I don’t think anyone knows for sure, but everyone has beliefs regarding these questions and acts accordingly. The greatest danger to society is the assumptive nature of secularism regarding naturalism. We all ascribe to one or more “isms” so its healthy to know what they are and think critically about them.

You asked, “what life advantages have your parents taught you?”

My Dad taught me that with enough determination, “I could do anything”. With his help, I changed out my clutch and throw-out bearing on a car in high school; used to tune-up the cars gapping plugs and marking timing belts (with a timing light) and general contracted a house in Fountain Hills in my 20′s; stood on the roof and pounded nails into the trusses and buried a time capsule in the walls. I used to ride trails horseback among the grizzilies in Montana with him, then I learned to play polo in my 30′s. He taught me to shoot, pull the trigger between your heartbeats, fish, tie flies, drive a boat, sneak up on (and smell) a deer in the woods, put together a Heathkit radio, and not judge people. The guy in the car dealership with the suit and tie is probably going to buy one car, while the farmer with the overalls might be there for his new fleet.

My Mom, who is Japanese, has “taught me the cultured side of things, and to share what you know”. I grew up at a time, when some people were not so nice to her, because she was different and from somewhere else. In fact, the somewhere else, was a country from not too long ago that America was at war with. They judged her from afar, and I learned early on about ignorance of others. Despite some discrimination, she prevailed, and owned and operated her own business (with a storefront) for over twenty years in Montana. She speaks several languages, sent me to private art school, riding lessons, piano lessons, and has a circle of life-long friends who are international opera singers, artists, and creative types. They are vibrant, laughing, always moving, doing, and working. They are never idle. I am proud to say I hold a second generation friendship to some of her friends’ daughters, who live in Japan. Mom is an octogenarian, living in Montana, still exercising every day, laughing, loving and sharing. She volunteers weekly at the Rescue Mission, and the library, and she loves teaching kids to read.

“Just because another person has more money than you, does not mean they are any ‘richer’ than you”. At my Dad’s modest funeral, there was standing room only in the church, and he left so many good memories with friends, the people sharing stories publicly went on for 90 minutes at the end of the service. (Take note: I regret not getting it recorded, it was priceless hearing about some of the stuff he’d done, and for others.) When he was active duty military, members from his squadron followed him from one military base to another, hoping to be transferred under his command. I didn’t notice this while it was happening, and didn’t realize until I was much older that he was a natural leader. In contrast to Dad’s life, at the funeral of a very, very wealthy person I knew and admired, hundreds attended, but not one person stood to talk about the impact this person had made on their lives.

“Money is a tool, like a screwdriver, to be used.” Pay for everything when you have enough money to buy it, don’t use credit, take care of what you own, change the oil regularly, keep it clean, and ready to use. I knew what CD’s and stocks were at age 12. I wish I would’ve paid more attention to this part earlier.

“Your word is your bond.” This is old school and people who understand this, know what it really means. If you say you are going to do something, or be somewhere, come hell or high water, snow or 60 below, it happened. Dad’s entire circle of people were like this. Unfortunately in this day of litigation, even written and agreed upon contracts are not honored by the greedy and selfish, as I’ve experienced.

“Giving charity is not an opportunity to brag”. Don’t give charity expecting to be respected for it, or brag about it. Do it quietly. If you are blessed enough to help another, and feel compelled to do so, then do so anonymously.

Your picture above (showing the little guy how to weld) reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Robert A. Heinlein. “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

I say add to the above, sew, swim, shoot a gun and drive a stick shift, and you’re good to go for just about anything that is thrown at you.

The Zeitgeist seems to be showing the same books to Naum and me recently… yesterday my copy of “How to Read a Book” popped up in a home library reshuffle.

I see “reading” as one aspect of allocating attention, perception, analysis and willpower. Things work together in balance (ideally).

I’ve been influenced by “Investing, the Last Liberal Art” , which discusses learning and understanding in the large: http://www.amazon.com/Investing-Liberal-Robert-G-Hagstrom/dp/1587991381

Akso, Kahneman’s delightful new “Thinking Fast and Slow” http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374275637 helps me keep the fragile and error prone nature of both perception and analysis in perspective.

– Ray

*How to Read a Book* is exceedingly laborious read (400+ pages) for many, written in an era (originally published 1940) where text was mainly king. It is a classic, and still assigned to a lot of graduate students. Odd that I stumbled across your post (in my Google Reader list) as I about quarter of the way through a re-read.

I have not read it, but will be adding it to my list. Seems like a very similar progression. We were talking today here at Integrum about a client we are working with that is seeing a tremendous change is looking to read more. It got us talking about stages people go through.

Their “level” breakdowns (which are cumulative, folded into each other, so to speak) are as follows:

1. **Elementary** – learning to read as a child, recognizing letters, words, sentences, it is assumed most who finish high school have attained this level, but many need remedial training even as adults…

2 **Inspectional** – get the most out of a book within a limited time frame, skimming, pre-reading, or reading rapidly

3 **Analytical** – most complete reading, asks questions, until the book becomes “your own”, for the sake of understanding

4. **Synoptic** – comparative reading of *many* books, to construct an analysis of the subject that may not be in any of the books

You have grown into a fine young man that your Dad and I are very proud of. You are an awesome dad too. There isn’t a manual for being a parent. You just have to “wing it” one day at a time. You were given some great kids to work with as were Dad and I. That is the key to success…..have great kids.

Just remember………no matter what, you are loved.

Saved for future reference. Cheers.