Participate in Your World: The Value of Making an Impact

 

Participate in Your World: Smart Ways to Make an Impact

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven.  All rights reserved.

In our world, the air we breathe is thick with a relentless haze of narratives.  Our realms are influenced by sophisticated marketing, high-control messaging, and seductive urban legends.  These pushes and pulls within our world are all meticulously designed to bypass our logic and command our allegiances.  To navigate a world filled with influence and marketing, strong reading strategies are needed to identify hidden motivations and tricksters.  We must distinguish facts from opinions and understand the complex social dynamics that shape our world.  For the modern citizen, maintaining clarity is not merely a challenge; it is an ongoing exercise.

The study of our own thinking, neighborhoods, communities, culture, and political science offers us reason.  Metacognition and the curiosity to learn more is a vital habit for the preservation of our human dignity.  By applying inquiry on a regular basis, we transform from passive recipients in the world into active architects of our own agency.  To study the cycles and echoes of life is to reclaim the right to think for oneself, ensuring that our civic participation is grounded in evidence rather than the ephemeral noise of the moment.

The foundation of civic agency begins with a fundamental biological and social truth: we are not meant for isolation.  We are members of our families that nurture each other and have conflicts, we are our school communities that organize science fairs, we are the donors to organizations aiding others affected by fires, floods, and war.  To understand the world is to understand the very essence of human flourishing within a community.  "As the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle stated in Politics, men are ‘political animals’, signifying that humans are naturally inclined to live in communities and participate in political life."

Visit Amazon to get essential works by Aristotle.

This realization serves as a powerful antidote to apathy.  If we are "political animals" by nature, then participation in our communities is not an optional hobby or a burdensome chore; it is a natural human inclination.  Understanding this field is fundamental to recognizing your inherent rights and the weight of your responsibilities.  When we distance ourselves from the process, we are, in a sense, acting against our own nature.

Consider the local zoning board meeting or a neighborhood watch assembly.  These are not merely administrative bores; they are the duties and the power of the people.  When a citizen steps into these realms to question a new development or champion public safety, they are transforming apathy into action.  Realizing that you are part of a larger social organism shifts the perspective from "Why should I care?" to "How can I not?"  Active participation becomes a means of protecting one's own dignity and contributing to the overall health of the neighborhood.

The nature of the United States of America was not built on a naive hope for human perfection, rather on a clear-eyed acknowledgement of human frailty.  James Madison, the primary architect of the U.S. Constitution, articulated the central paradox of governance in Federalist No. 51, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.  If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.  In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”

Purchase your copy of James Madison's The Federalist Papers on Amazon.

Madison’s genius lay in the creation of "internal controls", in other words, the separation of powers and a robust system of checks and balances.  This structure is essential for maintaining a healthy, transparent government.  For the logical citizen, understanding these mechanisms is a practical necessity.  If you know the internal controls of a government, corporation, or high-control group, you know which lever to pull to prevent or stop abuse.  Whether it is an official exceeding their authority or a national branch bypassing legislative intent, the informed individual views these "checks" as tools for accountability, ensuring leaders and officials remain obliged to ethical standards and respectful treatment of others.  

To truly possess an idea, one must understand its lineage.  Intellectual curiosity requires us to look beneath the surface of slogans to find the bedrock of prior scholarship.  For instance, while we often associate Baron Montesquieu [mon-tuh-skyoo] with the doctrine of the separation of powers, a closer investigation reveals that his work was a collaborative bridge.  Much of what he proposed was taken from contemporary English writers and the foundational theories of John Locke [lok].

Visit Amazon to read the essential ideas of Baron de Montesquieu.

Purchase your copy of John Locke's Two Treatises of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration on Amazon.

This genealogy of ideas reminds us that life is a relay race.  A strong, resilient culture is built by citizens who acknowledge and build upon the intellectual labor of those who came before.  By reading various authors and diverse sources, we protect ourselves from narrow-mindedness, lies, and bias.  This intellectual independence is our greatest defense against manipulation; when we recognize that our current debates are chapters in a much older conversation, we gain the perspective necessary to judge them with wisdom rather than emotion.

A sophisticated citizen distinguishes between the assumptions of political theory and the evidence-based findings of academic political science.  While we take the opinions of theorists seriously, we are never required to accept their dogmas as absolute truth.  A researcher may be "75% certain" that a specific cause contributes to a phenomenon.  This uncertainty is not a weakness, instead is a hallmark of logical integrity.

