Qualities That Count: Heber J. Grant as Businessman, Missionary, and Apostle

Heber J. Grant's insomnia may have been the best thing to happen to the study of early twentieth century Church history.

Food Fight: The Inside Story of the Food Industry, America's Obesity Crisis, and What We Can Do About It by Kelly Brownell

First, I must say that this book has the worst possible cover one could have chosen. Every time I look at it, I want to go to Culver's for a Double Butter Burger.

But I digress. Brownell is the guy behind the 'twinkie tax,' so he clearly has an agenda, but as the person primarily responsible for the diets of five people, I need to hear this kind of thing from time to time. There probably isn't much in this book that you haven't heard before, but it is still shocking. A mildly interesting read.

1776 by David McCullough

I love McCullough. John Adams and Truman are two of my all-time favorite books. I was so excited when I heard 1776 was about to be released. But it was very dry. There was nothing interesting here, no great little side stories, no sparkling writing. It reminded me of nothing so much as an American history textbook. I gave up after 50 pages. Not recommended.

Your Defiant Child by Russell A. Barkley

I'll have to get back to you with a real review once we've attempted to implement some of his strategies, but this seems like a useful book. I chose it because the author is a clinical expert in defiance and he claims that the strategies in the book are based on reams of research. We'll see.

A Mother's Rule by Holly Pierlot

I liked this book. There's plenty on the market for help scheduling a homeschool family, but this book is unique in that it applies the principles behind a monastic Rule to the creation of a Mother's Rule, which incorporates the physical, educational, academic, and spiritual needs of the family. I plan on incorporating most of her ideas and I enjoyed reading about familiar theological concepts through a Catholic lens. Recommended for homeschooling moms.

Mary Queen on Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George

I don't usually read fiction, even historical fiction. And, at 866 pages, this one might be a record for me. I enjoyed it, although parts were a little too graphic for my tastes. And, as is usual with historical fiction, I kept wondering which parts were historical and which were fiction.