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A shared culture and history is what binds native-born and new Americans. The wild West of literature, film, and television is a uniquely American past, one known to those in foreign lands and, in its unique and subtle way, one that shapes what has come to be seen as a particularly American approach to life. Cowboy Values: Recapturing What America Once Stood For by James P. Owen ($30.00, Lyons Press, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press) is filled with vivid images of the American West, its people, its typography, and with a text that will renew your own sense of values as you read about ten principles to live by such as living with courage, taking pride in your work, keeping your promises, remembering that some things aren’t for sale, and knowing where to draw the line. These and other values distinguished America from other nations and this book is well worth reading to remind oneself and help instruct others why America is, indeed, a different, optimistic, authentic place to live. This is a beautiful and inspiring book.
From Soviet to Putin and Back: The Dominance of Energy in Today’s Russia by Michael J. Economides and Donna Marie D’Aleo ($29.99, ET Publishing, Houston, TX) provides an invaluable insight to the rise and fall of the former Soviet Union and how, following the establishment of the Russian Federation, this Cold War competitor has risen again to dominance thanks mostly to Russia’s vast oil and natural gas reserves. It was the fall in the prices of these commodities that ultimately doomed the Soviet Union because they were its primary source of hard currency. The failure of the Soviet leaders to invest in these energy reserves led inexorably to the failure of the Soviet Union, but Vladimir Putin, formerly of the KGB intelligence agency, understood their value. Privately owned oil companies were invited to discover and build the infrastructure to rebuild the oil industry and then found their assets stolen from them. The oil oligarchs who did not go along with Putin were either jailed or fled the country. In a detailed look at the last century and this one, the authors have filled in the parts missing in most histories of this period. This book is also a warning to the United States that, for the passed few decades, has thwarted discovery and extraction of our own national energy reserves. At the top of this page is a yellow box that says I no longer review self-published books such as those that are produced in ever increasing numbers by firms like iUniverse and Xlibris, among others. It is not so much a question of merit, but of volume. There is no way a reviewer can keep up and there is the issue of respecting the fact that many publishers, large and small, deserve to have their books receive attention because that is their livelihood. Occasionally, though, a self-published, i.e., funded, book so clearly deserves attention that Bookviews will include it. One example is Dr. Renato C. Nicolai, Ed.D whose book, The Nightmare That is Public Education: An Expose of What Really Happens in Public Schools ($17.95, iUniverse) should receive as much recognition as possible. With over thirty-eight year’s experience as a teacher in classrooms from 6th through 12th grade and a principal in California schools, the author is uniquely equipped to pull back the curtain of lies surrounding America’s schools and reveal how poorly our children are being served by incompetent teachers and indifferent administrators. The quality of teaching actually gets worse as children progress into higher grades. Among his warnings is that, “The whole grading system in public schools is a tragic charade.” Parents concerned for their children’s education will benefit greatly from the advice he gives on how to spot the signs of either a good or bad teaching environment in their schools. This is a man who was and is passionate about teaching and who has seen the way our schools are now failing our children and, in doing so, our nation’s future. Since property taxes are the primary funding for schools, everyone has a stake in education. And everyone should read this book! For more information, visit the Featured Books section. Many young men and women will graduate college this month will big loans to repay. Often they will be told to get a job, any job, to reduce the debt load as quickly as possible, but Anne Brown and Beth Zefo say that’s the wrong advice in their new book, Grad to Great: Discover the Secrets to Success in Your First Career ($18.50, Dalidaze Press). I agree. Grads should strive to find work in a field they love because those first career steps are critical to their future. This book has lots of good advice on how and why to do that.
