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David’s Year In Books

David’s 2025 Year in Books

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2026 Reading Challenge

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David Spanagel has read 4 of 26 books.

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David I. Spanagel

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Born

Cleveland, The United States

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August 2013

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David Spanagel is an Associate Professor of History in the Department of Humanities and Arts at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass. His college teaching career began at the tender age of 23, when he was hired full-time to teach mathematics and computer science at St. John Fisher College, in Rochester, NY. Ph.D. work in the History of Science at Harvard University shifted his attention from mathematics to the history of the earth sciences, but he remains interested in all areas of science, technology, politics, and society.

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

David I. Spanagel If I need to get my juices flowing on any particular day (and the place I had most recently left off composing is not already pressing me to return th…moreIf I need to get my juices flowing on any particular day (and the place I had most recently left off composing is not already pressing me to return there), I may start a writing session by reviewing material that was written and set aside some days before to rest and review later. If a distinct feeling of not knowing where to begin (especially on a newer project), my favorite solution is to being the day by writing a personal message (or even writing an old-fashioned letter) to a friend or relative who has not heard from me in some time, and somewhere during the course of that message I will attempt to broach the subject of my current writing project (at an appropriate level of generality for the designated recipient of the message). This move always helps to overcome any fluency obstacles for writing as an activity, per se, and often also reminds me of what is the principal value or main purpose/idea of the thing I am struggling to start writing. (less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

David I. Spanagel In my opinion, the very best thing about being a writer is that your ideas have the opportunity to reach and affect more people than you can through p…moreIn my opinion, the very best thing about being a writer is that your ideas have the opportunity to reach and affect more people than you can through personal contact. Ironically, however, the very best feeling I ever get as a writer is to connect (or reconnect) with someone personally, and to discover through conversation that they have read my work, and found it interesting or at least memorable for some reason. Ultimately, the benefits of any extended reach of writing (as a preservation or dissemination technology for ideas) must ordinarily be taken on faith, since the act of confirming its value through direct interaction requires the same opportunity as getting to share an idea through conversation would in the first place. (less)

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David I. Spanagel’s books

Average rating: 4.13 · 8 ratings · 0 reviews · 2 distinct works

	DeWitt Clinton and Amos Eaton: Geology and Power in Early New York 4.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	[DeWitt Clinton and Amos Eaton: Geology and Power in Early New York] [By: Spanagel, David I.] [April, 2014] by David I. Spanagel (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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David is Currently Reading

David Spanagel is currently reading

Mathematics Elsewhere: An Exploration of Ideas Across Cultures

by Marcia Ascher

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Feb 22, 2026 11:12AM

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Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks

by Mark David Spence

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Feb 08, 2026 11:25AM

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H is for Hawk

by Helen Macdonald

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Jan 09, 2026 03:58PM

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David Spanagel is on page 100 of 200 of Dispossessing the Wilderness Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks by Mark David Spence progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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David Spanagel is 77% done with Bamboula! Bamboula!: The Life and Times of Louis Moreau Gottschalk by S. Frederick Starr progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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David Spanagel is currently reading Mathematics Elsewhere: An Exploration of Ideas Across Cultures by Marcia Ascher	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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David Spanagel rated a book liked it The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics by George Gheverghese Joseph	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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David Spanagel rated a book liked it 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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David Spanagel is currently reading Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks by Mark David Spence	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 08, 2026 11:25AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dispossessing the Wilderness by Mark David Spence. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dispossessing the Wilderness by Mark David Spence <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Spanagel is currently reading The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics by George Gheverghese Joseph	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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David Spanagel rated a book really liked it The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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David Spanagel is currently reading Mountain Time by Ivan Doig	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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