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Air date: May 4, 2025
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JESSICA:
Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I’m the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.
Today's two reading recommendations are “North Woods” by Daniel Mason and “Outraged” by Kurt Gray.
Joining us today is Sno-Isle Libraries Executive Director Eric Howard, for a special episode. First, we’re going to immerse ourselves in a sweeping tale from the woods of New England. Over to you, Eric.
ERIC:
I'm Eric Howard. I'm the library director for Sno-Isle Libraries, and I'm really excited to be here today to talk about two excellent books. The first is a novel called “North Woods,” and it begins with an escape, an escape that begins in the Puritan time in Massachusetts. And the entire story takes place primarily at one cabin in Massachusetts, and it takes you through time and all of the inhabitants that exists there, and it goes beyond current day in some ways as well.
But when I was picking up this book, the staff person said, "Oh, Daniel Mason, he's a lot of fun."
And I wasn't really thinking fun when I first picked this book up, but she was right. Daniel Mason is a professor of psychiatry, and so it really does give you an interesting window into humanity. And I was thinking about this more and more, about the power of good fiction. In many ways, it's like an inoculation, because you take a journey through other people's experiences of loss, of betrayal, of joy, and you get to see the world outside of your own egocentric self, and you get to have these other experiences that others do. And I think that there is something absolutely magical when it's done right, and he does it more than just right. He does it really, really well, and she was perfectly right-on when she said it's a lot of fun, because it took some twists that I was not anticipating, and in a very good way.
JESSICA:
Thanks, Eric! I love a sweeping saga and am intrigued that it centers on a place versus a family or people.
Next, we’ll hear about a newly released title and explore how we can find common ground. Take it away, Eric.
ERIC:
I want to talk just briefly about another book that just came out recently and I picked it up. This one is nonfiction and it's called “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground,” by Kurt Gray. And I think at this time, it's really healthy for all of us to take some time and contemplate where we are right now in this period of history, how we're getting along or sometimes maybe not getting along with our neighbors, and look to some tools that exist to help us figure out how to make more sense of the world, and this is one of those books that does it.
If you are familiar with other nonfiction books like “The Righteous Mind” by the psychologist Jonathan Haidt, this one takes it to another level and actually provides some important critiques of that book and the tools that Haidt tried to provide, because science has changed, it's always evolving, and in psychology, that's no different.
The framework that he sets up is looking back in our evolutionary history and helping us recognize that we started off as prey, not predators, and so that really taps into a part of our emotion that is always trying to avoid harm. I don't want to give it all away. If you're into science, if you're into podcasts like The Hidden Brain from NPR, then this is the book for you.
JESSICA:
Thanks, Eric! This sounds like a riveting read.
Our recommendations this week are: “North Woods” by Daniel Mason and “Outraged” by Kurt Gray.
Join us next time, when we’ll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.
Until then, I’m Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries.
Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz on KSER.
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