Study Tips for Biology

Study Tips for Biology

     Here at Coe College, there are so many pre-medicine and nursing students. To be able to graduate in these fields, a lot of biology is usually taken. Our freshman year, for example, most of us have to take Cellular and Molecular Biology (the weed out class). We all struggle in that class, so here are a few study tips that helped me to struggle a little less.

     Biology is best defined as the study of living organisms. Given that there’s such a wide range of living organisms from bacteria/microscopic organisms to the biggest of animals, it can be an extremely hard subject. It’s all more or less just memorization; however, it is a lot to memorize in a short amount of time. Our brains are extremely powerful, but every brain is different, and there are so many ways to learn. Simply memorizing things to get things done isn’t going to work because to actually instill information it needs to be rehearsed in the brain more than once.

That being said, I took and studied notes before class; then when I got to class I recorded the lecture as well as revised my notes. The key to revising was to add and highlight things that my professor elaborated on/ emphasized the most. I did it for every chapter before the exam (each exam was every three chapters). Then, while studying for the exam I made a flow chart to show how each topic was connected so that I could easily make those connections during the test.

Homework really does help, because it gives you the chance to practice everything you’re learning. Also, having a friend to study with so that you can all compare notes and teach each other will help with rehearsal and keeping everything in your brain. I cannot stress this next point enough: TALK TO YOUR PROFESSOR. I couldn’t go to SI Sessions because I had work so often; and I needed money to come up with half of my tuition. If you’re in my shoes, then communicate that with your professor and schedule a set meeting time every week to go over material. It actually helped me.

I hope that these study tips work for you like they did for me; and if you have any other tips then leave them in the comments!

BOTW 4/15

By Paige Waskow

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

By Peggy McIntosh

The book of the week is not exactly a book. Instead, I thought I would post this resource about white privilege.

What is it about?

This resource, which comes from a larger publication by McIntosh, helps identify what white privilege looks like in everyday society. This list of statements allow the reader to look at their own lives and see how they are able to interact with the world in comparison to others. White privilege does not always mean active violence, it is ingrained in every part of society.

Here are the first seven (out of 50) examples from McIntosh's list of what white privilege looks like:

"1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.

2. I can avoid spending time with people whom I was trained to mistrust and who have learned to mistrust my kind or me.

3. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

4. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

5. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

6. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.

7. When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is" (McIntosh 1988, 2).

                                   

via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

I think this resource is a great way to target what privilege looks like for white people. What I mean is that as a white person, I am able to ignore or more seamlessly move through society in a way that people of color cannot. I get to choose whether or not I want to think about how society is privileged to white people. I do not have to experience it.

All of the statements that McIntosh mentions are crucial to understanding what white privilege looks like, and they should make you uncomfortable- especially if you are not a person of color. I think this source challenges my normal and helps me remember to be aware of what I can do without feeling awkward, fearful, isolated, or ignored because of the color of my skin. It is so so so important that those who have privilege in society challenge themselves to see bias and then change how they act or don't act. One thing that I have learned is that listening and learning go a long way. Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack is a way to actively listen and challenge the status quo.

Where can you view it?

Right here! This is a PDF document of the list (but not the whole publication).

Is there anything else you should know?

If you would like to view another post I wrote about white privilege, you can click here. I added some resources that I have found useful to that post. Additionally, if you have any resources, comments, or questions, please leave them below. Happy reading!

References

McIntosh, Peggy. 1988. "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." (part of "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming To See Correspondences through Work in Women's Studies") https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf. April 17, 2019.

BOTW: April 10th

By: Paige Waskow

The Sun Does Shine:

How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row

By Anthony Ray Hinton

What's it about?

What is it like to be on death row? What is it like to be innocent on death row? What is it like to be a black man, innocent of a crime but convicted for it, and on death row?

Anthony Ray Hinton tells his true story of growing up as a black man in Alabama, being accused of murder, and being sentenced to death. Not only is he completely innocent, but he spends thirty years of his life on death row before getting out. His story recounts the trial, the injustice and inequality of the system, and how he grows in spite of his circumstances. Hinton fully describes the hardship of being on death row and losing so much of his life to it. He speaks of his troubles with belief in God, fear of never seeing his mother again, frequently hearing and smelling men being killed near his cell, and struggling with how to get out. He also describes his incredibly journey in being able to make friends and share his knowledge with fellow men near his cell. He even starts a book club. Although he is in the worst of situations, he is able to serve the people who are on death row through kindness and compassion.