We keep hearing hysterical claims about an “obesity epidemic” and warnings against eating fatty foods or being fat. The fact is that, not just Americans, but all around the world (until the food shortages began) lots of people were adding some extra pounds. So you can imagine my pleasure to receive Fat—It’s Not What You Think by Connie Leas ($15.95, Prometheus Books, softcover). This excellent book dispels much of the misinformation and misleading hype that fuels our misguided fear of fat—both what we eat and the fat we carry around. Utilizing the latest research, the author explains that fatty tissue plays a critical role in maintaining health. It stores energy, produces hormones, builds cell membranes, bolsters immunity, and insulates our vital organs. You will be surprised to learn that fat people actually live longer than those in the so-called healthy range of the BMI scale. If there is one place in America where the folks know how to eat well it is New Orleans. It is also home to the Pelican Publishing Company, one of my favorite publishers. Last year I reported on The Jamlady Cookbook by Beverly Ellen Schoonmaker Alfred (how’s that for a name!) and this year she’s back with a very unusual book, Pickles to Relish, ($24.95, Pelican Publishing Co., New Orleans). It is not a basic cookbook that simply teaches you how to prepare a meal. Instead the book shows how to utilize various types of food-preservation techniques such as fermenting, curing, pickling, freezing, refrigerating and canning. These are not merely lost arts, but also a great way to improve your meals and your health. Filled with mouth-watering color photos and chapters that will challenge your tastebuds and provide a great deal of personal satisfaction, this book can is a treasure of information and old-fashioned fun! Americans love Chinese cooking, but so does the rest of the world. Jennifer 8. Lee went in quest of the culture and mystery of this cuisine’s allure, traveling widely, learning the history of the early restaurants, interviewing legendary restaurant innovators, and then sharing it with you in The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food ($24.99, Hachette). Her middle name “8” connotes prosperity in Chinese and this is just one of the many fascinating things she reveals in this gastronome’s delight. Every so often a book comes along that is so different from others that it commands a jaded reviewer’s attention. Such is the case of Graham Roumieu’s Bigfoot: I Not Dead ($15.00, Plume), a combination of fanciful drawings starring Bigfoot and a handwritten text allegedly his musings and complaints, chronicling his descent into bad habits, as if just being Bigfoot wasn’t a problem in itself. What emerges is a satirical look at our society and our lives through the sometimes scatological and obscene observations of Bigfoot. This is strictly fun for grownups and definitely worth a look. Gordon Burgett has written 36 published books and more than 1,700 freelance articles in addition to having given more than 2,000 speeches and presentations nationwide. Don’t ask me how he does it, but I can tell you his latest book is Your Living Family Tree ($15.95, Communication Unlimited, Novato, CA) and it is a nifty guide to putting together your own family tree, including how to utilize today’s technological advances such as podcasts and videos. If you’ve always thought about doing this, Burgett’s book holds the key. To learn more, visit www.yourlivingfamilytree.com and, if you have ambitions to make a living writing, visit www.gordonburgett.com to learn about any of his several excellent books on the topic. Finally, what is the biggest pest problem these days? Ask a pest control professional and he will tell you it’s bed bugs. Once virtually eliminated thanks to the use of DDT in the 1950s, they have made a comeback and are plaguing homeowners, landlords, people in the hotel business, in college dormitories, and about everywhere people discover they are a bed bug’s dinner. My friend, Larry J. Pinto, a consulting entomologist, along with Richard Cooper and Sanda Kraft, pest control experts, have written the Bed Bug Handbook: The Complete Guide to Bed Bugs and Their Control ($67.00, Pinto and Associates, available from www.Techletter.com) and it is definitive. While aimed at educating those in the pest control business, it will prove equal in value to those who are likely to have to deal with this growing pest problem, both to avoid it and to eliminate it. With an excellent text and plenty of photos, this is the book for anyone who will have to deal with this problem or currently is.
