Pope Pius XI and Mussolini
The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe by David I. Kertzer David Kertzer provided a wonderful overview not only about the complex relationship between [...]
The American Story, by David Rubenstein
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. David Rubenstein, who has enjoyed a remarkable career, interviewed leading historians. For the most part, these historians discussed the subjects of their biographies. While one can read this [...]
Imperfect: An Improbable Life – By Jim Abbott and Tim Brown
After 10 years, Jim Abbott retired in1999 with a career record of 87-108. Imperfect relates the spectacular story of Jim Abbott who was born with one hand and yet went on to pitch 10 [...]
Lessons from The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
By William Shirer “History never repeats itself, but it does rhyme.” --Mark Twain Introduction Over the past 50 years I have read this wonderful chronicle of the rise and fall of Nazi Germany from [...]
Animal Farm By George Orwell
Introduction Animal Farm is an allegorical novel by George Orwell first published in England in August 1945. The book is both fun to read and informative. Orwell related how the ideal of the Russian Revolution [...]
The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Story of Shanghai and its Jewish Tycoons
By Jonathon Kaufman Introduction I have always wanted to know about the people who facilitated the immigration of 18,000 European Jews (many of them penniless) in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s to Shanghai, saving them [...]
David Rubinstein Interview with David McCullough about John Adams
Introduction Since 1986 I have been able to listen to books. For me, this has been immensely satisfying. I initially received books on tape and then returned the books to Books on Tape and [...]
Book Review: Shoe Dog By Phil Knight, co-founder of NIKE
“You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you.”--Phil Knight Introduction A normal review book would involve highlighting the important message of the book. In this case, I enjoyed the book so much [...]
Robert Caro: Understanding the Use of Power in our Democracy
Introduction For all of us, these are challenging times. Each one of us spends our times differently as we try to cope with COVID-19, a pandemic that has devastated our globe. (As of this [...]
The Washington War: FDR, Politics & World War II by James Lacey
By James Lacey “World War II challenged Americans to rise to greatness. . . . Roosevelt led the way and stood at the pinnacle of events.” --President Roosevelt before the joint session of Congress on [...]
Battle of Britain: With Wings Like Eagles by Michael Korda
Michael Korda’s book, With Wings Like Eagles, relives all the exhilaration, heroism, fear, and epochal significance of the Battle of Britain. 70 years later the battle retains its deserved luster. Winston Churchill, Britain’s Prime Minister, [...]
The Fifties by David Halberstam
I recently reread this classic and happily can report that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Halberstam made an interesting comment. When we think of the 50’s, we have an image of a black and white society [...]
Those Angry Days, Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America’s Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941 by Lynne Olson
By Lynne Olson Personal Thoughts For me, the struggle against Fascism represented the clearest example of good versus evil. I would have loved to have actively participated on the side of those who favored [...]
Tolstoy and Lincoln: Insights by Doris Kearns Goodwin
As I have previously mentioned, I have thoroughly enjoyed the book The American Story by David Rubenstein. Doris Kearns Goodwin provided wonderful insights into Abraham Lincoln. She repeated a story about Tolstoy and Lincoln. Tolstoi [...]
Book Review: Working By Robert Caro
I absolutely loved this book, Working. The author, Robert Caro, has devoted his life to writing biographies of two men, Robert Moses and Lyndon Johnson. Caro is fascinated by how men amass power in a [...]
Cancer: What You Need to Know by Dr. Stephen Rosenberg
Cancer: What You Need to Know, by Stephen Rosenberg Introduction Dr. Stephen Rosenberg spoke at our CTAC 2019 event and wrote this very informative book that we help all of us cope with cancer. [...]
Roosevelt’s Second Act: The Election of 1940 and the Politics of War by Richard Moe
Because this book is so focused on a single, but pivotal year, I am hesitant to recommend it. That is, one has to be a committed World War II Buff to enjoy it. Richard Moe, [...]
Playing with Fire, The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics
Playing with Fire, The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics -By Lawrence O’Donnell Introduction: I feel compelled to write up my book review for several reasons. First of all, I was probably [...]