Why did I choose it?

This book affected me so deeply and profoundly. As mentioned above, it is not simply a story of injustice, but also one of strength and growth. Hinton has to face what I can only imagine as one of the most entirely life shattering and deeply horrifying experiences a person can live through. And yet, even after losing it all, he is still able to help other people. It is hard to describe the book without giving too much away, but I promise it is worth the read. I love books that challenge the status quo, and Hinton absolutely does this. But, he does it through love and compassion, which are seemingly impossible from being in the circumstances that he was put through. I highly recommend this book as it will challenge you, probably make you cry (or at least feel some serious emotions), and shares a powerful example about how love wins over racism, privilege, pain, sorrow, and inequality.

Where can you get it?

The Sun Does Shine is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL). You can get a CRPL card anytime for free.

Is there anything else you should know?

A part of the book recounts Hinton's journey to get off death row with help from lawyer Bryan Stevenson. I have written a few posts before mentioning Stevenson, specifically the BOTW post on Just Mercy which he wrote. If you are interested, you can view that post here. Additionally, I highly recommend checking out Stevenson's firm the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). You can view their website here.

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References

Equal Justice Initiative. EJI. 2019. https://eji.org/

Hinton, Anthony Ray. Hardin, Lara Love. The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row. St. Martin's Press, 2018.

What is Coe's Center for Creativity and Careers?

By Paige Waskow



Many people know or have heard of C3 here at Coe, but what do they do and how can they help you? How can you get that internship you've always wanted or make a lasting impression at a job? I talked with Joe Demarest, an Internship Specialist at C3, to ask some questions about what C3 does and how everyone can take steps towards having a successful post college career.

What is your job at C3?

So my title is Internship Specialist, but I deal with a lot more than just that. All the C3 consultants help with career exploration and consulting. We all help students get connected to Cedar Rapids and engage with community members.

What can students get help with?

I think it really is about meeting the student where they are at. One of the first questions I ask is: How can I help you? Not every student needs the same interaction and has the same needs. For some students it can be an interest inventory (like looking at majors) or job shadowing. Sophomores and Juniors typically do cover letters, job searching, and networking. It could be making the transition from the academic environment to real world.

What opportunity should every student take at C3?

I think every student should meet with us at least once to see where they want to be in the future. Different career paths may change how much a student interacts with C3. Their experience, if in the hard sciences, may be more professor based versus a student who wants to be in social work and needs help connecting with nonprofits. My biggest fear is a student leaving thinking that they are going to be happy but not having experiences and not having it figured out. Outside input is great for every student.

What are the most important things a student should do each year?

Freshman:

Freshman year is really about transition to college, 1st semester is getting into the new environment, and learning what you need to do to be successful. Asking: what might my future hold? And thinking about thing long term. Freshman should start trying different things and doing networking opportunities through C3.

Sophomore:

Sophomore year can often get lost in the mix. Ideally a Sophomore should start thinking more about how they can do some real exploration along the lines of summer opportunities and research. They should have more conversation about things like LinkedIn and start thinking about audience. Asking: How am I starting to engage? Some themes include: Internships to just get some experience. A working cover letter. More leadership opportunities in clubs. Considering life after college. (Grad school, working, etc.)

Junior:

Junior year is very important, you don’t want to slip through and not pay attention. It is a continuation of what has been done Sophomore year.

Senior:

Senior year is a lot about tying up loose ends such as practicums and ensuring that you are able to graduate. There should be more focus on life after college but still finishing strong.

via GIPHY

In your experience, what kind of students stand out the most when applying for internships, jobs, etc.?

Those that start early (and it doesn’t need to be full throttle but it does need to be engaged.) Acknowledging time and how important it is and how fast it really goes. If you always think you have more time, you don’t realize how quickly it goes until it is gone.

What C3 event should every student attend?

You should attend all of them. The career fair is one that would be really good to go to. Getting to know local employers and opportunities even for 1st year students is very important. Getting on the company’s radar as an interested student and making connections can be really helpful. Sip and Socialize is another good event to attend. So many jobs are being landed through networking and being able to connect with alumni. Data shows that networking is key. It’s also about learning how to have those conversations with professionals when you leave college.

Thanks to Joe for taking the time to answer my questions!

BOTW: April 1

By Paige Waskow

The Help

By Kathryn Stockett

What's it about?

What does it look like to be a black women in 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi? If you guessed difficult and taking the punch of a racist and white privileged society, you'd be right. The Help tells the story of three women who work together to challenge the status quo and poor treatment of the black women who work as "the help" for white households.