To navigate "unsteady" conversations about topics, you must be active and aware of your own thinking, acknowledge your feelings and causes of those feelings, and be aware of the world around us.  Apply these routines to your daily intake of information:

* Scrutinize the Evidence: Be certain to sort facts from opinions.  Demand to see the data used to support an author's assertions.

* Question the Context: Recognize that events are highly influenced by the context in which they occur.  Never view a headline in a vacuum.

* Underline and Dissect: When reading, underline key points and question the underlying assumptions.  Do not let emotional language mask a lack of evidence.

* Analyze the Hidden Motivations of the Messenger: Think about why a writer, media outlet, or organization is expressing a specific concern.  Consider their funding, their affiliations, and the distribution of power they seek to influence.

The preservation of freedom and happiness, self-actualization, requires more than a passing knowledge of current events; it demands an understanding of history.  As Thomas R. Dye and Harmon Zeigler argued in The Irony of Democracy, being an "outstanding citizen" requires us to become familiar with the meaning of individual freedom and dignity throughout the ages.

Visit Amazon to purchase your copy of The Irony of Democracy.

We must read about and understand the human quest for freedom across different times and cultures.  This historical perspective acts as a vital shield, arming the citizens with a "threat library" to identify the techniques of those who would diminish our ability to live, learn, and grow in a healthy and unified community.  By studying the past, we become resilient against:

* Logical fallacies and propaganda.

* The repetition of highly emotional claims.

* Sophisticated marketing techniques used by high-control or high-demand groups.

* Opaque funding and hidden affiliations.

When we understand how freedom has been sought, won, and lost in the past, we are far better equipped to defend the transparency and due process of the present.

The study of life is a journey toward the elevation of the self and the community.  It offers more than a professional pathway into law, journalism, the foreign service, or teaching; it provides a universal set of "habits of mind."  The habits of logic, thoroughness, and the ability to distinguish fact from fiction are as valuable in a neighborhood garden committee as they are in the halls of a capital city.

By committing to a life of analytical, close, reading and analytical, close, thinking, we contribute to a healthier, more transparent culture.  As you step back into the flow of your daily life, take time to reflect.  Notice your daily habits: Look at how you act in various familial, social, and political realms.  Question: Ask why things are set up the way they are around you.  Honor the past: Remember the people who fought for rights, freedoms, and the pursuit of individuals fulfilling their own potential before you.  Open up to others: Use what you learned in your very next chat with a friend down the street.

Bibliography

Cult Info Since 1979 - Overview of Issues That Concern ICSA. 

https://www.icsahome.com/home/aboutus/overview.  

Dye, Thomas R., et al.  The Irony of Democracy: An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics.  Cengage Learning.

“Founders Online: The Federalist Number 51, [6 February] 1788.”  National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, 

founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-10-02-0279.  

Google LM

“LibGuides: Reading in the Disciplines: Political Science.”  Stonehill.edu, 

libguides.stonehill.edu/c.php?g=698958&p=5050620. 

“Political Science, B.A.”  Program: Political Science, B.A. - California State University Fullerton - Modern Campus CatalogTM, 

catalog.fullerton.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=70&poid=32672. 

“Political Science.”  Division of Political Science | CSUF, paj.fullerton.edu/politicalscience/.  

Trepanier, Lee, et al.  “Why Political Science Is Boring – Lee Trepanier.”  Law & Liberty, 

lawliberty.org/book-review/why-political-science-is-boring/. 

Vile, M.J.C. “Montesquieu and the Separation of Powers - Online Library of Liberty.”  Libertyfund.org, oll.libertyfund.org/pages/montesquieu-and-the-separation-of-powers.

“Why Study Political Science?”  American Political Science Association.

More Than Words: William Atwood and the Daniel Wright Series

 

More Than Words: William Atwood and the Daniel Wright Series

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven.  All rights reserved.

Reading fiction helps us feel for others and grow in our wisdom as individuals, yet it also makes us think carefully so we do not get tricked.  It asks us to look closely at stories and evidence to make meaning.  To the uninitiated, reading appears to be a sedentary, passive indulgence or a quiet retreat from the world.  In reality, reading helps us gain information, learn new concepts, and find enjoyment along the way.  It is a transformative journey that functions as a workout for the mind.  Whether you are interrogating a historical narrative regarding Abraham Lincoln or navigating the metaphysical depths of modern fantasy, you are not merely absorbing information; you are actively exercising your intelligence and safeguarding your long-term cognitive health.

