February 27, 2023 • 16 mins
February's Book Club - Justin & Kylie share their list of favourite books they're reading at the moment.
Justin's reading
- Guns, Germs & Steel by Jared Diamond
- Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
- Get It Done by Ayelet Fishbach
- Silas Marner by George Elliot
- Freely Determined by Kennon M Sheldon
- That All Shall Be Saved by David Bentley Hart
Kylie's reading
Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's the Happy Families podcast. It's the podcast for the
time poor parent who just wants answers.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Now, what's the right time for a book like that?
I mean, it's sat there for a couple of years.
How do you know when it's the right time.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I decided I see violence and some rawns in my life,
it's the right time.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And now here's the stars of our show, my mom
and dad.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Hello, this is doctor Justin Coulson, the founder the Very
Tired and Over Kids, founder of Happy Families dot com.
I'm laughing, Kylie because of what happened this morning in
the kids.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Room with the Google clock.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
So at Christmas time, one of the kids got a clock, right,
and it's a Google clock, which means that it's got
a speaker in it and they can say, hey, Google,
do whatever, and it does stuff. But we had a
fifteen year old and a twelve year old that were
mad at each other this morning.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Why don't you say what happened?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Because you were the one that actually walked into the
room because I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Google turn on the music, and then three seconds later,
the fifteen year old Google turn the music off, over
and over.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Again, and so it would start and then it would
stop every three seconds.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Oh my goodness, why just why? Anyway, today we're going
to have a break from pairing on the podcast. Once
a month we do book club. It's the third Thursday
of every month. We talk about what we're reading. We
give you a chance to There's something wonderful about books.
They apparently they increase our empathy. They help us to
see the world through other people's eyes.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
You know, well, it's not working because our girls read
like you wouldn't believe.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It's not working for me either, I've got to tell you.
But they do at least give us a sense of escape.
Maybe that's why our kids do read so much. Gives
them a chance to get away from each other.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
Oh is that why you read?
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So?
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I try, I really do try.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So today it's the opportunity for us to, like I said,
dive into the stuff that we're reading and share what's
I guess up or what's not. And there's always a
problem when we do book club because you missus happy
families don't seem to understand what it means to talk
about one book. You want to tell the whole world
about all of the books that you've been reading. So
(02:13):
what have you been reading? And what are we going
to talk about? I will jump in after you.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Well, a couple of years ago, my sister actually gave
me the entire Outlander series to read. That's by That's
by Diana gibbled gabbled on.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
If Diana Gabaldon is listening to this podcast, I mean,
I really hope she is, but I doubt it. I
only know how to pronounce her name because I looked
it up on the internet. I cheated, I did a
quick cheat, and this is how it sounds.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
My name is Diana gabble going, gabble going, gabble going, gabble.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Gabbled gabbledon gabledon. Anyway, go on now that we know.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
So it's been sitting in my cupboard for a couple
of years, and I just they are big, chunky, heavy
duty books.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
And the books the books launched the series that is
on Netflix and a handful of other streaming platforms that,
from what I understand, is very violent and a little
bit of launchy as well.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
It is so with questionable themes. I have been just
kind of waiting for the right time.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
What's the right time what's the right time for a
book like that? I mean, it's sat there for a
couple of years. How do you know when it's the
right time.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I decided violence and some launch in my life it's
the right time.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
No, I decided that I was going to allow myself
the luxury of reading a big book instead of trying
to do one in two days.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
So these books have been in your wardrobe for, like
you said, like two or three years.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Now, how many? There's like seven of the year, is
that right?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I was a guest, Yes, and so you've been halfar.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
In are you?
Speaker 5 (03:49):
I've read the first one, right?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
And was it as provocative as the series is supposed
to be?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yes? Really?
Speaker 5 (03:57):
Yeah? Definitely? So sensitive is the device? Might want to
stay clear of it?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah? And what about sensitive souls? Because like it's violent, right,
there's some.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Horrible it is, But I don't think it's a justification.
