The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer from the people who’ve lived the longest by Dan Buettner. National Geographic. 336 pages. I can’t remember exactly where I heard about this book, but somewhere in my travels they mentioned that there was a book out there that isolated pockets of population around the world that … More Review: “The Blue Zones” by Dan Buettner
Despite all evidence to the contrary, I am not a believer in ghosts. When my father died in 1993, my older half-brother came to the funeral and talked about having my dad come and visit him at his bedside. I had no belief that would happen to me, simply because I believe that when I … More Ghost Story
Last Light (A Restoration Novel) by Terri Blackstock. Zondervan Books. 400 pages. It’s always refreshing to find another Christian author who is trying to accomplish what I’m in the middle of doing; that is, writing secular stories that include Christian themes or characters. In this situation, I came across Terri Blackstock while I was stocking … More Review: “Last Light” by Terri Blackstock
“This is the place,” Irene said. She set down the basket heavily in front of me. “Are you sure?” I said, looking around us. The wide riverbed spread out in front of us, large round river stones scattered like so many baby skulls tossed around by some careless giant to bleach white in the hot Texas sun. … More “Crossing the River”
Lights Out: A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath by Ted Koppel. Crown Books. 280 pages. Amazing. This is my second non-science-fiction book in a row to read and review. I must be changing my ways. But then again, former ABC News Nightline anchor Ted Koppell dares to tackle a topic that most would … More Review: “Lights Out” by Ted Koppel
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. Metropolitan Books. 283 pages. My students would think it a little bit weird if I were to tell them that I just finished reading an exceptional book on death and dying. After all, when you’re 20 years old, you don’t want to think … More Review: “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande
I had to drive into Burleson and take care of a bill at the local hospital. On my way, I stopped at a gas station to fill up my pickup. I’m standing there putting gas into my truck when a large bird–a grackle (if you live here in the South you know what those are)–landed … More The Universe Doesn’t Care
I am getting more and more disillusioned with Facebook. It seems like every time I go on there, someone has an axe to grind, someone has to argue a point, someone wants to prove that they are right and everyone else is wrong. It just gets depressing. Somewhere we got the idea that argumentation was … More More Wag, Less Bark
Please note: This is a work of fiction. I’ve always known that I was smart. My whole life I’ve been the kid that’s orbited around libraries, spent his time with his nose stuck in books, had people jealous of me because I knew the answer when they didn’t. I got used to it. And secretly … More Short Story: “Counting Backwards”
Dear Younger Glen: I am speaking to the Glen of about 19 years old, the me that was so full of fire and vinegar and convinced that the world needed changing. Well, I apologize. I will be 62 years old in November, and I haven’t changed the world yet. I know that things looked pretty … More An Apology to My Younger Self
The Great Adventure 