"One Summer: America, 1927" by Bill Bryson

I don't think Bryson could write enough books for my life. I am glad I haven't sought them out as I might wish to because, knowing there are more of his works out there to discover gives me a great joy. "One Summer" walks the reader through the remarkable and dramatic events of 1927, primarily the summer months. From Babe Ruth and the Murderer's Row Yankees, to Lindbergh's cross Atlantic Flight, the bombing of an elementary school, the Mississippi River flooding and the political goings on, the book skims shallow then dives deep into the personalities, precipitating events and fallout of what was, truly, an incredibly news filled summer. I love the way Bryson weaves anecdotes and unforseen side effects into the through-line of his story-telling. It's like a beautifully composed orchestral piece. Give me more Bryson, but take your time doing it. I want to savor this.

"God Emperor or Dune" by Frank Herbert

I have been on a tear with the Dune series, in part, because they are so hard to put down. The chapter sizes, pacing of the action, and swiftness of story make these books quick reads, relative to their length. Leto II has evolved into a sandworm with the face of a man. He is now over 3000 years old and he lives as a god and as emperor of the universe. Almost all principal figures from the original trilogy are now historical figures, discussed as ancient figures of great consequence, primarily by their lineage. Only Duncan Idaho remains, though in his most current iterations. As a ghoula, he is replaced by a newly cloned version of himself as Leto's military leader. Yet again, as is the expectation with Herbert's writing, allegory and metaphor assail the reader at every turn. Religious visions and leaders, climactic change, fate vs. freewill, aristocracy, eugenics, love vs. duty, all these themes flow through the pages. I can't wait to get the next books from this series and devour them as well.

"Children of Dune" by Frank Herbert

Intrigue and never-ending jockeying for power are abundant in this chapter of the Dune series. Leo and his sister Ghanima are a pair of 9 year old bodies with access to millenia of experiences. Their aunt Alia holds their throne as regent but even as she struggles with the idea of relenting power, she gives in to temptation and allows her recently killed and deposed ancestor Baron Harkonnen to take root in her mind, controlling her thoughts and emotions. Jessica has her own machinations as she has been folded back into the Bene Gesserit faith. The preacher, who may or may not be Paul Atreides, is causing a stir in the imperium and Farad'n, nephew of the emperor that preceded Paul Atreides has ambitions of regaining the throne for house Corrino. Gurney Halleck, Duncan Idaho, Stilgar all play important roles as the story weaves to it's conclusion. Once again, the story is an allegory for so many aspects of culture. Arrakis is into it's transformation from desert planet to a rich and lustrous climate. Powerful monopolies and governmental oversight groups wield power through dangerous and morally questionable ways. This portion of the Dune series brings it full circle back to rooting for the righteous protagonists.

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu

In my opinion, this is more of a meditative guide than a book about the rules of warfare. In the edition I read, the arranger provides quotations by other famous thinkers of ancient Asia, illustrating possible practical uses of each rule. This was, at times, helpful, and, at others, distracting. If left alone with just the writings of Tzu, I would have many questions but, also, with a greater satisfaction. Figuring out a riddle is far more satisfying than reading someone else's idea of the solution.

"Dune Messiah" by Frank Herbert

This, the second installment of the Dune series follows Paul Atreides from his self-made Emperorship to his disappearance from humanity. Much of this book follows the woven stories of the remaining Atreides family as Paul navigates the necessary steps to ensure the continuation or humankind in the universe. He is now, very much, a God-head and supreme ruler but his visions show him the dangers of letting the world fight in his name. What unfolds is a delicate dance, attempting to keep his self-named "golden path" open. Ultimately, he sacrifices his "life" for the good of humanity. The parallels to religion, government, classism and environmental abuses abound. Though less loved by many readers, this tale of the fall from grace was, and is, an important allegory. Herbert warns the reader of giving another unbridled trust and power.

