Accomplishing Big Things in Small Pieces
William Wissemann - Hastings on Hudson, New York
As heard on NPR’s Weekend Edition, September 14, 2008
1. The author, William Wissemann, believes that you can better accomplish big things in small pieces.
2.He wrote about having dyslexia and about how he had to leave public school in the fourth grade , because he was having trouble processing things in class. Therefore, he decided to slow things down things and he practiced learning how to use a Rubik's Cube little by little in four weeks. In the end, he mastered the Rubik's Cube and can do anywhere from a 3x3 to 5x5 Rubik's cube in little time.
3. My personal reaction to this essay is that it made sense and that it is inspiring because he overcame a problem he faced by slowing things down and not only learned how to master the Rubik's Cube but used this new skill to master other things. I expected based on the title for this to be about taking your time to learn something.
The True Value of Life
Sudie Bond Noland - Portland, Oregon
As heard on The Bob Edwards Show, December 9, 2011
1. The author, Sudie Noland, believes in the power of forgiveness and compassion.
2. She was riding with her friend’s family in their car when they were by a drunk driver named, Edy Jo, going sixty-five miles per hour. All of them survived but Sudie left the accident with a new life full of chronic back and neck pain, bad headaches, and a part of her kidney missing. Edy was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison and sent her sorrowful letters of regret and she forgave him.
3.This essay made sense and made me feel respect for Sudie and also made influenced me and inspired me to forgive others, based upon the fact she was able to forgive someone who hurt her psychically and emotionally. Based upon the title I expected a story about forgiveness which was the theme and a life threatening situation to be in the story, which was.
