When I'm bored, looking for gifts, or in a new place, I usually search the area for a used bookstore. It's interesting to see how interests change from one area to another and to see how the books are arranged.
Garth at our local used bookstore in downtown Lafayette. Look at those farmers' market fresh tulips! |
My bedside copy of Brave Companions. |
This spring, McCullough appeared on C-SPAN's Q&A to talk about his upcoming book, The American Spirit: Who We Are and What We Stand For.
McCullough on Q&A, April 2017 |
Halfway through the interview, McCullough is asked how his age has impacted him. The historian admits that of course it has; it's changed the way he thinks about time. After the admission, he makes it crystal clear that the passion for his craft, of writing, learning and uncovering details of the past has not waned at all with age.
Then, McCullough says something that has stuck with me ever since: "I like to finish the day thinking I've done, that if I hadn't been around, it wouldn't have happened. And I'm pleased that I did it, pleased that I've spent my day, or much of my day, doing that."
What great insight. I keep thinking about that, what can I get done today, or what can I make, write or think about today that wouldn't have been created had I not done it? I think about this often.
With that, I have a goal of reading every book McCullough has authored. I won't get around to reading all of them in the next year or so but I look forward to the reading journey. The list:
The Johnstown Flood - 1968
The Great Bridge - 1972
The Path Between the Seas - 1977
Mornings on Horseback - 1981
Truman - 1992
John Adams - 2001
1776 - 2005
The Wright Brothers - 2015
I hope you'll pick up one of the titles and read it with me too.