Author and nephew William Atwood navigates the demanding currents of the written word through the Daniel Wright series.  Elderglen, Lyora, and Pelagor are imaginative designs for the setting and context of the series.  Daniel Wright’s stylus, pen, is an extension and signature of the character.  Daniel posits that written language, when wielded with intentionality, is the most formidable tool in existence.  In his debut fantasy series, Atwood invites us to abandon the screen for the stylus, reclaiming the "creative potential" of a language that describes reality and constructs it.

In Daniel Wright and the Writer’s Stylus, Atwood introduces us to a protagonist who wields the Stylus of Ecnatsbus.  Decoded as the reversal of "Substance" and reveals the hidden machinery of Atwood’s world-building.  This stylus was the instrument used by the "Master Writer" to scribe the "Genesis Manuscript," yet Atwood pointedly avoids the teleological safety of the "chosen one" trope.  Instead, he centers his narrative on the weight of education, life-long learning, self-actualization, agency, and responsibility.

Visit Amazon to purchase your copy of Daniel Wright and the Writer’s Stylus.

Atwood’s rejection of the secret destiny in favor of paradigms mirrors the complexities of our own existence, where wisdom is a result of listening for understanding, learning, metacognition, and application of knowledge.  As Atwood explained: “Daniel is not a ‘chosen one’ with a secret destiny...He has to work his way through and make his own choices.  He has free will, even if the Master Writer plays a divine role in guiding him.”

By placing the "power of creation" in the hands of a character who must choose to be wise, Atwood forces the reader into a position of "reading with intention," evaluating the character’s trajectory.  

Fiction serves as a sophisticated "social simulator."  Neuro-literary research reveals that when we engage with a narrative, our brains activate specific pathways to simulate hypothetical scenes, spaces, and mental states.  This is not mere imagination; it is the brain’s ability to "simulate" reality, allowing us to step into someone else’s shoes and navigate their unique perspective from the safety of a reading chair.

Visit Amazon to purchase your copy of Daniel Wright and the Writer’s Stylus.

The "Writer’s Perspective" finds its perfect metaphor in the work of William Atwood.  Through the genre of fantasy, the protagonist, Daniel Wright, wields the Stylus of Ecnatsbus.  The pen is a tool that symbolizes the power of the written word.  This stylus was used by the Master Writer to create the Genesis Manuscript, signifying that logic and thoughtfulness in written language is powerful.  

By practicing this internal simulation, we build the real-world capacity for empathy required to navigate complex social relationships.  This "Empathy Engine" allows us to imagine the future and remember the past, providing a safe laboratory to test human desires, disagreements, lies, and social outcomes.

Atwood’s narrative rejects the "chosen one" trope in favor of "free will."  Daniel Wright must navigate his world through difficult choices and personal responsibility, mirroring the paradigm of the reader.  This serves as a vital reminder: the power of creation and the consumption of literature demand enormous wisdom.  The writer’s pen and the reader’s interpretation are both tools that must be used with a deep sense of responsibility.

Visit Amazon to purchase your copy of Daniel Wright and the Writer’s Stylus.

To appreciate the Daniel Wright series is to start with the "Reader’s Perspective," the comprehension of events, relationships of characters, and desires, and then remember the "Writer’s Perspective."  This involves an investigation into the how and the why of the narrative’s construction.  Atwood’s work contains a meta-textual layer: a writer (Atwood) creating a character (Daniel) who uses a tool of the "Master Writer" to protect a "Manuscript."  This "story within a story" demands that we look for the "hidden machinery" behind every choice.

Theme naming is the invisible thread that binds a narrative’s disparate parts into a resonant whole.  It is a sophisticated literary technique that ensures a world feels lived-in, deliberate, and significant.  As you read the Daniel Wright series, look closely at the roster of characters.  Make annotations in the margins, highlight the names, or keep a character log with their characteristics, personality traits, and challenges.  

