I found an old book review from 2014.  Apparently, I intended to post it, but never did. So yeah, it’s been a couple years since I read this book, but didn’t want to let a good review go to waste.

The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley is the kind of a book that I love.  I love when people take things like our commonly held beliefs and look at them from another angle.  I love when a bit of digging uncovers something new.  I love when someone doesn’t just accept things because “its the way we’ve always done them.”

The problem with Ripley’s book was that I had such trouble getting “into it.”  I started the book four different times before finally finishing on the fifth try.  I’m not really sure why it wasn’t a page-turner for me.  It could have been because things in my life were quite busy and complicated.  It could have been because the narrator (I did the audio version) didn’t engage enough.  It could have been because this subject requires more active listening than my lifestyle affords at times.  Or it could be that this stuff is just a bit too thick to get me excited.

I think the information in the book  is quite valuable. The lessons on how horrible our education system make perfect sense.  The book was just didn’t keep me involved.

by Chris Doelle

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