Status
On Loan -- South Bend Collection
Call number
Genres
Publication
Rodale Books (2006), Edition: Rough cut, 375 pages
Description
This daily digest of intellectual challenge and learning will arouse curiosity, refresh knowledge, expand horizons, and keep the mind sharp. Millions of Americans keep bedside books of prayer and meditative reflection--collections of daily passages to stimulate spiritual thought and advancement. This is a secular version of the same--a collection of 365 short lessons that will inspire and invigorate the reader every day of the year. Each daily digest of wisdom is drawn from one of seven fields of knowledge: history, literature, philosophy, mathematics and science, religion, fine arts, and music. The goal is to refresh knowledge we've forgotten, make new discoveries, and exercise modes of thinking that are ordinarily neglected once our school days are behind us.--From publisher description.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ceart99
I've enjoyed each book I've read so far in this series. Each book is a page a day "devotional". Read a page a day and expand your knowledge on subject, albeit just as an overview. Still, I've come across quite a few topics in each that have encouraged me to dig a bit further on my own. I'll be
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starting on my fourth in the series tomorrow, this time the edition on biographies. Pick up this or any book in the series if you are interested in expanding your knowledge, they are definitely worth it. Show Less
LibraryThing member amaraduende
This was great bedtime reading. I didn't quite finish it before I had to take it back to the library, but I'd like a copy someday.
LibraryThing member RickSchad
I read a page each day. This book is filled with historical facts and knowledge. Each topic is covered on one page so it is brief yet detailed.
LibraryThing member sensascriptor525
Devotionals don't usually appeal to me since I'm not religious, but this is a devotional of a different sort. This collection has a page for each day, loaded with information about influential authors, books, works of art, artists, religion, math, and science. Even the educated can learn something
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in this handy tome...the true story of the strange circumstances leading to Mozart's death, what makes Ulysses such a special book, why religions treasure certain places and things, and what lead to now-common mathematical equations we all had to learn in high school. This book can pique interest in subjects you've never read about, and can inspire you to reread a beloved book. I myself had such fun with this book that I used it as inspiration to jot down some ideas for short stories and books. The only thing that disappointed me is that the music section was devoted to classical music only (I was hoping to read a passage on the Beatles, even though I'm pretty well versed in their history [huge fan!]), but luckily a second edition will be making its way to bookshelves soon. This is a wonderful read that can be enjoyed one bit at a time, and you can even skip through and/or use the index if you want to read about certain things. I really loved this book - a combination of educational and fun! Show Less
LibraryThing member nesum
For the most part, fairly interesting. On each day you learn something of seven fields of knowledge. I would say that the entries are a bit weighted toward the modern, and the writing a bit slanted from traditional beliefs and philosophies, but still there is a great deal to learn here.
My only real
My only real
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comment as to why I rated it as I did is this -- at the same time I was reading this, I was reading a Christian devotional. And while I enjoyed this book, I was constantly coming away from the Christian devotional with things that had wonderful and powerful effects on my life. After reading this, I appreciate what I have learned, but so little of it will ever have any sort of effect on my life. Perhaps in Christ I have learned what is most important here, and it is not something that can be found in this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member 06nwingert
Much like religious devotionals, The Intellectual Devotional is filled with snippets to help increase your knowledge by reading one per day (although I read the book in a few days). All the quips come from the seven areas of knowledge: history, visual arts, music, philosophy, religion, literature
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and science. It's a great little book that will engage your mind. Show Less
LibraryThing member Marliesd
This book is a lot of fun. It would be a great gift book, or perfect for the guest room, the beach house, etc. It can be picked up and read in little bits anytime.
