Good books, hammocks and summer free time

I planted a couple of trees several years ago and finally . . . finally, they’re big enough to hold the hammock. So this summer, I’ve been spending as much time outside, reading and relaxing in extreme comfort.

Progress is being made on my summer reading list, working my way through The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History (interesting but a bit slow), The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible (kinda slow but very interesting) and a couple of sidetracks to Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 700 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More (delicious) and Assassination Vacation (kinda creepy but so much fun).

My point?

You gotta set some time aside to read. I’m convinced that good readers make great teachers and we often ignore the simple pleasure and individualized staff development potential of reading a good book.

Need a few starting places? Try one of the handy social networks for books and readers at:

• Shelfari
• LibraryThing
• Goodreads

Get rid of some of your old books and find new ones at:

• BookCrossing

And find everything you need to know about books at:

• BookSpot

So grab a book, find a quiet place and enjoy.