very simple

(haven’t done a book review in a while, but here goes)

With all of my free time, I thought that i’d get more reading done, but somehow…that hasn’t happened. But I always love a good Sarah Vowell book, so I picked up a copy of The Wordy Shipmates and read it in just a few days. I always love Vowell’s irreverent yet reverential take on american history, and this was no exception. A nice primer on the post-pilgrim puritans who settled around boston that we learned about back in elementary school (but of course, back then, there was no real substance), it makes me want to delve more deeply into our curious beginnings. It was particularly interesting to read about the segment of folks, like Roger Williams, who were supremely religious but wary of any church-state interaction. Williams may have thought someone like me was going to hell, but that had nothing to do with my ability to function as a member of civil society. Needless to say he got kicked out of the massachusetts bay colony and had to go found rhode island. It’s a shame a lot of this stuff is glossed over in american history classes. I found it fascinating.

Tags: books