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BENTLEY'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2015
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Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief
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Dec 30, 2014 01:44AM
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JANUARY
1.
by
Winston S. ChurchillFinish date: January 2015
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.
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1.
by
George W. BushFinish date: January 2015
Genre: Biography
Rating: C+
Review: George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, has authored a personal biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st president. This is the first time that a son who was a president told a story about his father who had also been a former president.
First, I would recommend that folks read or listen to this book because you do learn a lot of personal details about the 41st President George Herbert Walker Bush who by all accounts served his country in a variety of capacities including not only his stint as a Vice President but also other positions like being the Head of the CIA, being the youngest pilot in the Navy in WWII, becoming the Republican Party Chairman, serving as a member of the US House of Representatives, being appointed US Ambassador to the United Nations, being chosen to be chairman of the Republican National Committee, and being appointed the U.S. Envoy to the People's Republic of China which was probably his favorite job aside from the Presidency.
As far as I was concerned, I got the impression that George Herbert Walker Bush went from one appointed job to the next and was the "safe, loyal guy" that powerful men like to surround themselves with. He was the safe choice. But I also want to add that the Senior Bush appeared to be well liked.
I listened to this book on audible and I have to say that sometimes it was difficult understanding George W because he does not enunciate his words very well. But it was also interesting to hear him narrate the book. I did learn a lot of details about the 41st president that I did not know before - but George W had the irritating habit of trying to make his father's book about himself and his presidency - constantly interjecting all sorts of reasons and rationale as to why he did this or that in his own presidency versus strictly focusing on his Dad. Additionally he goes on and on extolling the virtues of his father's appointment to the Supreme Court of Clarence Thomas who as far as I am concerned is the most lackluster associate justice we have on the bench.
You could hear the love in his voice for his father and that is indisputable. But what I found also indisputable is that George W is still trying to explain his war with Saddam Hussein. He even digresses at the end and talks about ISIS and the future of Iraq??
Also it was disconcerting that every disaster, mistake or miscalculation and/or every scandal that occurred around the 41st president was explained away and George W emphasized that Dad knew nothing or had nothing to do with any of it. And that he did not like Richard Nixon that much (smile).
I think folks should make up their own minds when they read or listen to this book - but I think it is a worthwhile read or listen aside from the above.
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Amit ChaudhuriFinish date: January 2105
Genre: Sort of a Memoir of a city
Rating: C+/B
Review: Amit Chaudhuri is a talented writer but this book is one slow starter. If you are not the type to persevere and doggedly get through the first 50 pages then you are going to give up too soon. One thing that I learned is that Calcutta had a communist government for decades. I certainly had no idea that this was the case. It is sort of a mixture of a memoir, history of the city, and a travelog. Calcutta is the home of four and a half million people! What a teeming environment.
The book is like a dissection during your old zoology class (if you ever took that class in college) - only Amit is dissecting the city of Calcutta, its people, its history, its culture and he expertly turns it inside out so the reader can experience it the way the author is living it - in real time.
This book is very personal and has its moments.
I just bought the 41 book, Bentley. We know where he is coming from I suppose. He writes in the beginning of the book saying "This is not [objective]." (p. x)
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George W. Bush
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I find it interesting how George W. Bush is still waiting for "history" to decide about his venture into Iraq. I don't see how future historians can call disbanding the Iraqi military, de-Baathification, leaving ammo dumps unprotected, failing to secure places like museums, allowing new recruits to line up in easy targets for suicide bombers, and so on as anything but massive failures. Never mind just whether or not it was right to go in in the first place.
Jimmy wrote: "I find it interesting how George W. Bush is still waiting for "history" to decide about his venture into Iraq. I don't see how future historians can call disbanding the Iraqi military, de-Baathific..."Well "let's let history decide" is a lot easier for the architect of the disaster to say than "this was a major screw up"
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Peter - I could not have said it better myself. I am being charitable by not saying anything else (smile).
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3.
by
Hillary Rodham ClintonFinish date: February 2015
Genre: Memoir/Autobiography of sorts
Rating: A-
Review: This was an audiobook unabridged listen of the entire book. Hillary Clinton was the narrator at the beginning and Kathleen Chalfant was the narrator for the remainder of the book. I thought it would have been nice for Ms. Clinton to have narrated the entire book - but it is a long one. At first you do not realize that the transition has occurred because the tonal quality of Kathleen's reading voice is quite similar to Hillary's.