LibraryThing member BenjaminHahn
A fun new take on a devotional, this being centered around the idea of expanding one's understanding of the world of human knowledge. There are exactly 365 entries, one for each day of the year, divided into 7 categories: literature, visual arts, science, music, religion, history, and philosophy. I
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tried starting out reading one entry before bed each night but that did not work out so well. Instead I switched to keeping it in the bathroom where it was much easier to find time to read only one page a day. I look forward to doing the same for future versions of these devotionals. I already have one for U.S. History. Show Less
LibraryThing member KimBooSan
This charming daily devotional is a fantastic resource for curious minds. Every day of the year you will read about interesting facts, people, and events that may or may not be new to you, but will still be enlightening. A fabulous alternative to religious or woo-woo devotionals, and a great gift
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for students of any age. Show Less
LibraryThing member tloeffler
After one year, I have finished this book. I am truly going to miss sitting down with it each day and learning something (mostly) new. Instead of inspirational verses, this book teaches you something about History on Monday, Literature on Tuesday, Visual Arts on Wednesday, Science on Thursday,
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Music on Friday, Philosophy on Saturday, and Religion on Sunday, 52 weeks' worth. I learned a lot, and had something to look forward to each day. I think he has published additional books, and I'll have to get one for myself! Show Less
LibraryThing member Humbert_Humbert
For those heathens that don't read their devotionals daily, this is the answer. Covering topics such as History, Art, Religion, and Literature this book will definately give you something to think about. I'm only about a month into it but it's the first thing I read when I wake up in the morning.
LibraryThing member rsalley76
A daily dose of intellectual insight.
LibraryThing member glade1
This is a fun romp through history, culture, science, and the arts! A brief discussion of one topic per "day" (or page) gives an overview of some of the major events and figures in history (mostly Western but also including some Eastern). I found the book interesting and plan to read it again, and
The book does need a better editor, however, as there were a few typos and grammatical errors that I noticed (consistent misuse of the word lead for the word led was the most irritating). When I see errors like that I fear there may be factual errors as well, but I hope that is not the case.
The book would also benefit from more consistent examples. Some pages give reproductions of the poems or art that is being discussed, or pictures of the people being profiled, but many do not. I understand the restraints of space and copyright but feel that many other visual "aids" could have been provided to make the explanations clearer. The best pages were those that showed as well as told!
Overall, I'd recommend this book for anyone hoping to improve his or her "cultural literacy" or refresh the memory of all those subjects from college.
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have already gotten another volume in the series (American History).The book does need a better editor, however, as there were a few typos and grammatical errors that I noticed (consistent misuse of the word lead for the word led was the most irritating). When I see errors like that I fear there may be factual errors as well, but I hope that is not the case.
The book would also benefit from more consistent examples. Some pages give reproductions of the poems or art that is being discussed, or pictures of the people being profiled, but many do not. I understand the restraints of space and copyright but feel that many other visual "aids" could have been provided to make the explanations clearer. The best pages were those that showed as well as told!
Overall, I'd recommend this book for anyone hoping to improve his or her "cultural literacy" or refresh the memory of all those subjects from college.
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LibraryThing member erwinkennythomas
David S. Kidder’s & Noah D. Oppenheim’s The Intellectual Devotional provides a unique approach in this book. It’s a secular devotional that stresses education, and the development of one’s mind. This year-long devotional of 365 days covers a wide range of subjects and spreads over the days
History tells about the life of Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, the fate of American abolitionist John Brown, Julius Caesar, and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It includes topics like the Black Death of Europe, Brown vs. Board of Education – a ruling of school segregation, D-Day – war in the European Theater, and the Holocaust – the extermination of millions of Jews. Literature presents the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Voltaire’s Candide, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Heller’s Catch–22, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, and Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby.
The Visual Arts sees Wood’s American gothic, baroque art, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Bust of Nefertiti, Byzantine art, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris. Science looks at the atom, batteries, black holes, blood, chemical bonds, circadian rhythms, the works of Marie Curie, and Charles Darwin. And music presents Verdi’s Aida, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, American Leonard Bernstein, and Johannes Brahms.
Philosophy deals with the aesthetics, a priori knowledge, and arguments for the existence of God, Aristotle, George Berkeley, the categorical imperative, causation, René Descartes, Epicureanism, and the freedom of the will. Religion looks at the apostles, Gautama Buddha, Catholicism, the crucifixion, Constantine, Eastern Orthodox Church, the First Five Pillars of Islam, and the Gospels of the New Testament.
