The Book Thread

[Vrede too]

Did a lot of reading with all my TV and internet out.

Started with a 2001 Jimmy Carter book in honor of billy.pilgrim:

... Carter writes about the powerful rhythms of countryside and community in a sharecropping economy, offering an unforgettable portrait of his father, a brilliant farmer and a strict segregationist who treated black workers with respect and fairness; his strong-willed and well-read mother; and the five other people who shaped his early life, three of whom were black....

Birth to WW2, very readable


https://www.amazon.com/Last-Place-Earth ... ref=sr_1_1

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the South Pole was the most coveted prize in the fiercely nationalistic modern age of exploration. In the brilliant dual biography, the award-winning writer Roland Huntford re-examines every detail of the great race to the South Pole between Britain's Robert Scott and Norway's Roald Amundsen. Scott, who dies along with four of his men only eleven miles from his next cache of supplies, became Britain's beloved failure, while Amundsen, who not only beat Scott to the Pole but returned alive, was largely forgotten. This account of their race is a gripping, highly readable history that captures the driving ambitions of the era and the complex, often deeply flawed men who were charged with carrying them out. THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH is the first of Huntford's masterly trilogy of polar biographies. It is also the only work on the subject in the English language based on the original Norwegian sources, to which Huntford returned to revise and update this edition.

Makes no difference that we know the ending, still revelatory and gripping.

From Santa Claus to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from Uncle Sam to Uncle Tom, here is a compelling, eye-opening, and endlessly entertaining compendium of fictional trendsetters and world-shakers who have helped shape our culture and our lives. The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived offers fascinating histories of our most beloved, hated, feared, and revered invented icons and the indelible marks they made on civilization ...

Short, fun chapters on each

Random thought while reading, not spelled out in the book: The Marlboro Man killed more people than anyone who ever lived, including Hitler.

[O Really]

If you liked "Last Place on Earth" you'd probably enjoy "Erebus" by Michael Palin.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36992483-erebus

[Vrede too]

If you liked "Last Place on Earth" you'd probably enjoy "Erebus" by Michael Palin.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36992483-erebus

Cool. 2 you may like:


https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/endura ... 1101567042


https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-l ... 0312422608

[Vrede too]

A Perfect Harmony: The Intertwining Lives of Animals and Humans Throughout History (1996)

A Perfect Harmony: The Intertwining Lives of Animals and Humans throughout History is an informative, insightful history of animal domestication through the ages, by late ASPCA president Robert Caras, author of numerous fine works on pets and wildlife. As Caras defines it, domestication is "the shaping of a species by man, using selective breeding to replace natural selection." By studiously reviewing the origins and probable methods of domestication and the ancestry of all manner of animals, from goats and horses in the Stone Age to camels and elephants around 4000 B.C., to ferrets and cats in more recent years, Caras explains how "animals have played a vital role in man's evolutionary course."

Humanity's relationship with animals both domestic and wild is a topic not often discussed as a part of history. It is a vital aspect of human history, however, as the domestication of animals had a monumental impact on human affairs, making much of human progress possible-exploration, travel, agriculture, and the birth of industry. Caras is the current president of the ASPCA as well as a prolific author of articles and books on pets and wildlife. Here he offers a unique, and sometimes surprising, discussion of our continuing life with animals. Devoting each chapter to a particular species-goats, sheep, dogs, cattle, elephants, etc.-he introduces the reader to the unique characteristics of each species and gives a brief history of its development. The book is well written and researched and is logically organized. As there is little literature on this topic, A Perfect Harmony will be of interest both to curious lay readers and scholars in the field.-Deborah Emerson, Monroe Community Coll., Rochester, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
—Publishers Weekly

Fascinating, science based - archeology, ecology, genetics, biology, historical accounts from cave paintings to modern documentation. Short, easy to digest chapters with an engaging writing style. Not at all preachy despite the ASPCA author, just the facts.

One example: Goats are one of the first animals domesticated - nomadic food, milk, fiber and skins. It's thought that they denuded much of the eastern Med - Greece, Middle East, Egypt and other north African nations and even some of the Sahara. Places that never recovered.

[Whack9]

Really good book.

How Democracies Die:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/353 ... racies-die

Written back in 2017 during the first Trump administration. They certainly have no love for DT, but also don't hold back on criticisms of the democrats in the aiding erosion of political norms.

Donald Trump's presidency has raised a question that many of us never thought we'd be asking: Is our democracy in danger? Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt have spent more than twenty years studying the breakdown of democracies in Europe and Latin America, and they believe the answer is yes. Democracy no longer ends with a bang--in a revolution or military coup--but with a whimper: the slow, steady weakening of critical institutions, such as the judiciary and the press, and the gradual erosion of long-standing political norms. The good news is that there are several exit ramps on the road to authoritarianism. The bad news is that, by electing Trump, we have already passed the first one.