It seems to be a widespread phenomenon, the inability to get a good night’s sleep. Dr. Barry Krakow, MD, has written Sound Sleep, Sound Mind: 7 Keys to Sleeping Through the Night ($24.95, John Wiley & Sons) a new approach to insomnia. The book discusses the author’s treatment of insomnia as one that involves physical, psychological, and emotional elements involved. For example, Dr. Krakow takes note of the connection between insomnia and sleep-breathing disorder that is widely ignored by the medical community. His view is that many symptoms associated with insomnia such as depression and stress, can be boiled down to physical breathing issues. If you or someone you know is having serious problems sleeping, I would recommend this book and that you visit www.sleeptreatment.com to learn more about it. The Truth About Back Pain by Todd and Sheldon Sinett, chiropractors ($24.95, Perigee, an imprint of the Penguin Group) present a three-tiered approach that incorporates the emotional underpinnings of pain. Theirs is a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment based on the view that back pain can be caused by one or more of three distinct factors that include structural causes such as actual physical damage; nutritional as in an unhealthy diet; and emotional to include stress and personal issues that affect your health. Why She Feels Fat by Johanna Marie McShane, PhD, and Tony Paulson, PhD, addresses eating disorders that are serious, life-threatening illnesses ($14.95, Gurze Books, softcover) that often make no sense to family and friends. However, to the person involved, they are logical and a way of coping with life. Decoding the deeper meaning of the statement, “I feel fat” is at the heart of this straightforward book that includes basic information that includes the signs, symptoms, medical complications, causes, and approaches to treatment, along with stages of recovery. The publisher is another factor because it specializes in the topic of health and offers books of real merit. To learn more, visit www.gurze.com. As a reviewer, I see many books about diets, so I tend toward skepticism. The Leptin Diet by Byron Richards ($12.95, Truth in Wellness, softcover) addresses the way fat cells produce a powerful hormone Leptin that the author identifies as a primary factor affecting metabolism, weight loss, and hormone balance. It tells the brain how much fat is in storage and controls appetite, energy, and one’s metabolic rate. They are, the author says, the primary reason for food cravings, overeating, an obsession with food, and heart disease. His book provides a variety of easy lifestyle guidelines to get the hormone Leptin into balance in order to achieve permanent weight loss and increase one’s energy levels. A board certified clinical nutritionist, a perusal of this book convinced me that he knows what he is writing about. To learn more, visit www.truthinwellness.com.
It was named one of the 25 most influential books of the past 25 years by USA Today and has been a perennial New York Times bestseller. It is What To Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel ($14.95, Workman Publishing, softcover) and it is now in its 4th edition, completely revised. It’s bigger, better, and clearly invaluable when it comes to providing moms and dads-to-be the information they need, answering all the questions about pregnancy and birth. From the moment a baby is born, parents worry about its health as the child passes through infancy. One problem that is much in the news is autism and a new book addresses that concern. Does Your Baby Have Autism? ($17.95, Square One Publishers, softcover) is authored by Osnat Teitelbaum and Philip Teitelbaum, PhD. Medical experts agree that the earlier autism is diagnosed and therapy begins, the greater the chance a child can be helped. It takes more than just the intuition that “something is amiss” to identify the symptoms. Since the first year of growth is critical, therapy can prove invaluable if a parent notices problems in motor development, reflexes, sitting or walking difficulties and other signs. The authors are exceptionally qualified and this book can prove very helpful. There are growing concerns about the effects of vaccination on the very young and Mayer Eisenstein, MD, JD, MPH, has written a cautionary book, Don’t Vaccinate! Before You Educate ($25.00, CMI Press, softcover). The author of several books on medical practices, this physician, public health doctor, and attorney, presents scientific literature, both pro and con, on the topic of vaccination. He believes it is the parent’s, not the state’s decision, explaining religious exemptions. I cannot argue this book’s merit except to say it offers some valid concerns.
There was a time when one merited a biography by virtue of having done great deeds, discovered new scientific breakthroughs, or achieved fame in the theatre and arts, but today just about anyone can be the subject or can write their own autobiography. A perfect case in point is Sally: A True Story by Judy Laddon ($24.95, Sombrero Press, Spokane, WA). It is a biography/memoir of artist Sally Pierone who took a very long time to discover her unique artistic style; she waited until she was 80. Pierone had been the art director of the Marshall Plan who had spent decades in psychotherapy thanks to a bad marriage, a dysfunctional family, and a raft of bad decisions. She “took Paris” in the 1950s using art to inspire the Europeans to rebuild their shattered lives. The saving grace of the book is that she is full of advice on how to avoid all the mistakes she made. Beyond that, it is a mystery why we need to know about Sally except that the author thinks we should. Another person who one might think