Read a book in 3 minutes

A while ago I had a little project that I called 5000 words. It was a small publication where 5 people would submit summaries of books in less than 1000 words each. It never really got off the ground like I wanted it to for reasons I am sure you don't care about.

Anyway, I thought I would submit my own summary here. This is 555 words and takes less than 3 minutes to read.

In case you are interested.

P.S. this submission is also the best way to learn from a book.

Title – How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character

Author – Paul Tough Genre – Nonfiction, Education, Social Sciences, Children's Studies, Policy, Leadership and Decision Making

Target audience – Those who feel there is more to education than just learning facts

You should (or should not) read this book if: You should read this book because it explores what "non-cognitive" skills are needed in order to succeed in life. Additionally, there are a few experiments that are rather interesting to reflect upon that show that the human being is born into fixed character traits but that character is much more malleable - even beyond the first years of life - which affirms the Wesleyan tradition of sanctification.

Plot/Overview/Abstract: If the only point to go to school is to get an education on the things that you need to know for your job, then those who hold GED's should have the same level of life success as those who obtain a traditional high school diploma. But the fact of the matter is individuals with GED's may be able to pass the same test as high school graduates, but the evidence points to those with high school diplomas have higher wages and longer and happier lives than those with GEDs. Education on all levels and areas is thought of the transmission of knowledge, which it is. However, it is also more than that. Tough, points out that success in life is not your cognitive abilities, but in your "non-cognitive" abilities (a term coined by the work of James Heckman) through the development executive function in the brain. The conversation of what are the non-cognitive skills that are needed in life vary for different groups highlighted in the book, however there are several that overlap - self control (delay gratification), conscientiousness (being thorough), grit (passionate commitment to a single mission), and resourcefulness (finding outside resources to solve problems). If education, of any sort, were to take seriously the development of the non-cognitive then we could not only could we move toward closing the achievement gap of rich and poor students, but we also would be able to talk about education reform beyond the political debates.

Something I learned or challenged me: Tough says the science has something to say to liberal and conservative approaches to education reform. Where liberals may tend to want to develop antipoverty tools and government assistance to elevate test scores, perhaps we ought to be looking at building what conservatives call "character" in students. However, where conservatives might think that the character strengths that matter to success one is either born with or without, the science shows that the tools to success in life are indeed tools that can be taught to anyone. How I integrated this book to my ministry/church/theology/Faith: The science behind the malleability of the brain reinforces the Wesleyan understanding that human beings are able to move on toward being made perfect in love. Humans are not made our of concrete, preordained and unchangeable  but rather made more of clay that is flexible and mold-able.

If you like this you might like:

The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't - Nate Silver

Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business - Charles Duhigg

Blogs are like breakfast

Something that should be apparent in the world these days is the difference between blogging and other mediums. 

This is not a newspaper. I am not a reported. This is not an entry in a peer-reviewed journal or an encyclopedia. This blog is not a sermon. Because it publishes with great regularity (although not so far this month!) it is a direct reflection of the continuing ongoing thoughts in my life. 

Trying to find a metaphor that best expresses the etiquette of a blog, I fell short. Luckily this metaphor came across my reader from swissmiss: 

“There’s something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else’s site. It’s like visiting a friend’s house for a quick meal ’round the breakfast table. It’s personal — you’re in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. In many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. Be welcoming & gracious when you host, and kind & respectful when visiting.” – Trent Walton

As such, I have always tried to be respectful of those who take time to sit at this table. You are not required to sign in or even have a name associated with your comments. You are free to share as much as you like under a very open Creative Commons License. Just a reminder to everyone that blogs are personal things. It required vulnerability. It requires time. It requires patience and commitment. It does not require readers or subscribers. Blogs are written for those who write them and we the readers are not mandated to read. I am thankful for those who write (see "Change Agents" to the right) and allow me the opportunity to set up to their table and share in a meal. See how they are doing. Hear what they are thinking and walk away without a sense of reciprocity.

Why does Jesus not quote the whole scripture?

Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

The first commandment that Jesus quotes is the Shema of the Jewish tradition from Deuteronomy 6:4. The second commandment (underlined) is from Leviticus 19:18, but Jesus does not say the entire scripture.

Why?

Here is the entire verse - "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."

Why does Jesus not cite the first half of this verse? 

What does it mean for us to understand the "golden rule" without the "take no vengeance" part? 

It seems that we all know that we should love one another. But the fact of the matter is that one person's act of love is another's act of hate. (Also see the language of some people who discuss the future of this country) 

Have we overlooked to basics of what love looks like? At the very basic level love is without vengeance and grudges.