Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz (Review)

The great ending of this book made it all the worthwhile to read through all 415 pages. This is the seventh or eighth Horowitz book that I have read and enjoyed. This is the second Horowitz/Hawthorne series book that I have read.

There were so many subplots and turns within this story that the author, skillfully connects and explains at the end. It was a murder mystery, where a cast of about a dozen could have been involved in murdering one of the residents in the community. Everyone had a great motive to see the demise of one of the obnoxious new neighbors in the close community. As I read the book, I could not figure out how the murder investigation would conclude.

An interesting angle of the book is the narration provided by Horowitz in his role as an author and storyteller of this crime. His uneasy relationship with detective Hawthorne is part of another mystery within the book.

The ending of the book is pure genius. So many swerves and plot turns! Just when everyone thinks that they have the answers (or the murderer) the questions change and the plot thickens.

This book would make an excellent beach read for those who enjoy mysteries. I’d love to see this book presented as a movie – – it was that entertaining!

Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power by Timothy W. Ryback (Review)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

310 pages

What struck and scared me as I read this book was how similar the political situations in Germany in the early 1930s were to the United States currently. Each country was and is going through a burgerkrieg (civil war) where there exists intense, political differences that often resulted in violence. Hindenburg stayed in office as he feared Hitler gaining political power. Hindenburg was accused of dementia and suffering from the ravages of old age. Today, Joe Biden fears a Trump presidency and the end of democracy in the United States. Biden too, is accused of suffering from dementia and being too old to serve another four year term.

In both the cases of Hitler and Trump, there were events that could have and should have ended their political pursuits. Hitler persevered through many defeats, political, personal and strategic.

I was not familiar with the appropriate knowledge of German history from 1918 till 1933 when Hitler seized power. Ryback provides the necessary background, history, and important men during this period. This book may provide a greater service in understanding what is happening in the United States today by looking back at what happened in Germany in the 1930s.

Shown below are my notes from this book..

“It has been said that the Weimar Republic died twice. It was murdered, and it committed suicide. There is little mystery to the murder. Hitler vowed to destroy democracy through the democratic process and he did.”

Trump and Hitler similarities
Neither were drinkers
Both felons
Both thin skinned
Both very poor liars (If you tell a lie long enough and keep repeating it…Goebbels)
Both suffered election defeats that they refused to accept
Both overestimated crowd sizes at various rallies and events
Both were counted out after electoral and political defeats and came back
Both sought to annul election results and lost
Both seeking to establish dictatorships embraced by the populace
Both opposed by older men (Hindenburg and Biden) who feared their rise to power
Both promising “revenge” on their political opponents when they gain power
Both used immigration issues (Hitler-Polish, Trump-Mexicans and South Americans) to stir up enthusiasm from their political base

Oswald Spengler knew both men. (referring to Hitler and Strasser). The author of the two volume landmark treatise Decline of the West was considered one of the leading conservative thinkers of today. Spengler found Hitler to be “clueless, indecisive, in a word, dumb. “

Adolf Hitler gave thousands of young Germans a chance from escape from reality Time wrote in December 1931. Hitlerites had uniforms, brass bands, roaring mass meetings, plenty of free beer. (Trump MAGA rallies 2020-2024)

The next day, Vorwarts (German newspaper) splashed the news in a banner headline, “Hitler wants to rule!” The editors were frantic at the thought. “The appointment of Hitler is out of the question because he lacks even the most basic qualifications”, they wrote. “You cannot trust a government to the leader of a party in recent days has been responsible for perpetuating countless horrific acts of violence without discrediting the authority of the state before the eyes of the entire world, not to mention the majority of its own people. “There was also the fact that Hitler served prison time for treason against the very state he was now seeking to rule.”

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An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin (Review)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Memoir…history…love story… Prior to reading this book, I was vaguely aware of the name, Richard Goodwin, and his involvement in politics and in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. I was not aware of his specific roles. as it turns out, he was a man of certain influence working for both John F, Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Turns out he was a great speechwriter, wordsmith and political strategist. He was described as a “generalist”, a man who could fill a lot of roles and responsibilities.

Growing up in the 60s, I, of course, was interested in the nostalgic trip during that decade. Goodwin was a huge fan of the Kennedys. This created significant issues when he worked for Lyndon Johnson. Goodwin was involved to a certain degree in the discussions around civil rights, Vietnam, the Great Society etc.

