We are what we read

You can tell a lot about people by the books on their shelves. Recently, I was mentoring a young man looking for some career advice and direction. In the midst of our conversation, I asked him how many books he read each month and how many books were on his shelf. He looked at me with the deer in the headlights expression. He hadn’t read any books since graduating from college and didn’t even own a bookshelf. The young man was pursuing success but had no wisdom. He wanted prosperity but hadn’t studied or read. He didn’t understand that reading is a foundational tool to living a good life.

This conversation got me thinking about how books are more than just pages bound together; they actually reveal who we are. Years ago a friend gave me this anonymous quote on the value of reading:

I’ve traveled the world twice over

Met the famous, saints and sinners,

Poets and artists, kings and queens,

Old stars and hopeful beginners,

I’ve been where no one’s been before,

Learned secrets from writers and cooks,

All with one library ticket,

To the wonderful world of books.

Now let me confess:  I have a book problem. I have a library in my home, several bookshelves in my study (it’s really my office at home but my wife insists I don’t have an office, only a study), some bookshelves in our kitchen area and in most of the bedrooms. Of course, several books can be found in my bathroom where concentration is not an issue. Yet, even admitting that I may have a book fixation or problem, it’s hard to understand people who have none. And while I still prefer the physicality of books, turning the pages in my hand and the cool typography that are all part of the experience, I love my Kindle and plan to get an iPad soon. For almost 700 years, books have been around. Nowadays you can find a book on any topic: cookbooks, spiritual books, comic books, history books, science books, children’s books, text books and the list goes on and on. Everything you and I need for a better future and success has already been written. All we have to do is follow the words of William Faulkner, “Read, read, read.”

Fear itself

What are you scared of—really scared of? Public speaking? Violent weather? Creepy crawlies? Heights? More than likely you answered “yes” to at least one of those or any other number of common fears. This month, we delve into the world of fear to learn what makes Baton Rougeans’ skin crawl and why. We intentionally reached out to successful, influential, intelligent and strong people to illustrate that few people are immune to fear. We also delved into the root causes of some of those fears, and explored how some people learned how to confront and eventually overcome their worst fears.

Caring for our aging parents

Baby Boomers don’t experience much that every other generation hasn’t. It’s just that there are so many of us Baby Boomers that our stiffest challenges have become American phenomena because they affect so many people. While Baby Boomers are still busy balancing careers with raising children, a fast-growing number of us now have the added responsibility of caring for our aging parents. Known as the “sandwich generation,” these adults often have little extra funds and no extra time after they’ve met all their responsibilities. Regular 225 contributor Adrian E. Hirsch sat down with Ouida Edwards and her adult daughter to learn more about the challenges so many of us soon will face.

Behind the grill with Frenchie

One of the core missions of 225 is to help Baton Rougeans discover the community’s gems, whether they be hidden or in plain sight. We love to celebrate all the great and interesting dining establishments in Baton Rouge, from trendy new places to landmarks whose generations of loyal fans keep coming back for more. Louie’s Café near LSU has for generations drawn bleary-eyed students and hungry faculty looking for late-night snacks and hearty breakfasts. For years now, the man working the grill and the crowd is Marcus “Frenchie” Cox. Author, journalism professor and contributor Bob Mann reveals the man behind the familiar face and those hearty omelets in this issue.

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