When you read, you meet Abilene, Minnie, and Skeeter, three women who lives and experiences look very different. Abilene is a black woman who works for a white family and takes care of their daughter. Minnie also works for white families, but has trouble keeping jobs because of her tendency to tell her employers how she really feels about them (which at this time is not seen as a good thing). Skeeter is white, but also doesn't fit into the mold that her friends and mother want her to. As their lives in Jackson begin to overlap, these three women become the power behind a movement to challenge the sexist and racist status quo.

via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

The Help is not only a wonderful drama, but it gives insight to what it would have looked like to live in the South in the 1960s as a black woman or a white woman. Neither, as seen in the story, has a large amount of power, but as you can imagine, there is certainly an extreme hierarchy even between women. I chose this book because it, from what I know, does a good job at identifying the ridiculous amount of privilege white women had over black women, who at this time, found employment as "help".

This book identifies the realness of social and economic segregation after legal segregation was abolished. It welcomes the reader to understand privilege and white social supremacy while also just being an incredibly well written book. Stockett is able to portray the many faces of social expectations of women, whether black or white, and how we all do worse because of those expectations. The book challenges beauty standards, work ethic, injustice, loneliness, racism, sexism... the list goes on and on.

It's also incredibly hilarious. Like this book is HILARIOUS. The ways in which the main characters push back against the status quo is brilliant and uplifting. They don't back down from hardship and challenge those who have a lot of power and say in their lives. They grow in community and strength. These women are incredible and complex characters.

Where can you get it?

The Help is available at Coe's library and at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you don't have a library card, you can get one for free whenever the library is open. You can visit the CRPL website here.

Additionally, The Help was also made into a great movie in 2011. It stars Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone. You can also get it at either of the libraries mentioned above.

via GIPHY

References:

Stockett, Kathryn. The Help. Penguin Books, 2009.

BOTW image made with Canva.

BOTW: March 27

By Paige Waskow

Nature Anatomy

By Julia Rothman

What's it about?:

Basically a fun and beautiful field guide, Nature Anatomy takes you through the natural world in vivid watercolor drawings and descriptions. You can learn about the origins of the universe, classifications of trees, and the difference between a carpenter and bumble bee. The book gives you the environment in detailed and unique pages, fun crafts to try, and much more. You won't come away bored (even if you're not a nature nerd like me!)

 via GIPHY


Why did I choose it?:

I love nature! And I love books that explore the outdoors. This book is an easy read and always fun to come back to. If you are looking to read the whole thing, or open its pages randomly, this book offers a field guide experience: learn as much as you'd like, but there's not a plot to follow.

As mentioned above, this book has a beautiful art style of watercolor with bold but not limiting sketched outlines. Whether or not you even read the descriptions, the art is enough to boldly stand out and make the book a wonderful experience.

Where can you get it?:

Nature Anatomy is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. You can get a library card for free anytime they are open. Check out their website and request books here!

Is there anything else you should know?:

Julia Rothman has also written books about food (Food Anatomy) and farms (Farm Anatomy) which are in the same colorful, field guide style as Nature Anatomy. I highly recommend! If you are interested in learning more about the author and her works, check out here website here!

via GIPHY

References:

Rothman, Julia. Books - Nature Anatomy, https://www.juliarothman.com/books-2#/nature-anatomy/.

Rothman, Julia. Nature Anatomy. Storey Publishing, 2015.

BOTW February 25

By Paige Waskow

The Book of the Week is:

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

"You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and not get wet."

What's it about?

What would you do if you had the chance to step into a magical world whose entrance forms itself in the shape of a tollbooth? Perhaps take a swim in the Sea of Knowledge or visit the word market? Or better yet, meet a watchdog named Tock and a cynical Humbug of which to share an adventure with?

Milo, who is described as having too much time on his hands and being much too bored, is given this opportunity. His journey, which at first he isn't incredibly excited to be a part of, turns into a rainbow of surprises with twists of wordplay, all in hopes to restore rhyme and reason to the magical land.

                                 

via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

This was one of my favorite childhood books. Although it is targeted towards a younger audience, anyone can enjoy its puns and eccentric characters.

I love this book because of its story focuses around what it means to learn and experience living. The journey Milo goes on is magical, but it reflects our everyday lives. How do we step outside of our comfort zones? How do we interact with those who have had very different life experiences from us? How do we grow when nothing feels the same?

