“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. Lewis
Each year, I set goals. At least two, and possibly three, are components of an annual personal growth plan. One of these components is books, which may include print and audiobooks, as well as listening to podcasts.
I’ve been rather focused on political stuff this year, endeavoring to avoid becoming overly fascinated with the quirky surprises that emerge almost daily. Sometimes suggested books come as a result of listening to podcasts.
I just finished reading one such book by an author I had not previously heard of: Salena Zitto. I even preordered the book, something I rarely do from an author I am unfamiliar with. However, the interview piqued my interest, even though political writers are generally outside my wheelhouse.
The book, BUTLER, The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America’s Heartland, did not disappoint. Whatever your view of the politics around Mr. Trump, the book provides:
- An upclose and personal view of the events of the day – Salena was there, right there.
- Historic, geographical, and cultural context – Salena has deep roots in this region
- Insights into her chosen profession as a journalist, warts and all.
Personal Growth Plan Insights
- I enjoyed getting a peek into the backstage of that day. I suppose we are all a bit voyeuristic when it comes to public figures, but in the case of Mr. Trump and his policy of transparency, I don’t feel I am taking advantage. President Trump endorsed the book.
- Selena’s value of people who have deep roots in a location resonated with me. Although, as a native Kansan, I had to adjust my view of Pennsylvania. (I always viewed the entire state as one of those “back east” places, and not in a favorable way.) However, how she talked about the region was relatable to me as a fourth-generation Kansan, with similar deep geographical roots.
- The centering on family, faith, and community also resonated with me. These values have shaped my worldview, and it felt good to have them validated in such an articulate way.
A Significant Loss Articulated
One surprising revelation was her insights on the long-term impact of the loss of local/regional newspapers. My local newspaper, The Plainville Times, was a big deal in my hometown. As part of my class working on the high school newspaper, we worked with the Times putting it together each week. This gave me real hands-on time setting type, printing copy, and doing off-set layouts just like the big guys.
One of my high school classmates’ father ran the local newspaper, and I worked one summer as an intern for the paper, earning enough money for my first year of college books. My younger sister worked on a couple of county newspapers in Jewell and Beloit, Kansas.
However, I never thought about the impact that losing the journalism of these local papers would have on our national journalistic integrity. Selena’s view on this is quite sobering and rang true. She could well have the answer to “what has happened to journalism in this country?” This alone is worth the read.
The Gift Of Rescuing Lost Stories
In the end, it was not simply hearing the details of that day in Butler, although that was good. Nor was it reading a great apologetic for the current populist movement sweeping the country. It was the way she:
- wove the history of the region, including the shooting of General George Washington a few miles down the road, 250-plus years ago.
- Her personal family story
- captured the nuances of the people involved that day, the tragedies, the emotion, against the lighter moments.
without any sense of forced contrivance.
What About Your Story?
This book is why, for ten plus years, I have included reading in my personal growth plan. This is an example of how it stimulates my own stories. In this case, my work on my local newspaper had long escaped me.
But more than just remembering a season in my life, I now remember it with more appreciation for the important place local journalism has. As I write this BLOG, I suspect the experience I had in high school laid some of the foundation for the bits of writing I do today.
What about your story? Please comment or email: nhcullen@cfaith.com