Time I spend on learning:
One of the reasons I detested school during the whole 2 1/2 grades I went, is because they try to compartmentalize learning. This is not how you learn best. Think back to how cranky you were in school when the bell rang and you had to move on to something else, just when you were getting interested.
You learn best by being free to learn whatever you want, whenever you want. Some days I spend building my house, some I spend with my nose in a book the whole time, only coming up to eat, and some days I just lounge around in my pajamas all day..
I don't schedule when I'm going to learn something, and only study when my schedule says. How could you? I find it hard to turn a corner and not learn something new.
I find it incredibly sad that the average college graduate only reads 2 books a year after graduating school. What do these people do with their lives?? Below are some of my favorite books. Read more! :-)
Sample Classes:
Outdoor leadership, environmental education, edible plants of Vermont, basic carpentry, advanced carpentry, advanced carpentry swearing and first aid, photographing light, photographing nature, psychology, quantum physics, medicinal plants and herbs, agriculture, conflict resolution, firearms target practice, environmental literature, backpacking 101, massage, traditional chinese medicine, religions of the world, culinary arts, baking and pastry, snowshoeing, road tripping, traveling cheaply, dumpster diving, calligraphy, sewing, backcountry trip planning, wilderness first aid, ayurveda, house decorating, wiring, digital photography, teaching children, kayaking, backpack gear testing, begging for money, persuasive writing, bribe baking 101, web design, driver education, trauma counseling, and much, much more.
Favorite Books:
The Teenage Liberation Handbook - Grace Llewellyn
About how to quit school and get a cool unschooling life.
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues - Tom Robbins
A novel about a hitchhiker, religion, sex, drugs, and culture.
Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins
A novel spanning the ages from pagan days to modern Paris, about long life, perfumery, sex and religion.
Still Life With Woodpecker - Tom Robbins
A novel about the trouble with redheads, ex-cons, and de-throned royalty. Sex and religion too.
The Dancing Wu Li Masters - Gary Zukav
An easy to understand but in no way dumbed down book about quantum physics.
The Uncollege Alternative - Danielle Wood
Cool job and experience opportunities, how to figure out who you are.
The Bad Girl's Guide To The Open Road - Cameron tuttle
Funny as all heck about exactly what it says, lots of tips.
Life 101 - Peter McWilliams
Chapter upon chapter of epiphanies, humor, and good advice.
An Underground Education - Richard Zacks
All the stuff your teacher never taught you. Intriguing behind the scenes history.
Bus 9 To Paradise - Leo Buscaglia
A book about passion - for loving, food, growth, learning, life, etc.
Love - Leo Buscaglia
Exactly.
Personhood - Leo Buscaglia
Psychology insights with heart.
Living, Loving & Learning - Leo Buscaglia
A compilation of some of his best lectures. If you read only one book in this list, read this.
The Way Of The Bull - Leo Buscaglia
About Religion and his trip to the far east.
Dove - Robin Lee Graham
A 16 year old unschooled/homeschooled boy who sailed around the world by himself in the 60's.
The Magic Bus - Douglas Brinkley
A college professor who took his students accross America on a bus for History class.
Jump Start Your Brain - Doug Hall
A fun and inspiring book about how to think faster, smarter, better.
Beating The System - Larry Roth
How to live cheap but good.
Six Months Off - Hope Dlugozima, James Scott, and David Sharp
Lots of creative ideas for sabaticals and life changing/affirming adventures. Good resources.
The Cartoon History Of The Universe, volumes 1 - 7 - Larry Gonick
The Cartoon History Of The Universe, volumes 8 - 13 - Larry Gonick
Hilarious history in the form of easy to understand cartoons. Really, Really great books.
