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Books
My reviews run the gamut from serious historical and literary works to pulp trash I buy at thrift stores. It's not a serious overview of my taste, just stuff that's made an impression.
Books I'm Reading Right Now (I always read several at a time):
Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 8 of 8
Folio Society Edition
Diegesis by Rev. Robert Taylor
(on the Palm Z22)
Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne
Pioneers of the South ed. by Allen Johnson
Reviews Coming Soon:
Sir Arthur Keith Evolution and Ethics
Robert Ezrin Howard Kull: Collected Stories
Last and First Men/Star Maker
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2 Science-Fiction Novels by Olaf Stapledon
I used to read almost nothing but science fiction, but I have for the most part left this genre behind in favor works of history, science and early fiction. But I had read of Stapledon in connection with Arnold Toynbee and Oswald Spengler, and was interested in the possibilities of a future history written by a man conversant with the philosophy of history.
Stapledon was a UK Labour Party ideologist and philosopher, part of the British popular scientific philosopher tradition of Darwin, Huxley, Bentham, Shaw and Wells. Last and First Men covers humanity's future evolution both biological and cultural. 'Man', in Stapledon's definition, is any creature capable of ratiocination-sentient thought. I found one theme in Last and First Men particularly in tune with my own thoughts- the influence of a deeply held aspiration (or set of aspirations) that can be wholly irrational, and yet permeate a civilisation and inspire great feats among its very best. Spengler hints at this by talking about the self-contained nature of each world-civilisation (meaning a a civilisation that exists largely in isolation i.e. that creates it's own world), whose ideas are at some level incomprehensible to those outside of it, spacially and temporally. The pyramid building of the Egyptians of Third Dynasty, the Aztec mania for human sacrifice, and perhaps our burning desire for space travel without renumerative economic benefit could all fit this pattern. In this book it is the Cult of the Everlasting Youth among the prematurely aged race of the Patagonian culture that arises out of the ruins of our civilisation, the desire for birdlike bodies and flight of a later race of humans, and the creation of enormous human brains that cover whole cites, served by an even later culture. This is not a book with characters, not even a novel, but a true future history. Undoubtedly dry, it is nonetheless a fascinating work.
I admist I found Star Maker less interesting, dealing as it does with a fantastic flight out-of-body by the narrator. I have never liked this literary device, implied as it is by most novels, when made explicit, as here or in Eddison's 'Worm Ourobouros'. It is a bit Victorian, like the early works involving a dream or angelic assistance. The author uses the device to introduce us to various alien races, aquatic, arial, etc. I found this work lacking the same kind of insight that made Last and First Men so enjoyable.
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Triumph of the Eggheads
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The Rise of the Intellectual in Modern American politics
by Horace Coon
Coon charts the rise of the intellectual in the presidency through the careers of Thomas Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, FDR and on the basis of his theory predicts great things for Adlai Stevenson. Needless to say this book is Random His ouse -Copyright 1955. Nevertheless it is a very interesting study of the Liberal tradition in American politics from the point of view of a dedicated follower of that movement.
On a side note, I realized after reading this book that I had read another book by the same author "43,000 Years Later", a science-fiction book I enjoyed. Coon seems never to have written solely in one area but like Otto Scott has moved about from form to form, subject to subject. I shall be seeking out Coon’s other works.
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Commando Extraordinary: Otto Skorzeny
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by Charles Foley
I picked this up in Portsmouth, England before embarking on the ferry to Normandy. My party was there to visit the D-Day landing sites and observe the remains of the German defenses. Although Skorzeny was not immediately relevant to our travels his was one of the great careers of the war. His rescue of Mussolini and his other daring exploits formed the basis of postwar special operations, as seen in such units as the Britain's Special Air Service, Germanys GSG-9, our Navy's SEALS, and the Army's Delta Force.