Drawing on decades of research and a wide range of historical and global examples, from 1930s Europe to contemporary Hungary, Turkey, and Venezuela, to the American South during Jim Crow, Levitsky and Ziblatt show how democracies die--and how ours can be saved.

Also spoiler alert: we've already blasted past the other exit ramps.

[Whack9]

Nuclear War: A Scenario

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182 ... uclear-war

It's no exaggeration to say this is one of the most unnerving books I've ever read. I highly suggest it.

I've always had a lot of assumptions about policy regarding nuclear weapons. This book shows how a rogue state launching a nuclear weapon at the United States might play out, and how once that precipice is crossed there's no stopping it.

Most of the books takes place within the first 25 minutes of launch and the 70 or so minutes following the first strike.

There is only one scenario other than an asteroid strike that could end the world as we know it in a matter of hours: nuclear war. And one of the triggers for that war would be a nuclear missile inbound toward the United States.

Every generation, a journalist has looked deep into the heart of the nuclear military establishment: the technologies, the safeguards, the plans, and the risks. These investigations are vital to how we understand the world we really live in—where one nuclear missile will beget one in return, and where the choreography of the world’s end requires massive decisions made on seconds’ notice with information that is only as good as the intelligence we have.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario explores this ticking-clock scenario, based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, have been privy to the response plans, and have been responsible for those decisions should they have needed to be made. Nuclear War: A Scenario examines the handful of minutes after a nuclear missile launch. It is essential reading, and unlike any other book in its depth and urgency.

[Vrede too]

Nuclear War: A Scenario

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182 ... uclear-war

It's no exaggeration to say this is one of the most unnerving books I've ever read. I highly suggest it.

Wiki: Reception

... Interviewing Jacobsen herself, Kathy Gilsinan of Politico writes that "Nuclear war would be bad. Everyone knows this. Most people would probably rather not think through the specifics. But Annie Jacobsen, an author of seven books on sensitive national security topics, wants you to know exactly how bad it would be."

Mike Riggs writing for Reason magazine wrote that the book is a "disaster porn thriller"....

I just started reading:
Salt: A World History (2002)

Any town in England that ends in "wich" produced salt.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wich
I never knew.

[Whack9]

Nuclear War: A Scenario

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182 ... uclear-war

It's no exaggeration to say this is one of the most unnerving books I've ever read. I highly suggest it.

Wiki: Reception

... Interviewing Jacobsen herself, Kathy Gilsinan of Politico writes that "Nuclear war would be bad. Everyone knows this. Most people would probably rather not think through the specifics. But Annie Jacobsen, an author of seven books on sensitive national security topics, wants you to know exactly how bad it would be."

Mike Riggs writing for Reason magazine wrote that the book is a "disaster porn thriller"....

I just started reading:
Salt: A World History (2002)

Any town in England that ends in "wich" produced salt.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wich
I never knew.

Not a book, but while we're on the topic of salt, you might be interested in this documentary. It was very well done:

My Name is Salt

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3276852/

Year after year, for an endless eight months, thousands of families move to a desert in India to extract salt from the burning earth. Every monsoon their salt fields are washed away, as the desert turns into sea.

[Vrede too]

I just started reading:
Salt: A World History (2002)

Any town in England that ends in "wich" produced salt.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wich
I never knew.

Not a book, but while we're on the topic of salt, you might be interested in this documentary. It was very well done:

My Name is Salt

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3276852/

Year after year, for an endless eight months, thousands of families move to a desert in India to extract salt from the burning earth. Every monsoon their salt fields are washed away, as the desert turns into sea.

It does look interesting, and heartbreaking? IMDb RATING 7.7
Tomatometer 89%, Popcornmeter 90%
Since the book covers the globe and hundreds of thousands of years of salt harvesting it may discuss these people or ones just like them.

Neither the book nor doc have anything to do with the Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber action thriller, Salt.

[Whack9]

I just started reading:
Salt: A World History (2002)

Any town in England that ends in "wich" produced salt.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wich
I never knew.

Not a book, but while we're on the topic of salt, you might be interested in this documentary. It was very well done:

My Name is Salt

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3276852/

Year after year, for an endless eight months, thousands of families move to a desert in India to extract salt from the burning earth. Every monsoon their salt fields are washed away, as the desert turns into sea.