hardly merits a biography is Miki Dora, the subject of For a Few Perfect Waves by David Rensin ($25.95, Harper Entertainment). “For most of the 1950’s and 1960’s, at the perfect surfing spot, on a perfect day, Miki Dora was probably the best surfer in the world.” Yes, this is about a beach bun, a surfer who lived for nothing more than surfing. The author spent four years conducting over 300 interviews and one is left to ask, “Why?” This man was a slacker and a scammer whose misdeeds put him behind bars at one point. He would have remained unknown were it not for this biography that, like his life, was a waste of time. By sharp contrast, there’s a biography just out about one of the most interesting personalities of the early years of the last century, Ida Tarbell. In Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller by Steve Weinberg ($25.95, W.W. Norton), you will read the story of a fearless, ambitious muckraking reporter who, from 1900 to 1905, largely created a new form of investigative journalist and changed the way the nation did business. Ida Minerva Tarbell (1857-1944) was a trail-blazer for journalists and for women by her example. Born in Northwestern Pennsylvania just as oil fields were discovered there, her father and John D. Rockefeller both got into the nascent oil industry in the mid-1860s. Rockefeller’s fortune grew by means of some Standard Oil practices that involved price-fixing and other schemes. Even some of Standard Oil’s perfectly legal practices were morally reprehensible. The company became known as “the Trust” and would stop at almost nothing to destroy its competition and anything that interfered with profits. Tarbell’s articles for McClure Magazine and later as a book, shocked the nation. The government finally took action, resulting in a 1911 Supreme Court antitrust decision ruled against the company, setting the standard for future rulings. This book recreates the time known as the Progressive Era and anyone who loves history, biography, and business, will find it a great read. At least Don Felder achieved something. He was the lead guitarist for the Eagles, a very successful and publicity-shy band. Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) will please the band’s fans ($25.95, Wiley) as he offers the story of his life from a poor childhood in Gainesville, Florida, to one in which he crossed paths with music names like Duane Allman, Stephen Stills, and Tom Petty. He joined the Eagles in 1974 during the recording of their third album and remained through its dissolution, their resumption for the Hell Freezes Over tour, until finally being fired in 2001. It was a wild ride and this kind of thing interests you, his memoir will not disappoint you. Jack and Lem: John F. Kennedy and Lem Billings, the Untold Story of an Extraordinary Friendship by David Pitts ($17.00, Da Capo Press, softcover) is testimony to the way anyone who spent more than ten minutes around JFK qualifies for a biography or memoir. Lem was a JFK confidante, a longtime friend after they met at Choate Preparatory School for Boys in 1933 up to the day in Dallas that ended JFK’s life. Turns out that Lem was a homosexual at a time when his friendship with Kennedy, had it become known, would have been a political bombshell, but Kennedy never rejected Lem. Does any of this matter? It’s doubtful.
Not My Turn to Die: Memoirs of a Broken Childhood in Bosnia ($22.00, Amacom) addresses a greater theme of the brutal ethnic war between Muslims and the Eastern Orthodox Christian Serbs that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia. In 1992, when Savo Heleta was just 13 years of age, his world fell apart too when the ethnic fighting raging all over Bosnia arrived at Gorazde, his home. Despite friendships with Muslim boys, neighbors soon became enemies willing to fight and kill each other. What followed was a two-year nightmare of living with terror, starvation, and humiliation. This is his story as he went from seeking revenge to being an activist for reconciliation. Told in vivid, unflinching detail. As Serbs, he and his family discovered just how intolerant and brutal Muslims could be in the name of Islam. How he survived is a miracle. Despite his desire for reconciliation, the book is a warning to those who believe one can be anything other than a second-class citizen, an infidel, when the chips are down. This is a hard book to read if only for the way it tells once again an all too common story of inhumanity. Ayann Hirsi Ali gained fame with her bestseller, Infidel, followed by The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam, both of which are now available in softcover ($15/$14.00, Free Press). She gained fame initially from having worked with Theo van Gogh who was murdered by a Muslim after he had made a film depicting the hardships faced by Muslim women. The Dutch government extended security to her and then decided to rescind it later. She is now an American citizen and must still retain security to protect her from those who would kill her for revealing what it was like to be raised in a strict Muslim family and a life in four nations run by despots. She escaped to the Netherlands and now to America. It is a horror story experienced by Muslim girls and women every day. The latter book is a call for the universal human rights that are denied by a brutal religious oppression and a call for Islamic enlightenment. On the lighter side, there’s Ghosts at the Table by Des Wilson ($26.00, Da Capo Press) about men who have entered into legend as famed players of poker to those today who are making their own legends and making millions too. The author takes us through four ages of poker, from the old frontier poke on the riverboats and in the Western gaming halls during the 1800s, the poker played by road gamblers throughout Texas and the southern States in the mid-twentieth century, the rise of poker in Las Vegas toward the end of the century, and the poker explosion of the past decade. Players or just observers like myself will find this book an interesting slice of American history, seeing any number of familiar names and learning about some known only in their era and to those who loved the game. Children’s & Younger Reader’s Books
