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David Graybeal to Speak About His New Book
Signal Mountain resident David Graybeal will talk about his new book, “Faith in The West Wing: The Portrayal of Religion in a Primetime Presidency” at 6:30 p.m. on March 23 in the Library’s lower level. His book will be offered for sale, and he will sign copies at the event.
Graybeal, pastor at Signal Crest United Methodist Church, says he became fascinated with the series “The West Wing” that aired on television more than 20 years ago. “I had an idea about writing about religious themes in the show when I first saw it,” he said, adding that the book was “several years in the making.” He will also discuss his writing process.
“The West Wing” still has many fans today, as evidenced by the fact that it was shown in all its seven seasons in a marathon presentation the week after Thanksgiving and again after Christmas this year. It’ also available on DVD to check out from the Library.
The book begins with Graybeal’s astute observations about the opening episode of the series: “The pilot … reverberates with religious rhetoric, perspectives, and personalities,” writes the author. He continues with summaries of various episodes, interspersed with his comments on “navigating not only the relationship between church and state, religious and political power, but all the important relationships in our lives.”
One of the interesting aspects of this fascinating book is that it affirms that “The West Wing” is just as relevant today as when it debuted. In fact, one of the book’s endorsers, professor of religion William P. McDonald, posits, “It’s enough to make a reader long for such leaders on the stage of American politics today.”
For more information, call the Library at (423) 886-7323.
Girl Scouts to Launch Seed Library
Fifth grade Girl Scout Troop No. 40487 will initiate a seed library at the Signal Mountain Library this spring. They plan to gather and label seeds that library patrons may then plant in their gardens. The idea is to promote seed saving and sharing and continue the cycle throughout the planting season. According to troop leader Kris Bespalec, “The girls got interested in the seed library when we were thinking of ways we could support local gardeners on Signal Mountain. The girls are excited to see how people use the seeds and want to grow things in gardens at home as well.” More information about this exciting new program will be announced soon.
Signal Mountain Lions Make Gift to Library
The Library wishes to express thanks to the Signal Mountain Lions Club for a recent donation. The Lions have supported the Library for many years as part of their commitment to serve our community. We are lucky indeed to have them as advocates.
New Nonfiction
Following are some brief reviews of some of the latest additions to our nonfiction collection.
“The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness” by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, presents the insights from interviews with hundreds of people who were studied for their whole adult years. The conclusion of these studies is that meaningful connections with others is the ultimate driver of happiness. Waldinger’s TED talk about this subject is one of the 10 most viewed ever: more than 42 million times.
“A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré” is a collection of the correspondence that the late great writer sent to numerous people, among them famous artists and politicians, other writers, and spies. They shed light on the innermost thoughts of le Carré, sharing his interests, his sense of humor, and his fascinating mind. Lovers of le Carre’s spy novels will find them engrossing.
“Jellyfish Age Backwards: Nature’s Secrets to Longevity” by Nicklas Brendborg, a molecular biologist, looks at ways that plants, animals, and even some humans adapt to their environment so that they can live longer. Written for laymen, the book explores such amazing creatures as a Greenland shark that is 390 years old and a tiny jellyfish that can age both forward and backwards.
“The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life” by CBS business analyst Jill Schlesinger discusses the many options that you may take to reinvent your life. During the pandemic, many people reassessed their futures, adding goals or completely refocusing their lives. If you are thinking about making dramatic changes, this book offers advice on when and how to manage your money so that you can make these changes successfully.
“On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans discovered Europe” by Caroline Dodds Pennock examines the stories of people from the Americas who traveled to Europe after Columbus’s 1492 voyage. These indigenous peoples were often enslaved or exploited for their differences, and Pennock reveals their influence on Europeans, from common people to monarchs.
Signal Mountain resident David Graybeal will talk about his new book, “Faith in The West Wing: The Portrayal of Religion in a Primetime Presidency” at 6:30 p.m. on March 23 in the Library’s lower level. His book will be offered for sale, and he will sign copies at the event.
Graybeal, pastor at Signal Crest United Methodist Church, says he became fascinated with the series “The West Wing” that aired on television more than 20 years ago. “I had an idea about writing about religious themes in the show when I first saw it,” he said, adding that the book was “several years in the making.” He will also discuss his writing process.
“The West Wing” still has many fans today, as evidenced by the fact that it was shown in all its seven seasons in a marathon presentation the week after Thanksgiving and again after Christmas this year. It’ also available on DVD to check out from the Library.
The book begins with Graybeal’s astute observations about the opening episode of the series: “The pilot … reverberates with religious rhetoric, perspectives, and personalities,” writes the author. He continues with summaries of various episodes, interspersed with his comments on “navigating not only the relationship between church and state, religious and political power, but all the important relationships in our lives.”
One of the interesting aspects of this fascinating book is that it affirms that “The West Wing” is just as relevant today as when it debuted. In fact, one of the book’s endorsers, professor of religion William P. McDonald, posits, “It’s enough to make a reader long for such leaders on the stage of American politics today.”
For more information, call the Library at (423) 886-7323.
Girl Scouts to Launch Seed Library
Fifth grade Girl Scout Troop No. 40487 will initiate a seed library at the Signal Mountain Library this spring. They plan to gather and label seeds that library patrons may then plant in their gardens. The idea is to promote seed saving and sharing and continue the cycle throughout the planting season. According to troop leader Kris Bespalec, “The girls got interested in the seed library when we were thinking of ways we could support local gardeners on Signal Mountain. The girls are excited to see how people use the seeds and want to grow things in gardens at home as well.” More information about this exciting new program will be announced soon.
Signal Mountain Lions Make Gift to Library
The Library wishes to express thanks to the Signal Mountain Lions Club for a recent donation. The Lions have supported the Library for many years as part of their commitment to serve our community. We are lucky indeed to have them as advocates.
New Nonfiction
Following are some brief reviews of some of the latest additions to our nonfiction collection.
“The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness” by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, presents the insights from interviews with hundreds of people who were studied for their whole adult years. The conclusion of these studies is that meaningful connections with others is the ultimate driver of happiness. Waldinger’s TED talk about this subject is one of the 10 most viewed ever: more than 42 million times.
“A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré” is a collection of the correspondence that the late great writer sent to numerous people, among them famous artists and politicians, other writers, and spies. They shed light on the innermost thoughts of le Carré, sharing his interests, his sense of humor, and his fascinating mind. Lovers of le Carre’s spy novels will find them engrossing.
“Jellyfish Age Backwards: Nature’s Secrets to Longevity” by Nicklas Brendborg, a molecular biologist, looks at ways that plants, animals, and even some humans adapt to their environment so that they can live longer. Written for laymen, the book explores such amazing creatures as a Greenland shark that is 390 years old and a tiny jellyfish that can age both forward and backwards.
“The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life” by CBS business analyst Jill Schlesinger discusses the many options that you may take to reinvent your life. During the pandemic, many people reassessed their futures, adding goals or completely refocusing their lives. If you are thinking about making dramatic changes, this book offers advice on when and how to manage your money so that you can make these changes successfully.
“On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans discovered Europe” by Caroline Dodds Pennock examines the stories of people from the Americas who traveled to Europe after Columbus’s 1492 voyage. These indigenous peoples were often enslaved or exploited for their differences, and Pennock reveals their influence on Europeans, from common people to monarchs.
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