It does look interesting, and heartbreaking? IMDb RATING 7.7
Tomatometer 89%, Popcornmeter 90%
Since the book covers the globe and hundreds of thousands of years of salt harvesting it may discuss these people or ones just like them.

Neither the book nor doc have anything to do with the Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber action thriller, Salt.

Yeah it's not an over arching history of salt. More of a slice of life type of documentary of a life most probably aren't even aware exists. No narration from what I remember. Heartbreaking, yes. The people featured no doubt live a tough life.

[Whack9]

An interesting glimpse at despotism unfolding while everyone mostly shrugs:

"In the Garden of the Beasts"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Garden_of_Beasts

Set in Berlin in 1933-1934, the book tells the story of America’s first ambassador to Nazi Germany, William E. Dodd, and his daughter Martha, as they experience the rising terror of Hitler’s rule. At first Martha is enthralled by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich, with their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. Enamored of the “New Germany,” she has one affair after another, including with the surprisingly honorable first chief of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels. Her father resolves not to prejudge the new government, but soon the shadows deepen. Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate. As that first year unfolds, the Dodds experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance—and ultimately horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder unmasks Hitler’s true character and ruthless ambition.

[Whack9]

The Death of Democracy: Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/592 ... -democracy

The nitty gritty details about how Hitler and his crew subverted the Weimar Republic through political maneuvering and how they were aided and abetted by those who could've stopped him in his tracks.

The Death of Democracy – Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic. Dr. Benjamin Carter Hett will discuss how the Nazi Party came to power and how the failures of the Weimar Republic and the shortsightedness of German politicians allowed it to happen.

[Vrede too]

The Death of Democracy: Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/592 ... -democracy

The nitty gritty details about how Hitler and his crew subverted the Weimar Republic through political maneuvering and how they were aided and abetted by those who could've stopped him in his tracks.

The Death of Democracy – Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic. Dr. Benjamin Carter Hett will discuss how the Nazi Party came to power and how the failures of the Weimar Republic and the shortsightedness of German politicians allowed it to happen.

We can relate.



https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uS30GTBXNEg

Mostly confirmed by Wiki. What if you were looking through the trash an found a diamond or a gold bar? What if you found an endless supply of them?

[Whack9]

Chesapeake, by James Michener

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_(novel)

The story-line, like much of Michener's work, depicts a number of characters within family groups over a long time period, richly illustrating the history of the area through these families' timelines. It starts in 1583 with American Indian tribes warring, moves with English settlers through the 17th century (land appropriation, tobacco farming, indentured servitude, religious persecution, etc.), slavery, pirate attacks, the American Revolution and the Civil War, Emancipation and attempted assimilation, to the final major event being the Watergate scandal of 1972-1974. The last voyage, a funeral, is in 1978.[2]

I know some of you guys are from Maryland. I grew up not too far in a similar area.

Easily one of my top 20 reads. It's definitely hefty at about 1000 pages.

I've been reading a lot of grand historical fiction lately. Michener 's a really good author. His book Poland was good, especially the chapters on world war 2. Another similar author that I recommend is Edward Rutherford. Read his book Sarum a few months back which spans the history of southern England from the ice age through modern times.

[Vrede too]

Chesapeake, by James Michener

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_(novel)



I know some of you guys are from Maryland. I grew up not too far in a similar area.

Easily one of my top 20 reads. It's definitely hefty at about 1000 pages.

I've been reading a lot of grand historical fiction lately. Michener 's a really good author. His book Poland was good, especially the chapters on world war 2. Another similar author that I recommend is Edward Rutherford. Read his book Sarum a few months back which spans the history of southern England from the ice age through modern times.

I read Chesapeake decades ago. Went on a minor Michener binge over the years:
Tales of the South Pacific
The Bridges at Toko-ri
Hawaii
The Source
The Drifters
Centennial
Chesapeake
Space
Never read Poland
Texas
Alaska
Mexico
Kent State: What Happened and Why

Probably over 10,000 pages . A great storyteller illuminating history.

[Whack9]

Chesapeake, by James Michener

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_(novel)



I know some of you guys are from Maryland. I grew up not too far in a similar area.

Easily one of my top 20 reads. It's definitely hefty at about 1000 pages.

I've been reading a lot of grand historical fiction lately. Michener 's a really good author. His book Poland was good, especially the chapters on world war 2. Another similar author that I recommend is Edward Rutherford. Read his book Sarum a few months back which spans the history of southern England from the ice age through modern times.

I read Chesapeake decades ago. Went on a minor Michener binge over the years:
Tales of the South Pacific
The Bridges at Toko-ri
Hawaii
The Source
The Drifters
Centennial
Chesapeake
Space
Never read Poland
Texas
Alaska
Mexico
Kent State: What Happened and Why

Probably over 10,000 pages . A great storyteller illuminating history.