It's one thing to read something, it's another thing to
watch it, right, And when we read things that are uncomfortable,
we kind of gloss over them. It's really easy for
us to gloss over them when we watch it. Outside
of turning it off, you can't you can't actually get
rid of that picture.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
It's like that you can't unsee this kind yeah yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Yeah, So you can kind of read something and you're
aware that it's happening, but you don't allow your mind
to dwell on it. You don't actually allow your mind
to create the picture to go with that part of
the story.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I think I can relate. I remember years ago reading
The Hunger Games and going it's pretty it's pretty full
on from a themes perspective, but you're not actually watching
people go out there and slay one another so that
they can win this prize.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Whereas watching the movie.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I was really put off with The Hunger Games by
the movies, was like, this is it's one thing to
read it, it's another thing to watch it. It's it's
such an assault on all of the senses.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
It changes. So I get that.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So anyway, you're reading Outland by gubbled On, how do
you rat it?
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Look?
Speaker 5 (05:14):
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's such a out of this
world experience.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
You know, It's like it's historically accurate, right, It's a
pretty historical kind of thing.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Yeah, there's huge historical information in it, but obviously a
lot of fiction.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, So historical fiction.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Flows through it, and so I'm fascinated by history in
so many ways and appalled and just drawn in by
the way life was and the choices and the justifications
for choices that were made in a different era and time. Yea,
So I really enjoyed it. It's going to take me
(05:54):
probably the next six months to get around to reading
the next.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Book, so it's going to take you three more years
to get.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
So it's a really dense read. It's a very dense read,
very small print, and about six hundred pages, so it's
a solid read. Should I read it, I actually think
you'd really, you'd really enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Well, I'm going to stay thirty five books on my
bookshelf right now, but I'll read it.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Mentally challenging, right, Okay, So if you're open to kind
of branching out and reading something that's going to challenge
you in lots of areas, then I definitely suggest Outlanders
a good book.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
What would you rate it out of five?
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Probably four?
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Oh? Really? Okay, it's a good book. Okay, all right, cool,
good book.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
You're looking at your paperwork like you've got more to
talk about. It's you don't get to talk about all
the books that you've read. Okay, now you can't say
that and then not talk about them, because I feel
like you really want to What else have you got
on the list?
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Well, at the beginning of the year, I decided to
sign up to Beck Sparrow's book club.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Oh yeah, books for Beck and Jane.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
But father, father, I'm really enjoying discovering new reads and
just I guess branching out. So I've started doing that.
I actually missed the first.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Book, right, did you read the book?
Speaker 5 (07:13):
I did read the book, and I was so excited
to sit down because one of the great things that
Beck and Jane do is they actually get the author on.
Oh wow, so you get to have a night with
the author discussing the book and the choices that they made,
and you know, the storyline and stuff. So I was
really looking forward to it because I actually this was
this was a I'm going to say it quite a
(07:34):
dark book.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
So what was it called? You haven't said it? Oh?
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Sorry, It's called The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth. She she writes,
actually writes beautifully and it was actually quite I would say,
an intricate read from the point of view that there's
four main characters, and each chapter is a different character.
Kind of describing it's actually not They're not overlapping, it's
(07:57):
not describing the same event. It's actually telling the story
at different points in time by the different people.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, some novelists are so clever, aren't they?
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Like does my Head? And I don't know how you
would actually write a book like that, but she's done
a fantastic job of piecing everything together to the point
where I obviously had to keep reading. It only took
me a couple of days. Very very easy read. Like
I said, definitely deals. There's suicide, domestic violence issues dealt with.
(08:26):
So it's a dark book and I guess just challenging
the mindset of what it means to love and what
lengths you'll go to prove that love. But if again,
if you're interested in kind of reading a book that's
going to kind of stretch your reading capacity and being
(08:47):
open to being challenged by what that looks like, then
I would definitely recommend the.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Soul Mate score of five.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I'm going to go three point five.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Do you have any more on the list that you've
read this year that you want to talk of?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
I have one that I'm halfway through at the moment,
so we'll leave it for next month.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Okay, so you're off to a much slower start reading
wise this year. Is it because of the kids fighting
over the Google book and the music going on and off?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Is that? No?
