--The purpose of this assignment is to help you explore the concepts of personal wellness through reading a book that touches in some way on each dimension of wellness – physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual. However, the books have been grouped in such a way that allows you to select a book that has a more focused emphasis on one of the wellness dimensions, although all books have some links to all the dimensions.
--I have provided brief descriptions of each of the books, but you may also search on-line for more extensive reviews. I have not ordered copies of these books for the bookstore since I am trying to give you a number of options so you are responsible for obtaining the book from a library or purchasing a copy for yourself. All of the books should be in paperback versions and should not cost you more than $20.00 new at the most, and used copies can be obtained for much less. PLEASE CHOOSE A BOOK YOU HAVE NOT READ BEFORE !!!
--You will be required to turn in 2 essays during the term that explore your reflections on the wellness dimensions. Moreover, there will be a section on your final exam with specific questions that you have to answer from the book that you select as a final check on your reading – more details will be provided later in the term on the final exam handout.
--Essay #1 is worth 50 points and is due by Wednesday, October 17 th. The essay should be 3-5 pages in length (full 3 pages at a minimum – typed and doubled spaced), and the following criteria will be used to evaluate your essay:
--Grammar, organization and flow is worth 10 points.
--Essay #2 is also worth 50 points, and it is due by 2:00 PM on Study Day – Thursday, December 5 th. You should follow the same format as the first essay, but the emphasis should be on the SECOND HALF of the book.
PHYSICAL WELLNESS BOOK OPTIONS
1. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (2002) – Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN
0-06-093845-5 Through a series of interviews and investigative reports, this book looks at the history of fast food consumption and the social, political and health issues related to America’s large consumption of these foods. A fascinating read!
2. My Losing Season by Pat Conroy (2002) – Random House Publishers. ISBN
0-385-48912-9 Using Pat Conroy’s four years of college basketball at the Citadel as a basis for developing this memoir, Conroy explores much more than basketball as he discusses family, his development as a writer, and other challenges in his life.
3. Seasons of Life by Jeffery Marx (2004) – Simon and Schuster Publishers. ISBN
0-7432-6974-8 Marx tells the story of how former NFL player Joe Ehrmann follows his career by coaching a high school football team and like Conroy’s novel explores many other wellness issues with a heavy exploration of emotional and spiritual wellness in teenage guys.
SOCIAL WELLNESS BOOK OPTIONS
1. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines (1993) – Random House Publishers. ISBN 0-375-70270-9 This novel explores racial tensions and relationships in the deep South in the 1940’s and the friendship that develops between a teacher and a young African-American man who has been placed in jail. Themes of family, education and death also pervade this story.
2. Let’s Roll by Lisa Beamer (2002) – Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN
0-8423-7418-3 This biography tells the story of the Beamer family and in particular, Todd Beamer, who was a passenger on Flight 93, one of the terrorist flights that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11 th, 2001. The book has a heavy emphasis on family, but also has a strong exploration of the family’s Christian faith and in particular how their faith impacted Todd’s death.
3. Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks. (2004) – Warner Book Publishers. ISBN 0-446-50010-0 Unlike the romance novels that have made Sparks famous, this memoir explores a round the world trip that the adult brothers decide to take but also explores the Sparks’ family’s past, present and future while detailing many of their adventures on the trip.
INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS BOOK OPTIONS
1. Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray (1999) – Milkweed Editions. ISBN 1-57131-247-1 This memoir recounts Ray’s childhood of growing up in a South Georgia community and her passion that developed for nature and the environment. This memoir is filled with rich chapters about the trees and environmental issues of the region and the changes that have impacted the area.
2. Old School by Tobias Wolff (2003). Random House Publishers. ISBN
0-375-40146-6 This novel is set in a boy’s boarding school and explores major issues involved with intellectual curiosity and development as well as academic integrity with a suspenseful plot to keep your reading.
3. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (1990). Broadway Books. ISBN
0-7679-0289-0 This novel explores the Vietnam War era with rich stories and images of what it was like to fight in this war while raising many deep questions about why countries engage in war and the cost of lives in the process.
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS BOOK OPTIONS
1. Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer (2000). Josey-Bass Publishers. ISBN
0-7879-4735-0 and Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom (1997). Doubleday Publishers. ISBN 0-385-48451-8. For this option, you must read both books due to their shorter length. Palmer’s book explores how our vocational paths (careers) influence our happiness and Albom’s book is the real life story of his visits with his former college professor Morrie Schwartz, as they discuss a number of issues that impact our happiness and well-being.
2. October Sky by Homer Hickam (1999). Dellbooks. ISBN 0-440-23550-2 This memoir recounts Hickam’s life of growing up in a coal mining town in West Virginia and his desire to pursue building rockets. A great read that involves family, friendship, education, heartaches and the triumphs of chasing one’s dreams.
3. The Palace Thief by Ethan Cain (1994). Picador Books. ISBN 0-312-303731-4 This novel is set in a boy’s boarding school and explores a teacher’s relationship with his students. Themes of vocation, intellectual development and honesty are explored in this story that was made into a movie known as The Emperor’s Club.
SPIRITUAL WELLNESS BOOK OPTIONS
1. On Running & Being by George Sheehan (1978). Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-38185-3 This books explores the relationship between physical activity (running) and one’s philosophical responses to participating in sports and fitness.
2. The Call by Os Guiness (2003). Thomas Nelson Publishers. ISBN 0849944376 The author explores the idea of vocational call from a strong Christian context using examples of famous people throughout history whose faith has motivated their lives and vocations. The book has a heavy Christian spiritual perspective.
3. Tuesdays With Morrie (see above) and The Five People You Meet in Heaven by also by Mitch Albom (2003). Hyperion Publishers, ISBN 0-7868-6871-6. Despite the title, the book does not have any particular religious perspective as it is the fictional story of a man named Eddie who dies in an accident and goes to “heaven” where five people help him understand the purpose of his life on earth.