November 27, 2018

excellent tale of cold war intrigue

The Spy Who Came in from the ColdThe Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW! This is an excellent tale of cold war intrigue, action packed and full of twists and turns in plot. At the same time, it explores some of the deep philosophical and human paradoxes of contrasting ideologies clashing and simultaneously being much the same. This is a really great story, and i'm anxious to read more from this author.

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November 25, 2018

once again regressing

Don't Know Much about History: Everything You Need to Know about American History But Never LearnedDon't Know Much about History: Everything You Need to Know about American History But Never Learned by Kenneth C. Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Highly recommended! This book is like a Cliff Notes on American history, informed by contemporary scholarship, and written in a creative way that showcases how interesting and relevant our history is to us today. It was refreshing to read the well documented tales of our past in the context of the tales we are writing even now in our severely dysfunctional government, top to bottom. While there is hope in knowing we have been bad (and worse) on a regular basis over the history of our nation, it is also depressing that we are once again regressing into the worst we have been. Sad but true. Wake up Americans!

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November 11, 2018

candid and informative memoir

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in CrisisHillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not only is "Hillbilly Elegy" by @JDVance1 an inspiring, thought provoking, and challenging memoir, but it offers valuable data and insight into the culture around which i grew up in my immediate and extended family, and neighbors and schoolmates in the Missouri Ozarks. It helps me understand some of my family culture and dynamics, as well as inform my life history as i look back on it. Some very solid solutions are offered, though how to apply them may be problematic given that message of this book probably will not reach the majority of the culture described. In addition, i'm left wanting more answers as to what is the root cause of the Hillbilly culture described. I have seen it first hand and experienced it, but am left wondering how it came to be in the beginning. I'll be searching for additional reading to try to answer my questions. Thank you Mr. Vance for this candid and informative memoir.

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