I'm currently reading "Man in Profile" by Thomas Kunkel about the life and career of legendary journalist Joseph Mitchell. If you haven't read any of Mitchell's work, I highly recommend checking it out.
-McSorley's Wonderful Saloon, My Ears are Bent and Up in this old hotel are 3 collections of his work
Just finished "Fluke" by Brian Klass.
| "Want to know what chaos theory can teach us about human events? In the perspective-altering tradition of Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s The Black Swan comes a provocative challenge to how we think our world works—and why small, chance events can divert our lives and change everything, by social scientist and Atlantic writer Brian Klaas." |
and Erasure by Percival Everett (Best picture nominee "American Fiction" is based on this book)
Also, so many flight crew were killed and the turnover in the bombing groups was so rapid that I wonder what characters they will focus on in the last 5 episodes besides Rosie.
Of course, I have had such admiration for courage of the paratroopers of Easy Company but the wars in the Pacific and in the air in Europe seem to have been so much more horrific - not that the paratroopers had it easy at all. Also Band of Brothers really didn't focus on some of the hardest fighting such as that in the Bocage in Normandy or in the Huertgen Forest.
The battle of Midway is forever transformed by the devasting appearance of a twenty first century US led navel task force and history is forever changed.
Some of this technology and historic information fall into the hands of the Axis powers and Germany and Japan learn of the mistakes they made during World War II.
It's an absolutely fantastic story with so many historic characters and interactions. So far it's one of the best novels I've read in some time.
Speaking of Robert, finish the LBJ books! Haha.
With me, I've always been interested in WWII, as my father served in the Navy, and I served in the Navy during Viet Nam. Now I'm a tour guide at an aviation museum, and I'm around Korean and Viet Nam vets. The co-founder of our museum was at Guadalcanal, and Pelilu, so there's another reason to study. He's gone now, but his legacy lives on. I also shoot for the Collections and Archives department, and have my hands on a lot of artifacts from WWII. It's a pretty neat place to work.
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life (The Scott Adams Success Series)
it's really good, just started, it's a short book and I'm halfway through it.
On deck is “Helmet for My Pillow” by Robert Leckie.
Doctor sleep I'd recommend along with the my Mercedes trilogy, the outsider and Holly.
Starting the institute tonight for a second helping...digging S. Kings latest decade mostly
I'm very interested in the American Revolutionary War. I've visited just about all of the National and State Parks commemorating the Major Battles. Been to Camden, Cowpens, Guildford Courthouse, Kings Mountain, Yorktown, Brandywine, Saratoga and Monmouth Courthouse battlegrounds.
I also have been playing a series of board war-games that cover those battles along with a bunch covering the Second World War. Recently, I bought a couple of games covering the battles of the Ancients, such as Carthage vs. Rome, etc.
I don't know if this plays into being a football fan or not. Never thought about it.
He ended up interviewing many who've experienced NDEs and wrote his first book "Imagine Heaven", which went more in detail into individual NDEs, including some Hellish experiences.
This follow up book references some of the same NDEs, but goes more in depth into the characteristics of God, as described by a very diverse group of people including some who had little or no previous familiarity with the Bible and yet came out of the experience as believers.
I find it very interesting.
Not sure it has to do with football. My father is a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather was the youngest of 6 boys. the older 5 were all in WWII. The oldest in WWI and WWII (not many people did that).
But Revolutionary War is my favorite. I have said this before, but I used to think Miracle on Ice was the greatest upset in history. ever. But in reading a lot of Revolutionary War books (my favorites are 1776 and Angel in the Whirlwind) it's by far the biggest upset I am aware of (even more than Thermopylae) so many things could have slightly been altered or adjusted like the weather or poor decisions, etc.) and we're still a British colony.
Not sure it has to do with football. My father is a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather was the youngest of 6 boys. the older 5 were all in WWII. The oldest in WWI and WWII (not many people did that).
But Revolutionary War is my favorite. I have said this before, but I used to think Miracle on Ice was the greatest upset in history. ever. But in reading a lot of Revolutionary War books (my favorites are 1776 and Angel in the Whirlwind) it's by far the biggest upset I am aware of (even more than Thermopylae) so many things could have slightly been altered or adjusted like the weather or poor decisions, etc.) and we're still a British colony.
My take on the ARW is the same as Washington's. The more important thing was for the Americans to do, and I do not mean to minimize their efforts and suffering, was to keep an army in field. As long as there was some rebel fighting force in being, the British had to spend coin on armies in the colonies without hope of neutralizing the patriotic support in the countryside.
The British blew their best, and probably only, chance to win the war when Howe let the Rebels get across the Hudson after Long Island, Kips Bay and White Plains.