I think the major difference between the George W. book about his Dad and Clinton's is that even though she focused on herself and the time she was secretary of state - the book also exudes "intelligence".
The book is a much better writing effort - stylistically and is quite detail rich with historical fact, oral history, personal anecdotes, it includes interesting details on a whole host of characters and events and is chock full of intelligent discussion on a variety of foreign and diplomatic challenges and engagements with a host of countries. Though the book is about Clinton and her experiences - I did feel that I gained a great deal of information in the process and enjoyed the book a great deal.
Clinton discussed that she first met Dean Acheson at Wellesley when she was a college student and she never dreamed that one day that she would be Secretary of State or that she would ever have been first lady. The book begins after the primary when then candidate Barack Obama had become the Democratic candidate.
I found Clinton to be as intelligent as an entire tree full of owls as one of her former professors I believe said. She had in depth knowledge of the nations, their leaders, their problems, their relationships with America, their strengths and their weaknesses and had "detailed" solutions and ideas on how to deal with each of these countries" awesomeness and/or all of their warts and difficulties. I think the problem that any woman has in one of these jobs is that they simply are not a man. Of course there is a vast percentage of the American population that will deny that this is true - but it is. I was really proud of America when they elected a black man and I will be prouder still when it gets beyond the gender issue.
Let's face it - the media and the pundits criticize how a woman dresses, her hair, what she wears, her makeup, what kind of a mother and wife she is or was - whereas any woman's counterparts (all of the other males) just have to show up and when her male counterparts are discussed - the focus is on how they are simply doing their job.
There is not this albatross hanging around any of these men's necks.
The pundits and the extreme groups manufacture all sorts of things about women as not being temperamentally suited for the position, not being feminine and soft enough - that some are trying to be more of a man, or they say that some women are stupid or crazy or when all else fails they start using profanity - she is a blank. I can't think of one woman candidate that has been judged as being suitable whether it was Ferraro, Rice, Albright, Clinton, Palin, Warren - even though some of these women would have been or could be remarkable.
It is unfortunate - but all of these actions are really "code words" for - we want a "man" - "any man" more than the best qualified and very intelligent woman!
Hillary Clinton may be a prospective candidate for President - I do not know what her decision might be - but it would be nice for our daughters and our grand daughters to think they "really" have a shot at being President and that the country is not just giving them a false sense of hope or lip service. And that the oval office is not just a club "for men only".
I read the reviews on this book and there was a campaign of hate for this book - a host of Hillary haters - who I do not believe even read or listened to this book.
I personally found it chock full of interesting tidbits and intelligent discourse - even down to the far out detail of Richard Holbrooke's bright yellow pajamas (which I hope gets you to give this book a whirl) - (lol)
Here is an interesting interview regarding Holbrooke:
http://www.americanacademy.de/sites/d...
Hillary Clinton is a fascinating woman and I think 90% of the polarization that occurs around her is because she is a) a woman b) Bill Clinton is her husband and his past or c) they are just jealous and worried that she is a viable candidate which she frankly could be. The book is worth a read and a discussion. I enjoyed the listen and of course that is just MHO.
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George W. BushUpdated: I thought about this for awhile and thought that this actually was one of the most informative books on foreign policy that I have ever come across - it covered so much and was quite detailed - therefore I rated it an A-.
You have piqued my interest, Bentley. Another book for the unwieldy TBR list!
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Believe me Mary Ellen I understand (smile)
If I do more driving, I would totally do audio books.
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Here is a list of countries that have and have not had women leaders: http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/201...
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4.
by
Cathy N. DavidsonFinish date: February 24, 2015
Genre: Memoir/Travel
Rating: B+
Review: A delightful book by the author describing one of the four times that she lived in Japan with her husband and son as a professor. The title comes from a set of woodblock prints (36 of them originally) by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849).
The woodblock prints which is a series of prints - depicts Mount Fuji in varying seasons/weather conditions from different places/distances.
The series consists in total of 46 prints created between 1826 and 1833. The first 36 were included in the original publication and, due to their popularity, ten more were added after the original publication.
However, Davidson's book really describes the many different views and layers of Japanese culture and her wonderful experiences in Japan - of course paralleling the various glimpses that she had of Japan and its culture through her interactions with its wonderful people.
