Greetings!
Excellent! This is going to be very fun indeed! I encourage anyone who is interested to hurry and get the book, so that we can start, say, towards the end of this week sometime? I'm hoping that might be enough time for everyone to either buy it directly or special order it by mail from the bookstore, or on-line.
Slightly tangental, I was thinking--as busy as I am with school, work, my own campaign, family, and so on--and I know many of you are as well--I cannot stress how important it is to *make* time for some good reading. Leaving the lighter stuff behind I mean, and digging in to a really good book on history, you know? I find so many rewards not merely in actual historical knowledge, but also in simply providing something new and provocative to stimulate my thoughts, as well as with conversations with others, do you see?
My father used to explain to me that someone who doesn't read has nothing to say. He explained that it didn't matter whether you were talking to a scholar, a business associate, someone at the local bar, or the man next to you laying bricks, if you were well-read, you had something interesting and intelligent to say, and to contribute to a conversation. he would say no matter where you go in life, being a good reader will make life more interesting, and make you a more interesting person. I have always remembered his words.
Though we all may have hectic schedules, I find it invigorating to spend at least one hour reading something good every day. Think of it this way: If you spend an hour per day working out, to keep the body in shape, it's good to spend at least the same time in reading, to keep your mind in shape!
How's that sound?
I know--I'm working on becoming a History Professor soon, and the teaching/reading thing I suppose is a trait shared by all professors. I hope I have encouraged some of the *Lurkers* as well, to read in general, and perhaps join our reading group, too.
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