Speaker 5 (09:11):
It depends on the book matter. And the book that
I'm reading at the moment that i'm halfway through is
very dense and it's challenging me.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Okay, it not to mention that Diana Gabaldon's book was
that was the big the big read as well. Okay,
all right, I'm going to share mine my books of
twenty twenty three thus far.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
It's the Happy Families podcast, the podcast for the time
poor parent who just wants answers now. And if you've
been waiting with baited breath to find out what Justin
has been reading this month, he's about to tell us.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Okay, I'm going to get in trouble because you know
how I gave you a hard time about having a
long list and you only had two and a half
books on the list. I have seven books on the list,
so I'm going to go through them super fast, and
maybe I won't do them all. We'll just see the
first book I want to talk about. I finished early
in the new year. I was reading it through December.
Huge book by Jared Diamond called Guns, Germs, and Steel.
(10:05):
I've heard from so many people that this book is
the one that must be read to understand the world.
It's basically a short history of the last sixteen thousand.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Years that doesn't sound very rivitine.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It's absolutely incredible. So he reviews the history of migration, development,
language writing, domestication of food and animals, wore domination, and
other forms of human progress since the last Ice age
said I don't know how many thirteen thousand years ago
or whatever it was, And the theories that he proposes
are just so compelling, the writings engaging, the books illuminating.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I loved it, except it was really.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Long, like we're talking, I don't know, four hundred and
fifty five hundred pages, pretty dense. Getting through the last
few chapters was pretty challenging, and a lot of what
was in those chapters felt superfluous to me as a
twenty twenty three Westerner living the life that I live.
But I can also see why he included them. I
(11:04):
think by the time I got to page four hundred
of the five hundred and fifty pages that it was,
I felt like this story had been told and I'd
had enough, and I was sort of drag kicking and
screaming towards the end of the book. But I'm giving
it four and a half out of five. Guns, Germs,
and Steel. It's a compelling book. Who is Jared Diamond?
And it's basically why, basically, why did the American Indians
(11:27):
and the South Americans who were so populous, so like
millions and millions of them living on the South American
and the North American continent, Why did they not spread
across the world and invade Europe and take over Europe?
Why was it that the Europeans were the ones who
dominated the world. And why did the Australian Aborigines not
progress in terms of the tools and the social climate
(11:48):
and cultural development? Why was it all so different? He
talks about Papua New Guinea, he talks about Africa. I mean,
it's a fascinating story and the evidence that he leans
on I found just extraordinary.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
I loved the.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Book next four point five out of five. Yeah, really
really good book. I probably should make it five, but
it was just too long, and that's why I've deducted
half point. It was just too long, such a harsh credit.
The next one that I want to talk about, you
know what, I'm not going to talk about it. I
gave it two and a half stars. It was based
on I'll mention it quickly. Ali Hazelwood. She wrote a
book called The Love Hypothesis that I talked about this
time last year.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
It's a rom com sort of novel.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
This was exact spress science geek. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yeah, it was exactly the same as the last book.
This one was called Love on the Brain. I hated
it because I'd already read it last year, except it
was a different book. But it was the same book,
and I just didn't enjoy it, so I gave it
two and a half. I also read a book because
I'm big on productivity and motivation and being awesome with life.
And there's a brand new book that's making big waves
in the sort of motivation world at the moment. It's
(12:51):
called Get It Done by Ailet Fishback. Really really smart
individual with some really great ideas. But the book was
completely non compelling, one of the most uninteresting and I'm
going to say generally not even very original books on
productivity and effectiveness that I've ever read.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Just didn't love it.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I gave it two and a half. Get it done.
Should I just talk about the ones that I loved. Yeah,
let's just do that, because I've got to wrap up.
You're looking at me like I'm talking too long? Am
I boring you a little?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I'm going to mention a book that was written in
eighteen sixty one that I read a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
It's on my bookshelf now because you loved it so.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Much, so much.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
This is by George elliotts So George Elliott is a
pseudonym for a female writer. But the book is called
Silas Mahna.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
This book, I was.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Actually unsure if I wanted to read it, don't even
get it. So it sat up my bookshelf I reckon
for about three years. I bought it years ago and
I read a review somewhere when someone said, this is
a brilliant nineteenth century book. Okay, written in eighteen sixty one.
You've got to write it.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
It's written in like proper English. Oh yeah, yeah, totally
so pride and prejudice.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Yeah I guess so. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But I've got to say my life is better because
I read this book. It's a novel, and it tells
the story of a setup and falsely accused weaver who
leaves his town and becomes a recluse following this horrible incident.
