Reading and Knitting Today

As far as reading goes, I definitely prefer nonfiction to fiction and even when I really enjoy a nonfiction book, I seldom read it cover to cover (front to back) at least at first.  

Usually, I will first pick up the book, skim through, stopping to read something that might catch my eye and then read back through the book.  Depending on how interesting I find it, I do occasionally read every word from start to finish but more often than not I have a pile of books by my bed that I change out each night, or for a week or so before another topic draws me in.  Does anyone else read like this?

Lately, I have been especially interested in unschooling or interest-led learning and then how that might look as more of our children enter adulthood.

DIY U by Anya Kamenetz is one such book.  The subtitle is Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education.  There is quite a bit of history of higher education which I did skim through, but I am enjoying every word of the chapter, Independent Study.  

This is a great quote from this chapter by Henry David Thoreau -

"Students should not play life, or study it merely, while the community supports

them at this expensive game, but earnestly live it from beginning to

end...

Which would have advanced most at the end of a month, -the boy who

had made his own jackknife from the ore which he had dug and smelted, reading as much

as would be necessary for this, - or the boy who had attended the lecture

on metallurgy at the Institute in the mean while, and had received a ... penknife from

his father?

Which would be more likely to cut his fingers?"

Much of this chapter focuses on how the internet has changed everything and how accessible knowledge is and that it is available through everyday people living what you want to learn about.  Collaboration is a huge aspect of real learning and the internet makes it possible, for example, to "talk" with someone anywhere in the world.

I am also reading Bill McKibben's,  Hope, Human and Wild .  I love that it is not a series of doom and gloom essays about the state of our earth, but instead offers positive solutions that are being put 

into place in various parts of the world.

As far as knitting, like my reading habits, there are many projects in the works. But one I am more focused on than the others is a gift for a new-to-be-born baby boy.  I am using the Two Needle Blocks Baby Booties and Hat pattern.  (Still avoiding double pointed needles as much as possible.)

Joining in today with Ginny and so many other inspiring knitters.