Based on the book, it seems that Goodwin did not receive the credit he should’ve gotten for his effective communication of both JFK’s and LBJ’s’s policies and goals. Goodwin seem to find himself in hot water, often inadvertently, with people he worked for. In 1968 Goodwin worked for Eugene McCarthy, prior to RFK’s entry into the presidential race. Goodwin had quite a balancing act and at the same time, he did not wish to undermine the policies of Lyndon Johnson.

Doris Kearns Goodwin is an excellent writer. I have seen her on new shows on television where she is a thoughtful and effective communicator. This is an excellent book. If a reader has an interest in 1960’s history, politics or wishes to know more about the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, this book is an excellent resource.

Dick Goodwin had an interesting career and he seems motivated to achieve as much good as he could in the various roles he had in government. This is definitely a five star book!

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Review: The Fall of the Third Republic: An Inquiry Into the Fall of France in 1940 by William Shirer

Book Review:

This is a very long book, about 1100 pages. But the history and narratives are so compelling, the reader does not mind the mental lifting required. The author was an established and renowned foreign affairs reporter during the 1930s and 1940s. This book is obviously excellently researched and Shirer was reporting from France and Germany prior to the war. His books about Nazi Germany are also compelling history reads.

Shirer also provides an excellent insight into how the war started by examing the behavior of not only France, but also Britian, Germany and Russia.

Why France Fell?

Arrogance: Misguided reliance that things would always stay the same. French politicians and military leaders believing that they had all the right answers and refused to adjust to changing times.
Poor national leadership: Inability to address social inequities, economic problems and the threat of Nazi Germany.
Poor military leadership: Soldiers were not properly trained. “Territory wars” among French generals. Strategy warfare mindset from the 19th century. Poor communication skills among themselves and with the political leadership.
Lack of courage: While many French soldiers fought valiantly, there were many incidents of French soldiers running away from battle and throwing down their weapons and removing their uniforms. These soldiers wanted to go back to their regular lives and not fight in a war they believed was over. They were afraid of German tanks, planes and soldiers.
Appeasement: Both France and Britain did not want war and agreed to whatever demands Hitler made, particularly those made at Munich. Both France and Britian had military opportunities to thwart the German army in 1939 and 1940 but did not have the necessary spine and will to stop Nazi aggression.
French culture: Political extremism and corruption were accepted as norms by the French populace. A national will did not exist to make the necessary political, economic and cultural changes to become a national power. The French people were largely complacent with their history and perceived standing in the world.

Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball by Keith O’Brien (Book Review)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought this was a fair and sensitive biography of a complicated and controversial man. This book was excellently researched and the author was able to get cooperation of many of the players, family and even mistresses of Pete Rose. The book confirms to me that Pete was a vain, greedy, self-serving and not a very smart man, not someone who you would want as a friend or be around with.

The author documents Rose’s playing exploits on the baseball field, which were legendary and his off field foibles which were many. Well I think it was easy to admire Pete Rose the player, it must’ve been very hard to admire Pete Rose the man. It’s as if he never grow up.

All that being said, I think the Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Yes his gambling, particularly on baseball, may be disqualifying. However I have not read or heard of any evidence where he directly or indirectly affected the performance or results of a baseball game. What Pete Rose achieved on the field, he achieved largely on his own merits. I did not read of any evidence that he took steroids or performance-enhancing drugs.

This book is an excellent read for any sports fan but especially for this reader as I remember watching Pete Rose’s career, particularly when he played for the 1980 Phillies who won the World Series that year.

Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House by Peter Baker (Book Review)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Review:

I read this 653 page book from cover to cover so I must have liked it. It was an informative and enlightening history of the Bush-Cheney Administration from 2001-2009. The writing appeared even handed to me. Maybe GW received a bit of a break as he proved to be very human and sympathetic when dealing with families of deceased servicemen and women. Condi Rice comes off as a moderate voice of reason, a bulwark against the hard line tone and policies recommended by VP Cheney, particularly as it related to the war on terror. Bush’s best advisors seemed to be his wife, Laura, Condi Rice and Karen Hughes.

The reporting by Baker around the events of 9/11 was excellent!

Dick Cheney comes off gruff, combative and strident throughout the book. On the surface, he did not undermine the President but his philosophy was different on the conduct of the war against terror, social issues and especially the pardon decision around Scooter Libby.

