Honors Book Labs

The Socratic Method is the basis of Western thought, but few students are taught it systematically. They may learn about Socrates in some of their classes, but they never master his method. This book by Ward Farnsworth expertly outlines the Socratic Method in detail and demonstrates how to improve one's life by implementing that method in practice. My proposal is to learn the Socratic Method by reading the book and to demonstrate this method in practice while discussing each chapter. Students will be deeply enriched in their personal, intellectual, and social lives by understanding this most powerful tool for cooperative learning.

For many, science feels like a collection of dusty facts. My hope is that this Honors Book Lab will help overturn that view by examining the life and experiences of the scientist Richard P. Feynman (a winner of the Nobel Prize in physics). This book brings Richard Fenyman to life, and in doing so, forcefully demonstrates the pure joy (and irreverence) of science, problem solving, and a dedication to wanting to understand how the world works. Feynman recounts his experiences trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein, cracking the uncrackable safes guarding the most deeply held nuclear secrets, and much more of an often eyebrow-raising nature. In his stories, Feynman's life shines through in all its eccentric glory, a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, and raging chutzpah.

This Honors Book Lab invites students to explore the rich tapestry of Latino experiences through Sandra Cisneros's acclaimed novel The House on Mango Street. Written in a series of lyrical vignettes, the book tells the story of Esperanza, a young Latina girl growing up in a Chicago neighborhood, as she navigates issues of identity, community, and belonging. Through this text, students will engage with themes of social justice, examining systemic inequalities such as poverty, gender roles, and racial discrimination. The novel also touches on migration, reflecting the experiences of Latino families adapting to life in the U.S. while preserving their cultural heritage. Additionally, Cisneros's use of language, blending English and Spanish in poetic prose, offers a unique opportunity to discuss the role of bilingualism in shaping identity and cultural expression.

Join us in the challenge of discussing a book that is nearly impossible to describe. It has been called a cult classic, a work of ergodic literature, a labyrinth, and a great American novel. Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves is not your typical horror novel. Flipping through its pages you will find that it does not follow the standard format of literature—and your confusion will only deepen as you read. Together, we will attempt to explore the contents of a book whose boundaries keep shifting like a house that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. We may get lost along the way, make new discoveries about the boundaries of literature, question reality, and end with more questions than answers over the time we spend together in this Honors Book Lab—just as Danielewski (who was once a resident of Utah) would expect.

In 1905, H. G. Wells wrote a science fiction story that has inspired multiple sequels: The Empire of the Ants. We will read that story as well as Bernard Werber's 1991 novel Empire of the Ants. We will also screen clips from giant mutant ant movies such as Them! (1954) and play the 2024 video game Empire of the Ants. Our Book Lab will conclude with a field trip to an ant colony.

Burnout is for women (or anyone) who has felt overwhelmed and exhausted by everything they have to do, yet still worried that they aren’t doing "enough." You, like many Americans (and perhaps especially women), have probably experienced it. What's expected of women and what it's really like to exist as a woman in today's world are two different things, and we exhaust ourselves trying to close the gap. Sisters Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, are here in this book to help end the all-too-familiar cycle of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. They compassionately explain the obstacles and societal pressures we face, and how we can fight back.

James is the retelling of Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by New York Times best-selling author Percival Everett (author of Erasure). In this literary masterpiece, the point of view shifts from Huck Finn to our new main character, Jim, an enslaved man who learns that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans. While hiding out to formulate a plan, he meets Huck Finn, who has faked his own death to get away from a violent household. An adventure begins where both Jim and Huck are forced to rely on each other on their journey down the Mississippi River. This is an engaging and thought-provoking work of literature that helps provide an additional account of just what happened between Jim and Huck. Currently, the book is being developed as a feature film to be produced by Steven Spielberg.

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen provides an in-depth analysis of American history textbooks. Loewen exposes the master narrative as it has been expressed in history textbooks and taught to students across the United States for almost 20 years. Loewen explores diverse historical events including Thanksgiving, Reconstruction, the My Lai Massacre, and 9/11. Loewen shows us a new view of history and exposes truths not typically covered in history textbooks

Most of us grow up believing that wealth is only about money—but true richness in life goes far beyond financial gains. While money can play a role, a truly fulfilling life draws on much more than just your bank account. After three years of research, self-exploration, and conversations with thousands of people around the world, Sahil Bloom has developed a practical framework for building a life around five essential forms of wealth: Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial. Genuine fulfillment comes from nurturing all five, allowing them to work together throughout different stages of life. In The 5 Types of Wealth, you’ll discover, through stories, research, and actionable guidance: - Strategies for focusing on high-impact tasks that free up more time - Ways to strengthen relationships and grow a meaningful network - How to pursue purpose-driven growth and personal development - Simple principles for improving health, energy, and overall vitality Approaches to financial independence and defining what “enough” means for you Whether you’re just starting out, raising a family, navigating midlife, or enjoying retirement, this book offers practical tools to help you prioritize what matters, make better choices, and shape a life that feels genuinely rich in every sense.

Teton County, WY, is one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S. Billionaires are buying property to benefit from unparalleled public land access, bringing with them conservation ideals that drive local environmental investments and decision-making. In Billionaire Wilderness, Justin Farrell uses interviews collected via ethnographic research to investigate how wealthy newcomers frame their role in Teton County, donating to land trusts, supporting environmental nonprofits, and presenting themselves as land stewards. Woven into this book are conversations about how privilege and ecology intersect, and the cascading impacts this has on the communities that were there before billionaires arrived: rising cost of living that cause communities to fragment, displacement of multi-generational residents who can no longer afford to live there, and shifts in social functioning that rewrite the area's identity. We will discuss the transformations of places like Jackson Hole, the consequences they produce, and the futures these communities might anticipate.

Things may seem pretty hopeless in the world right now. Life expectancy is in the decline, unaffordable housing, and addiction is on the rise. But what if we learned that one countries are tackling these and other issues with success. The author of Another World is Possible has traveled the world to find just that-real world solutions to our most pressing shared issues. What can we learn from other countries who have taken on these issues? Will they work in the US? Let's find out together!

Mathematics, especially calculus, is the language of the Universe. Without it, we would not have unraveled DNA or discovered Neptune or put satellites into orbit or figured out how to put 5,000 songs in your pocket. Although most of us were scared away from this essential subject in high school and college, Strogatz's brilliantly creative, down-to-earth history shows that calculus is not about complexity, but about simplicity. It harnesses an unreal number, infinity, hence the title to tackle real-world problems, breaking them down into easier ones, reassembling the answers into solutions that feel miraculous. This book is not a textbook of impenetrable equations, but an engaging recounting of how calculus tantalized and thrilled its inventors, from ancient Greece and to the discovery of gravitational waves, which were predicted by calculus.

This is a recently released book by Sharon Eubank that provides guidance on how to do humanitarian work, both locally and beyond. Specifically, this book provides 12 service principles designed to help people find practical ways to do more humanitarian work. This includes guidance on how to help the people you help preserve dignity, asking good questions to really understand, and examining root causes rather than just symptoms. This is definitely an enjoyable book. It is an easy read and tells a lot of inspiring stories that help you feel confident that you can indeed make a difference while also giving you practical advice on how to make it happen!