Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Book Review- The Fighting 69th: From Ground Zero to Baghdad by Sean Michael Flynn
I just finished (well finished listening) to this book and pleased for having done so. Beyond the obvious patriotic elements of the book there were a few things that stood out as a first-hand look at the Iraq War.The first was the unit itself. The Fighting 69th had been a part of every major conflict since the Civil War until Vietnam. By the time of September 2001, the unit had transformed itself to a loose band of misfits who could barely muster for a parade, to a slightly less loose band of misfits who could barely muster for a parade. Security duty at West Point, and duty at Ground Zero moves the unit closer to its deployment, but not fully. From there they train in the states, and ship to Iraq. They serve with distinction the blood soaked town of Toji to Route Irish in Baghdad making a lasting mark on the Iraq War. By the end of their tour of duty, the 69th was ranked by Army Brass as one of the best in country. In a sense, the Fighting 69th is a feasible comparison to the Dirty Dozen of Hollywood. It provides a interesting perspective which is the book's hook. Flynn well documents the struggle of Colonel Jeff Slack to prepare the unit. This was particularly eye opening when you consider the lack of simple competency the unity processed before the war, to where it ended the war.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Book Review- The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter
Always a fan of reading the book before the movie,
I hurriedly read The Monuments Men recently. Honestly, it is one of the few
books I have ever finished in the allotted time from the library
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Book Review:The Battle of the Crater: A Novel by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
When I was in graduate school, I told a particular professor that I was reading one of Newt Gingrich's alternate historical fictions. What proceeded was a 15 minute lecture on Newt Gingrich's politics and another 10 on how historic fiction is bad for history. Some of you might tune out or turn off if you see the name Gingrich anywhere near history, or historic fiction but you are missing out. Sure, Gingrich's books (or any historic fiction for that matter) you are not going to find heavy hitting, new research, but you will find something that is engaging and imaginative. Forget not the fact that Gingrich has a Ph.D in European History. Only a few of us can say that, right??
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Book Review - Obama's War by Bob Woodward
When delving into anything written by Bob Woodward, one must give serious credence to his somewhat liberal bent. He is after all the slayer of the un-slayable Conservative Richard Nixon. He has been outspoken in his support of President Obama, and his policies. However, Woodward is still a top rate journalist and is, for the most part able to step off the slant and do his job well. This book is well researched and very well documented. Look not for any “Deep Throat” type sources, but Woodward does interview those that are pertinent to the story at all levels.
I read this book as the combat almost two full years after the last combat troops were pulled out of Iraq, and during the handover to NATO troops in Afghanistan, but the insight to those decisions could not be clearer. Throughout the book, Woodward documents the critical decisions making process taken by the administration, that at times was nearly paralyzed by turf wars and backbiting.
Early into the book Woodward’s bias is first betrayed. In the first few chapters great pain is taken to describe the pitfalls of the Bush administration’s handling of the war, and the residue of those maneuvers on current events. As the book proceeds, it is easy to see a “us verse them” mentality between military and civilian leaders was very present and well established by the time President Obama takes office. The facts, as presented by Woodward, show the measures taken first by Candidate Obama, President-Elect Obama and finally President Obama to utilize the military. Those measures were soundly rebuffed on all fronts with few exceptions.
Early into the book Woodward’s bias is first betrayed. In the first few chapters great pain is taken to describe the pitfalls of the Bush administration’s handling of the war, and the residue of those maneuvers on current events. As the book proceeds, it is easy to see a “us verse them” mentality between military and civilian leaders was very present and well established by the time President Obama takes office. The facts, as presented by Woodward, show the measures taken first by Candidate Obama, President-Elect Obama and finally President Obama to utilize the military. Those measures were soundly rebuffed on all fronts with few exceptions.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Book Review: Blue Dixie Awakening the South's Democratic Majority
Book Review:
Blue Dixie Awakening the South's Democratic Majority
This is a review I originally wrote in 2011. The argument made in the book was not entirely prophetic, but more current events has proven the points made within. I have decided to overlay the original post with a revisit to the subject. I will put the current writing in italics
http://us.macmillan.com/bluedixie
Major Points:
The South has traditionally been a Democratic area, but changes in the party have alienated Southerners The South is not as conservative as many would think Traditional Liberals in the South want to vote for the Democratic candidate but few candidates meet their needs The Democratic Party needs to jettison the notions of being "Republican Lights" Southern Neo-Liberals like Bill Clinton are actually not liberal enough for Southern tastes Obama as a candidate (written before the election) is continuing this patternSaturday, December 28, 2013
Book Review - The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Book Review:
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Full Disclosure: The last time I reviewed a book I was in 7th grade English class, and it went very badly. I reviewed "The Vampire Lestat," a book I barely made it through. I skipped and skimmed much of it. Instead of reading a large section of the book, I watched the movie "Interview with a Vampire." I hope this goes much better. It should; I at least read the book this time.
Jon Ronson has a wonderful personality from a reader's perspective. For Jon Ronson, it must be awful being Jon Ronson. He is a very successful writer that has received critical acclaim, but he is still a self-doubting, anxiety ridden author that worries too much.
Book Review - Traitor To His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt By H.W. Brands
Book Reviewed:
Traitor To His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt By H.W. Brands
Mr. Lincoln’s Thoughts:
This book was an excellent biography on FDR and coverage of his presidency. All of the New Deal is covered in detail. Roosevelt’s struggle to pass his progressive agenda into law is well documented. My only problem with this book is what the title leaves in the way of perception. My perception, according to the title, was that the book would cover the reactions to the New Deal policies Roosevelt rolled out during his time in Washington. Rather than a blow by blow account of support and opposition, the reader is left with biography of the key players in the New Deal, a detailed account of Roosevelt’s daily life, and a rather extensive family history.
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