That being said, and to your point, that the Americans were able to take on the world's preeminent fighting force was nothing short of miraculous. Additionally, it should be mentioned that without French help, both before their overt support after Saratoga after, the Americans could not have kept an army in the field.
You should take a look at the GMT games web site for the Battles of the American Revolution series of board war-games. Playing them really enhances ones understanding of the tactical situation in any of the battles that they cover.
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mostly Revolutionary War and Medieval, but also some WWI, WWII, Vietnam.
Not sure it has to do with football. My father is a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather was the youngest of 6 boys. the older 5 were all in WWII. The oldest in WWI and WWII (not many people did that).
But Revolutionary War is my favorite. I have said this before, but I used to think Miracle on Ice was the greatest upset in history. ever. But in reading a lot of Revolutionary War books (my favorites are 1776 and Angel in the Whirlwind) it's by far the biggest upset I am aware of (even more than Thermopylae) so many things could have slightly been altered or adjusted like the weather or poor decisions, etc.) and we're still a British colony.
My take on the ARW is the same as Washington's. The more important thing was for the Americans to do, and I do not mean to minimize their efforts and suffering, was to keep an army in field. As long as there was some rebel fighting force in being, the British had to spend coin on armies in the colonies without hope of neutralizing the patriotic support in the countryside.
The British blew their best, and probably only, chance to win the war when Howe let the Rebels get across the Hudson after Long Island, Kips Bay and White Plains.
That being said, and to your point, that the Americans were able to take on the world's preeminent fighting force was nothing short of miraculous. Additionally, it should be mentioned that without French help, both before their overt support after Saratoga after, the Americans could not have kept an army in the field.
You should take a look at the GMT games web site for the Battles of the American Revolution series of board war-games. Playing them really enhances ones understanding of the tactical situation in any of the battles that they cover.
thanks, I'll check it out.
UFO of God by Chris Bledsoe.
Hopefully get to start on of them this Sunday.
About James Baker. Recalled a lot of not so recent U.S. History, from the 1980s. Long.
2. Going Infinite
Michael Lewis on Sam Bankman-Fried.
Easy read.
Interesting/weird/amoral dude
3. Elon Musk (by Walter Isaacson)
Easy read with short chapters. I'm coming away with more respect for Musk. My initial take (before reading the book) was that Musk was a bullshitting salesman, but I think the guy is passionate/crazy, with some propensity to bullshit.
Going to be the same for quite a while, i suspect
Also read Killers of the Flower Moon. Really telling about how the FBI was created, and using the same strategies.
Also read Killers of the Flower Moon. Really telling about how the FBI was created, and using the same strategies.
Just started Killers of the Flower Moon. One of my sons read it and loaned me his the last time I saw him.
Which Joyce? I love "A Portrait..." and "Dubliners." Sadly, "Ulysses" was a little too much for my feeble mind. What a genius that man was. Incredible.
That is my read during Lent each year.
Dan, I don't think it is a football connection as much as it is just our aging. Many of us are 'lucky' enough to have an appreciation for what military history, and especially WWII, did for this world.
Why? Perhaps our fathers (for those who are older), uncles, or grandfathers may have participated in WWII. We may have a connection? Remembering, understanding, and commemorating them is a way to honor what they did. And what did they do? Hardly any younger person can even name which countries participated or who won, never mind which pivotal battles, strategies, and individual acts of heroism turned the tide against some of the most barbaric empires in history. They were the Greatest Generation for a reason, and patriotism was high.
Today, patriotism is a word thrown around too frequently with a negative connotation especially when attached to politics. Many people have grown to hate the USA. And that is sad. I don't know what is being taught in schools, especially history classes? But the times are always changing. Not sure if we are as good as we once were? But WWII was mostly when we were REALLY good.
Maybe some of us like military history for the hardware, tactics, and battles. Me, I admire the hell out of the anonymous individuals who had the balls to climb eagerly into a ball turret for a bombing run, who ran head first off a transport into a hail of bullets on a beach, or parachute behind enemy lines for espionage. What the every day guy did,...I am in awe. I doubt very much I could do what they did?
I learned a lot at Texas A&M. While I was not in the Corps, I gained an admiration for the sacrifices many made for a better world. A&M has military history all around it. Most of its traditions are based on this. So that is where I got it from.
So, Lincoln Highway will round out the trio of Towles most beloved novels.
Actually, started "Rabbit, Run" by John Updike, but for whatever reason, I couldn't get through it, lasted about 100 pages. Kinda of depressing and monotonous...
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the Good book.
That is my read during Lent each year.
There is no book that is a substitute, but "Imagine The God of Heaven" is a really good supportive book. Everything in it corroborates and reinforces the Bible.
It's really interesting that some people who were previously agnostic and unfamiliar with the idea of a triune God, come back from an NDE understanding and believing.