Books I've... "Read"

So I just got a slew of books from the library.  Unfortunately since other people have inconsiderately reserved the books after me I only get my allotted three weeks.  And I've got news for you.  Three weeks isn't enough time to read a book around working with 4 little girls, keeping up on housework, a calling at church and any number of little things that come up.

So this is how reading works for me:
"Yes! the girls are quietly playing and the chores are done.  I'll just sit down to read" (1 page)
"Ok, Cerise is asleep and Sesame Street just started..." (3 pages until Cerise wakes up)
"It's quiet time. And Genie doesn't come for another half hour..." (1 page before Cairn throws a fit and accidentally hurts Cerise and no one is calmed down until minutes before Genie comes and screams until I soothe her with random snacks)

So none of the pages are actually in any order (for some reason book marks don't work with kids around).  I just pick up the book and go from where it falls open.  But if you're looking for an intriguing, insightful or educational book, any of these three should prove enjoyable.

Extreme Gardening: How to grow organic in the hostile deserts, by Dave Owens
It's specific to growing here in the desert, but since he fully recommends raised gardens and gives basic gardening advice like which plants to companion plant and why, it should be applicable to everywhere.  In fact Grant has vetoed buying place specific books until we know where we'll end out settling, but loved the user-friendliness of this book so much he wants to get it anyways.
When I told him we'd have to also get stuff for me to plant and try to not kill he grimaced and suggested I just put the title on my wish list.

Triumph of the City: How our greatest invention makes us richer, smarter, greener, healthier and happier, by Edward Glaeser
So the author was a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  He was this jittery, hand-wavy crazy Harvard professor and the interview made us giggle so I checked out the book.  He is pro-city, anti-suburban sprawl and goes through why city living is better for everyone.  I think he has some valid points, but in some cases is way over-stated.
Reading it reminded me of big city-living in Korea.  I loved it... but I also missed small things like grass.  I remember going to visit someone who lived on the "outskirts of town."  We went by bus and saw nothing but the normal tall buildings and apartments until we got off the bus and walked down the road a little.  There I saw the end of the city.  There was a very distinct line where the city ended and the rice fields began.  Both continued as far as I could see in opposite directions.
Regardless of reading the book and fond memories of Korea I don't know if I'm ready to give up the suburban dream of a house and a yard.

Modern Physics and Ancient Faith, by Stephen M. Barr
So here's a fun one.  If you pick it up and thumb through it the small, dense text makes it feel like a dry text book.  In fact if you added a bunch of incomprehensible math it would look like one of my physics texts from last year.  But its not as daunting as it seems.
He goes at the science verses religion debate with a physics background and catholic upbringing.  He defends the faith with the science.  So there are long sections where he actually takes the science and breaks it down to the basic, non-math, fun to learn levels.  He then brings it around to support judeo-christian beliefs.
Or maybe he starts with the beliefs and supports the science... in the hectic spurts of reading the two ends have always been completely hand in hand.  And really, there is no separating truths learned from religion and truths learned from science for all truths come from God.