I currently teach a group of students who predominantly prefer to read non-fiction. I love that they love to learn, but sometimes lament that they are missing out on the fun and enjoyment of reading something just for fun.
And then I remember who their teacher is.
Who their teacher has been for the past two (and in some cases three) years.
There are twenty books currently on my nightstand and only one of them is fiction.
Most of the classroom libraries at my school have a basket or two of non-fiction titles – mine is half and half…and the non-fiction side is growing!
I do love fiction of course. But I love reading to learn even more.
I suppose there are worse habits I could pass on to my students? (And don’t worry, I have introduced them to some great fiction, too!)
And now some nightstand nuggets to pass on to you.
This book has saved me this year. Trying to juggle my very full-time job and a new fledgling business makes weeknight cooking a challenge. But I don’t want to compromise on the quality of the meals that we eat (and I still love to cook!) This book saved the day with great recipes for healthy meals, and a plan to use 3 hours on the week-end to create all of the meal components for the week. And since there are only two of us, that means lunches too! I have not followed any of the weekly plains as laid out, but have used some of the recipes (and the concept) to create my weekly meal plans. The pasta sauce, soups and baked beans have all become household staples.
This is now my go-to slow cooker recipe book. Everything I have tried so far (except for one chili recipe) has been amazing! I have not always had great success with my crock pot before, but now I use it on a weekly basis. It is also a beautiful book to look at (not necessary for a good cookbook, but nice for a little bedtime reading….) I sadly had to return it to the library this week but it is a “must buy.” My crock pot will be lonely without it!
If you are an introvert, or live with an introvert, this is a must read! It has totally changed the way I think about introverts! (yep…myself included…..) The brain research was most fascinating to me (so that’s why everything comes to me in my sleep….) but there were also lots of great suggestions for using the sometimes misunderstood introverted traits to your advantage. There is also a chapter on introverted children, which gave some insight into some of the behaviours I see in my classroom. Fascinating.
I devoured this book in one sitting. Then I went back and did the exercises. This is a fun and creative walk through what it is like to be an artist and creative person with a job that may not be so artistic and creative. There are many great tips and ideas, lots of fun illustrations, and the exercises will change the way you think about both of your jobs. An excellent book! I’m going to have a hard time returning this one to the library too! 
What about you? Are you a fiction reader or a lover of non-fiction like me? What is currently on your night stand?
I am definitely a fiction reader with an extremely long list of favourites!!! Currently, since my e-reader is broken and visiting Sony I am stuck with whatever is on hand or what i can get at the library (Timmins has a beautiful library – building wise, book selection is hit or miss I find). The last book good book I read (besides James Patterson which is my go to fast read truly just for fun) was Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden. Takes place in Northern Ontario (coast of James Bay) and Europe during WWI and tells the story of two Cree men’s experiences in WWI. It is great – fiction based on actual events. My personal fave!
Andrea
Well, shoot, I am ALL about the nonfiction, and I think my reading list just got longer after this post!!! So many things on my nightstand right now (cookbooks count, right?):
-Crafter’s Devotional: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Unlocking Your Creative Spirit, Barbara R. Call
-The Practical Guide to Patchwork: New Basics for the Modern Quiltmaker, Elizabeth Hartman
-So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week, Ellie Krieger
-Macaroni And Cheese, Marlena Spieler, Noel Barnhurst
-Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
- Mastering Your Fears and Phobias: Workbook (Treatments That Work), Martin M. Antony (for learning how to drive!!!)
-Eating Local: The Cookbook Inspired by America’s Farmers by Sur La Table
-Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing A Fantastic Wedding On A Realistic Budget by Denise Fields and Alan Fields
-The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery
-Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, Tal Ben-Shahar
And with that, you probably now know more than you ever needed to about me!!
It’s amazing how much you can tell about someone from what they read, isn’t it? I think the local librarians probably know more about my life than anyone else…. I’ve just added a bunch of these to my “to read” list. Thanks for sharing!
Good evening, Andrea! Thank you for sharing your current reading list! You have always been such an ambitious reader! Like you, I’m an introvert (I think I went through phases as an extrovert in university, but I love being alone and love peace and quiet, so I’m an introvert at heart). I’m interested in reading “The Introvert Advantage.” Thanks for the recommendation! The book “The Artist in the Office” sounds good too, so I’ll try to check it out sometime.
I love reading both non-fiction and fiction, but predominantly non-fiction, like you. I find since we started university in 1997, I’ve been reading almost all non-fiction. I’ve actually been intending to blog myself about several non-fiction books that I’ve been reading. I’ve been on a 5-year organizing and decluttering process. I’ve been reading one life-changing book called “It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff” by Peter Walsh. (Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post!) I’ve recently started reading “How to Organize Just About Everything: More Than 500 Step-by-Step Instructions for Everything from Organizing Your Closets to Planning a Wedding to Creating a Flawless Filing System,” also by Peter Walsh. I’d highly recommend both books!