The Johnsons' 2018 To-Read List
Stan’s List
Unknown Quantity: A Real and Imaginary History of Algebra –
by John Derbyshire (Mathematics History)
2. Wild Seed - by Octavia E. Butler (Sci-Fi by a Black author)
3. Stranger in a Strange Land - by Robert A. Heinlein (Sci-Fi)
Kimlin’s List
Trust by Iyanla Vanzant
*[i]Blessed in the Darkness by Joel Olsteen
SOAR by T.D. Jakes
*Memento Park by Mark Sarvas (March 2018)
The Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey
*The Memo (Five rules for your Economic Liberation) by John Hope Bryant
*The “I” in Life by Sara Delpasand
Joel’s List (our son - 9th Grade)
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (required by Joel’s Honor’s English class)
Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes (picked by his mom-me)
Tyler’s List (our daughter - 5th Grade)
The Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (picked by her mom- me)
Society is known for making “To-Do Lists”. Well in our home, we have “To Read Lists.” At two months old I made sure to read to both Joel and Tyler everyday. I feel reading is the key to so many things, like your academic success, getting into the best colleges, a powerful tool that makes you compete successfully and so much more. I also know that if I had gained a love for reading at an early age, like my kids I could have gone and graduated from an Ivy League College.
My husband Stan reads so much we have an overflow book collections. As you can see from Stan’s list above he is extremely intellectual and sci-fi oriented for 2018. My to read-list is long because I am so behind because, my book AAA (Authenticity, Accountability and Ambitions – What America is lacking through a Black woman’s Eyes?) will be self-published in 2018. I have wanted to be my best me since I was 25 years old(single) and the journey continues to be my best , as a wife, mom and leader.
It has been said, “If you want to keep something from Black people then put it in a book.” In 2001 an article entitled, “They Are Still Our Slaves,” was read on a New York radio station and the author is still unknown. In this article the weapons to keep Black people suppressed are outlined as “ignorance, greed, and selfishness.” The foundation for the Johnson household is ‘read’ because reading is not a choice; it is the key to knowledge. And knowledge is power.
[i] * indicates authors Kimlin has had the pleasure of meeting