"Dune" by Frank Herbert

In light or recent movies and television shows based on this lore, I wanted to revisit the source materiel. Though this is a second reading, it has been over a decade since I've had the pleasure of reading the sci-fi master. The numerous levels and messages found in this seminal work are incredible. The commentary on environmental abuses, class warfare, governmental intrigue and religion are woven into a story that could stand on it's own entertaining narrative. Though almost 900 pages in the print I read, this book took me less than to days to devour. It's impossible to put it down as the story lines weave an incredible adventure, in which, you are rooting for nearly every character.

"How to Back Up a Trailer" by Kurt Anderson

The subtitle of this book is "And 100 other things every man should know how to do". Many of the instructionals were old news for me but many were insightful. The author instructs, efficiently and humorously, the reader in rules and decorum for many games and sports, life-saving tips for one found in nature, and various advisements for cooking, electrical, transportation and plumbing. All together, this was a quick and enjoyable read.

"Sodom and Gomorrah" by Marcel Proust

This is the fourth installment of "In Search of Lost Time". This installment was more time consuming for me. My french is good but not native so I was reading in concurrently in English and French. This portion follows a young narrator through a period of his adolescence as he discovers the joys of the flesh and is introduced into society. Proust is renown for his poetic script and this segment of his larger work is another prime example of this skill. With closing the last page on this book, I am officially on the back side of the masterpiece. I'm looking forward to the direction of the narrative and happy it will happen in the beautiful manner Proust delivers all of his "autobiography".

"Anthills of the Savannah" by Chinua Achebe

"Anthills of the Savannah" does a fantastic job of jockeying attention from character to character as Achebe hands over the first-person narration from chapter to chapter. This book tells the story or a country on the tail of a revolution and some of the meglomania that can ostracize a new leader from those that know them best. The insight was incredible, believable and, seemingly from actual events. On another note, the transitions from intelligently composed narrative into, for the unfamiliar, a seemingly impossible to decipher dialect, the author builds a world that feels so other, and at the same time, universal. Though it shouldn't be comprehensible, it hits home. What a fantastic and important writer.

"The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin

This feels to me like a book everyone in America should read repeatedly. Every year or so. Baldwin does an incredible job of illustrating the complexities of how race relations in America have come about. This book reads as though it were printed in the 60's but it has lost none of it's astuteness or accuracy. From an African American perspective, I can only imagine this book would be a rallying cry, not for war but but for unity. From a White American perspective, or more specifically from my perspective, this letter intended for his nephew is a wake-up call to how unfairly a huge percentage of our people are viewed and treated. I'm suprised that I haven't been encouraged to read more by James Baldwin in the past, but his book, at least, is one that I will recommend to so many people. The perspective is angry but peaceful.

"Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge

This book is essentially a self-help book for men of a Christian persuasion. Elderedge is an author, public speaker and counselor and his points are quite astute. Though most points are reinforced with Christian reasoning, the points made about masculinity in a modern world resonates on it's own. This book gave me insight into some of my own difficulties in taking ownership in my own life. The reader is shown how many men have not been given the cues they may have needed from a father figure in their life, consequently arresting their development into manhood. The roadmap given is very spiritually laden but even from a more over-arching view, the principle is solid. I am a man. I have this one life to do what I'm made to do. If I'm not doing what I'm truly made to do, I'm squandering my existence and betraying my core essence. I found this book encouraging and to be a sort of call to arms. There are only so many days in front of me. I would be best served, living them the way that serves my pre-dispositions.

"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

To summarize one of the cover reviews "this book is impossible to put down as you become so invested in the safety of the characters." Very accurate. The story catches you quickly and it truly is hard to put the book down without reading just a bit more to find out if the father and his son are ok in the following pages. McCarthy successfully creates a dystopian America in "The Road". It's not difficult to believe that the world could devolve into a state of road warriors and scavengers in the matter of a decade. As one in transported into a life of scarcity and danger, it raises the level of drama before additional characters are even introduced. The reader can't help but root for our protagonists as they navigate the suspicion and constant fear of life in a post-apocalyptic world. I was invested in their safety and desperate for their story to end well. Not exactly what I was expecting but the reader gives us a conclusion with hope for the future. A fantastic read!