Additionally, I believe that The Phantom Tollbooth, in its reflection of wordplay, is VERY relevant to our world and society right now. The book reminds us about the importance of words, ignorance, and meaning- especially from those in power. I'll leave it there.

Where can you get The Phantom Tollbooth?

This book is available at Coe's library as well as the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you don't have a library card, you can get one anytime for free! The closest library to Coe is downtown on 4th street.

If you have a book you love and want to see as a BOTW, leave a comment below!        

via GIPHY

Happy reading!

References:

Juster, Norton. The Phantom Tollbooth. Random House Children's Books, 1996.

BOTW February 20

By Paige Waskow

The Book of the Week is:

Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton

What's it about?

How do the people of the world live? How does experience shape our beliefs, struggles, and response?

Humans of New York: Stories is a nonfiction compilation of photography and captions of everyday people sharing something about their lives. Most are answering questions posed by author Brandon Stanton, a photographer who blogs and posts online about the experiences of those he meets on the streets of New York. The book itself derives its stories from those online publications. Each page typically has one or two photographs and are put together often in ways that reflect themes or beliefs.

Why did I choose it?

This may be, and as a huge bookworm I say this quite cautiously, my favorite nonfiction book. My love of stories has always been present and driven me to learn more about the world I am in. I heard about the social media page Humans of New York on Instagram and followed them. I loved the stories shared, and eventually, the author of the site announced the release of the Humans of New York: Stories book. I got it for Christmas and, like most books I ended up loving, I read it in a day.

My very loved copy of HONY: Stories.

The book is so unique and powerful in its ability to tell the stories of everyday people. It pulses with emotion and is so full of diversity.  From children collecting rocks and talking about building bridges to memories of people who have survived war or gang violence to conversations between lovers to those attending religious events, this book leaves nothing out. I think what is most amazing is that the book itself is not crafted by one person. Sure, there is one official author, but it is a book by people, capturing one sliver of a moment in their lives. Side by side on the pages, people have different beliefs and life experiences.

Together, these photographs and captions form what I believe to be both a beautiful and often heart-breaking look at what it means to be human- what it means to be alive. Like, if I had to send an alien planet one piece of media that describes humanity, it would be this book. I have read HONY a few times now, and it doesn't fail to get old. If you are looking for beautiful photography, people, and stories, please read this book.

Where can you get HONY: Stories?

This book is available for checkout at Coe's library and the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you don't have a CRPL library card, you can get one for free any time.

Is there anything else you should know?

As mentioned above, Humans of New York started as a photography blog and continues to publish stories online. You can view their work on social media or at their website here. From this site, you can view all of their past stories and series. I highly recommend checking it out.

Additionally, Brandon Stanton also wrote a book published in 2013 (earlier than HONY: Stories) called Humans of New York. I haven't read it, but it has the same premise as Stories. The only difference is that Stories has longer captions alongside the photographs.

                                            

via GIPHY

If you have a book you love and want to see as a BOTW, leave a comment below. 

Happy reading!

References:

Stanton, Brandon. Humans of New York. www.humansofnewyork.com/.

Stanton, Brandon. Humans of New York: Stories. St. Martins Press, 2015.

BOTW February 11

By Paige Waskow

The book of the week is:

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

What's it About?

Starr Carter lives two different lives. One is in Garden Heights with her family and the other is at an majority white high school, Williamson Prep. Keeping the two Starrs separate is something that she has learned to do. As she puts it, Garden Heights Starr would be considered "too ghetto" at Williamson and Williamson Starr would be "too white" in Garden Heights.

When Starr's childhood best friend, Khalil is shot and killed, murdered, by a white police officer, she is thrust into the spotlight. As the media explodes over the event, she must decide how she will respond. Does she speak up as the key witness? Does she stay quiet at school? How does she heal and move forward when most of the world is against her?

Why did I choose it?

&  Learning Commons writer Jasmine Barlow's take on it!

I choose this book for a lot of reasons, but mainly, I was blown away by its complexity. Thomas does not stray away from hard topics and the layers of white privilege that are a constant in our society. There is so much, SO much I did not know going in. Some aspects, such as the continuation of police brutality, white privilege, and double standards, were things I was familiar with. But Thomas doesn't simply outline these issues. She shows how deeply interconnected and real they are. The story not only focuses around police brutality but dives into topics such as separation of black and white neighborhoods, black women dating white men, being one of the only black people at a school, blaming a black victim's life choices for their death but giving immediate grace to a white officer, the ability for white people to listen to R&B or rap without being seen as "ghetto" but people of color being judged for listening to it .... the list goes on and on and on.