The experience really transformed her and her family. The author has an esteemed background and has written many other books, etc. as well has won many awards for her teaching. Here is a little about her background: http://www.cathydavidson.com
And this is a really cool video - count the passes - http://www.laweekly.com/arts/cathy-da...
Davidson allowed herself to change with the culture and learned a lot in the process with folks who were very attuned to what occurred in her family which to the Japanese culture is just part of the ebb and flow of life. And for those of you who are wondering - she did finally see Mount Fuji through the clouds.
The reader or listener will learn a great deal about Japanese culture which is not evident to the casual long distance visitor. Worthwhile.
One of the woodblock prints: (see view of Fuji in the background)
Great Wave of Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai
Source for Woodblock Print Information: Wikipedia
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5.
by Robert M. Gates (no photo)Finish date: March 2105
Rating: B+
Review: This was an interesting book from Gates who has served eight (8) presidents in various capacities. As Secretary of War he worked for both President(s) George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Gates described that in working with both presidents he saw similarities - both were aloof and not part of the Washington scene and loathed Congress and neither spent a great deal of time even with members of Congress from their own party. Barack was more cerebral and Gates likened him to Lincoln whereas Bush ruled many times from his gut and did not always listen to the experts which he himself had gathered together. He feels that George W will have to live with the decisions that he made in Iraq and he stated that George W is willing to do it.
One thing that I found interesting is that Gates felt that Obama and his inner circle including Biden did not trust or even like spending time with the military leaders yet Bush was comfortable around them and enjoyed being with them in social circles if that occurred. Obama on the other hand absolutely did not and always thought that there was a hidden agenda or ulterior motive behind every request from the military. Gates did feel that Michelle Obama and Jill Biden did want to help military families and that both Bush and Obama were very kind and generous to the troops regarding their needs.
Gates gave great praise to Rice and Hilary Clinton and enjoyed working with both. He however did not care for Biden or some of Obama's staff and felt that Biden had never been correct about anything to do with foreign policy and that with his perpetual bluster could give bad advice.
Gates also absolutely detested Congress although dutifully attended all necessary meetings. He felt that the greatest doves in Washington oddly enough wore uniforms and that there were a fair amount of "fire breathers" in both the White House staff and Congress who just did not understand that war should be the option of last resort.
There were some lengthy harangues in the book and sometimes I felt that this was the "hidden angry man" who had to bottle up his true feelings to be able to act with civility in his job - he loved the troops and that was apparent. He also felt as do many that McChrystal got the bum's rush from the Obama White House due to an article by a Rolling Stone writer and yet despite some unsubstantiated parts of the article - McChrystal would not defend himself and fight for his job. Gates asked the Obama White House not to relieve McChrystal over this article but Biden was buzzing in the President's ear and there was never an easy relationship with Obama and McChrystal from day one due to Obama's biases regarding the military itself. Even Petraeus who Obama liked better was held at arms length.
I think Gates had had quite enough of Obama's cronies and inner circle and their irreverent, zero protocol and absolute total lack of knowledge of institutional traditions - and above all their rudeness and meddling in foreign affairs which they had no knowledge of.
Gates even stated that he had to have generals forward incessant calls from low level White House staff to generals (never heard of before in previous administrations) so that these generals would not be bothered with the incessant micro management of even the most mundane of issues. Gates' own relationship with both Obama and Bush was businesslike and neither president was liked or feared by Congress unlike LBJ, Ford, Reagan or Bush 41. They both had few friends in the Swamp.
An interesting book which gives the backdrop to so many events dealing with both Afghanistan and Iraq. I listened to this book on audible and there was also a chapter in the audible version which was a live interview with Gates himself about the book. Worthwhile read.
More:
http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2013/r...
Note: I have to say that this sentence bothered me a lot as it did the Washington Post writer - not a great commendation of Obama on military matters although Gates did say that both Obama and Bush were very concerned about the wounded, etc. However to me it shows little concern and zero connection to the soldiers who were serving in Afghanistan at the time. Troubling and unfortunately I believe an honest assessment on the part of what Gates observed. Stunning.
"He recounts his thoughts during a tense 2011 meeting with Obama and Gen. David H. Petraeus, then in charge of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, in the White House Situation Room: “As I sat there I thought: The president doesn’t trust his commander, can’t stand Karzai, doesn’t believe in his own strategy and doesn’t consider the war to be his. For him, it’s all about getting out.”
