"For Small Creatures Such as We: Ritual for Finding Meaning in our Unlikely World" by Sasha Sagan

 

Publisher:  G. P. Putnam's Sons

Copyright: 2019

ISBN: 9780593087541

This book is an examination of how we humans interact with the natural world, and with each other. It is the story of Ms. Sagan and her life as the daughter of the astronomer Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan. She was raised in a secular household, and this forms the basis of her outlook on the world, which is to say the least a very good one that demonstrates that science has revealed truths more impressive and amazing than any religion, myth or fable.

She reminisces about hr life with her parents, how she met her husband, and how they are now raising their daughter in the same manner. She examines how her life has been influenced by her relatives, and how she has taken some of the rituals and developed others to enhance her family's life.

An excellent book that gives not only a good overview of a secular life, but also some insight into what it means to be secular in a world that seems to be dominated in certain places by religion, mythology, fables, and much more - some of which are very detrimental to the person and society at large.

Highly recommended.

"My Planet: Finding Humour in the Oddest Places" by Mary Roach

Publisher: Reader's Digest

Copyright: 2013

ISBN: 9781621450719

Mary Roach is to say the least of very interesting writer. The topics she chooses are some would say off-the-wall, but all are extremely informative and very well written. Her other books all focus on a specific topic, and all are well worth a read for both the style of writing, the humour, as well as the wonderful and in-depth research that she does.

"My Planet" is a collection of Mary Roach's essays and looks at 62 facets of normal life (albeit from an American viewpoint) with uncanny wit and wisdom. The jacket blurb states:

"These essays, which found a well-deserved home within the pages of Reader's Digest as the column 'My Planet' detail the inner workings of hypochondriacs, hoarders, and compulsive cheapskates."

This Book would make a wonderful addition to anybody who is looking for a light read, but one that gives you insight into human interaction, and life in general - especially one where you want to look at the funny side of life.