The Age of Magical Overthinking

The Age of Magical Overthinking, by Amanda Montell

58/60 | Started 10.15.24 • Finished 10.30.24 | 4 stars

This was a rare deviation from the novel choice for book club, and not one that I would have picked up on my own, but I found most of it fascinating. It got very mixed reviews at book club, including some who didn't finish and others who loved it.

The only explanation for this mass head trip that made any sense to me had to do with cognitive biases:I self-deceptive thought patterns that developed due to our brains’ imperfect abilities to process information from the world around us.

It made me think about the decisions people make and why they make them and all the different cognitive biases that are behind them. I had just never really thought much about this kind of stuff before in such a pulled together way. And I found the writing to be rather engaging - I was interested to read what she had to say. My favorite was probably the IKEA effect, mostly because I am sure I am a victim of it on a regular basis... Would recommend to the right person.

Clara and the Bookwagon

Clara and the Bookwagon, by Nancy Smiler Levinson

57/60 | Started 10.18.24 • Finished 10.23.24 | 5 stars

"I liked the kitty in many of the pictures. I liked it when her Papa let her have a book. If I were Clara I would have wanted to read too. A traveling library is a pretty cool idea. I would like to get a book from one."

Carolyn, age 7

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard Atwater

56/60 | Started 09.23.24 • Finished 10.23.24 | 5 stars

"So many penguins! I loved the part where the man almost fell off the tight rope. That was very silly. I didn’t like that Mr. Popper left his family but I did think it was neat that he got to stay with the penguins."

Carolyn, age 7