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Category Archives: Reviews
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Here’s to the book that derailed my 2023 resolution to read over 10 books in the year, it ended up being six. This heavily researched tome about Lincoln and a few of his cabinet members is pretty amazing. Too bad … Continue reading
Moonraker by Ian Fleming
Twenty-five years ago, I read my first James Bond novel but it was not written by Ian Fleming, it was Raymond Benson, the former Prez of the US fan club. He did a great job too. His Zero Minus Ten … Continue reading
They Want to Kill Americans by Malcolm Nance
Woo hoo! Book number four and I finished it in March, I think. I just got around to getting the review on to the site’s docket. My public library had this too, saved some money. After reading Belew’s Bring the … Continue reading
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Finally got around to reading a novel that inspired the authors I enjoy! Although James Ellroy is rather critical of Chandler (I’ve read in interviews) and I’m confident Walter Moseley would have some choice words for the racism of a … Continue reading
Generation of Sociopaths by Bruce Gibney
The first in what I hope will be a trilogy of books I will be finishing about the end of the Baby Boomers/Boomers overstaying their welcome in about every aspect of American life. Entertainment, I can live with. Music? Depends. … Continue reading
Bring the War Home by Kathleen Belew
One major New Year’s Resolution I made for 2023 was to read 10 books this year and here’s number one! Home is a frighteningly well-documented account and update to what I was reading 30 years ago, United They Hate; all about the History … Continue reading
The Exploding Detective by John Swartzwelder
Holy Crap! I’ve finished two books this year! It’s more amazing how I got Detective read entirely within the same year as Guns, Germs & Steel took over a year. I have a quick, serious question for the experts on human learning and … Continue reading
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
I finally finished a book! We all (including myself) thought I’d get a bunch read during Covid. No luck. I was really guilty of starting a few, then getting bogged down, forgetting to continue and then losing all the momentum … Continue reading
Posted in Anthropology, Biology, Books, D & D, Ecology, History, Reviews, Science & Technology
Tagged 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, China, Colonization, Enlightenment, Europe, First Nations, Renaissance
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Fear by Bob Woodward
The only other book I’ve ever read by Bob Woodward was Veil way back in the early Nineties (or was it the late Eighties?) I know I was still attending Marquette when I checked it out from the library. Even so, I … Continue reading
Star Wars: Ahsoka by E. K. Johnston
When Ahsoka Tano made her debut in Clone Wars (both the movie and series) I will readily admit that I found the character precious and annoying. Star Wars was once again drowning the franchise in saccharine-covered dialog with a kid-friendly padawan. Maybe the … Continue reading
The Platinum Age of Television by David Bianculli
If you’re a fan of Fresh Air, then you are probably familiar with the author since he’s the TV Critic and sometimes guest host. I usually tune out the last 5-10 minutes of the show anyway because I tend not to … Continue reading
John Adams: A Life by John Ferling
Before reading this biography, I was like most Americans when it came to their knowledge of John Adams: Second president. First one-termer. First vice president. Pretty short guy, even for the era. His presidency was a bit of a mess … Continue reading
Posted in Books, History, Reviews
Tagged 18th Century, American Presidents, American Revolution
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Better Off Without ’em by Chuck Thompson
Better Off is a long, multi-page, darkly humorous argument on how the American South (aka, the Deep South) should be allowed to secede because the region is an albatross around America’s neck. Being a Yankee from Lincoln’s home town, I … Continue reading
Germany’s Defeat in the First World War by Mark D. Karau
Let me kick off with a couple quick disclosures regarding this review. Over 30 years ago, I attended Marquette with Mark, the author. I was a year older and we were on different degree tracks but we became friends through … Continue reading
The Comedians by Kliph Nesteroff
An awesome “Comedy History 101” book that covers all the bases on how stand-up became not just an art form but a dominant form of entertainment in the Twentieth Century. Nesteroff takes a chronological approach, explaining the evolutionary changes: Vaudeville (and Burlesque): these … Continue reading