Thoughts and musings on reading, the fire service, and life in general.

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Brandon Douglas

Brandon Douglas

Battalion chief, family man, artist, writer, insatiable reader. Views and opinions are mine and mine alone.

January 2022 in Reading

January 2022 in Reading

Here we are, crashing through 2022. It’s been an eventful year so far, unpredictable to say the least. The weather has been cold, mostly gray, and my family and I finally experienced the seemingly unavoidable COVID diagnosis. Thankfully, the symptoms were minor and rather than feel downtrodden or putout,

Shift Gears and Changing Roles

Shift Gears and Changing Roles

It’s not easy to switch gears from leading a couple of dozen firefighters to cooking scrambled eggs and playing Barbies with a seven-year-old. Whether you spend your working hours managing first responders or a local restaurant, work stresses pile up and can swiftly invade time spent with family, de

From Selfish to Selfless: How Yelling at My Toddler Made Me a Better Father

From Selfish to Selfless: How Yelling at My Toddler Made Me a Better Father

The day I yelled at my toddler for waking up too early from her nap was one of the most shameful moments of my life. It also marked the beginning my shift onto a new, better path.

Cross-Pollination and Cactus Boots

Cross-Pollination and Cactus Boots

I've read over 230 books over the past seven years, but only a couple of them have changed my definition of what a book can be. The first was David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest and now America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots.

September Reading: Broke, USA

September Reading: Broke, USA

Ah, mid-September. Fall is (theoretically) getting close, my daughter just turned seven and my birthday is right around the corner. I've been reading a fair bit this month amidst a fairly heavy school load and my normal home/work duties and responsibilities. The first book I started (and only that

Systematic Reading: a quick guide to getting past intimidation

Systematic Reading: a quick guide to getting past intimidation

Reading books is arguably one of the most worthwhile things [https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/585137/6-benefits-reading-every-day] you can do with your time. But despite knowing this, many simply don't do it. [https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/29/24-percent-of-american-adults-havent-read-a-book-in-the-past-year--heres-why-.html] There are a slew of reasons why this may

How (and why) to Read a Book

How (and why) to Read a Book

Est. Reading Time: 4 minutes It seems fitting that my first post on my newest iteration of a blog be a rundown on a book about reading. I am an avid reader and have been for some time, but just because I read a lot doesn't mean I can't read