[***] ISBN: 9780060083816
A very quick, and sometimes interesting, survey of American History. Things get started with some tentative speculation about how the first (non-) indigenous peoples arrived, then picks up speed with the arrival of the first European explorers. If you already passed AmHist in high school and college, you already know this stuff. But it's a reasonable refresher course. Keep in mind that this is somewhat targeted at those with less than a college (or even high school?) education, so there are no big words or deep concepts.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Way Station (Clifford D. Simak)
[****] ISBN: 9780020248712
This is a very interesting book. Antiquated, yet timeless. In some ways fun, yet serious. It was definitely written in a more innocent time, even though it deals with complex issues of peace and human frailty.
The protagonist is an ageless veteran of the Civil War, who has spent a hundred years looking after a galactic transfer station. He has become separated from men and wrapped up in galactic matters that he can barely comprehend. Then he is caught up crisis on both earth and in Galactic Central and finds himself even more alone.
This was fun to read. I see why it won the Hugo Award in its time. But it was clumsy and a bit rushed at the end, I thought.
This is a very interesting book. Antiquated, yet timeless. In some ways fun, yet serious. It was definitely written in a more innocent time, even though it deals with complex issues of peace and human frailty.
The protagonist is an ageless veteran of the Civil War, who has spent a hundred years looking after a galactic transfer station. He has become separated from men and wrapped up in galactic matters that he can barely comprehend. Then he is caught up crisis on both earth and in Galactic Central and finds himself even more alone.
This was fun to read. I see why it won the Hugo Award in its time. But it was clumsy and a bit rushed at the end, I thought.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned (Alan Alda)
[****] ISBN: 9780739322765
I had no idea Alan Alda's life was so interesting. He was started his life as a child of vaudeville and grew up as a son of Hollywood. Yet his family seems to have always been only on the fringes of fame. His voyage of self-discovery through boarding schools and colleges is fascinating. And don't miss the exciting adventure he has at the end. Recommended, especially for fans of MASH and Alda's other work (the only disappointment with the audio version is that it's not read by Alan and the voice chosen is not what I would have picked).
I had no idea Alan Alda's life was so interesting. He was started his life as a child of vaudeville and grew up as a son of Hollywood. Yet his family seems to have always been only on the fringes of fame. His voyage of self-discovery through boarding schools and colleges is fascinating. And don't miss the exciting adventure he has at the end. Recommended, especially for fans of MASH and Alda's other work (the only disappointment with the audio version is that it's not read by Alan and the voice chosen is not what I would have picked).
Friday, May 02, 2008
Make Love *the Bruce Campbell Way (Bruce Campbell)
[**] ISBN: 9780312312602
This is on my 'read' shelf. But I didn't finish it. I just stopped reading it. I suppose I might, under the right circumstances, make it to the end. It would be sort of like watching a silly television episode. This time, I was not in the correct mood, I was looking for an actual book with an actual story.
This is on my 'read' shelf. But I didn't finish it. I just stopped reading it. I suppose I might, under the right circumstances, make it to the end. It would be sort of like watching a silly television episode. This time, I was not in the correct mood, I was looking for an actual book with an actual story.
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