I’m not quite ready to dive into holiday mania yet. I’ve made cookies. I’ve decorated the tree. It’s only December 2. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves at this point. So here is the not so festive round-up of fun reading I tripped across this past week.

Politics: Bringing Pell Grants to My Eyes, by Sarah Vowell [NYT]. Do you need to know more than that? It also helps if you heart Democrats a bit.

Education: Going Off to College for Less (Passport Required) [NYT]. Yes. I am among those who considered attending St. Andrews because Prince William went there. Do not judge.

Travel: Writing on the Walls of the Nation’s Library [NPR]. I volunteer here once a month and it’s every bit as amazing as it sounds.

Book Review: Intelligence in Disguise [Powells]. This book has been calling my name ever since Kramers put it out on the display table. This review moved it to the top of my Christmas vacation reading list.