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of the week: Monday—History, Tuesday—Literature, Wednesday—Visual Arts, Thursday—Science, Friday—Music, Saturday—Philosophy, and Sunday—Religion.History tells about the life of Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, the fate of American abolitionist John Brown, Julius Caesar, and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It includes topics like the Black Death of Europe, Brown vs. Board of Education – a ruling of school segregation, D-Day – war in the European Theater, and the Holocaust – the extermination of millions of Jews. Literature presents the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Voltaire’s Candide, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Heller’s Catch–22, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, and Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby.
The Visual Arts sees Wood’s American gothic, baroque art, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Bust of Nefertiti, Byzantine art, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris. Science looks at the atom, batteries, black holes, blood, chemical bonds, circadian rhythms, the works of Marie Curie, and Charles Darwin. And music presents Verdi’s Aida, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, American Leonard Bernstein, and Johannes Brahms.
Philosophy deals with the aesthetics, a priori knowledge, and arguments for the existence of God, Aristotle, George Berkeley, the categorical imperative, causation, René Descartes, Epicureanism, and the freedom of the will. Religion looks at the apostles, Gautama Buddha, Catholicism, the crucifixion, Constantine, Eastern Orthodox Church, the First Five Pillars of Islam, and the Gospels of the New Testament.
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LibraryThing member Marse
Even as a child I've felt that my education was missing something -- focus, organization, continuity... I'm not really sure what, but I seem to always be looking for a way to fill in the gaps. "The Intellectual Devotional" is one of many books I've acquired that claim to do just that -- and so far,
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it is pretty disappointing. The back cover says it will "keep your mind sharp and refresh your spirit", but I don't think it does either of those things. For one thing, each subject is very short. One page per subject -- so one can expect only superficial knowledge. Another thing is that I don't think there were more than maybe 3 or 4 subjects (in the 365 lessons) that I didn't already know something about. This isn't to brag, it's just that the subjects are so broad and well-known, that you aren't learning much more than you already knew about say, Louis XIV of France, or "Waiting for Godot". It covers 7 field of study (you read one page a day, and in a week you've covered 7 subjects--I decided to read 7 pages a day instead just to finish the book), but the readings are not placed in any order as far as chronology or development or themes go. So, for example, the first week you read about 1) the Alphabet, 2) "Ulysses", 3) Lascaux Cave Paintings, 4) Cloning, 5) The Basics of Music, 6) Appearance and Reality, and 7) Torah. There is no connection between the subjects. If you take one subject, say, Science, and read just that subject each day, you get: Cloning, Eratosthenes, The Solar System, The Greenhouse Effect, and so on. You see what I mean? I think this book is best used as a way to review for a game of "Jeopardy". Show Less
LibraryThing member books-n-pickles
Areg and I are supplementing our sometimes hilariously bad page-a-day history calendar with this book in the evening. So far it's given us more interesting conversations than the calendar has.
Update:
Definitely fun, if a bit Euro-centric.
Update:
Definitely fun, if a bit Euro-centric.
LibraryThing member jwhenderson
The breadth of this collection of short devotional pieces ensures that there will be some moments of lasting interest. There is also a certain amount of chaff that at best may spur one to further investigation about a particular subject.
LibraryThing member empress8411
This was a fabulous book! I kept it in my purse as my "line book" - the book I read while waiting for things. I enjoyed the subjects chosen - opera, science, philosophy, history, paintings. For anyone how enjoys knowledge, fact, or Jeopardy - this is the book for you. It's perfect for a short
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reads, for livening the mind, or for learning fun facts to dazzle (or bore) your friends. The only thing I'd changed is more modern music history - jazz or big band, or even rock and roll! I ended up buy the the American History edition to read now that I'm finished with this one. I anticipate it being just as good! Show Less
LibraryThing member miosmith5
A great way to keep your mind fresh and continue the pursuit of daily learning.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
375 p.; 5.49 inches
ISBN
1594865132 / 9781594865138