Silas Mana, I would say, is just sublimely written, and
it's so intelligently written, and it's completely absorbing once you
(14:28):
get over the language, because the eighteen sixty one language
is a little bit tricky to get into.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
But the characters are well.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Rounded and so beautifully thought through, and the time and
the place fit.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Together so well.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
And Elliott's understanding of the psychology of the characters in
the story is so deep and so rich. I'm getting
goosebumps talking about it.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Well, I know that I was grateful that the book
is only very, very little, because every waking minute you
had spare I would find you on the bed reading it.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Oh it's beautiful, it really is. It's a compelling book.
This weaver ends up with a child in the strangest
of circumstances, and the child brings him out of being
this horribly maligned reclose to being an integral part of
the community. The lifeblood of the community, and it just
(15:18):
I thought it was so beautiful. It's not really about parenting,
and yet it's so much about who we are as
people and children.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
I just love the book.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
I gave it one hundred percent, like five stars. Great book,
Silus Mana, George Elliott.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
I know that you've got a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I'll let you want to talk about talking about them, but.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Considering you gave me such a hard time about the
two books I talked about, Yep, we're going to call
it quick.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Can I just mentioned them? Freely Determined by Kennon Sheldon.
I gave it four out of five and that all
shall be Saved David Bentley hard I gave it one
out of five and I only read one hundred and
twenty to two hundred pages, which is really weird because
I always read everything. But George Elliott, Silus Marna, just
read it and guns, germs and steel. If you want
to really push yourself, great book.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
Well, I'm looking forward to seeing what you read next month.
Reading because the pile next to your bed is not
getting any smaller.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
No, I promise you it is. I promise you it
is getting smaller. I am reading a book right now
that I cannot cannot wait. I cannot wait to talk
about next month in book club. This is I think
going to be my book of the year.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
So good, okay.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
The Happy Families podcast is produced by Jason Rulan from
Bridge Media Create.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Bruce is our executive producer.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
We'll check the books that we read into the show
notes in case you want to get a little bit
old clarity on what they were and what we were
talking about. And of course you can then just google
them and buy them and we're not going to ask
for any.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Royalties or anything like that. Just just go for it.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
If you liked it, if you'd like more info about
making your family happier, you can visit us at happy
families dot com dot a youth for all the info
you need.
It's the Happy Families podcast. It's the podcast for the
time poor parent who just wants answers.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Now, what's the right time for a book like that?
I mean, it's sat there for a couple of years.
How do you know when it's the right time.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I decided I see violence and some rawns in my life,
it's the right time.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
And now here's the stars of our show, my mom
and dad.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Hello, this is doctor Justin Coulson, the founder the Very
Tired and Over Kids, founder of Happy Families dot com.
I'm laughing, Kylie because of what happened this morning in
the kids.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Room with the Google clock.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
So at Christmas time, one of the kids got a clock, right,
and it's a Google clock, which means that it's got
a speaker in it and they can say, hey, Google,
do whatever, and it does stuff. But we had a
fifteen year old and a twelve year old that were
mad at each other this morning.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Why don't you say what happened?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Because you were the one that actually walked into the
room because I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Google turn on the music, and then three seconds later,
the fifteen year old Google turn the music off, over
and over.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Again, and so it would start and then it would
stop every three seconds.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Oh my goodness, why just why? Anyway, today we're going
to have a break from pairing on the podcast. Once
a month we do book club. It's the third Thursday
of every month. We talk about what we're reading. We
give you a chance to There's something wonderful about books.
They apparently they increase our empathy. They help us to
see the world through other people's eyes.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
You know, well, it's not working because our girls read
like you wouldn't believe.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It's not working for me either, I've got to tell you.
But they do at least give us a sense of escape.
Maybe that's why our kids do read so much. Gives
them a chance to get away from each other.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
Oh is that why you read?
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So?
