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Scott’s Year In Books

Scott’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Scott’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Scott’s Bookshelves

to-read (50)
currently-reading (1)
read (702)
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Jess

652 books | 70 friends

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5,068 books | 208 friends

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1,182 books | 103 friends

Michelle

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Scott Langston

Goodreads Author

Born

in Solihull, The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.scottlangston.org

Twitter

scottasaigon

Member Since

March 2016

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I am a writer. There, I said it. For the longest time, I thought one had to commit fulltime to writing to earn the right to call oneself a writer.

I used to have a dilemma. Was I a writer who taught or a teacher who wrote? I used to feel that I had to declare myself and ‘just write’ to be a real author. I would constantly berate myself for not having the courage to stop working and commit myself. I have come to learn that a writer isn’t someone who chooses to write – it’s someone who has to write. Working or not, eventually my mind comes back to my writing. And I’m learning to be more gentle with myself.

I took a year out of ‘proper’ teaching whilst living in Greece; the result was ‘The Alpha to Omega’ and a realisation that the world didn’t I am a writer. There, I said it. For the longest time, I thought one had to commit fulltime to writing to earn the right to call oneself a writer.

I used to have a dilemma. Was I a writer who taught or a teacher who wrote? I used to feel that I had to declare myself and ‘just write’ to be a real author. I would constantly berate myself for not having the courage to stop working and commit myself. I have come to learn that a writer isn’t someone who chooses to write – it’s someone who has to write. Working or not, eventually my mind comes back to my writing. And I’m learning to be more gentle with myself.

I took a year out of ‘proper’ teaching whilst living in Greece; the result was ‘The Alpha to Omega’ and a realisation that the world didn’t stop revolving if I wasn’t in full time work. I kept up a steady stream of English lessons, did a tremendous amount of Oral Examining for the British Council, and thoroughly enjoyed myself into the bargain. I was lured back into the classroom, however, and found myself teaching ICT at a Greek International College – an ill-fated choice, as it turned out, cut short by a nasty motorbike accident that led to my leaving Greece.

The wonder lust remained, however. I met my wife in Brussels and we quickly headed once again for warmer climes. I took up the role of Headteacher in an International School in Saigon, Vietnam. Long story short, I discovered that I need time and relaxation to find inspiration, and there’s little of either commodity in educational management…

I spent some more time doing what I’d only once previously allowed myself to do. Writing. Full time. Which meant, in reality, lingering coffees in various Saigon cafes, days spent with neither computer nor pen, mulling quietly to myself and, occasionally, a flurry of activity as an idea took form. My ‘Vietnam’ novel of that time, ‘The Year of the Monkey’, stalled and still haunts me mildly from time to time… I know. I’m working on it.

Then I found my way back into teaching, discovering a whole new world in the guise of the IBO, the PYP and a plethora of other acronyms. Suffice to say, the writing suffered.

Fast forward to 2016 and life in Nanjing, China. My teaching role has morphed into a High School Counselling role. Plans involve another career break, this time travelling in Canada and the US with family in tow. Literary plans include jumpstarting ‘The Year of the Monkey’ (it being, well, the Year of the Monkey), a non-fiction work on vegetarianism and allowing myself to write for writing’s sake, non-judgmentally and for the joy of it.

Watch this space. ...more

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Scott Langston’s books

Average rating: 4.0 · 4 ratings · 1 review · 2 distinct works

	Is 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2006	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
	The Alpha to Omega it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2007 — 2 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

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Scott Langston's Blog

Mindfulness for anxiety

Mindfulness can be a powerful way to manage high anxiety because it helps shift your attention away from the racing thoughts and what-ifs that tend to dominate when you’re anxious. Anxiety often pulls us into the future—worrying about things that haven’t happened yet. Mindfulness gently brings you back to the present moment, helping you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed.

One of the biggest be

Scott is Currently Reading

Scott Langston is currently reading

La Vérité (Les Annales du Disque-Monde, #25)

by Terry Pratchett

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Sep 27, 2025 08:50AM

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Scott Langston is currently reading La Vérité (Les Annales du Disque-Monde, #25) by Terry Pratchett	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
Sep 27, 2025 08:50AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of La Vérité by Terry Pratchett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — La Vérité by Terry Pratchett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Scott Langston rated a book really liked it The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer	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
Sep 27, 2025 08:48AM · like
Scott Langston rated a book really liked it Accros du roc (Les annales du Disque-Monde, #16) by Terry Pratchett	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
Sep 25, 2025 08:06AM · like
Scott Langston rated a book it was amazing The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak (Goodreads Author)	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
Sep 10, 2025 03:37AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Scott Langston rated a book it was ok The Fox Was Ever the Hunter: A Novel by Herta Müller	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
Sep 06, 2025 11:25AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Fox Was Ever the Hunter by Herta Müller. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Fox Was Ever the Hunter by Herta Müller <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Scott Langston finished reading The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) by Terry Pratchett	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
Sep 06, 2025 11:25AM · like
Scott Langston finished reading The Fox Was Ever the Hunter: A Novel by Herta Müller	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
Sep 06, 2025 11:24AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Fox Was Ever the Hunter by Herta Müller. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Fox Was Ever the Hunter by Herta Müller <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Scott Langston started reading The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) by Terry Pratchett	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
Sep 06, 2025 05:45AM · like
Scott Langston finished reading Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) by Terry Pratchett	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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Scott Langston started reading Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) by Terry Pratchett	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
Sep 03, 2025 09:25AM · like