After the Fall

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Anyway, I gave up on listening to it and read the rest of the 80% on my kindle over winter break. I found a lot of the section regarding Hungary interesting, but I really feel like this was an autobiography disguised as a policy book. A lot of the information came through his perspective- this meant a lot of insight into his life and his understanding of events, but not necessarily the policy that I was interested in when I went to read the book. I see how someone could read this and appreciate it more for those reasons, but I found it to be nothing exemplary in terms of the wide range of "Hey, look at me, I used to work at the White House and I'm besties with President xyz". Activity: Students could role-play or write alternative actions for Humpty Dumpty and discuss the potential outcomes. This helps them understand how different actions (causes) can lead to different outcomes (effects). Activity: Have students fill out worksheets with inference questions while reading. This activity promotes critical thinking by encouraging students to read between the lines.

At the core of this complex, ambitious book is a simple truth: we are living at a historical inflection point. The currents of history are sweeping us all in the wrong direction – toward autocracy, toward technological dystopia, toward collapse – as a direct consequence of the past three decades of American hegemony, but it's not yet too late to reverse course. To do so, Americans invested in the victory of democracy over autocracy must forge solidarity with (and learn from) others struggling against authoritarianism, corruption, and injustice around the world. Symbolism: The story uses symbolism, such as the bird and the paper plane, which allows students to make inferences about the story's underlying themes. If someone asked me to do an elevator pitch for this book in one sentence I guess I’d be forced to say something about how it encourages readers to get up again after they fail or get hurt or have some sort of challenge in their life that they need to overcome. That sort of makes the book sound overly simplified, though. I think what Santat’s managed here is something very deft and fleet of foot. This could be an inspirational picture book that people hand to graduates or adults that have suffered some kind of a trauma, no question. But its primary purpose is to speak to children, even if those kids can’t entirely understand what it is that it’s trying to say. There’s no getting around its message. The question you have to ask yourself then is, would you want to? From listening to him in interviews and panel discussions, Rhodes seems not only pleasant and non-threatening but he also seems to share my skepticism. He's progressive in the sense that many would find more palatable than, say, the moderators for The Young Turks (who can be viewed, not at all legitimately, as "strident"). The author started off so idealistic, and like most Americans it is so much easier to have a narrative laid out for us that says we are always the good guys and other countries are the bad guys. This is highly unlikely. We have the ability to change and adjust to a sifting America. We need to identify our core values and things that make us American. People all over the world are searching for something beyond politics, but for a sense of contentment and connection that is slipping away. It is ultimately a very hopeful book. We are up to the task.This observation by the former speechwriter served to echo the sentiment that DC is "Hollywood for ugly people." Like insecure actors who are never sure of where their next (perhaps significant) role may be coming from, Washington politicians (in particular) have to use diplomacy with each other in a bullshit way that masks their true feelings. ~even though it doesn't, really. The author, following the presidential election of 2016, left the country to tour the world looking for an explanation. He had worked in the Obama White House as a speech writer and in other capacities. He was now watching the dismantling of many of the programs he had helped build. The After the Fall book doesn't explicitly state all the details. For example, Humpty Dumpty's transformation into a bird symbolizes his overcoming of fear. After the Fall activities include: After the Fall is a 6 Star gem for me! It had the perfect blend of meaning and heart and unique-ness. I loved it! As much as he is concerned about the rise of the right in America, he is also expressing his disappointment at its fall from pre-eminence and the rise of China. It has to be said that he makes some right noises in pointing out America's past misdemeanors, including interventions in multiple countries, as well as the structural inequality of the capitalist system, but these seem to be mentioned just for the sake of balance, because balance is not something one can find in this, especially when he talks about Communism, for which he always sets aside the choicest of adjectives.

Embracing Failure: Humpty Dumpty's fall and subsequent recovery illustrate that failure isn't the end but a step towards success, reinforcing the concept of a growth mindset. The illustrations, worthy of another Caldecott🥇, are essential to — convey part of — the story (and allude to Humpty being a🗽New Yorker: Kings County Hospital (get it? 👑), the Daily News, and more). Visual Depiction of Cause and Effect: The book's illustrations powerfully depict the causes and effects, aiding students in visualizing these relationships. Emotional Journey: Humpty Dumpty's emotional journey is subtly depicted through the story and illustrations, requiring students to infer his feelings. Asked about Biden in a recent interview promoting this book, Rhodes stated that he believes Biden needs to exhibit a fierce stand on protecting our democracy. His book tells us why. Since Biden took office, the [R]s have apparently hardly slept. They're determined to make Biden a one-term (if not a "2-year") President.Meanwhile, in Texas, the effects of the eruption are lessened - but are severe nonetheless, as Brenda Slayton and her other two children flee to her father's nearby ranch, holding out hope for her husband and eldest daughter's eventual return while turning her immediate attention to survival and preparing for what the future holds. Activity: Students could create a diagram mapping out After the Fall’s main causes and effects. This activity enhances understanding of cause and effect relationships and promotes critical thinking.