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I try, I really do try.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So today it's the opportunity for us to, like I said,
dive into the stuff that we're reading and share what's
I guess up or what's not. And there's always a
problem when we do book club because you missus happy
families don't seem to understand what it means to talk
about one book. You want to tell the whole world
about all of the books that you've been reading. So
(02:13):
what have you been reading? And what are we going
to talk about? I will jump in after you.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Well, a couple of years ago, my sister actually gave
me the entire Outlander series to read. That's by That's
by Diana gibbled gabbled on.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
If Diana Gabaldon is listening to this podcast, I mean,
I really hope she is, but I doubt it. I
only know how to pronounce her name because I looked
it up on the internet. I cheated, I did a
quick cheat, and this is how it sounds.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
My name is Diana gabble going, gabble going, gabble going, gabble.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Gabbled gabbledon gabledon. Anyway, go on now that we know.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
So it's been sitting in my cupboard for a couple
of years, and I just they are big, chunky, heavy
duty books.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
And the books the books launched the series that is
on Netflix and a handful of other streaming platforms that,
from what I understand, is very violent and a little
bit of launchy as well.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
It is so with questionable themes. I have been just
kind of waiting for the right time.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
What's the right time what's the right time for a
book like that? I mean, it's sat there for a
couple of years. How do you know when it's the
right time.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I decided violence and some launch in my life it's
the right time.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
No, I decided that I was going to allow myself
the luxury of reading a big book instead of trying
to do one in two days.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
So these books have been in your wardrobe for, like
you said, like two or three years.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Now, how many? There's like seven of the year, is
that right?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I was a guest, Yes, and so you've been halfar.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
In are you?
Speaker 5 (03:49):
I've read the first one, right?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
And was it as provocative as the series is supposed
to be?
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yes? Really?
Speaker 5 (03:57):
Yeah? Definitely? So sensitive is the device? Might want to
stay clear of it?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah? And what about sensitive souls? Because like it's violent, right,
there's some.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Horrible it is, But I don't think it's a justification.
It's one thing to read something, it's another thing to
watch it, right, And when we read things that are uncomfortable,
we kind of gloss over them. It's really easy for
us to gloss over them when we watch it. Outside
of turning it off, you can't you can't actually get
rid of that picture.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
It's like that you can't unsee this kind yeah yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Yeah, So you can kind of read something and you're
aware that it's happening, but you don't allow your mind
to dwell on it. You don't actually allow your mind
to create the picture to go with that part of
the story.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I think I can relate. I remember years ago reading
The Hunger Games and going it's pretty it's pretty full
on from a themes perspective, but you're not actually watching
people go out there and slay one another so that
they can win this prize.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Whereas watching the movie.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I was really put off with The Hunger Games by
the movies, was like, this is it's one thing to
read it, it's another thing to watch it. It's it's
such an assault on all of the senses.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
It changes. So I get that.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So anyway, you're reading Outland by gubbled On, how do
you rat it?
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Look?
Speaker 5 (05:14):
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's such a out of this
world experience.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
You know, It's like it's historically accurate, right, It's a
pretty historical kind of thing.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Yeah, there's huge historical information in it, but obviously a
lot of fiction.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, So historical fiction.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Flows through it, and so I'm fascinated by history in
so many ways and appalled and just drawn in by
the way life was and the choices and the justifications
for choices that were made in a different era and time. Yea,
So I really enjoyed it. It's going to take me
(05:54):
probably the next six months to get around to reading
the next.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Book, so it's going to take you three more years
to get.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
So it's a really dense read. It's a very dense read,
very small print, and about six hundred pages, so it's
a solid read. Should I read it, I actually think
you'd really, you'd really enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Well, I'm going to stay thirty five books on my
bookshelf right now, but I'll read it.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Mentally challenging, right, Okay, So if you're open to kind
of branching out and reading something that's going to challenge
you in lots of areas, then I definitely suggest Outlanders
a good book.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
What would you rate it out of five?
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Probably four?
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Oh? Really? Okay, it's a good book. Okay, all right, cool,
good book.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
You're looking at your paperwork like you've got more to
talk about. It's you don't get to talk about all
the books that you've read. Okay, now you can't say
that and then not talk about them, because I feel
like you really want to What else have you got
on the list?
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Well, at the beginning of the year, I decided to
sign up to Beck Sparrow's book club.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Oh yeah, books for Beck and Jane.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
But father, father, I'm really enjoying discovering new reads and
just I guess branching out. So I've started doing that.
I actually missed the first.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Book, right, did you read the book?