Source(s) for the Note: The Washington Post and Robert Gates in Duty
Update: One thing that I would like to add is that the Rolling Stones journalist who wrote the article which finished off McChrystal's career was Michael Hastings who died in a fiery high speed car crash in 2013.
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6.
by
Jonathan DarmanFinish date: March 2015
Rating: B
Review: Jonathan Darman’s book Landslide is a great first book by a well known Newsweek journalist. He has a way of presenting history and historical details with the expertise of a skilled news man.
What makes the storyline and the book so engaging is his talent as a journalist.
And that is the style and the reason that this book grabs you immediately and draws you in.
The true historian would have a slow build while the news writer/journalist gets the lead in the first line. Darman knows how to write a good lead and that is why the book just propels itself naturally from chapter to chapter.
The drawback of this approach is that some readers never capture the true essence and factual backdrop of the story or the reference and primary source material behind the lead. Some of the readers felt that this was a missing part rather than simply a more journalistic approach to history.
I enjoyed the book tremendously and would have loved to have dialogued more with its author. One question that I did have is why the prologue was not more aggressively edited by the publisher because the depth and the breadth had more the feel of an advance or an outline of the entire book versus an introductory piece. It was too long, too meaty and could have stood alone as a short story for publication in The Atlantic - I wondered why the book was being condensed in the prologue. I honestly would recommend that you not read the prologue first - too much is given away.
Everyone approaches a book differently but most readers will find that this book is fun, informative and an engaging read. What it is not is a deep historical and heavily researched account such as those that Caro wrote about LBJ. From my viewpoint, Jonathan Darman had one foot in the journalistic camp and another in the historian one. I am hoping that in his next book he decides on which side of the fence he wants to be.
I recommend this book with great confidence and believe that most folks would love this book and would also want to read Mr. Darman’s next effort. I am one of those readers and believe that I will become a great fan of his writing. I do want to add that I am a fan of Landslide - a wonderful first book by Mr. Darman.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free through the History Book Club on Goodreads.
by
Jonathan Darman
by
Robert A. Caro
Robert A. Caro
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by
Paul ScottFinish date: March 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction - but what troubled me about how to enter the genre was that there were some fictitious names for places which Scott used that do not exist. The period's attitudes were spot on but there were places/locations that either Scott renamed or actually never existed.
Rating: A-
Review: This truly is an English War and Peace. A real study of the racial tensions in India during its history. It was so worthwhile that I will complete the Raj Quartet which we are discussing on the site now.
I still have not started my Raj Quartet! So many books, so little time...
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8.
by
Paul ScottFinish date: April 2105
Genre: Historical Fiction - but what troubled me about how to enter the genre was that there were some fictitious names for places which Scott used that do not exist. The period's attitudes were spot on but there were places/locations that either Scott renamed or actually never existed.
Rating: A
Review: This is a great study of the British and Indian relationship within the Raj. The series is a true masterpiece.
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Paul ScottFinish date: April 2105
Genre: Historical Fiction - but what troubled me about how to enter the genre was that there were some fictitious names for places which Scott used that do not exist. The period's attitudes were spot on but there were places/locations that either Scott renamed or actually never existed.
Rating: A
Review: This is a great study of the British and Indian relationship within the Raj. The series is a true masterpiece. I am delighted to be caught up.
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Larry CollinsFinish date: 2105 - forgot to add
Genre: Non fiction
Rating: A
Review: If you only read one book about the history of India - this should be it.
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Paul ScottFinish date: April 26, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction - but what troubled me about how to enter the genre was that there were some fictitious names for places which Scott used that do not exist. The period's attitudes were spot on but there were places/locations that either Scott renamed or actually never existed.
Rating: This will have to wait until after the discussion has taken place here at The History Book Club - I want to be able to participate in the wonderful discussions that Jill leads on this great series so I will not post my rating or my review until after that.
Review: TBA
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12.
by
Paul ScottFinish date: May 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction - but what troubled me about how to enter the genre was that there were some fictitious names for places which Scott used that do not exist. The period's attitudes were spot on but there were places/locations that either Scott renamed or actually never existed.
Rating: This will have to wait until after the discussion has taken place here at The History Book Club - I want to be able to participate in the wonderful discussions that Jill leads on this great series so I will not post my rating or my review until after that.
Review: TBA
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by
Paul Scott
The History Book Club
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Paul Scott (other topics)Paul Scott (other topics)
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