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in its Darkest, Finest Hour
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in its Darkest, Finest Hour By Lynne Olsen As he spoke in his last interview Eric Sevareid fought to keep his voice steady. At the end [...]
Troublesome Young Men, by Lynne Olson
By Lynne Olson Eloise bought me the wonderful book for Father’s Day. The book, Troublesome Young Men, focuses on some twenty to forty primarily young, rebellious Conservative Members of Parliament who started in 1936 at [...]
The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy by James Giblin
By James Giblin I enjoyed this book thoroughly. This book focuses on the Red Scare and the role by Senator Joseph McCarthy in creating it. Although McCarthy pursued his anti-Communist crusade with a zeal, he [...]
No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt by Doris Kearns Goodwin
No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt by Doris Kearns Goodwin I recently reread Goodwin’s book in which she recounted the war years, 1940 through 1945, from the perspective of the American Presidency. Both Franklin [...]
The Orpheus Clock: The Search for My Family’s Art Treasures by Simon Goodman
By Simon Goodman The Orpheus Clock The title of Goodman’s book derives from one of his families prized heirlooms—The Orpheus Clock—that was not recovered by his family until some 70 years following World War [...]
The Nazi Hunters by Andrew Nagorski
By Andrew Nagorski My sister, (Joella Werlin) knowing of my ongoing interest in World War II, sent me, The Nazi Hunters. While the book was not easy reading, it did provide me some interesting insights [...]
All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (1974)
I recently heard on audible, All the President’s Men. Although I had read the book many years ago, I do not believe that at the time I appreciated the incredible investigative journalism that was [...]
Doomed to Succeed’ by Dennis Ross
Dennis Ross, a senior United States policy makers through four recent Well, yes, as a matter of fact; how about the diplomat who has devoted his professional life to trying to bring about that peace, [...]
The Duel: 10 May- 31 July 1940 – The Eighty-Day Struggle Between Churchill and Hitler by John Lukacs
By John Lukacs I am already starting work for my upcoming class on Modern American History which will begin in January 2016. Our first few lectures will be on World War II—the war that saved [...]
Mistress of the Vatican: The True Story of Olimpia Maidalchini
Book Review: Mistress of the Vatican: The True Story of Olimpia Maidalchini: The Secret Female Pope (17th-century Scarlett O’Hara) By Eleanor Herman Overview The author, Eleanor Herman, provided a spectacular account of Olimpia’s incredible life [...]
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost it to the Revolution by T.J. English
By T.J. English Introduction: Havana Nocturne brings to life a by-gone era. It is more than just a compelling story about the Mafia’s goal to create a gambling empire in Cuba. It provides an insight [...]
1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History
1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History By Charles Flood Introduction: During the same month two hundred years ago, two of the most remarkable men in history were born, Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. Several [...]
The Court-Packing Fight and the Triumph of Democracy
FDR v. the Constitution A book by Burt Solomon “The Success of Democratic institutions lies in the success of the processes of reason as opposed to tyranny of force, between these, society must choose. If [...]
A Safe Haven
By Allis Radosh and Ronald Radosh Dust Jacket “Even though I knew how the story would end, A Safe Haven still had me sitting on the edge of my seat, watching Harry Truman weigh the [...]
Beyond Basketball
I Believe In You Those four words can mean the difference between a fear of failure and the courage to try. 3/3/2008 By Mike Krzyzewski (Duke Basketball Coach) and his daughter Jamie Spatola I absolutely loved [...]
The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam
By David Halberstam Although David Halberstam’s final book, The Coldest Winter, desperately needed editing, I am glad that I plodded through his narrative of the Korean War. Over the years, I enjoyed immensely Halberstam’s ability [...]
Contrarian Investment Strategies “Beat the Market by Going against the Crown” David Dreman
A very good friend of mine sent me this book, because he found it to be a terrific investment resource. After reading the book, I fully agree with my friend that Mr. Dreman has [...]
Ike: An American Hero by Michael Korda
I liked Ike when I was eight and he was running for President. I like Ike now, especially after reading Michael Korda’s new biography of Eisenhower. However, for many years in-between I incorrectly perceived Ike [...]