Our February and March book is an in-depth examination about how we think, and why we think the ways we do. It looks to be a very intense and involved read, but a subject sorely needed. We need to be a people who know why we think as we do.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman                              

Daniel Kahneman is an Israeli-American psychologist educated at Hebrew University and the University of California, Berkeley. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002, Kahneman is currently Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Public affairs at Princeton University‘s Woodrow Wilson School.

This present work, according to Nassim Nicholas Taleb (The Black Swan) is “a landmark book in social thought”; and according to David Brooks, “helped instigate a cultural shift that is already producing astounding results.”  Brooks concluded his New York Times review (10/22/2011) indicating that “Kahneman and Tversky (author’s research partner) are like the Lewis and Clark of the mind.”

For January’s read we are venturing into fiction with a Portland based writer, Diana Abu-Jaber.

This multilayered novel about a family that comes apart at the seams—and finds its way together again. Our hope is to delve into just how this all to common contemporary reality for so many families not only happens, but how we as people of faith, can be part of our own family’s re-connection.

This is a January only read, so, best get started! See you in January.

Hello all, and may the blessings of the season be with you.

For the month of December we are going to have a little literary Potluck. Its simple. Choose from one of the 4 Christmas Short Story titles, read it, print out, and come to our December meeting and share the story and how it spoke to you.

These stories are all available to be read on line with just a little searching, so there is no need to buy a book. All these stories are short, but quite dear.

Papa Panov’s Special Christmas – Leo Tolstoy
Christmas Day in the Morning – Pearl S. Buck
At Christmas Time – Anton Chekov
The Holy Night – Selma Lagerlof

We look forward to bringing in Christmastide with you and these short stories.

The October and November book for the autumn of 2011 will be an interesting read on a contemporary social phenomenon that is altering modern, western societies. Technology, especially social media and mobile communications are fundamentally changing the norms of human interaction.

Ms. Turkle takes on this subject in her new book, “Alone Together – Why we expect more from technology and less from each other”. The Title and Subtitle pretty much frame the entire question this book attempts to address.

Sherry Turkle is Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at MIT and the founder (2001) and current director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self.

Alone Together Book

We look forward to any and all who would like to join us in this modern read.

Meetings will be the usual time, 2nd Sunday of Oct/Nov, 4:30-6:30. If you need driving instructions, please contact us at: pnwlabribook@gmail.com

Hello all,

As we prepare to open the 2011-12 BookGroup season, we hope that the summer months have brought you lots of sunshine, a few lazy days, much fun and time with friends and family.

For the month of September we will be reading a 2 part article series written by Dick Keyes, titled “Images and Reality in Society”. These articles can be located in PDF form on the UK L’Abri resource page.

http://www.labri.org/england/resources.html

These articles are the first 2 listed.

We will be meeting the usual place and time, 4:30 PM this  sunday, September 18th. This meeting is a week behind due to some scheduling issues, but starting in October, we will be returning to our normal 2nd Sunday schedule.

Notes about the book selection for Oct/Nov will be arriving soon.

We earnestly look forward to a new season with all who can join us.

Pacific NW L’Abri Committee Book Group

Hello all,

This year’s summer season will have us taking a break from the usual reading agenda. Instead, for the summer months, we are inviting anyone who is interested in joining us for some Shakespeare in the Park. Here in the Rose City there are a number of organizations that put on some of the Bard’s works around the city in delightful summer settings.

We invite you to join us. Here is the info you will need.

The presenting organization is the following if you would like more information:

http://www.portlandactors.com

JUNE or JULY - The Tempest

1st attempt if weather permits
Friday, June 24th at Marylhurst College at 6:00 pm, BYOD (bring your own dinner and a theatre snack to share).
If that one is rained out, then…

2nd attempt if weather does not permit for the 1st attempt
Saturday, July 16th at 7:00 pm. Bring a picnic item to share with others. Meet at the fountain at 6:00 pm to eat and get a good seat.

AUGUST – Much Ado About Nothing

Saturday, August 27th at 3:00 pm at Marylhurst College. Bring a picnic item to share with others at intermission. (Arrive at 2:30 to get good seats)

Things to bring: a low “beach chair”, blanket to cover up with as the day cools down, a little donation cash – though all performances are free they do appreciate a small donation used to help support the program and cover costs.

Have a wonderful Summer, we hope to see you in the Park!

This book is on a subject of great importance in a world of great suffering. particularly during the season of Lent. We will be reading a very interesting book by one of our member’s cousin, a Professor of Theology.

Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining by Shelly Rambo

Synopsis: Rambo draws on contemporary studies in trauma to rethink a central claim of the Christian faith: that new life arises from death. Reexamining the narrative of the death and resurrection of Jesus from the middle day-liturgically named as Holy Saturday-she seeks a theology that addresses the experience of living in the aftermath of trauma. Through a reinterpretation of “remaining” in the Gospel of John, she proposes a new theology of the Spirit that challenges traditional conceptions of redemption. Offered, in its place, is a vision of the Spirit’s witness from within the depths of human suffering to the persistence of divine love.

Shelly L. Rambo is Assistant Professor of Theology at Boston University School of Theology.

http://www.bu.edu/sth/academics/faculty/shelly-rambo/

In March we are going to reach way back to explore some of the ideas expressed by one of Christianity’s most significant and influential theologians, St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD). He is also often controversial.

Nearly every day we read of the clash of ancient religions. It is so easy to live out our faith without grasping some of the “ancientness” of our own. St. Augustine is one of those highly influential, ancient voices of which most of us have little understanding.

We certainly will only scratch the surface, as we will be reading only some select portions of his work, “City of God”. You can find this book in both bookstores and many resources on the internet.

Here are the “Books” from ‘City of God’ that we will be reading and discussion, honing in on some of the more universal topics rather than those unique to his time and place.

Just scan
Book 1 – Which will help set the context of the work.

Then the books we will read and discuss in earnest are centered around more universal themes, rather than the specifics of Augustine’s roman times.

Book V – Of fate, freewill, and God’s prescience, and of the source of the virtues of the ancient Romans.
Book XII – Of the creation of angels and men, and of the origin of evil.
Book XIX – A review of the philosophical opinions regarding the Supreme Good, and a comparison of these opinions with the Christian belief regarding happiness.
Book XXII – Of the eternal happiness of the saints, the resurrection of the body, and the miracles of the early Church.

Not easy reading, but important reading.

We hope this will be a lively discussion!

Our book for February and March 2011 is a look into a different side of C.S. Lewis’ writing, rooted in his academic expertise.

This book is a re-telling of a Greek Myth which he titled “Till We Have Faces”. Lewis was a scholar of medieval literature which drew heavily from the importance of myth. This rich resource undoubtedly informed so much of Lewis ability to tell story.

But in usual Lewis style, there is much more to be told here than just the drama of mythical Greek Gods and demi-gods. We hope to uncover those gems from this book.

Here is an overview from Wikipedia.

We look forward to your participation.

To kick off 2011, we will be doing something a little different. We will be reading a short play by the venerable Thornton Wilder, “Pullman Car Hiawatha“. Though short, this intriguing work begs for discussion of some fundamental ideas about life, faith and death. And the opportunity to inhabit a character or two should be fun.