The Hate U Give was not a book I could put down. The characters are so vividly created, their stories perfectly webbed together to create an unforgettable story. Thomas does incredibly well to make the story feel like it happened in real life. She leaves you changed.

What Jasmine says about the book:

"My favorite book is "The Hate U Give". It was the first book to make me cry (not just "feel sad", many tears fell in many different chapters) because I relate to Starr. I love reading and have read many fantastic books, but Starr was the first person I could truly understand. It hit home and I recommend everyone to broaden their horizons and learn how people of different backgrounds and cultures see the same world, through what they have to live through. I tend to be drawn towards books written by Black women, but I've never read a character so close to my age, from the same time period, from a big city. I'm still in awe."

Where can you get The Hate U Give?

This book is available at Coe's library and the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you don't have a CRPL library card, you can get one for free anytime!

The Hate U Give was made into a movie last year, and it. is. amazing. I highly recommend it (but read the book first!). Both Coe's library and CRPL have the movie to rent for free.

Is there anything else you should know?

Angie Thomas just came out with a new book! It's called On The Come Up and is about a high school girl who is aspiring to be a rapper. I haven't read it yet, but based on Thomas' work, I'm sure it's going to be great.

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via GIPHY

If you have a book you love and want to see as a BOTW, leave a comment below. 

Happy reading!

References:

Thomas, Angie. The Hate U Give. Harper Collins Publishers, 2017.

Learning Commons Book Favorites!

By Paige Waskow

What do the writers of the Learning Commons Blog like to read?!

From social justice to sci-fi to romance, check out the list of unique books below!

Bridget Atkinson-Moore
Recommended book:  The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter

Why it's one of my favorites: "One of my favorite books to read over and over again (I read it at least twice a year, once for Halloween and once sometime during the spring) is The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter. It's such a great horror story set on a remote island with really great creepy imagery. It made me scared to encounter a mosquito for a while after I first read it!"

Jasmine Barlow
Recommended book:  The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Why it's one of my favorites: "My favorite book is "The Hate U Give". It was the first book to make me cry (not just "feel sad", many tears fell in many different chapters) because I relate to Starr. I love reading and have read many fantastic books, but Starr was the first person I could truly understand. It hit home and I recommend everyone to broaden their horizons and learn how people of different backgrounds and cultures see the same world, through what they have to live through. I tend to be drawn towards books written by Black women, but I've never read a character so close to my age, from the same time period, from a big city. I'm still in awe."


Arabella Chamberlain
Recommended book:  Saturn Run by John Sandford

Why it's one of my favorites: "This book tells a story of drama, mystery, science, and a great race through space. It's such a page-turner and full of surprises. Sandford's voice is really enjoyable and makes the story come to life. With moments of drama and suspense to moments of hilarious absurdity, this sci-fi is one to pick up."

Taylor Nosekabel
Recommended book:  Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Why it's one of my favorites: "I love this book because the main character is very relatable and it deals with difficult family topics in a believable and understandable way. Also, the romance is fantastic."


Paige Waskow
Recommended book:  Artemis by Andy Weir

Why it's one of my favorites: "Artemis is a really unique book that is incredibly imaginative. It follows the life of Jazz Bashara on Artemis, the first city on the moon, and her accidental involvement in a very complicated space heist involving global powers. It is action packed, hilarious, and science-y. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in two days."

If you have any favorites, leave them below for others to see.

Happy Reading!

via GIPHY, Ana Caro

My thanks to the writing commons blog writers for their willingness to help make this post and interest in reading.

Image made with Canva

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Need a Book?

via GIPHY, Benjy Brooke

By: Paige Waskow

     The world of books is massive. From Shakespeare to Maya Angelou to John Green and many, many in between, it is hard to know where to start. Whether you are looking for adventure, a good scare, or a personal biography, hopefully the list below will help you find some reads you are interested in! This is not a complete list of genres or titles. If you have any books, authors, or genres you recommend, leave them in the comment section.

General:

If you want to read popular books, classics, or iconic titles (such as 1984, The Color Purple, and Beloved) check out these books everyone should read. Or maybe you are competitive and want to read the 200 books from this website (including The Book Thief, Speak, and The Great Gatsby). It could also give you some general ideas of books to read.

Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi:

Sadly, Halloween has come and gone, BUT if you are still feeling spooky or want to explore the world of horror, check out these stories from NPR. Or maybe you want to take a look at some of the best of fantasy and sci-fi. Check out this article of 100 fan-favorite books.

Examples include: Frankenstein, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Yellow Wallpaper, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.

Mystery Books:

Often overlapping with horror, social justice, or sci-fi, mystery books are a lot of fun, come in a diverse landscape of whodunits, and challenge our perception of the world. Check out this list of favorite mysteries or this list of crime mystery.

Examples include: And Then There Were None, The Godfather, The Da Vinci Code, Shutter Island, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Books by Women of Color:

Although the list below includes women from all backgrounds, women of color have been writing for many years and yet, they are often overlooked as writers. Check out this list of books that everyone should read or this list which specifically has newly released books from 2018.

Examples include: Americanah, The House on Mango Street, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Binti, and When They Call You a Terrorist.

Books by Women:

From horror to justice to classics, women have written impressive and diverse books. If you are looking for recent books by women, check out this list of 35 books. If you are looking for a large list of books with famous women authors and praised books, check out this list.

Examples include: The Handmaid's Tale, Song of Solomon, The Harry Potter Series, Where'd Ya Go Bernadette, and Pride and Prejudice.

Books about Social Justice Issues:

If you are looking for books that address social justice issues (including police brutality, homophobia, and immigration) in both the United States and the world check out this long list of books. If you want a shorter list to choose from that is only fiction, take a look at these reads from the Seattle Public Library.

Examples include: Just Mercy, Between the World and Me, The Hate You Give, I am Malala, and How Dare the Sun Rise.

Biographies, Memoirs, and Autobiographies:

People's personal experiences shape ours. We are motivated by those around us and their stories. Check out this list of 100 Biography and Memoirs to learn more about human hardship, success, and life.

Examples include: The Diary of a Young Girl, Unbroken, Persepolis, 12 Years a Slave, and A Walk in the Woods

Books about the Environment:

Maybe you heard of the United Nations report on the state of our climate. Perhaps you want to learn more about why people are so invested in the climate change debate. Or maybe you want to learn more about the issue or transcend political boundaries. Check out this list if you are interested in climate change effects or this list if you want to read fiction stories with an environmental message.

Examples include: Who Fears Death, Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know, Six Degrees, The Sixth Extinction, and Gold Fame Citrus

Additional Reads that are not part of the lists: Silent Spring, The Water Will Come, The Human Age, Drawdown, The Nature Fix, How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate, Eco-Mind, and Truth to Power

Happy Reading!

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References:

     Bologna, C. (2018, March 14). 35 Must-Read Books By Women From The Past 5 Years. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/35-books-by-women-writers-from-the-past-5-years_us_5a8c6b2ce4b0273053a54eb8

     Blair, K. (2018, March 10). 23 Books by Women of Color You Need to Read in 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from http://www.keishablair.com/uncategorized/23-books-by-women-of-color-you-need-to-read-in-2018/

     Carroll, T. (2017, December 29). These 8 Books are Fiction, but Climate Change is Not. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://electricliterature.com/these-8-books-are-fiction-but-climate-change-is-not-977f94d7b30

     Chui, A. (2018, August 06). 30 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/30-books-that-everyone-should-read-least-once-their-lives.html

     Depenbrock, J. (2017, June 30). Summer Reading For The College-Bound. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/06/30/534458892/the-books-college-kids-are-reading-this-summer

     Doyle, J. (n.d.). The Best Female Authors of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.abebooks.com/books/best-female-authors/index.shtml

     FamousAuthors.org. (2012). 10 Best Mystery Books of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018 from https://www.famousauthors.org/best-mystery-books

     GoodReads. (n.d.). 100 Biographies & Memoirs to Read in a Lifetime: Readers' Picks (1203 books). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/85102.100_Biographies_Memoirs_to_Read_in_a_Lifetime_Readers_Picks

     GoodReads. (n.d.). Best Crime & Mystery Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/11.Best_Crime_Mystery_Books

     GoodReads. (n.d.). Popular Social Justice Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/social-justice

     Mayer, P. (2018, August 16). Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories. Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-stories

     Paul, C. (2018, January 10). 11 Must-Read Books By Women Of Color Coming Out In 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.bustle.com/p/11-new-books-by-women-of-color-everyone-needs-to-read-in-2018-7839819

     The Seattle Public Library. (n.d.). Social Justice Books for Teens - The Seattle Public Library. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200121216/675212937

     Sutter, J. D. (2015, May 20). Books: 12 must-reads on climate change (2 degrees). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/19/opinions/sutter-2-degrees-book-club/index.html

     Weldon, G. (2011, August 11). Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/139085843/your-picks-top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-books

     Wright, K. (2018, March 3). 49 Books That Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2018/03/03/books-that-everyone-should-read

     Zottino, T. (n.d.). 200 Books Everyone Should Read - How many have you read? Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.listchallenges.com/200-books-everyone-should-read

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Enjoying Reading

By: Paige Waskow

How do you read more? How do you make reading something you enjoy and want to do on a regular basis especially if you are not used to doing so?