If you think fiction is merely an escape from reality, you are underestimating its utility.  Reading is actually a "mental gym" for your social intelligence.  When we engage with a character's journey, such as Daniel Wright’s, our brains activate the same neural pathways used to simulate real-world "hypothetical scenes, spaces, and mental states."

Narrative immersion is a "Double-Edged Sword."  While a masterfully crafted story can teach profound truths, it can also bypass our critical filters.  A good work of fiction suspends reality, creating vivid mental imagery and evoking strong emotions that anchor information into long-term memory.  However, this same immersive state can be a cognitive trap.  To prevent false information from taking root, adopt an "interrogative mindset."  

Stories, poems, and plays are more than mere entertainment, they are worlds of meaning.  Atwood employs a mix of direct and indirect lessons, challenges for characters, and themes that the reader must analyze–ponder closely.  As you read Daniel Wright and the Writer’s Stylus, add notes in the margin of the pages or in your log regarding Daniel Wright, the Scribbling, Inkspawn, the Thornweavers, the Stylus, and more.  

As you close Daniel Wright and the Writer’s Stylus, don't simply walk away.  In a world drowning in a constant flow of information, the ability to read with a critical, writerly eye is a vital skill for the modern mind.  The act of reading is a transformative odyssey that shapes the individual and, by extension, the community.  It is an invitation to practice logical thinking and personal growth.  Daniel Wright and the Writer’s Stylus is more than a contribution to the fantasy genre; it is a "shared journey" that challenges us to consider our own roles as creators within the world.

As we navigate an era of relentless information flow, we must remain vigilant of the stories we inhabit.  Abraham Lincoln once hoped that the "lamp of liberty" would burn in the bosoms of all men; that lamp is fueled by the stories that challenge our intellect and sharpen our capacity for wisdom.  As you close the "Genesis Manuscript" of Atwood’s making, ponder if the stories you choose to read are merely distracting you, or are they equipping you to wield your own stylus with the responsibility and substance required to write your own legacy.

Bibliography

“Abraham Lincoln ‘Learning by Littles’ (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/articles/abraham-lincoln-learning-by-littles.htm.    

Chang, Yu-Hung, et al.  “Reading Activity Prevents Long-Term Decline in Cognitive Function in Older People: Evidence from a 14-Year Longitudinal Study.”  International Psychogeriatrics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8482376/. 

Editor, COREY ROGAN | Managing. “Atwood Debuts Christian-Themed Fantasy Novels.”  Waxahachie Sun. 

Google LM

“Lincoln Reading and Writing.”  Kentucky Historical Society. 

“NWP Learning Commons: Learning Portal - Study Skills : How to Read Fiction.”  How to Read Fiction - Learning Portal - Study Skills - NWP Learning Commons at Northwestern Polytechnic, libguides.nwpolytech.ca/studyskills/howtoreadfiction.   

Participating in Activities You Enjoy as You Age | National Institute on Aging, 

www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/participating-activities-you-enjoy-you-age.    

Tamir, Diana I, et al.  “Reading Fiction and Reading Minds: The Role of Simulation in the Default Network.”  Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, U.S. National Library of 

Medicine, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4733342/. 

“Top 5: What and How We Learn from Fiction.”  Duke Today, today.duke.edu/2012/03/fiction. 

“Why These Four Presidents?”  National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 

www.nps.gov/moru/learn/historyculture/why-these-four-presidents.htm. 

Building Wisdom, One Page at a Time

Building Wisdom, One Page at a Time

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven.  All rights reserved.

In our world it is easy to find ourselves submerged in a deluge of superficial information, a rapid-fire stream that prioritizes velocity over veracity.  To find an antidote to this distraction, we must look toward a figure of monumental importance: Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865).  The historical realities of his life and achievements reveal a profoundly human individual who serves as a paragon of self-actualization.  Lincoln was not born a master of language; he was a self-taught intellectual who constructed a formidable intellectual foundation through a disciplined, lifelong engagement with the written word.  His philosophy of "learning by littles" remains an essential pedagogical case study, demonstrating the transformative power of reading and community.

The early life of Abraham Lincoln was defined by a scarcity of formal educational resources.  On the nineteenth-century (1800s) American frontier, schooling was an occasional luxury rather than a guaranteed right.  Lincoln’s formal classroom experience was incredibly brief, totaling less than one year.  However, this lack of institutional structure did not stifle his development; instead, it fueled a voracious and strategic curiosity that characterizes the most dedicated scholars.

