Mark Dunk’s Blog

I picked up this book a year ago and found it while rummaging around in a box in my home office. It’s part of Tom Clancy’s Net Force series, and ended up being a fairly good read.

I started reading this book this morning, and I began having strong feelings of deja vu. The plot, the characters, and the story line seemed eerily familiar.  “Could I have already read this book?” I asked myself.  I walked over to the bookcase in the family room, and it didnt’ take me long to find this:

OK, I’ve already read the book. At least I only paid $5.58 for my second copy (on sale at Barnes and Noble). My wife makes fun of me not remembering movies that we’ve seen.  Maybe chronicling my reading on this blog will help me remember what books I have already read.

After reading Gladwell’s “blink” and “Outliers” and Lois Lowry’s “The Giver,” I think it’s high time for something totally different.  I remember buying Baldacci’s first book, “Absolute Power.” back in 1996.  No one had ever heard of him, and I decided to take a chance.  I haven’t kept up with all of his books, but I’m hoping that “Simple Genius” is my type of book.

I’ve been wanting to read this for a while now. I’m pushing Baldacci’s “Simple Genius” down one notch in the queue.

Just updating my reading list. I forgot to put “blink” on the list.

I got back from Barnes and Noble a little while ago with two books, Malcolm Gladwell’s “blink” and David Baldacci’s “Simple Genius.”
I’ve seen people use Google Documents to conduct polls, so I decided to use this opportunity to learn how to do polls with google docs and decide which new book to read first.  The poll is here: http://is.gd/1PnSd but it may already be closed since I’m anxious to start reading something.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t known much about Malcolm Gladwell or his previous books, “The Tipping Point” and “Blink” until I attended NECC09 and heard Mr. Gladwell present the opening keynote speech.  I will most likely pick up these books now that I’ve finished “Outliers” (and I have some Barnes and Noble gift cards burning a hole in my pocket).

I’ve always been a fan of books that talk about being in the right place at the right time.  I believe there is no such thing as a coincidence and that things happen for a reason.  It is up to us to discern the reason and capitalize on the situation.  For me, this is much easier said than done.

Mr. Gladwell does a great job chronicling excellent examples that support his “outliers” concept. I was especially impressed with his own personal story.  As a classroom teacher, having read this book will give me an additional tool to use to motivate and encourage my students.

“Grown Up Digital:  How the Net Generation is Changing Your World,” by Don Tapscott, 2009.

I wish I had read this earlier in the year.  I would have made it required reading over the summer for my Pre-AP and AP Physics classes.

Read this in support of my Future Problem Solvers coaching assignment.  Will most likely read the whole series in the near future.