One of the things I most enjoyed about this book (since I already knew many of the stories) was the author’s decision to translate ALL German terms. The Waffen SS is rendered here as the "Armed SS", and fuhrer as "Leader". This helps the reader into the minds of the Germans and I do not understand why more authors have not done it. Perhaps they want to maintain the sinister associations with the german words that years of war-movies have perpetuated, for dramatic purposes. When Skorzeny tells Mussolini, "Duce, The Leader has sent us!", it has that much more impact.
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Thomas Jefferson: Word for Word
edited by Maureen Harrison and Steve Gilbert
Excellent Books La Jolla California. 1993
I picked this up for a $3.99 ($19.95 price on the back cover) from the bargain bin at the Super Crown Bookstore, just before Crown Books finally went under. It is an excellent selection of Thomas Jefferson's intellectual and practical writings with the Jefferson Bible, his autobiography, his draft of the Declaration of Independence, various annual messages, and inaugural addresses.
Most valuable of all are his opinions, broken down by subject. Many of his
opinions would be quite unacceptable today, making this all the more interesting.
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Mouthful of Rocks: Adventures in the French Foreign Legion
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by Christian Jennings
The Literary Review puts it best on the back of the dust jacket: “The final lesson of this enjoyable book is undeniably clear: DO NOT join the Foreign Legion!” The author is the admittedly spoiled son of a grammar school headmaster and his fellow Legionnaires are not much more appealing: Stowaways, psychotic ex-SAS soldiers from the Falkland campaign, and criminals on the run. The events take place in the early 1980's when the postwar German character of the Legion (Waffen-SS veterans) was being challenged by le mafia anglais, the influx of Englishmen leaving British service after the South Atlantic war with Argentina.
One of the most interesting images I got from the book was that of the mixed ethnicities of the Legion doing their PT singing the Nazi ‘Horst Wessel Song’.
It only gets stranger from there.
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The Anglo-Saxons
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by David Wilson
Pelican Books 1966 (revised 1971)
This book covers the period of the Anglo-Saxon rule in Great Britain and the revealing artifacts found at such places as Sutton Hoo. For my taste too much of the book is taken up with explanations and descriptions of the artifacts, rather than the history (which is at summarized in the early part of the book) that I expected. but there are wonderful black-and-white pictures and Dell for the archaeologist great explanation as of how the artifacts were created and where and why.
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Broadax and Bayonet
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The Role of the Unites States Army in the Development of the Northwest
1815-1860
By Francis Paul Prucha
This book is helpful in understanding the western expansion of our country.
Not everything was done by scrappy pioneer families, and road work done for military purposes was often the conduit for later civilian settlement.
This book details the involvement of the Army in this phase of American History.
I found it to be reasonably well written and informative, given my level of interest. I received as much information as I wanted to supplement my knowledge of the frontier, without an overdose of information.
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Tips for the Lazy Gardener
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By Linda Tilgner
THIS IS THE BEST GARDENING BOOK EVER. Every thing you needed to know about
gardening, in a simple, laid out style. Just re-released in a new version (my picture is from the first printing) this book will save you hours of work.
Gardening should not be a chore, given the low cost of veggies at the store.
This work explains square foot gardening in two pages. Mulch in one page.
Brief and yet precise at the same time, not one page is wasted. GET IT.
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I Caught Flies for Howard Hughes
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By Ron Kistler
THE FIRST INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF THE BIZARRE BILLIONAIRE
I read this one a few years back. My copy was warped and musty, a hardback from Playboy Press. This one is a paperback from the same publishers.
The author was a successful salesman and WW2 vet looking for a more interesting job. He found it. For a few years he basically satisfied the deranged concerns of his mentally-ill billionaire employer, Howard Hughes. Once an international playboy, his concern over germs had driven Hughes to a penthouse at his casino in Las Vegas. He used the local TV station he owned as a personal VCR, calling in his movie selections at the last minute. Our author swatted flies, watched Hughes' plane for hours on end, and performed a million other bizarre tasks, each
to satisfy the urges, and calm the ever-growing fears of one of
the richest men on earth.