Though his time in school was fleeting, he was encouraged by his parents, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, to pursue learning independently.  He began his journey with the family Bible and Thomas Dilworth’s speller.  As a teenager, his intellectual horizons expanded through borrowed volumes, including Parson Weems’ Life of Washington, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Robinson Crusoe, and The Arabian Nights.  This meager access to books necessitated a depth of engagement, an assiduous devotion to the few texts at hand.  

Visit Amazon to purchase books about Abraham Lincoln for yourself, as gifts, or for your classroom.

Lincoln reflected on these rustic beginnings in an 1859 autobiographical sketch: “There were schools, so called, but little qualification was ever required of a teacher.... Of course when I came of age I did not know much.  Still, somehow, I could read, write and cipher to the Rule of Three...”  This "somehow" was the product of a deliberate choice to treat every available text as a precious resource, a method he described as learning "by littles".

For Lincoln and his contemporaries, literacy was never merely a personal hobby; it was a civic mandate of the highest order.  This perspective was championed by Noah Webster (1758–1843), the "Father of American Education," who argued that for a republic to survive, knowledge must be "universally diffused."  Webster believed that in a government held in the hands of the people, the "yeomanry" must be well-informed to participate in law, ethics, and commerce.

Webster’s vision for education extended beyond basic phonics; it encompassed the cultivation of socialization, logic, wisdom, and citizenship skills.  Civic learning, therefore, is a developmental process essential to maintaining the republic.  When we read deeply, we are not just improving our own minds; we are equipping ourselves for the responsibility of self-government and ensuring that the people who make the laws are sufficiently enlightened to do so with justice and prudence.  In other words, civic learning is a developmental process within American schools through which the People acquire essential knowledge, skills, and learn how to be a community.

Noah Webster promoted universal education for all citizens, including slaves, females, and adults.  Purchase your copy of Noah Webster: Weaver of Words on Amazon today.

Similarly, President Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) accomplished a great feat in the realm of education.  He recognized the health of the republic was inextricably linked to the intelligence of its people.  Grant emphasized that for a nation to remain strong, and for all citizens to remain equal before the law, the electorate must possess the education necessary to navigate the complexities of self-government.  Grant’s call for compulsory, free public schools was a movement toward national unity and stability.

By investing in public education, the nation sought to raise wages and improve living conditions.  In this context, education was of benefit to students and a community duty.  It was an investment in intellectual progress and enabled the American people to compete globally while maintaining a high standard of living at home.  Overall, public schools are communities that are the grounds for cultural unity.  Public schools, absent segregation and divisions caused by private schools, are communities that help cultivate personal and societal achievements.

Purchase your copy of Ulysses S. Grant's writings on Amazon.

Modern cognitive theory validates the methods Lincoln used, distinguishing between superficial information grazing and "deep reading".  This methodical engagement with a text provides a literal workout for the brain, offering several proven benefits for adults:

Stress Reduction: Reading is a potent reducer of mental tension, contributing to a greater sense of overall well-being and mental health.

Focus and Memory: In an age of digital fragmentation, reading rebuilds the ability to concentrate and strengthens memory retention.

Neural Activation: The brain processes experiences described in a text as if they were real, activating regions associated with empathy, inference, and analytical thought.

Boosted Analytical Skills: Deep reading trains the mind to question an author’s assumptions and arguments.  It moves the reader beyond simple memorization toward the ability to write persuasive essays that defend an original thesis.

Furthermore, reading nonfiction builds "schema", the mental frameworks or background knowledge required to integrate new information.  This foundation is what allowed a man with less than a year of schooling to craft arguments as sophisticated as the Gettysburg Address; he trained his brain to question, analyze, and connect ideas on a profound level.

The true secret to Lincoln’s eloquence was his refusal to be a passive consumer of information.  He was a practitioner of "assiduous note-taking," a habit he formed early in life to aid his comprehension.  His reverence for the civic necessity of an informed citizenry was perhaps best illustrated during his time as a one-term congressman, when he chose to live in a boardinghouse located immediately next to the Library of Congress to facilitate his research.

Visit Amazon to purchase books about Abraham Lincoln for yourself, as gifts, or for your classroom.

