I think Augustine’s metaphor of midwifery for teaching is captivating—I see a connection to our term ‘concept’ to indicate that something is known, apprehended by our mind. I also connect to Augustine’s words about Mary, “she conceived the Word in her heart before she conceived Him in her body.”
Augustine’s imagery of midwifery and the image of nursing from
The first book you mention leads me to see the goal of teaching is to wean the pupil off of you and capable of receiving nourishment elsewhere.
Congratulations on your book launch! I ordered your book for the library where I work as well -- still waiting for the vendor to send our copies, but the book already has a list of holds!
I'll limit my list to my favorite books I read for the first time this year (as opposed to books I reread) to keep it short.
"The Dignity Of Dependence," and the archives of Other Feminisms have been a breath of fresh air for me and provided insights on many issues I care about. Thank you, Leah!
"The Golem And The Jinni." by Helene Wecker. I love fantasy in general and it was cool to read a fantasy story inspired by less famous fairytale and folklore elements than the average fantasy. Thanks for recommending it a few years back in a previous "Favorite Books" post, Leah.
"Saga Of Saints" by Sigrid Undset. Undset tells the stories of several fascinating Norwegian saints, most of whom I'd never heard of.
Interestingly, one of the books that I reread this year was “Frankenstein,” and I reread it around the same time that I read “The Golem And The Jinni.” It was interesting to compare and contrast both books. Dr. Frankenstein isn’t so different from the evil wizard who made the golem, and maybe “Frankenstein” would’ve had a happier ending if Dr. Frankenstein had been a better mentor and guide for his monster the way that Rabbi Meyer was for the golem.
A few of my favorites that I read this year are A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis (I read this one all the way back in February; it honestly doesn't feel like I read in this year); Letter to a Suffering Church: A Bishop Speaks on the Sexual Abuse Crisis by Bishop Robert Barron; The Eucharist Is Really Jesus: How Christ’s Body and Blood Are the Key to Everything We Believe by Joe Heschmeyer; and the whole Winnie the Pooh series by A.A. Milne.
Congrats on your book!!! I'm excited to get it from my library and read it!!
One of my 'year's best book' (it is difficult to name one best)
The Body God Gives - A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory, by Robert S. Smith (Lexham Academic 2025). A more thorough, lucid, and well sourced book on this topic I have not seen.
To go along with this, was The Trouble with Gender - Sex Facts, Gender Fictions by Alex Byrne
Forgive me if I add The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium, by Martin Gurri, The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West by Alexander C. Karp & Nicholas W. Zamiska, Let There Be Water: Israel's Solution for a Water-Starved World by Seth M. Siegel, and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley.
I think Augustine’s metaphor of midwifery for teaching is captivating—I see a connection to our term ‘concept’ to indicate that something is known, apprehended by our mind. I also connect to Augustine’s words about Mary, “she conceived the Word in her heart before she conceived Him in her body.”
Augustine’s imagery of midwifery and the image of nursing from
The first book you mention leads me to see the goal of teaching is to wean the pupil off of you and capable of receiving nourishment elsewhere.
Congratulations on your book launch! I ordered your book for the library where I work as well -- still waiting for the vendor to send our copies, but the book already has a list of holds!
I’m so delighted to hear it!
Love that library pic! Congrats on it **all**, Leah! Grateful for all you lift up here. Glory, that excerpt from Doireann Ní Ghríofa.... whew...
Hi!
I'll limit my list to my favorite books I read for the first time this year (as opposed to books I reread) to keep it short.
"The Dignity Of Dependence," and the archives of Other Feminisms have been a breath of fresh air for me and provided insights on many issues I care about. Thank you, Leah!
"The Golem And The Jinni." by Helene Wecker. I love fantasy in general and it was cool to read a fantasy story inspired by less famous fairytale and folklore elements than the average fantasy. Thanks for recommending it a few years back in a previous "Favorite Books" post, Leah.
"Saga Of Saints" by Sigrid Undset. Undset tells the stories of several fascinating Norwegian saints, most of whom I'd never heard of.
I *love* The Golem and the Jinni.
Interestingly, one of the books that I reread this year was “Frankenstein,” and I reread it around the same time that I read “The Golem And The Jinni.” It was interesting to compare and contrast both books. Dr. Frankenstein isn’t so different from the evil wizard who made the golem, and maybe “Frankenstein” would’ve had a happier ending if Dr. Frankenstein had been a better mentor and guide for his monster the way that Rabbi Meyer was for the golem.
A few of my favorites that I read this year are A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis (I read this one all the way back in February; it honestly doesn't feel like I read in this year); Letter to a Suffering Church: A Bishop Speaks on the Sexual Abuse Crisis by Bishop Robert Barron; The Eucharist Is Really Jesus: How Christ’s Body and Blood Are the Key to Everything We Believe by Joe Heschmeyer; and the whole Winnie the Pooh series by A.A. Milne.
Congrats on your book!!! I'm excited to get it from my library and read it!!
My friend Melanie Bettinelli and I saw Doireann speak at Boston College recently! It was glorious. Really.
I picked up the book because of Melanie!
One of my 'year's best book' (it is difficult to name one best)
The Body God Gives - A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory, by Robert S. Smith (Lexham Academic 2025). A more thorough, lucid, and well sourced book on this topic I have not seen.
To go along with this, was The Trouble with Gender - Sex Facts, Gender Fictions by Alex Byrne
Forgive me if I add The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium, by Martin Gurri, The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West by Alexander C. Karp & Nicholas W. Zamiska, Let There Be Water: Israel's Solution for a Water-Starved World by Seth M. Siegel, and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley.
I saw The Body God Gives got a Christianity Today citation, too!