Yet another specialist in novels for young adults is Noesis Publishing, Los Angeles, and one of their top authors is Diana S. Zimmerman who has a fantasy series starring Kandide, heir to the throne of Calabiyau and keeper of The Gift, the key to survival for all of her people in the land of Fee. Physical perfection is prized above all in the land, but when her wing is crushed in an accident, her own mother exiles her to the Mists, a terrifying place where strange beasts roam the dark lifeless forest. Trust me, young adult readers—especially the girls—love this stuff. The latest in the series is Kandide and the Secret of the Mists ($9.99, softcover), making it book four, all of which will make great summer reading for the princess in your life. You can learn more by visiting www.kandide.com. A small publisher, Birdcage Press of Palo Alto, California, specializes in books about art and artists. I previously recommended “Gallery Ghost”, one of its books and now I can do the same for two others by Catherine de Duve that introduce great artists to young readers, aged 7 to 10, in Hello Matisse and Hello Roussau, both $9.95. This is a great way to get to know about these artists through stories, games, and even a draw-it-yourself page. You can check out their full line at www.birdcagepress.com. Another small press is Cali Publishing that has published The Adventures of Cali written by Michele Lallouz Fisher and illustrated by Ginger Nelson. This story about a caterpillar that young Zachary finds and takes home. He is in for a surprise as it goes through its natural life cycle. This is ideal for ages 4 to 8 and has a unique feature. An iRead 2 You gift pack includes the book and a recorder with which a parent can record four minutes of the text that can be clipped to the inside cover. When the child opens the cover, they can enjoy hearing the story read by a familiar voice and the audio component will help older kids develop their reading skills. Check it out at www.calipublishing.com. There is no lack for books to entertain and educate younger readers. For example, there’s Science on the Loose: Amazing Activities and Science facts You’ll Never Believe by Helaine Becker ($10.95, Maple Tree Press). This will intrigue readers age 8 through 12 as they embark on adventures involving animal behavior, optics, astronomy, and other fascinating things to learn. It’s filled with activities that require no special equipment or unusual ingredients. For the parent of any child with an inquiring mind, this will offer hours of fun and knowledge. From the same publisher and author comes Mother Goose Unplucked offering a fun-filled romp through the land of familiar fairy tales that take on a clever twist. The Big Bad Wolf, for example, is wanted for identity theft! This books is filled with brain-teasers, tongue-twisters, and various challenges inspired by fairy tales and nursery rhymes. To give any youngster a head start and alternative to the often-boring routines of school, I would recommend both of these books, plus two sports books, How Baseball Works and How Soccer Works, ($12.95 each) both by Keltie Thomas. A visit to www.mapletreepress.com will be well worth it. One of my all-time favorite authors is Mark Twain and Elizabeth MacLoed has written an excellent biography in Mark Twain: An American Star ($14.95, Kids Can Press) for ages 8 through 12. Its text is extensively and handsomely illustrated as it takes the reader through his long, interesting life; one that left an indelible stamp on American literature and who is read throughout the world to this day. America is also the subject of Naming Liberty ($16.99, Philamel) by Jane Yolen for kids ages 6 through 8. It is the true story of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and the creation of the Statue of Liberty. Beautifully illustrated by Jim Burke, it is a story that any parent would want to share with their child. Joey Gonzales, Great American by Tony Robles, illustrated by Jim Pryor, ($15.95, Kids Ahead Books, now WND Books) is written for children age 3 and up, and is bilingual in both English and Spanish. Growing up Hispanic, the author was never aware that he was supposed to be disadvantaged, a minority, and therefore a victim. Instead, he was taught that learning and diligence were the keys to rise in a society that offered all kinds of opportunities to those willing to work for them. If this reflects someone you know, give them a leg up with this excellent, inspiring book. Why Am I at the Red Table? Written by Julie Firstenberg Kamins and illustrated by Carlos Long ($13.95, Librujas, Sherman Oaks, CA), it is the first in a series to support those who have been placed at the red table because they couldn’t finish a timed text or were dyslectic and had other learning problems. It is for elementary school-age kids who have a desire to learn, but must overcome challenges in learning and reading. Featuring a little girl named Madison with doubts about her reading skills, it demonstrates that these can be learned because the book is written by a teacher who has helped many students learn at their own pace. The book inspires children to have confidence and to know others share their challenges. Novels, Novels, Novels!
