Welcome to Litsy!

To celebrate my Litfluence hitting 100,000 I am giving away this stack of signed books. To enter please create a post about what living author‘s book signing you would most like to attend tagging me and using #signmeup. Winner will be drawn on Sunday, July 28th. Open internationally.

A long day of driving from the beach after loading the car —- and I find this surprise from @Kaylamburson This is a delight for me for many reasons. I like the card too. Thanks so much! #litsylove

It is important not to confuse “patriotism” with “nationalism.” As I define it, nationalism is a monologue in which you place your country in a position of moral and cultural supremacy over others. Patriotism, while deeply personal, is a dialogue with your fellow citizens, and a larger world, about not only what you love about your country but also how it can be improved.”

Dan Rather

Required reading❤️❤️❤️

Racing to finish this one before it goes back to #Libby tomorrow!

I‘ve not had a lot of reading time because my mother-in-law has been in town! We played dominos and ate amazing food all weekend, but now it‘s back to business. 📚🙌🏻

Happy Independence Day to all my American friends! Have a fun and safe time celebrating. 😀

SUPER SALE ALERT! #kindledeals

I‘ve been wanting to read this, and noticed that there was a price drop. Thought that others may want to pick it up. #kindledeal

I think everyone, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, can benefit from the wisdom within this book's pages.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just when I started to lose interest, he reels me back in with a section on books!

💯

Yesssss Dan!

Dan Rather adopted and rapidly adapted to social media at a time when I felt hollowed out and hopeless. This book is a gentle, persistent call to action for the better angels of our nature, if they‘re still listening. Sort of a love story for the United States in its best aspirations.

[L]ibraries represent an aspirational notion of democracy. They were, and still are, civic institutions that welcome anyone who wishes to become a more informed and independent citizen. In books we can find expert and trustworthy scholarship on any subject imaginable. By reading books, we can continually challenge our own biases and learn beyond our level of formal education. #libraries #booksmatter

When I heard that Dan Rather was publishing a series of essays on patriotism, I got a little giddy. OK, maybe a lot giddy! His unwavering faith in the power & spirit of individual Americans truly inspires. As an idealistic pessimist anything too sugary annoys me. His practical analysis strikes a subtle balance between criticism of aspects of our society, past and present, and celebration of American ideals. He gives the reader plenty to ponder.

I don‘t know that I can add much more to what has already been said, but I appreciated this listen. These are thoughtful essays that combine stories of his life experiences with logical and hopeful thoughts for the future.

#audiobook #nonfiction #essays

I felt like I was having a conversation with my father or an older friend. This book was easy to get through. It read like a mini history of the US and lime a autobiography of Rather.

This one took only two days.

Seriously, read his book and follow him on Twitter or Facebook. His newest news venture is “News and Guts” https://www.newsandguts.com/

#WhatUnitesUs

What a perfectly wonderful book that couldn‘t be more timely. This is a collection of essays about what unites us as Americans, with examples pulled from his childhood, personal experiences, and years of reporting. I‘ve missed the voices of brave and honest reporters speaking truth to power on many topics, Rather‘s voice is one I‘ve missed, and I didn‘t even really see how much until I listened to this audiobook. #Nonfiction2018 #MountTBRReadathon

Wise, steady and thoughtful essays bring together the past and increasingly urgent present day issues facing the U.S. Rather is hopeful but cautionary, stating, “Our nation will not survive without an engaged and committed population.” I‘d like this to be required reading - especially for younger generations preparing to take the helm. #danrather #whatunitesus ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Patriotism is rooted in humility. Nationalism is rooted in arrogance.” #danrather #whatunitesus #quote

Thank you so much to my swap sender!! I'm so excited for both of these books. I searched for your name and I didn't find it, I hope you see this message!! Thank you again!! #nfbs @inwhichHeikereadsharder ❤️❤️❤️

I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the familiar voice of Dan Rather. A selection of essays that told of his life and love of the USA. Positive and inspiring. Cheers to him for pursuing new avenues and embracing modern technology! The new season of his TV show returns with an interview with the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant! I enjoyed this so much that I want to own a copy.

Like many of us in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area, I have been MIA. My energy had been applied to living like a pioneer, shoveling and just trying to stay warm. I hear you @BookBabe At last, things have settled down! Here is my current car “read”!

Just the sort of feel-good socially political read I needed!He has lived in a crucial time of change+acceptance & it‘s revelatory to read his recollections on how ludicrous it once was to even CONSIDER a woman/black American as president, how oppressed women, blacks and gays were for most of his life. I was so emotional reading this, thankful for how far we‘ve come due in part to journalists like him and some of brave politicians he reported on.

Being. Different. Does. Not. Make. You. Less. Than.

This is an excellent book about America, patriotism, and the changes the nation has gone through. It also contains glimpses into Dan Rather's life and career, which add an inspiring personal touch. I highly recommend this book.

#nonfictionbookexchange ready to ship! @inwhichHeikereadsharder

@BarbaraTheBibliophage recommended that I read this to restore my faith in humanity. Success! Thank you for the recommendation!

