Cool Works® Reading List

Blogging the Dream
Written by a team of CoolWorks bloggers who come from different backgrounds and are engaged in a variety of life and work adventures all over the world. A new blog posted each week.

Teaching English in Thailand in the Wake of the Tsunami
Greg left a perfectly good job at the Grand Canyon to teach English in Thailand. Now the Wave has hit. Follow his Blog -- Track a life that can be built by one who values experiences more than money.

Booksense.com

"BookSense.com is a family of independent-bookseller websites. When you visit a BookSense.com virtual bookstore, you will experience the knowledge and passion of independent booksellers who share their love of books with their customers and their communities. You'll have access to information and news about local authors, store events, and myriad staff recommendations -- and you will also be presented with content that reflects the collective wisdom of booksellers from all 50 states and Puerto Rico."

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

"Rooted in traditional Toltec beliefs, these four agreements are essential steps on the path to personal freedom: Be impeccable with your word; Say only what you mean; The word is the most powerful tool humans have; Don't take anything personally; Self-importance leads people to think they are the center of the universe, causing pain and injustice; Don't make assumptions. To avoid frustration and blame, ask what is meant; Always do your best. This is the surest way to avoid self- condemnation, though it is important to realize one's best is always changing. " - text from audio cassette version

Lines on the Land: Writers, Art, and the National Parks (Under the Sign of Nature) by Scott Herring

One reviewer says: " This book really would go better in the "nature essay" section of the bookstore than "literary criticism" (who reads that, really?). The best parts of the book are the sections where Herring talks about living in Yellowstone National Park. They make you want to head off to Wyoming, like, right now. Highly recommended. "

The Art of Travel by Alain De Botton

"Rather than lavishing pages on the sumptuous taste of a sun-ripened olive in Provence, philosopher de Botton examines what inspires us to escape the humdrum and purchase tickets to Tahiti, tromp through the countryside, or wander Rome." - Booklist

Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin by Susana Herrera

One reader says: "Susana Herrera has a beautiful way of expressing what happens to lots of (Peace Corps) volunteers; the fear, the confusion, the coming to terms with oneself and one's surroundings, the eventual pride in oneself for sticking it out in the most difficult of situations.

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik

In this collection of 23 essays and journal entries, many of which were originally published in the New Yorker, Gopnik chronicles the time he spent in Paris between 1995 and 2000 with his wife and young son. A great book for anyone who's interested in other cultures or considering living outside the U.S.

Hummingbird House by Patricia Henley

Kate Banner, an American midwife, heads to Mexico for a three-week visit in the mid-1980s and ends up staying south of the border for eight years.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchet

Patrons at a fundraiser are taken hostage in an unnamed South American country, and the days and months that follow depict the growing relationships between the hostages and the captors. A book about love, in so many it's forms.

Losing Gemma by Katy Gardner

There is plenty of emotional baggage to check when Esther and Gemma, now in their early 20s, travel to India for what is supposed to be an extraordinary adventure that will renew their somewhat tattered bond.

Yellowstone Trails: A Hiking Guide by Mark C. Marschall

The official guide to backcountry hiking in the park, written by a Yellowstone backcountry ranger and published by the Yellowstone Association. The new 2003 edition features descriptions of 100 trails and 45 day hikes, including topographic maps, elevation profiles, and three dimensional views of major peaks.

Inspiration Sandwich: Stories to Inspire... by Sark

Remember the sandbox? All you needed was bare toes in warm sand, and maybe a good bucket. Then you could build your own world. We all have wonder-full new worlds to build!

Great Lodges of the West

Watertrail : The Hidden Path Through Puget Sound by Joel W. Rogers

Joel Rogers's beautifully photographed Watertrail chronicles his 26-day, 440-mile sea kayak exploration of the Cascadia Marine Trail, the pristine water-bound route through Washington State's Puget Sound and San Juan Islands.

The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

With some 12 million women being pushed into the labor market by welfare reform, the author decided to do some good old-fashioned journalism and find out just how they were going to survive on the wages of the unskilled--at $6 to $7 an hour, only half of what is considered a living wage. So she did what millions of Americans do, she looked for a job and a place to live, worked that job, and tried to make ends meet.