October 25, 2016, Tuesday afternoon -- Reading Edward Deming Andrews

On Market Street

He is reading The People Called Shakers, by Edward Deming Andrews. He bought it on South Van Ness for 75 cents after all of his belongings were stolen the night before.

His favorite book is The Sands of Time, by Sidney Sheldon. It's an adventure romance about nuns who flee a Spanish convent when it is raided by the Spanish army. He started reading it when he was in San Quentin, and didn't finish. He said the superstition is, if you don't finish a book you start in prison, you'll be back. He did finish it later, and not in prison, impelled to keep reading not by superstition, but because it was a good book.

October 17, 2016, Monday evening -- Reading Kaplan

At a donut shop

He is reading Kaplan SSAT & ISEE: For Private and Independent School Admission, while waiting for his tutee. His favorite author is Shel Silverstein, whom he first read in grade school.

October 15, 2016, Saturday morning -- Reading Catherine Marshall and Maricela Oliva

In the Mission District

This is a photo from the publisher's website. 

He is reading Leadership for Social Justice: Making Revolutions in Education, by Catherine Marshall and Maricela Oliva.

Usually I remember to take a photo of the cover of the book. This time I forgot. I think it was the ear buds. I always feel a conscious that I'm interrupting someone who is wearing earbuds, and want to make the conversation as short as possible.  I did ask him if he had a favorite book or a favorite author, but he hesitated before answering, and then explained that he didn't want to give an answer without taking time to think about it. Most people are initially stumped when I ask them this question, and some give an answer, but it's always a tense moment. It's a big question they aren't expecting. I wonder, how many of the people who are able to give me an answer think of a different answer after we finish talking.

October 1, 2016, Sunday afternoon -- Reading Tina Fey

In the Mission District on a sunny morning

He is reading Bossy Pants, by Tina Fey. He started reading it while keeping company the person who is having the sidewalk sale. Something good he's read recently is Chrissie Hynde's autobiography, Reckless: My Life as a Pretender. The woman who was having the sale said something good she's read is Eat Like You Care: An Examination of the Morality of Eating Animals, by Gary L. Francione.

September 21, 2016, Wednesday morning -- Reading Toni Morrison

In the Financial District

She is reading Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison, for an English class.