The last time I felt this way about a novel was Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather.” Land has previously authored Blood Diamonds and The Last Prophecy, among other successful novels, all of which have an aura of authenticity that make you wonder how much is fiction and how much is fact? Check it out in our Featured Book section. Hands down for heart-pounding action and adventure, torn from the headlines, Brad Thor has established himself among the top ranks of novelists. I have raved about his previous novels such as The First Commandment and Takedown and it’s time to tell you to get ready to purchase his next, The Last Patriot, due out in July ($26.00, Simon and Schuster). Glenn Beck the radio and TV commentator is another big fan of Thor’s and he is fearful that Thor might be assassinated by Islamic radicals because his new thriller is based on the theory that the prophet Mohammad was murdered by his own disciples “to prevent him from delivering his final commandment, leaving the Koran incomplete.” Bear in mind this is fiction, but having read an advance copy of this new novel, you may find yourself hard-pressed to separate it from fact. Another prolific author is Robert K. Tanenbaum. Escape marks his twentieth novel! ($25.95, Vanguard Press) It is part of the Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi series set in Manhattan, as New York District Attorney, Robert “Butch” Karp faces two very different situations that will prove shockingly alike. He is engaged in a case to put Jessica Campbell behind bars for killing her three children, claiming that God told her to do it. He intends to show the jury she knew what she was doing. At the same time, an Islamic terrorist has plans for a new incendiary attack and Karp, his wife, Marlene, and their daughter Lucy, plus a group of odd but effective accomplices are determined to stop it. It is testimony to Tanenbaum’s skills that he weaves these two tales together into one page-turner. At the same time, he helps that he is also a successful trial lawyer with a wealth of experience. How he finds time to combine the two careers is probably the biggest mystery of all! Another successful novelist is Orson Scott Card, best known for his science fiction novels that have won him multiple Hugo and Nebula awards. His fans will welcome, Keeper of Dreams, a definitive new collection of his short stories, with a new introduction by the author ($27.95, Tor Books). This collection brings together twenty years of short fiction. This thick book offers hours of pleasure for old fans and new. Paul Robertson has written an interesting novel about the way the world can intrude on a way of life and, in the process, create problems for those who oppose change. In Road to Nowhere ($17.99, Bethany House) the folks in Wardsville who have been used to hearing about the Gold River Highway for years discover that someone in Raleigh, North Carolina is set to get that road built and their little town is about to be connected to the outside world. Those who stand in the way might just pay with their lives. This is an excellent piece of writing, filled with suspense, humor, and an old-fashioned clash between good and evil that is perfect for a summer’s day. Another part of America, Maine, is the setting for another small town saga. Winter Haven by Athol Dickson ($18.95, Bethany House) takes the reader to a remote island where Siggy Gamble’s body, wracked by autism and savant abilities in life, has washed ashore. The story begins with his sister, Vera’s return to the island to retrieve the body. The townspeople view her with distrust and suspicion. Imagine her shock when the body does not appear to be unchanged from thirteen years earlier. There are secrets in the town of Winter Haven and unraveling them may cost Vera her peace of mind. It makes for compelling reading.
Lee Cross is back with another novel. His last one, A Far Place in Time, is in our Featured Book section and is a terrific read. In Pandemonium in 2012 ($13.95, Virginia City Publishing Co., Sparks, NV, softcover) Cross has written what can only be called a political fantasy in that he has conjured up the worst possible scenarios for the destruction of America’s political structure, thrown in some Islamic terrorism, and added a patriot group that tries to restore the republic. This novel, a quick easy read, does not lack for drama beginning with a woman President who is murdered by Muslims on a visit to Israel, a Congress that is so perfectly divided that neither party has a majority, a deal to put a congressman in as Speaker who is a fairly ordinary fellow who made a lot of money and then ran for office. When the vice president dies, he is first in the line of succession and becomes President. He arranges for a woman who bears a strong resemblance to Ann Coulter to become his Vice President. Meanwhile all manner of international events are happening, a cabal in Congress manages a takeover of the nation, and, well, you will just have to read this engaging potboiler or you will miss out on the fun. That’s it for June. Do visit our Featured Book section for some unique books that might otherwise not receive the notice they deserve. Do tell your friends and family about Bookviews.com, and do come back in July! |
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Contact: Alan Caruba |
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Despite the hyperbolic prose that describes Soldiers of Reason: The Rand Corporation and the Rise of the American Empire by Alex Abella ($27.00, Harcourt) the fact remains that this secretive think tank has played an extraordinary role in policies regarding whether to go to war in places like Vietnam or Iraq, the shaping of the nation’s health care system, and many things like space exploration that we take for granted today. Casting them in a villain’s role may well sell this otherwise interesting book, but it ignores the way vast amounts of data is gathered and analyzed within a particular historic context in order to come to a decision rendered in real time. The Rand Corporation was born in the wake of World War II for the purpose of advising the Air Force on how to wage and win wars. It attracted some of the best minds in the nation, some of whom helped create the nation’s nuclear strategy in the long Cold War struggle with the Soviet Union. The Kennedy era brought Rand directly into the corridors of power many of the Bush administration’s policy makers such as Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, and even Donald Rumsfeld, were mentored by Rand’s Albert Wohlstetter. Perhaps the most surprising thing is the fact that the Rand Corporation permitted the author full access to its files and personnel to write this book.