If you are going to read one book on Howard Hughes, this should be the one. (A few years ago I would have recommended Michael Drosnin's 'Citizen Hughes', but the 'Bible Code' book he wrote a few years back destroys his credibility in my eyes).
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Turn Me On!
Heavy Number
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By Jack Thomas
SHANNON
She calls the plays...
Her lovers dig
the ways...
A sixteen-year-old sexpot
pushes
four young studs
into a
HEAVY NUMBER
I tried to write something about these books, which are awful, but have the best cover art and blurbs ever. I think I'll let the books speak for themselves:
INNOCENT- She had to be. After all, she was only sixteen, and
when she rubbed her blossoming little body up
against some poor, pimpled, seventeen-year-old
kid... and when she insisted on swimming naked in
front of her bewildered young brother... and when
she organized a pot party at Joan Anderson's house
and then turned it into an orgy of sex and violence...
she couldn't really have known what she was doing
could she ?
Turn Me On! The savage shock novel of the year!
It was a sweet and easy scheme. Step one: Shannon would
seduce the millionaire's son. Step two: Turn him against
his father. Step three: Help him "run away" with his new
friends for a new high. Step four: Involve him in his own
kidnap plot. It could only end one deadly way.
Jack Thomas.
WHATEVAH.
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Thumbtripping
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By Don Mitchell
THE NEW NOVEL THAT SAYS ALL THERE IS TO SAY ABOUT THE MARIJUANA SOCIETY
If that was an accurate description of the book, it would probably suck. However, this 1969 book (apparently made into a movie- haven't found it yet) is actually a great little novel. 2 college age kids, boy and girl, take off across America in the classic pre-Ted-Bundy hitchhiking mode. They meet up with all sorts of interesting characters: hillbillies, turtleneck-wearing gays, paraniod survivalist suburban soccer moms. Amazing stuff, and if the movie is half as good, it's a classic 60's thing like Easy Rider. Nice job, Mr. Mitchell. Here's hoping to see more of your stuff.
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Winning Through Intimidation
Looking out for #1
Restoring the American Dream.
By Robert Ringer
These 3 books ought to be packaged together with the subtitle, "One Man’s Journey to Libertarianism." Or maybe, "Objectivism Put Simply". After all, who really wants to wade through Hayek, Milton Friedman, et.al? Ringer isn’t an originator of ideas, but he is a wonderful popularizer of the ideas of people like Ayn Rand and the aforementioned authors. You might also say is a product tester of these ideas, since he calls upon his own life experiences to illustrate them. He doesn’t pull any punches or attempt to sugarcoat reality. His background is in commercial real estate. He read all the other success gurus of the late ‘60s early ‘70s and found them ineffective. So he came up with his own system, detailed in his first book Winning Through Intimidation. The cornerstone of his approach is a firm adherence to reality. He states that most people aren’t dealing with reality but with their wishes about what reality should be. Nobody has an interest in your success but YOU, so don’t expect him or her to look after your best interests. He also lists out the only 3 types of people he says inhabit the business world. He’s dealt with all 3 and it will surprise many readers who he considers the most honest. In short, Ringer doesn’t accept any of the ideas we’re taught in nursery school about ‘sharing and caring’. His secret to being happy is to be realistic about what other people are after and what can be accomplished. He doesn’t advocate being a bastard, but in being aware that business is a jungle, and there are predators in the jungle. Looking Out for #1 goes beyond business philosophy and gets into life in general. 1980’s Restoring The American Dream is his political manifesto, which is Libertarian and close to my own. This is the weakest of the three books, but when you remember the political environment he wrote in it is outstanding. I wonder how much the success of the Libertarian Party in later years is related to these three books. He was reluctant to get out into politics, but later realized the necessity for some kind of self-defense. Top
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