Summer Reading

Welcome Back FBA US History fanatics!!

Hope your summer was wonderful, full of refreshing, exciting, and rewarding ventures. My summer was a good one ... Alaska Cruise! Hershey Park with our grandchildren! and lots of good reading!

My list:

Boom! - Tom Brokaw - great recollection of the Sixties. Lots of personal experiences and very good studies of many significant individuals. A very good example of my "history happened to people" mantra.

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho - an interesting story of a young man's search for faith, riches, and how they are one and the same.

Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis - a tough read; his lectures on Christianity were thought provoking but very challenging to process (at least, for summer reading).

The Shack - William Young - for the 3rd time; I love this book. Makes you think, shakes up a few preconceived images but really helps in one's understanding of the Trinity.

What Happened - Scott McLellan - an insider's account of the mindsets and policy decisions of the Bush administration, especially after 9/11 and the Iraq War.

Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer - a study of the extremist regions of Mormonism. I found this fascinating and disturbing.

K Blows Top! - Peter Carlson- a recap of Nikita Khruschev's visit to America in 1959. Weaves in some of the political background manueverings, but focuses on the social & human & humorous. Fun read.

Columbine - David Cullen - in depth study of all that lead up to the tragedy at Columbine HS. As is sadly often the case, there were so ma ny warning signs and opportunities to prevent the horrible events, but it all fell through many cracks.

Ghost Wars - Steven Coll - history of the CIA's actions in Afghanistan from 1979 to 9/10/01. Intriguing and full of times when the reader says "If only..."

A Long Way Gone - Ishmael Beah - true story of a Sierra Leone youth trapped in the civil war ("Blood Diamond") and his escape from the rebels and basically forced service as a soldier at the age of 14 or so. Great book.

Also read a couple of mystery novels on the flights to & from the West Coast for the cruise. Easy and quick...real no thinking just turning the pages and escaping kind of stuff.

US II - in looking at Reconstruction, ask yourself why the northerners were so inattentive toward developments in the South. Were the Northerners justified in leaving conditions in the South to the Southerners? Your comments are welcomed here.

US I - The New World colonies presented all types on new opportunities for the settlers. Which of the attractions in the colonies was the most significant in your mind? The religious factor? The new life issue? The chance to gain wealth? Your comments are welcomed here.