February 2009 Archives

We all heard some very good advice from Ben Ferguson's Rogers Leadership Forum talk in chapel this morning.  One of the things he encouraged was reading as much as you can and doing it now, before your life gets busier with work and the demands of adult life.  He encouraged you to read about whatever interests you.  The Hyde Library is here for exactly that purpose.  The library has the books you need for your research papers and projects, of course, but you will also find interesting books about every topic imaginable.  You will find books for almost any subject, such as sports, music, art, science, biography, popular culture, social issues and even math!  There are lots of fiction books, both contemporary and classic.  If you can't find something to interest you, talk to anyone on the library staff.  We are always open to student suggestions and recommendations.  You don't have to go to the public libraries or bookstores to find what you want to read.  It's all here for you and it's free!

Many of you enjoyed reading Gordon Korman’s books and talking to him when he was on our campus last year.  His newest book was just published a few weeks ago:

 

The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman

Gecko, Arjay, and Terence, all in trouble with the law, must find a way to keep their halfway house open in order to stay out of juvenile detention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you were impressed by the science department demonstrations last semester and want to try your hand at blowing things up, you might be interested in Backyard ballistics : build potato cannons, paper match rockets, Cincinnati fire kites, tennis ball mortars, and more dynamite devices

by William Gurstelle.  Just be sure to follow all the safety precautions so that you don’t end up in the emergency room!

 

 

 

 

 

 

You might not be able to afford sessions with a sports psychologist, but this book will help you train your mind as well as your body:

 

Mind gym : an athlete's guide to inner excellence by Gary Mack

 

Drawing on his work with some of the top teams in professional sports, noted sport psychology consultant Gary Mack shares with you the same techniques and exercises he uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle." These 40 accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes will help you gain the "head edge" over the competition.

 

 

 

 

Need a new book series to start on?  We now have 9 books of Jim Butcher’s fantasy/sci fi Dresden Files series, beginning with Storm Front:

 

In this first book in the offbeat Dresden Files, readers are introduced to Harry Dresden, a wizard with a consulting practice in modern-day Chicago. Dresdens profession offers him little money, lots of mockery, the suspicion of his magical colleagues, and plenty of danger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card is a new sequel to the sci fi classic Ender’s Game:

 

At the close of "Ender's Game," Andrew Wiggin--called Ender--is told that he can no longer live on Earth. The 12-year-old chooses to leave his home world and begins the long relativistic journey out to the colonies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neil Gaiman has just won the Newbery Award for The Graveyard Book and is becoming wildly popular.  Are you one of his many fans?

 

Prince of stories : the many worlds of Neil Gaiman by Hank Wagner

 

This book chronicles the history and impact of the complete works of Neil Gaiman in film, fiction, music, comic books, and beyond. Containing hours of exclusive interviews with Gaiman and conversations with his collaborators, as well as wonderful nuggets of his work such as the beginning of an unpublished novel, a rare comic and never-before-seen essay, this is a treasure trove of all things Gaiman. In addition to providing in depth information and commentary on Gaiman's myriad works, the book also includes rare photographs, book covers, artwork, and related trivia and minutiae, making it both an insightful introduction to his work, and a true "must-have" for his ever growing legion of fans. -- from publisher's description.