Speaker 5 (07:13):
I did read the book, and I was so excited
to sit down because one of the great things that
Beck and Jane do is they actually get the author on.
Oh wow, so you get to have a night with
the author discussing the book and the choices that they made,
and you know, the storyline and stuff. So I was
really looking forward to it because I actually this was
this was a I'm going to say it quite a
(07:34):
dark book.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
So what was it called? You haven't said it? Oh?
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Sorry, It's called The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth. She she writes,
actually writes beautifully and it was actually quite I would say,
an intricate read from the point of view that there's
four main characters, and each chapter is a different character.
Kind of describing it's actually not They're not overlapping, it's
(07:57):
not describing the same event. It's actually telling the story
at different points in time by the different people.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, some novelists are so clever, aren't they?
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Like does my Head? And I don't know how you
would actually write a book like that, but she's done
a fantastic job of piecing everything together to the point
where I obviously had to keep reading. It only took
me a couple of days. Very very easy read. Like
I said, definitely deals. There's suicide, domestic violence issues dealt with.
(08:26):
So it's a dark book and I guess just challenging
the mindset of what it means to love and what
lengths you'll go to prove that love. But if again,
if you're interested in kind of reading a book that's
going to kind of stretch your reading capacity and being
(08:47):
open to being challenged by what that looks like, then
I would definitely recommend the.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Soul Mate score of five.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I'm going to go three point five.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Do you have any more on the list that you've
read this year that you want to talk of?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
I have one that I'm halfway through at the moment,
so we'll leave it for next month.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Okay, so you're off to a much slower start reading
wise this year. Is it because of the kids fighting
over the Google book and the music going on and off?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Is that? No?
Speaker 5 (09:11):
It depends on the book matter. And the book that
I'm reading at the moment that i'm halfway through is
very dense and it's challenging me.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Okay, it not to mention that Diana Gabaldon's book was
that was the big the big read as well. Okay,
all right, I'm going to share mine my books of
twenty twenty three thus far.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
It's the Happy Families podcast, the podcast for the time
poor parent who just wants answers now. And if you've
been waiting with baited breath to find out what Justin
has been reading this month, he's about to tell us.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Okay, I'm going to get in trouble because you know
how I gave you a hard time about having a
long list and you only had two and a half
books on the list. I have seven books on the list,
so I'm going to go through them super fast, and
maybe I won't do them all. We'll just see the
first book I want to talk about. I finished early
in the new year. I was reading it through December.
Huge book by Jared Diamond called Guns, Germs, and Steel.
(10:05):
I've heard from so many people that this book is
the one that must be read to understand the world.
It's basically a short history of the last sixteen thousand.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Years that doesn't sound very rivitine.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It's absolutely incredible. So he reviews the history of migration, development,
language writing, domestication of food and animals, wore domination, and
other forms of human progress since the last Ice age
said I don't know how many thirteen thousand years ago
or whatever it was, And the theories that he proposes
are just so compelling, the writings engaging, the books illuminating.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I loved it, except it was really.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Long, like we're talking, I don't know, four hundred and
fifty five hundred pages, pretty dense. Getting through the last
few chapters was pretty challenging, and a lot of what
was in those chapters felt superfluous to me as a
twenty twenty three Westerner living the life that I live.
But I can also see why he included them. I
(11:04):
think by the time I got to page four hundred
of the five hundred and fifty pages that it was,
I felt like this story had been told and I'd
had enough, and I was sort of drag kicking and
screaming towards the end of the book. But I'm giving
it four and a half out of five. Guns, Germs,
and Steel. It's a compelling book. Who is Jared Diamond?
And it's basically why, basically, why did the American Indians
(11:27):
and the South Americans who were so populous, so like
millions and millions of them living on the South American
and the North American continent, Why did they not spread
across the world and invade Europe and take over Europe?
Why was it that the Europeans were the ones who
dominated the world. And why did the Australian Aborigines not
progress in terms of the tools and the social climate
(11:48):
and cultural development? Why was it all so different? He
talks about Papua New Guinea, he talks about Africa. I mean,
it's a fascinating story and the evidence that he leans
on I found just extraordinary.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
I loved the.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Book next four point five out of five. Yeah, really
really good book. I probably should make it five, but
it was just too long, and that's why I've deducted
half point. It was just too long, such a harsh credit.