Political Analysis:

I wasn’t a fan of GW when he was President. It appeared that his administration did not take seriously the warnings about Bin Laden that came up in summer 2001. The Afghanistan and Iraq debacles were poorly decided and carried out with very little planning and coordination between the White House and the military. Hurricane Katrina was a disaster for New Orleans, Louisiana and Bush. Recovery planning was bungled largely due to poor management skills of Michael Brown, Bush’s FEMA director.

The economy almost cratered in Bush’s last year in office. He was saved by the heroic efforts of Henry Paulson, his Secretary of the Treasury. Neither Bush nor Cheney had a clue as to what was going on as financial services were ready to collapse.

From reading the book, one can sense that Bush realized that he did not do a very good job. His poor performance cost the Republicans the 2008 Presidential race. John McCain could not separate himself far enough politically and personally from the Bush administration. Obviously that strategy failed…

Bush-Cheney will not be judged the worst adminstration in recent U.S. History.That designation should go the Trump-Pence adminstration 2017-2021.

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Notes from Ageless Soul by Thomas Moore

Stages in the aging process

feeling immortal,
first taste of aging,
settling into maturity,
shifting toward old age,
letting things take their course.

***

We can deal with this anxiety individually by living a day at a time, being present to what the day has to offer. If there is no sickness or any other problem, we can enjoy the day. Some people project themselves into a debilitating future and live in the anxiety of imagined woes to come.

***

I don’t care what the calendar says. I have a strong youthful component in me, and often that person in his 40s seems to inhabit my body. Even when I look in the mirror, I sometimes manage to see more of the 40 year old man than the one who is 76. I’ve always been a strong believer in illusions.

***

Simple, ordinary activities can improve your health and ease the black bile of melancholy that afflicts many older people. Take that walk in the woods, look for a sparkling lake or river, and don’t spend much time with negative people. We don’t realize how important it is to rely on nature for our health and mood, to think about the kind of people we have around us, and to understand the value of gardens and trees.

***

The older years offer a perfect time to reflect more often, more deeply and more seriously on these important aspects of life. Of course, we need to begin this kind of reflection in our youth, but it can reach its depth in old age. Being part of a culture that has lost interest in profound ideas and intense reflection on experience makes aging more difficult.

***

Being an elder not only helps other people find guidance and wisdom, but it also gives the older person added reason for living. It may be the final act of a generous and thoughtful life. It is service taken to the last moment and done with a special authority and dedication it helps if the older person consciously adopts the role of elder. I could say from my own experience that a certain point people begin to treat you as an elder and look for benefits that you may be able to give them.

***

The poet Maya Angelou once wrote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Thus legacy is a matter of the heart. It’s not an idea but a feeling connected to largely invisible people, it’s a special way of loving, and if there is anything that could make growing old more pleasurable, it would be to discover new ways to love.

***

Reflection – – the first stage for an ordinary person is reading or listening to someone else offer an understanding of events. You listen or read and make those ideas your own in your own way. The second stage of reflection is conversation. You make a point to speak with people who have something worthwhile to say and with whom you enjoy speaking. A third stage of reflection is to find some effective mode in which you can express yourself it could be writing of various forms – – journals poems, essays, fiction…

***

My Review of the Book

I am a bit of a cynic. Books like these discussing getting older are often written with the goal to alleviate the concerns and fears of elderly people as they approach death. The objectives when you get into your 70s and 80s are to find interests and things that will motivate you to stay alive or at least maintain your enthusiasm for healthy living.

While one can try to maintain a healthy attitude about life in your 70s and 80s, what’s more important are the states of your mind and your body. It’s critically important that you are not alone and that you do have some type of social network that hopefully includes family and friends.

It’s a comforting book with some useful bromides about topics like overcoming melancholy and leaving legacies. I don’t think there is one philosophy or set of rules to follow in life after 70. One of the things that I try to adjust to is the declining control I have in the direction of my life. I don’t have the physical, intellectual or mental energy I had a year ago and I expect that to continue to decline.

My five worst fears as I get older:

Losing my wife
Loneliness
Dementia
Disabilities and loss of health
Running out of money

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta (Book Review)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I believe everyone, regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs, should read this book. Its importance and critical insights extend far beyond the confines of any particular faith or ideology. What is being preached in many white evangelical and Christian churches holds significant implications that reach beyond their walls.

“In the year after Trump left office, polling repeatedly showed there was one demographic group most likely to believe that the election had been stolen, that vaccines were dangerous, the globalists were controlling the US population, that liberal celebrities were feasting on the bloods of infants, that resorting to violence might be necessary to save the country: white evangelicals.”

