September Picks Continued

Here are the rest of our Labour, Work, and Justice choices for September:

Dr. Heather: A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions    by Katherine Hayhoe and Andrew Farley

A climate scientist and a pastor (who are married to each other) discuss climate change and choices Christians can make in light of the way our world is changing. We can work for better stewardship of the planet.

Connor: Republic by Plato. Connor picked a used copy that we have on hand, translated by Francis MacDonald Cornford.

Sheila: Radical Gratitude by Mary Jo Leddy.

Sheila says:

This morning as I walked past the construction sites, heard the blaring horns of two SUVs each trying to outdo the other at a 4-way stop, and circled around yet another texter who was not watching where he was walking, I tried to compose the blurb for my pick this month. Now, at the start of this term, sit the time to (re)read this reminder of our vocation to be thankful. Mary Jo Leddy, an author, social activist, and lecturer at Regis College, argues that our insatiable greed for more stems from an attitude of ingratitude that is “ingrained in our economic system.” In keeping with the month’s theme of Justice, I would argue that recognizing our own contribution to the current injustices and (re)cultivating a stance of thankfulness to God are places to start. Leddy’s book will aid its readers in becoming a more joyful people and, out of that joy, work for justice.

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September Picks: Labour Day, Work, and Justice

Finally, here are the September Staff Picks. It has been a tiny bit crazy in the store with the textbooks arriving, then leaving, and now arriving again.

With all the textbookishness of the last month or so, we missed out on posting Alain’s final staff pick at Crux. Alain has gone to greener pastures to do his classics doctorate, and leaves us this final book to ponder:

On to September! We chose books related (in our minds) to Justice, Labour, or Work. Here are the choices.

Cindy’s Pick: The Vinedresser’s Notebook by Judith Sutera

This little book is a spiritual wisdom treasure chest. I read it like a small child with an ice cream on a hot summer day, quickly devouring each page. Now I need to return to the book to reread it only slowly, savouring each page and allowing it’s insights to be slowly digested. This is one of those books that after you read it you want all your friends to read it.  This would be a great gift for the “gardener” as the illustrations are drawn from the work of the vinedresser in the vineyard

Carolyn’s Pick: The Economy of Desire by Daniel M. Bell, Jr.

Recognizing that Christianity’s relationship with capitalism is a complex one, Bell tries to go beyond surface comparisons between ideas and beliefs to get at the ways in which capitalism is driven by and shapes our desires. An important text for thinking Christianly about the economy in which we are so deeply embedded.

Rev. Heather’s Pick: Growing Local Food by Mary Lou Shaw

Have you ever wondered about harvesting your own honey, keeping heritage breed cattle, or the many fascinating and fabulous reasons to harvest rainwater? I know I have. Mary Lou Shaw’s Growing Local Food has the answers to many of your how questions when it comes to local food production, but, more importantly, she also delves into the why questions. This is a great starter text for figuring out what this living local phenomenon is all about. What is this urban gardening thing and how can you start to think about the everyday things you can do to make this world a more sustainable place? A fun read as we head into harvest time!