What was your favorite? I'm reading Russka by Rutherford right now, but I was thinking about reading the Source next.

Poland was nowhere near as good as Chesapeake. Still good though. I've heard it was one of his weaker books.

[Vrede too]

What was your favorite? I'm reading Russka by Rutherford right now, but I was thinking about reading the Source next.

Poland was nowhere near as good as Chesapeake. Still good though. I've heard it was one of his weaker books.

Caveat: It's been so long since I read all of them other than Mexico that my opinion isn't credible.

I remember The Source positively, but so much has happened to and by Israel since 1965 that I'm not sure how relevant it would feel now. This might be a problem with many of his earlier books. If I had to pick just one I'd go with The Covenant (South Africa), which I forgot to include in the list above. I also thought highly of Chesapeake and Centennial - Colorado, one of your favorite states.

Kent State: What Happened and Why was criticized by more progressive authors for factual lapses.

I read Mexico last Fall during my Helene isolation and did not like it. Too much was oddly fictionalized, like the city of Toledo, Pancho Villa, and the Indian civilization that was obviously the Aztecs. Then, I hated the bullfighting (which I abhor) metaphor however apt it might be for the nation.

Publishers Weekly gave a negative review, criticizing the characterizations and plotting, and wrote that Mexico "doesn't catch fire as a personal story." ...

Maybe 85 year old Michener had lost a step by 1992, 5 years before his death.
"Michener began work on the novel in 1961, abandoned it, and returned to it in 1991." Mistake?

[Whack9]

What was your favorite? I'm reading Russka by Rutherford right now, but I was thinking about reading the Source next.

Poland was nowhere near as good as Chesapeake. Still good though. I've heard it was one of his weaker books.

Caveat: It's been so long since I read all of them other than Mexico that my opinion isn't credible.

I remember The Source positively, but so much has happened to and by Israel since 1965 that I'm not sure how relevant it would feel now. This might be a problem with many of his earlier books. If I had to pick just one I'd go with The Covenant (South Africa), which I forgot to include in the list above. I also thought highly of Chesapeake and Centennial - Colorado, one of your favorite states.

Kent State: What Happened and Why was criticized by more progressive authors for factual lapses.

I read Mexico last Fall during my Helene isolation and did not like it. Too much was oddly fictionalized, like the city of Toledo, Pancho Villa, and the Indian civilization that was obviously the Aztecs. Then, I hated the bullfighting (which I abhor) metaphor however apt it might be for the nation.

Publishers Weekly gave a negative review, criticizing the characterizations and plotting, and wrote that Mexico "doesn't catch fire as a personal story." ...

Maybe 85 year old Michener had lost a step by 1992, 5 years before his death.
"Michener began work on the novel in 1961, abandoned it, and returned to it in 1991." Mistake?

As a plant nerd Michener had one screw up in his Chesepeake novel. He mentions one of the early settlers making use of larch roots. Larch doesnr grow on the Eastern shore. BUT, bald Cyprus does. Both looking a little similar and being deciduous, I can let this one slide (I'd let it slide anyway, who cares)

Dude in my current book a worse mistake. The author mentions peasants growing pumpkins around 1000 AD Russia. Pumpkins are a new world crop. They didn't exist in Europe back then.

I was thinking about checking out Iberia as well. Will have to look at centennial.

[Vrede too]

As a plant nerd Michener had one screw up in his Chesepeake novel. He mentions one of the early settlers making use of larch roots. Larch doesn't grow on the Eastern shore. BUT, bald Cyprus does. Both looking a little similar and being deciduous, I can let this one slide (I'd let it slide anyway, who cares)

Not really.
Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch – Tamarack or American larch. Parts of Alaska and throughout Canada and the northern United States from the eastern Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic shore.

[Whack9]

As a plant nerd Michener had one screw up in his Chesepeake novel. He mentions one of the early settlers making use of larch roots. Larch doesn't grow on the Eastern shore. BUT, bald Cyprus does. Both looking a little similar and being deciduous, I can let this one slide (I'd let it slide anyway, who cares)

Not really.
Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch – Tamarack or American larch. Parts of Alaska and throughout Canada and the northern United States from the eastern Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic shore.

Still not quite right. Look at the distribution map

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larix_laricina

Atlantic shore = Northern mid Atlantic and New England and above. There's a population in western MD in a very small area, but I still don't think they're present in the Eastern shore.

If I'm not mistaken, larch need persistent cold to survive. Now, it's very possible they were present there back in the day when times were colder