Home-schooled 11-year-old Gabrielle Henderson must be holding a world record of sorts by finishing 600 books in one year. Very impressive. And I thought I did pretty well coping with my law books after a crash speed reading course the summer before I entered the College of Law.
I wonder though how much time the girl has for playing, hanging out with friends… you know, all the normal things than 11-year-olds do.
I’m a staunch believer in the importance of learning–not just formal education but learning beyond what education offers–and I think that balance in life is important. Books are great. So much can be gleaned from them. But there’s no better teacher than life itself. I encourage my kids to read but I encourage them to live life even more.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
rhodora 02.02.06 at 8:45 pm
I guess what really matters is the kind of books one reads, not the number. A good book is a good read. One should be very selective in picking the right books to read, and not waste time on crappy reading materials.
Fleeb 02.02.06 at 9:48 pm
Exactly. I have heard there are some people who never even have any degree or entered college and they are now raking up to $10k monthly salary.
Dr Emer 02.03.06 at 6:10 am
600 books in one year! Now, that is voracious reading. But I agree with you, experience is the best teacher.
Sassy Lawyer 02.03.06 at 11:10 am
i agree, rhodora. in fact, that’s true with most everything else–magazines, newspapers, TV shows, movies.
fleeb, bill gates is a college drop out, right?
dr emer, hello! how is soul-mate?
Dr Emer 02.04.06 at 3:03 am
Soulmate still loves chicken. Yes, birdflu or no birdflu. She says hello to you, too. Hope we can get to have dinner one of these days.
jop 02.04.06 at 10:13 am
holy carabao! 600 books?! that’s my kind of kid! i have my reservations about quantity over quality. a prof of mine once said that one should be a voracious readerand one should read anything anf everything. i do not agree with him. i think life is too short to waste on junk reading materials. as for gabrielle henderson, let’s just hope that she doesn’t get tired of reading.
Sassy Lawyer 02.04.06 at 12:58 pm
Dr Emer, we’re still into chicken too, bird flu notwithstanding. but we only buy branded chicken these days just to be safe. re dinner, let’s go to vieux chalet!
jop, “i think life is too short to waste on junk reading materials”.
I AGREE. 1000%.
Dr Emer 02.07.06 at 4:03 am
Yes! We’d love to eat there. I will tell her. I’ll text you pag ok na ang schedule.
Sassy Lawyer 02.07.06 at 11:45 am
Great! You’ll love it there. And, more importantly, soulmate will!
SKIPSQUAT7 03.08.06 at 8:20 am
I AM THE MOTHER OF GABRIELLE AND I WANT TO SAY SHE DIDN’T MISS OUT ON ANYTHING! SHE WENT CAMPING, CANOEING, SWIMING, WENT OT THE PARK REGULARLY, SHOPPING, MOVIES AND STILL MANAGED TO KEEP UP WITH HER STUDIES AND HER GOAL. THIS READING WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE CHOSE TO DO, IT WASN’T FORCED UPON HER.THIS YEAR SHE WANTS TO READ FOR FUN INSTEAD OF SETTING A GOAL.
Sassy Lawyer 03.24.06 at 8:59 pm
That’s good to know.