One of the anomalies of trying to understand Islam is the fact that there are more than a billion people on Earth who consider themselves Muslims. Not all are the dedicated Islamofascists drawn to terrorism to advance the faith, but the petrodollars being generated these days is aiding the expansion of Islam. Wherever it has sufficient numbers, Islam begins to demand that everyone submit to its dictates. Indeed, Islam translates as “submission” or “surrender.” That is why, if you want to understand these troubled times, you must read Why We Left Islam: Former Muslims Speak Out ($25.96, WND Books, softcover), stories compiled and edited by Susan Crimp and Joel Richardson. Ignorance of Islam leaves one vulnerable to the comforting lies told about it. As one contributor wrote, “People who have not lived in Dar Al-Islam cannot and will not understand the level of indoctrination Muslims undergo for their entire lives…If you’ve never used your mind but rather simply lived under the culture of submission, your ability to think withers.” By reading the true stories of Islam’s apostates who chose a new faith and a new life, you will gain the insight you will need to stand firm against a so-called religion that advocates the killing of all non-believers or their enslavement.
Looking out for your best interests is the theme of John Hammergren’s book, written with Phil Harkins, Skin in the Game: How Putting Yourself First Today Will Revolutionize Health Care Tomorrow ($27.95,John Wiley & Sons). Hammergren is Chairman and CEO of McKesson Corporation, America’s oldest and largest health care services company. Harkins is CEO of Linkage, a global organizational development company. Together they have written a comprehensive overview of the history of health care in America that provides an explanation of how we have arrived at our current crisis and a preview of a revolutionary leap in care that’s coming as high-tech productivity and quality transform health care in America. What it means is that soon enough everyone will have access to information about doctors, hospitals, and treatment centers so that you can make fact-based choices about where and when to seek health care. The authors paint a picture of an extraordinary future and no one should know better than they. Now, if we can just keep the government out of the health care business, we might just see that new day.
My friend and fellow writer, Charlotte Libov, is an award-winning medical author, a contributor to The New York Times and other national publications, and widely in demand as a speaker. In collaboration with Dr. Harvey M. Kramer, MD, she has written A Woman’s Guide to Heart Attack Recovery: How to Survive, Thrive, and Protect Your Heart ($14.95, M. Evans, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield, softcover.) 
Undercover by John W. Schilling ($24.00 Amacom) is subtitled, “How I went from company man to FBI spy—and exposed the worst healthcare fraud in U.S. History.” Schilling relives his life-transforming adventure as a confidential informant and leading witness for the prosecution after, as an auditor for Blue Cross & Blue Shield in 1994, he raised a question about a cost report for one of Columbia/HCA’s hospitals, Fawcett Memorial. It involved a cover up, but he took his CPA Code of Ethics seriously and cheating the federal government was not acceptable. It was only a small piece of a systematic practice of keeping dual books, scamming Medicare and Medicaid, and profiting hugely from public funding. He took the discovery to the Justice Department and launched into a new life described in this compelling memoir. In the world of criminality, there are some true monsters. Invisible Chains: Shawn Hornbeck and the Kidnapping Case that Shook the Nation is the true story of how, in January 2007, two boys were found in the home of Michael J. Devlin, the manager of a pizza parlor in Kirkwood, Missouri ($18.95, The Lyons Press). One boy had been kidnapped four days earlier. The other, Shawn Hornbeck, had been missing for four years, staying with his abductor in plain view, barely an hour’s drive from his former home. Kristina Sauerwein, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist wanted to know the story behind how this crime could have occurred. It is a real page-turner. Serial Killers and Sadistic Murders: Up Close and Personal by Jack Levin ($25.95, Prometheus Books) is the result of a quarter century spent investigating, analyzing, and interviewing serial killers, their family members, neighbors, and even surviving victims. This is a gripping book that taps his wealth of experience, offering lessons for law enforcement and the general public about how these killers think, as well as the conditions under which such crimes typically occur. What the share in common is a total absence of remorse or any sense of moral responsibility. They often are extremely good liars which accounts for why it is especially difficult to track down and prosecute. 