The author starts off the book by describing events that took place at his father’s funeral services. Alberta’s father was a respected minister and many of the people who were at the services were longtime friends and associates of the family. Instead of his father being respected and the family comforted, Alberta was castigated for writing articles that certain members of the church felt were derogatory towards Donald Trump. Alberta was accused of treason.

So unlike many other authors who could’ve written this book, Alberta had “skin in the game.” I think that he wrote the book as fairly as he could given the topics, the people involved and the consequences to not only religion but to our country.

Alberta was able to draw portraits of both Jerry Fallwells Senior and Junior, Ralph Reed, Stephen Strang, Paula White, Robert Jeffress, Charlie Kirk, Herschel Walker and Doug Mastriano to name a few. He describes the changes that have taken place at Liberty University. Sadly most of those changes have had deleterious effects on both students and teachers.

Donald Trump has assumed an almost godlike status within the white evangelical movement, despite his controversial behavior and moral character, including multiple marriages and allegations of sexual misconduct.

Alberta also describes the efforts of various ministers and politicians who are attempting to separate religion from politics. The tide has certainly been running against them. Many ministers who attempt to focus on Bible studies and religious topics without introducing politics into their sermons find that many parishioners leave and gravitate toward politically charged sermons. Funding dries up and churches close that just preach the word of God.

This book has been described as the best nonfiction book of 2023. It is a long book, 452 pages in hardback, but an interesting and informative read from cover to cover. This will be one of the books that historians 30 years from now will read and review critically in order to understand the fraught intersection of politics and religion in our era.

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Review: The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage during the Great War by David Robenalt

The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage during the Great War by James David Robenalt

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The affair between Warren Harding and Carrie Phillips was actually very boring. Evidently there were lots of love letters and correspondence between the two. And I do mean boring love letters and boring correspondence. I pretty much skimmed over those that were published in the book. The book contains some interesting history about Republican politics in the years of Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. Harding found himself caught in the middle of that political squabble. There is also some interesting history and commentary regarding the United States entering World War I. Just like World War II, there was great antipathy on the part of the American public to be involved in the war. In addition, there was a great deal of sympathy for Germany.

Based on the book, Harding appears to be a capable senator, hard-working and capable of compromise. He was a very good speaker and in demand for his abilities. However the shameless way that he pursued Mrs. Phillips does not present him in a good light. Given that his wife was constantly in bad health, one could understand his need for female companionship. But Mrs. Phillips was a needy and manipulative woman. The book covers allegations that she was a spy for Germany in World War I. Based on the book, it appears the only certain thing that could be alleged was that she was very sympathetic for the German cause and attempted to persuade Harding towards that end.

I slogged through the book more for the historical morsels around the time of World War I than for the less than sordid details of Harding’s affair(s). This book did provoke an interest in reading a book written about the Harding presidential administration.

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Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy by Brian Stelter (Brief Review)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really did not need to read this book. First, I am fully aware of Fox News journalism standards or lack of. One only has to watch five or 10 minutes of Hannity, Waters, Bartiromo, Ingraham, or most Fox broadcasting. Neil Cavuto may be the last person on Fox who at least tries to be somewhat impartial. Second, there was a lot of discussion and disclosure about this book when it was first published. I can’t say that I learned anything new by reading the book from cover to cover.

Stelter focused on the career, behavior and broadcasts of Tucker Carlson. I just found it hard to believe that Carlson believed half of what he broadcasted. There is evidence from this book that he really didn’t – – that he was concerned primarily about ratings and keeping the Fox/Trump base entertained and inflamed.

Given all the scandals and the cartoon nature of most of Fox’s commentators, I find it hard to categorize it as a news organization. I think it is a propaganda arm of the Republican party like Joseph Goebbels was the propaganda arm for the Nazi party.

Given the contents of the book, I was incredulous that Fox commentators were so quick to support the election deniers like Rudy Giuliani. What happened to Maria Bartiromo? She had a excellent reputation as a business reporter and now she is no more than a shill for wackos with strange political beliefs and claims (Sidney Powell).

Despite Fox settling their case, paying Dominion $797 million, nothing has really changed in terms of their broadcasting standards. Yes Tucker Carlson is no longer there but most of the same sad crew continues to spew rumors, innuendos, lies and exaggerations. Sadly nothing has changed at Fox News.

Stelter did dig up some interesting anecdotes and offered some plausible theories about the behavior and motivations of the Murdochs and many of the Fox commentators. As an industry insider, his viewpoints are worth consideration.