1. Don't feel like you have to read certain books (and if you don't like one, you can stop).
Finding books is hard to do, but finding a good book can be even harder. This is especially true for those who have read a lot or hardly any at all. To avoid this problem, experiment with books and try out different genres, authors, and topics. Asking others their favorite books is a great way to find a good read, especially if you share tastes in music, TV shows, or hobbies. Additionally, there will be a post about books to read coming out soon to give you some book ideas!

One important thing to remember is that you absolutely do not have to finish a book. If you are not enjoying it, it is okay to move to something else (especially if you have another one you want to read!) Reading is a process, what matters is putting interest into what you are doing.

2. Take your book places (and read it).
In forming a reading habit, it is important to practice it. This is not to say you ALWAYS have to be reading, but you can give yourself the opportunity to do so. For example, instead of scrolling through social media while waiting at an appointment, you can get a few pages in. It will also make your free time or waiting time more interesting and feel like you are not wasting it. Books are also great because you can go at your own pace, and take your time. They are quite forgiving if you take a break for a while.

3. Make the experience something to remember.
Reading does not always have to be limited to reading a book. In fact, it often is not. In order to motivate yourself or get more out of a book, you can try the following things. If you want to make reading a social experience or to keep yourself accountable, you could start or join a book club. If you are feeling more personal, you can always set your own goals. Do you want to read a certain amount of pages in a day or a certain amount of books? Maybe your goal is to read that one book you have been meaning to read forever. Additionally, you can remember your books by writing down quotes or things that stood out to you.

4. Try different types of reading
Like life, people prefer different things and experiences. Reading can be the same as there are many ways to enjoy a book. Perhaps you like audio books and listening to them when working out or traveling somewhere. Or maybe you are like me and want to have a real book that you can carry around and hold. Additionally, many people like reading on electronic devices, and that option can often be a lot cheaper and manageable when it comes to space and carrying something around. Both Coe's library the Cedar Rapids Public Library has books in all types of formats that you can try.

Again, there will be a post about books to read coming out soon to give you some book ideas!

via GIPHY,  Alexandra Dvorniokova

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References:

Babauta, L. (2017, June 29). 14 Ways to Cultivate a Lifetime Reading Habit. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/14-ways-to-cultivate-a-lifetime-reading-habit.html

Kaplan, E. (2017, March 27). How to Read (a Lot) More Books This Year, According to Harvard Research. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://medium.com/the-mission/how-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year-according-to-harvard-research-e1dfc55e0b9f

Popova, M. (2016, September 06). Neil Gaiman on Why We Read and What Books Do for the Human Experience. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/08/03/neil-gaiman-view-from-the-cheap-seats-reading/

Rampton, J. (2017, June 27). 25 Expert Tips to Reading WAY More Books This Year. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/25-ways-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year.html

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Why Does Reading Matter?

By: Paige Waskow

What is the importance of reading? Why should we spend our time reading, especially as busy college students? In reading, there are both many educational and personal benefits. Additionally, it is important to remember how valuable being able to read really is and experience fiction worlds, true stories, and what is going on in the world. Let's dive a bit deeper into what this all means through some key points.

via GIPHY

1. Reading is a good escape and can be incredibly relaxing.
Life can be busy, overwhelming, and uncontrollable, especially if you have lots of classes, work, and sports. Managing it can be incredibly difficult and working through the stress that comes with it can often be much worse. One benefit of reading is that is it is an escape and break from that stress. Finding a good book can take you to new world, explore complex problems, and provide hours of entertainment. Reading is a choice. You can choose what you want to read and explore without fear of getting to a certain page number or writing a paper about thematic character actions. Additionally, reading may help you feel understood and understanding. As author John Green simply stated, "Great books help you understand, and they help you to feel understood".