The next one that I want to talk about, you
know what, I'm not going to talk about it. I
gave it two and a half stars. It was based
on I'll mention it quickly. Ali Hazelwood. She wrote a
book called The Love Hypothesis that I talked about this
time last year.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
It's a rom com sort of novel.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
This was exact spress science geek. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yeah, it was exactly the same as the last book.
This one was called Love on the Brain. I hated
it because I'd already read it last year, except it
was a different book. But it was the same book,
and I just didn't enjoy it, so I gave it
two and a half. I also read a book because
I'm big on productivity and motivation and being awesome with life.
And there's a brand new book that's making big waves
in the sort of motivation world at the moment. It's
(12:51):
called Get It Done by Ailet Fishback. Really really smart
individual with some really great ideas. But the book was
completely non compelling, one of the most uninteresting and I'm
going to say generally not even very original books on
productivity and effectiveness that I've ever read.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Just didn't love it.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I gave it two and a half. Get it done.
Should I just talk about the ones that I loved. Yeah,
let's just do that, because I've got to wrap up.
You're looking at me like I'm talking too long? Am
I boring you a little?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I'm going to mention a book that was written in
eighteen sixty one that I read a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
It's on my bookshelf now because you loved it so.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Much, so much.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
This is by George elliotts So George Elliott is a
pseudonym for a female writer. But the book is called
Silas Mahna.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
This book, I was.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Actually unsure if I wanted to read it, don't even
get it. So it sat up my bookshelf I reckon
for about three years. I bought it years ago and
I read a review somewhere when someone said, this is
a brilliant nineteenth century book. Okay, written in eighteen sixty one.
You've got to write it.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
It's written in like proper English. Oh yeah, yeah, totally
so pride and prejudice.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Yeah I guess so. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But I've got to say my life is better because
I read this book. It's a novel, and it tells
the story of a setup and falsely accused weaver who
leaves his town and becomes a recluse following this horrible incident.
Silas Mana, I would say, is just sublimely written, and
it's so intelligently written, and it's completely absorbing once you
(14:28):
get over the language, because the eighteen sixty one language
is a little bit tricky to get into.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
But the characters are well.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Rounded and so beautifully thought through, and the time and
the place fit.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Together so well.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
And Elliott's understanding of the psychology of the characters in
the story is so deep and so rich. I'm getting
goosebumps talking about it.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Well, I know that I was grateful that the book
is only very, very little, because every waking minute you
had spare I would find you on the bed reading it.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Oh it's beautiful, it really is. It's a compelling book.
This weaver ends up with a child in the strangest
of circumstances, and the child brings him out of being
this horribly maligned reclose to being an integral part of
the community. The lifeblood of the community, and it just
(15:18):
I thought it was so beautiful. It's not really about parenting,
and yet it's so much about who we are as
people and children.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
I just love the book.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
I gave it one hundred percent, like five stars. Great book,
Silus Mana, George Elliott.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
I know that you've got a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I'll let you want to talk about talking about them, but.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Considering you gave me such a hard time about the
two books I talked about, Yep, we're going to call
it quick.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Can I just mentioned them? Freely Determined by Kennon Sheldon.
I gave it four out of five and that all
shall be Saved David Bentley hard I gave it one
out of five and I only read one hundred and
twenty to two hundred pages, which is really weird because
I always read everything. But George Elliott, Silus Marna, just
read it and guns, germs and steel. If you want
to really push yourself, great book.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
Well, I'm looking forward to seeing what you read next month.
Reading because the pile next to your bed is not
getting any smaller.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
No, I promise you it is. I promise you it
is getting smaller. I am reading a book right now
that I cannot cannot wait. I cannot wait to talk
about next month in book club. This is I think
going to be my book of the year.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
So good, okay.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
The Happy Families podcast is produced by Jason Rulan from
Bridge Media Create.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Bruce is our executive producer.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
We'll check the books that we read into the show
notes in case you want to get a little bit
old clarity on what they were and what we were
talking about. And of course you can then just google
them and buy them and we're not going to ask
for any.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Royalties or anything like that. Just just go for it.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
If you liked it, if you'd like more info about
making your family happier, you can visit us at happy
families dot com dot a youth for all the info
you need.
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