On the Origin of Species

Ever stumble across a book that just grabs you and you can't get it out of your mind? That happened to me at Barnes and Noble last week. Yes, I know that those of you who have been reading The Everyday Scholar for awhile realize that I have a thing about books. Some would say that I've never met a book that I couldn't find something good to say about it. But....

This new On the Origin of Species: The Illustrated Edition, edited by David Quammen really is fantastic! For visual lifelong learners out there, the new illustrated edition will change the way you think about this Charles Darwin classic. It is so readable! The illustrations are so perfect for the text. And the graphics showing pages from The Voyage of the Beagle tie together his thoughts during that voyage with his conclusions in the Origin. For everyone else, you'll be impressed also.

Please put this on your lifelong learner's wish list and let everyone know its what you want for your next gift-giving occasion. You won't be sorry.

Centre for Editing Lives and Letters

Some great work is being done over at CELL, the Centre for Editing Lives and Letters. Of special note to lifelong learners, is the material available on the CELL Projects page. The Hooke Folio Online is an exceptional project. The introduction to it states, "In May 2006 a long lost manuscript of the papers of Robert Hooke was returned to the archive of the Royal Society. Lisa Jardine played a significant role in the recovery of the folio, which she described as 'an absolute treasure trove of new information about the day to day activities of the early scientific establishment'."

Lisa Jardine has done some great work, including On a Grander Scale: The Outstanding Life and Tumultuous Times of Sir Christopher Wren, Ingenious Pursuits: Building the Scientific Revolution and Worldly Goods: A New History of the Renaissance.

Ingenious Pursuits is an excellent choice to start with, if you aren't familiar with her books. The biography of Christopher Wren was so welcome because it filled a gap in readily available materials on this most intriguing player in the history of science.

There are also some very interesting podcast titles available on the CELL Podcast page. However, I am having trouble opening them, so I'll have to get back to you on that.

Natural History at Dickinson College

Romantic Natural History: A website designed to survey relationships between literary works and natural history in the century before Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) is not a course, but it is a nice resource for lifelong learners interested in natural history.

Most of all it is a visual feast and it will only get better, since it is a work in progress, with materials added often.

This is one resource to visit again and again. Ashton Nichols and student researchers are doing a great job at Dickinson College.

Romantic Natural Histories--the book was published in 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Berkeley Book List

Here's another one of those "take a break and enjoy" resources. Ralph Hexter, executive dean of the College of Letters & Science, introduces the new Berkeley Book List by saying, "In this first annual edition of the list, distinguished faculty recommend a feast of books — some topical, some classics, others just favorites — across a range of subject areas. For those of you who are avid readers and who relish staying abreast of a particular field of knowledge, the Berkeley Book List is your ticket to indulge your curiosity."

This site is an easy read, profiling the the book lists of 15 (of more than 800) professors from the College of Letters & Science. My favorite, George Brimhall, who teaches EPS 170 (L&S 170AC) Crossroads of Earth Resources and Society isn't here, but you can meet him via the podcasts of the course. You'll see why I think he is the coolest professor around. Can't wait to listen to his Fall 2008 lectures.

Alex Filippenko, professor, Astronomy and Walter Alvarez, professor, Geology are here with their lists of books. You'll remember Professor Filippenko from our post on Introduction to General Astronomy.

Just a nice break to see what these academics consider a good read.

Writing to Learn

William K. Zinsser's book, Writing to Learn, is one of my favorites. Of course, you probably already know that I have many favorite books. But, really this is an exceptional book.

It offers a lot of food for thought for the lifelong learner. We are always looks for ways to reinforce our learning or measure what we have acquired from a given resource. His suggestions on writing to learn are very applicable to our needs.

And on top of that, he is just plain fun to read. And you immediately sense his admiration for writers across many subject areas, like science and math.

Just a bit about his background--He started out at the New York Herald Tribune, he's taught at Yale, and at the New School, in New York and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

I just wish he would do an updated, expanded version. I was sorry when I finished this book and have re-read it many times.

Lifelong Learners Meet the Philosophers

Would you like to have an overview of philosophy? Want to know who is considered a great philosopher? Are you looking to understand some of the terms associated with philosophy?

If the answer to those three questions is yes, then The Great Philosophers: From Socrates to Foucault by Jeremy Stangroom and James Garvey should work very nicely for you. It is currently available at Barnes & Noble stores, as a special price book, for $7.98.

From the back cover, "Philosophy's long walk continues, and you will find here the thoughts which make its contemporary form what it is, and perhaps what it is on the way to becoming. Philosophy is very much still under way and The Great Philosophers pays regard to both the discipline as it is practised now, and to the history which made contemporary philosophy possible."

It's a good addition to the lifelong learner's library. If you're looking for an introduction to philosophy, this just enough information, but not too much.

What Smart Students Know

Lifelong learners seem to never get enough of ways to learn. What Smart Students Know, by Adam Robinson, is written for high school and college students, but has dozens of very effective strategies for studying and learning that you will use everyday. It's one of those books that makes readers wish for a sequel. And on top of that, this paperback is so reasonably priced.

Robinson says, "Forget passively accepting what the education system has to offer: being a smart student means taking charge and teaching yourself. Becoming a smart student means taking responsibility for your education. The central message of this entire book can be summed up in a sentence: No school can teach you the way you learn best, so how much you learn and how well you do is up to you."

By this, he is not advocating that high school and college students drop school and embark on self-education. He details strategies for actually learning in school, not just showing up and filling a seat.

That's a bit off the point of this post, because what I want to say is that What Smart Students Know is filled with learning tips that lifelong learners can immediately put into practice. You will be so glad that you found this book. One extremely helpful stategy that this book details is the way to tackle each type of subject differently, for instance you don't approach geology the same way you do literature or history. You will learn how to ask expert questions. Ever grappled with trying to put into words what you have just spent hours, days or weeks learning? Robinson will show you how you can rearrange and put information into your own words so you can "own it." You'll have to discover for yourself just how great this book is.

A nod is given to independent scholars under the heading: Who Should Read This Book? "... It's for adults who want to take up a new subject and teach themselves."

It really is a jewel. Who doesn't want to find ways to learn faster, easier and better? After all, there is not enough time during our whole lives to learn all we want to learn. Every time I go back over this book, I learn something I missed in all the other readings. I never get tired of it. And I do wish for What Smart Students Know II. Hope it becomes an old friend in your learning toolbox.

The Independent Scholar's Handbook

Are you a big fan of Ron Gross? His Peak Learning is still my all-time favorite book on lifelong learning. I think the first edition is best, maybe it's the feel of the paper. The revised edition is printed on a much rougher textured paper. There seems to be no accounting for what draws us to certain books.

Did you know that you can now download a pdf of The Independent Scholar's Handbook? It's available on the website for the Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars, based at Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies, Vancouver, B.C. Go to the download page for the Digital re-issue of The Independent Scholar's Handbook.

On this page you'll also find the foreword to the digital edition. Among other things, he says, "They share my hope that the information in these pages may give fresh heart, hope, and help to all who pursue knowledge and understanding in whatever field."

And success to all lifelong learners everywhere!