Available now in softcover, I recommend you read Prisoner of Tehran: One Woman’s Story of Survival Inside an Iranian Prison ($14.00, Free Press) by Marina Nemat. Her story began in 1982 when, age 16, she was arrested and sentenced to death for political crimes. That alone should tell you what it is like to live in a fanatical theocracy, but her story, an elegantly written memoir of the price it cost for her freedom and her life. A devout Catholic, she had protested when schools studies in math and history were subordinated to the study of the Koran. When she left, other students joined her and she was soon arrested. She survived the death penalty only by marrying one of her guards who had fallen in love with her, but she had to convert to Islam. Her life in prison and her ultimate release and escape from Iran reveals the horrors visited on the young people of that nation, many of whom yearn for the freedom Americans and others take for granted.
The Boys of Everest by Clint Willis ($18.00, Da Capo Press, softcover) tells the story of a group of young men who emerged from the slums and middle-class suburbs of post-war Great Britain to become mountain climbing’s greatest generation. They became known as The Bonington Boys, led by Chris Bonington, who gained fame for taking great risks on Everest, Eiger, Annapurna, and K2. Most died in the mountains and this book chronicles their lives and daring. Why people climb mountains remains a mystery except for the most widely repeated answer, “Because they are there.” This book is helps explain why for these men. Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest by Lincoln Hall ($25.95, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin) is the author’s story of miraculously survived a night out in the open with oxygen on that killer mountain’s “death zone” after being left for dead by members of his expedition. It made headlines around the world and his book is his account of what happened. Written from the viewpoint of a 50-year-old veteran mountain climber, it provides an insight to why people, well, climb dangerous mountains. His near-death experience is a vivid lesson in why one should probably avoid such adventures. For those who, like myself, prefer the safety of an armchair, this book provides enough excitement to satisfy my curiosity. 
There’s lots of good fiction around for younger readers aged 12 and up. The way the Harry Potter books gripped the attention of these kids tells you that they will read if given something of merit. An example is Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother ($17.95, Tor/Tom Doherty Associates Books) written for savvy and sociopolitically aware young adults about tech-savvy teenagers “sticking it to the man.” In an era of globalization and heightened security, almost all the technology in the book either exists or soon will. The novel addresses Internet and government security, censorship, and civil liberties in a post-9/11 world. I think teens will greatly enjoy this fast-paced, exciting story. Two novellas for teens are found in Anna Begins ($21.95, Black Heron Press, Mill Creek, WA) by Jennifer Davenport. The main characters are a girl and a boy, age 16 and 17. In the first, Melissa has a number of personal problems and experiences, from an eating disorder to a first sexual experience and tries to deal with them by writing her story. The second story, “A Million Miles Up”, is about teenage love with a boy seeking fame who takes up celebrity-inspired drinking and a girl who just wants to be happy, but must deal with a family secret. We tend to forget how deeply teens feel about their lives and both stories reflect that challenging stage of life.
My friend, John Land is back with a terrific new novel, The Seven Sins ($24.95, A Forge Book/Tom Doherty Associates). It is the story about Michael Tiranno whose motto is “To dream, to dare, to win.” He goes from an orphaned farm boy in Sicily to being a millionaire, a master of the intricate world of high finance. As the story unfolds, he is the owner of The Seven Sins, the grandest and most extravagant casino in Las Vegas and the world, but Tiranno has secrets, the kind he and his corporate attorney and confidante, Naomi Burns, have gone to great lengths to bury. This is one of those globe-spanning sagas that tell a rags-to-riches story and the prospect that the sins that brought him to great heights may cost him everything as an insidious vendetta threatens.