2. Reading helps you see the world in new ways (and challenge it).
There is a reason books are criticized, praised, or incredibly popular. Books are complex and provide a voice to ideas and concepts. From banned books to those that provide criticism on culture, reading opens the door to the world. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences; we each have our own story. Through reading, you have the opportunity to expand your bubble and even break the expectations you have of yourself and the world. Additionally, it brings you closer to others. Reading is special in that even if we know of a concept or idea, by exploring and reading we gain new knowledge and learn from a new perspective. We are able to grow into people who care more about ideas, humanity, and solutions.

In one of her articles about the importance of reading, Brain Pickings writer Maria Popova quotes author Neil Gaiman on his perspective of fiction's value. "'Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you’ve never been. Once you’ve visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you can never be entirely content with the world that you grew up in. And discontent is a good thing: people can modify and improve their worlds, leave them better, leave them different, if they’re discontented,'" (Popova, Gaiman).

3. Reading opens the door to community.
Although books are often seen as a personal and introverted activity, they can also be used as a way to socialize and grow friendships with others. Take book clubs, recommending books to others, and popular culture references as examples. Books and stories bring people together while helping challenge us in our experience and being willing to share it with others.

4. Reading can educate you in what you need to know and help give you more information about what you care about.
Books are a form of media, and like all media, they are biased in some way. But, they also take more time to write and often more care before publishing. Books can provide information that is easily compared with other sources, insight, and perspective. In regards to non-fiction, reading a lot of books allows for the opportunity to learn more about issues that matter to you. Additionally, they may help you have the ability to understand and be less overwhelmed by issues in culture, then being able to formulate opinions and solutions. This then can be useful in classes, as you have more sources and understanding about why you believe something, as well as knowledge to share with other people.

5. Not reading all together undermines the value of books in society.
According to Pew Research,"About a quarter of American adults (24%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form," (Perrin 2016). This is definitely at least a whelming statement. Books are such a rich source of knowledge and can provide and bring so much into people's lives and experiences, as stated in the points above. When we do not read or use books, we may begin to believe that they are of less worth than they provide. This is not to enact fear of a Fahrenheit 451 or 1984 like society, but it is important to note that how we gain information matters. How we communicate and grow as people is where we get information and how we process it in our daily lives. We should not read out of fear of losing books but out of enjoyment and pursuit of learning. What we give attention to is what grows and flourishes.

Additional note: I want to share this NPR article about reading literacy in the US and how many people are learning to read for the first time as adults.

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References:

Perrin, A. (2018, March 23). Who doesn't read books in America? Retrieved October 29, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/23/who-doesnt-read-books-in-america/

DesMarais, C. (2018, March 15). Why Reading Books Should Be Your Priority, According to Science. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/why-reading-books-should-be-your-priority-according-to-science.html

Popova, M. (2016, September 06). Neil Gaiman on Why We Read and What Books Do for the Human Experience. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/08/03/neil-gaiman-view-from-the-cheap-seats-reading/

Block, M., & Peñaloza, M. (2018, April 26). Casting Aside Shame And Stigma, Adults Tackle Struggles With Literacy. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/26/602797769/casting-aside-shame-and-stigma-adults-tackle-struggles-with-literacy

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Why Should You Read?: An Introduction

By: Paige Waskow

Reading matters.

     Of course, you have heard this, had teachers tell you to read more, had classes where the curriculum is “reading intensive”, or heard of its magical benefits. But why does it matter if you read and how does doing so outside of a class during your precious free time actually benefit you? How can you enjoy it?

     Perhaps you are like me and enjoy reading. A. Lot. I grew up hauling as many books as my arms could carry down city blocks to my house from my local public library. But, in my educational experience, whether in middle or high school, reading was about being a better student in the short term and doing well on tests, rather than enjoying it and thinking about it in the long term. My educational experience did not really make me want to read outside of class. My personal experience and exploration as a child did. As students, I believe we have lost touch with the importance of reading for pleasure. I have friends explicitly tell me that they hate reading. Books mostly meant grades, tests, assignments, and skimming. Maybe you feel the same.

     There is immense value in reading in school, and this is not to undermine that. In fact, it is necessary to read in class and have deep conversations about texts. I think that our problem with reading is that we see it as something for school, something that can make us pass or fail, not as something that can be enjoyable, relaxing, and exciting. So, how do we take back that love for reading? How do we read more?

In the next few posts, we are going to look at:

1. Why reading matters

2. How to actually enjoy reading

3. Books you can read

4. Book favorites of the Learning Commons blog writers.

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