Lincoln rarely addressed a complex problem without first "taking up his pen".  For him, writing served as a "necessary pause for deliberation and reflection".  To foster your own intellectual growth, consider these three distinct strategies:

Simple Annotations: Transforming reading into an active conversation by underlining key points and jotting notes in the margins.

Graphic Organizers: Using visual tools to map the sequence of events, separate cause from effect, or track the evidence an author uses to support an argument.

Reading Journals: Creating a permanent record of reflections to foster curiosity and the art of slowing down one's thinking.

Lincoln’s intellectual life possessed a creative and emotional dimension.  He was an avid poet who used verse to explore the shadows of his inner world.  From the reflective "My Childhood Home I See Again" to the dark, emotional work titled "The Suicide’s Soliloquy", Lincoln’s poetry reveals a man of deep sentiment and somber reflection.  This creative outlet suggests that his mastery of language was tied to an emotional depth and a capacity for empathy cultivated through a wide-ranging appreciation of literature.

Shop Amazon now for fascinating stories, novels, and historial fiction about Abraham Lincoln.

The discipline Lincoln honed through deep reading and writing was most evident during the national crisis of 1864.  In a document known as the "Blind Memorandum", now regarded as a treasure of the Lincoln Papers, he recorded his sober expectation of political defeat.  In a remarkable display of integrity, he folded and sealed the note, then had his cabinet members sign the back of the document without seeing its contents.  By doing so, he obtained their commitment to work with his successor to save the Union, regardless of the election's outcome.

This act of unwavering commitment demonstrates a leader whose intellectual habits allowed him to maintain logic and duty even in the face of Lincoln's personal failure.  Lincoln viewed the "taste for reading" as the ultimate tool for resolving societal crises.  As he stated in 1859: “A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.  It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems.  And not only so. It gives a relish, and facility, for successfully pursuing the [yet] unsolved ones.”

The journey from a frontier cabin to the presidency was paved with books and the deliberate work of the pen.  Critical reading remains the most powerful antidote to a world of fast, superficial information; it is the path to genuine knowledge and the foundation of citizenship.  It is a skill, a superpower, that can be built "by littles."  By choosing to slow down and interact purposefully with a text, you gain the ability to see the world behind the words and cultivate the intellectual humility required for true wisdom.  

Shop Amazon now for fascinating stories, novels, and historial fiction about Abraham Lincoln.

Extension Activity

Which habit will you start at this very moment as you look toward your next piece of reading, be it a book, an article, or a political speech?  Choose one of the following techniques at this moment to foster your own citizenship skills. 

A.  After I pour my morning cup of coffee, I will read 10 pages of…

B.  I will choose an article I am most curious to read and underline three main ideas to research more about. 

C.  I will take out a journal, a pen, and a high interest book to read.  As I read, I will write down reflections about how the author changed my perspective about something, the qualities of the main characters or individuals in the book, or how I would have reacted to events described in the book.

Bibliography

“About This Collection: Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress: Digital Collections: Library of Congress.”  The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/collections/abraham-lincoln-papers/about-this-collection/.

“Abraham Lincoln ‘Learning by Littles’ (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/articles/abraham-lincoln-learning-by-littles.htm.   

Abraham Lincoln | The Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/abraham-lincoln.   

Berger, Anthony.  “President Lincoln Reading the Bible to His Son Tad (the J. Paul Getty Museum Collection).”  Getty, www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/107JDN.   

“Critical Reading: What Is Critical Reading, and Why Do I Need to Do It?”  Cleveland State University 60 Years!, www.csuohio.edu/writing-center/critical-reading-what-critical-reading-and-why-do-i-need-do-it.   

Epilogue: Securing the Republic: Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America.  https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch18s26.html.  

Google LM

“Lincoln Reading and Writing.”  Kentucky Historical Society. 

Miller, Kelley.  “Slowing down the Reading Process to Build Students’ Comprehension Skills.”  Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, www.edutopia.org/article/boosting-students-reading-comprehension-slowing-down/. 

Scott, Kifflie. “Benefits of Reading.”  Menomonee Falls Public Library, www.menomoneefallslibrary.org/benefits-of-reading/. 

Strowd, Roy E.  “Writing: The Art of Slowing down Thinking.”  Neurology.  Education, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11419334/. 

“To Stand by the Side of Freedom: Abraham Lincoln and 19th Century America -- Selections from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection.”  Omeka RSS,  exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/lincoln/explore/section-5.