Dan Rather is able to discuss admirable values from the past without glorifying the past. He acknowledges the many shortcomings of our history but is still able to pull valuable lessons from it. The essays on inclusion and empathy were particularly great.

This book and NBA All-Star weekend are giving me hope.

So, so important to remember— we‘ll never be united as a country if we continue to use individual/ideological beliefs to openly discriminate or discredit people who are different or disagree with us.

“There are strong voices calling this dissent unpatriotic and dangerous. We cannot let the forces of suppression win. America works best when new thoughts can emerge to compete, and thrive, in a marketplace of ideas.”

I respect Dan Rather for his steady eye and calming voice. He‘s seen decades of world events, and brings thoughtfulness and strength to this collection of essays. If you need a burst of well-grounded inspiration (really, it‘s not an oxymoron), then this book is for you. Rather will give you perspective and hope!

Full review at www.TheBibliophage.com

This is an important distinction everyone should aware of. Patriotism is great! Nationalism...not so much.

Apparently I‘m having a political winter of reading. From Fire and Fury to Hacks to this one. It‘s been an interesting ride. You know, I grew up with Dan Rather on TV. And I couldn‘t respect him more now, because of what he‘s doing as a dissenter and journalist. I‘m looking forward to this book!

#resistlist #politics #patriotismnotnationalism

💜 SHOUT. IT. FROM. THE. ROOFTOPS. 💜

This is fabulous... I keep nodding along and raising my fists in the air.

Some #TBRTuesday #LibraryHaul and #Shelfie #BookPorn for your day. (The physical book edition)

If we get this snow storm, I‘m all set! In fact, I‘m ready to hibernate until spring. 😎

#LOTRChapterADay
#DuneBuddyRead
#GirlPowerBuddyRead
#Nonfiction2018
#Reading1001
#LitsyAtoZ
#LitsyClassicsAtoZ

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to do in #24in48 but I'm likely to be wide awake at midnight, so I can at least start! I'm hoping to use this time to catch up on all the library books that I ended up with at once. I have three physical books in addition to these via Libby.

Preach!

Let's hear it for libraries!

Palate cleanser after Fire and Fury.....

Well, I just teared up during the acknowledgments. Dan‘s words to his wife (whom he is clearly thoroughly devoted) and his address to the American people were so comforting and hopeful. His decades of perspective shed light on the many troubles of our turbulent past but we have persevered. We do so by embracing our good but constantly questioning how we can do better. We have to be courageous and speak up and we can make the change we hope to see!

1. Crunchy
2. Tagged
3. #SaturdayLibrarian
4. Speak every language
5. Undeclared Women‘s Studies. I did all the courses but never filed the paperwork. This just about sums me up! 🤷🏻‍♀️

#friyayintro

An essay a day keeps the outrage away.

Not really. But sort of. I‘ve been reading an essay or 2 first thing every morning to get my head in a calmer, more thoughtful place. You will take more from this relatively slim volume than 100+ hours of CNN, Fox, MSNBC, etc. could ever give you.

Get off of FB and Twitter and read this book. Your blood pressure will thank you.

5⭐️

When all your audio holds come in around the same time. 😧 I‘m almost done with What Unites Us. Hopefully I can make it through the rest before they expire!

“When I saw the cover (...) I took a deep breath. It shows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr kneeling, arms locked, alongside two NFL players (...). Provocative? Yes. In keeping with the Dr. King I met and covered as a reporter? There is little doubt in my mind.

In WHAT UNITES US, I wrote, "We have a long history in the United States of marginalized voices eventually convincing majorities through the strength of their ideas.””

https://t.co/C1PXCSGjmF

Another #blameitonlitsy: audio-puzzling. I have a very small set of things I can do while listening to an audiobook and at the end of the day I‘m not going to clean! Now I can add puzzling to the list.

Two notes: 1. If it doesn‘t exist yet, someone should do a puzzle swap. I would but swaps are too much pressure for me! 2. This book, especially the audio read by Dan himself, is cathartic and hopeful and I want to make EVERYONE read it.

A democracy requires open...☝🏼

Preach Dan, PREACH.

I very much enjoyed this book on audio. It was like walking back in time to listen to Dan Rather‘s voice. He brings up some very good points in the book as he stresses the qualities that make the United States good. In the current climate where it is very easy to focus on what is wrong, I found it uplifting to reflect on what is right.

Journalists have long been my biggest heroes. I once wanted to become one, but I wound up married to one instead.

In a time when our nation has elected a man sized toddler to lead it, it‘s good to read the reflections of a great journalist on how we may find the courage to guide the country back towards reason and rational thinking.

Make America Great Again? We can best start by getting a new president.

After standing in front of my shelves for a ridiculously long time, I think I have decided on these 2 as my first reads of 2018.

I‘ve set my GR goal relatively low and just want to read what I want, when I want.

No muss, no fuss is the name of the game for me in 2018. Happy New Year everyone!