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams
I’m in awe of the book The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams and apparently so are many other readers. Told with an incredible attention to detail and prose that makes you keep reading page after page, this vivid account brings the revolutionary figure alive in countless ways.
5. The Monster's Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World
I never knew a book about dinosaurs could be so dramatic. Told with all of the twists and turns of a mystery or a thriller, this lively book explains how dinosaur bones came to be such a public fascination in museums and classrooms.
6. Follow Me to Hell: McNelly's Texas Rangers and the Rise of Frontier Justice
I didn’t know a lot about the Texas Rangers before I read this detailed account of their inception. Fascinating in how it paints a picture of how it all started, including the battles and raids — plus the luminaries who started it all — this is a stirring account.
7. Please, Sorry, Thanks: The Three Words That Change Everything
Many conflicts in life could be solved by simply being more open to discussion, thankful and appreciative. Mark Batterson is a pastor who explains it all with candor and wonderful anecdotes. His main point? That saying three words can open up healthy conversations.
