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March 8, 2008
Call this the ‘recommended reading list’ thread
In an unrelated thread, books with different perspectives on history have been mentioned. Got me to thinking. If you want to share a book that you think is outstanding, maybe we can aggregate a list here. Maybe give the book’s title and ‘category’ — And maybe there can be a tie-in somehow with the soon-to-open Minerva Books? Feel free to submit ideas…
The Age of Turbulence -by Alan Greenspan. On the economy, naturally.
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy. Geopolitcal-economic history in a nutshell from Keynes (WWI) era to 2002 (well, to 2002 in the documentary series, which is available for free via PBS; the book, which preceded the film, was published in the late 1990s and hence missed some issues picked up in the film).
Dreadnaught by Robert K. Massie.
This book gives a detailed description of the international and familial interactions that lead to the First World War. For one example, the Kaiser Wilhelm was the Grandson of Queen Victoria.
Not so much about Battleships as much as the arms race and the people and nations that built them.
This book will give you great insight into European history that effects the region to this day.
Brenda, thanks for the mention, and for suggesting a possible tie-in. I’ll definitely keep an eye on this thread, as it will show a snapshot of what some of the more literate members of our community enjoy. We also publish a monthly newsletter in which we give our readers’ recommendations, either for books or local establishments. Anyone interested in “double-dipping” (i.e. contributing to that in addition to this thread) can email me. We’ll make every effort to tailor our offerings to what the community prefers, and I thank you for giving a venue for that to be aired.
[moderator's note: we tweaked the representation of the email address above to make it harder for spambots to make use of same].
Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II. The End of Civilization by Nicholson Baker. A fresh perspective to stimulate thought & discussion.
ugh…. “Human Smoke”… that’s a nasty image….. but a perfect title.
Might have to check that one out.
I’d be interested in what folks would consider the essential books on Petersburg & Petersburg history.
Petersburg’s Story A History by James G. Scott and Edward A. Wyatt, IV was a pretty good book on the city and its history. One of our neighbors in Richmond got it for us when they found out we were moving here.
A Distant Mirror-by Tuchman. A book for anyone who thinks we have it tough in this day and age. This chronicles the woes of the 14th century–plague, war, famine, and those pesky brigands.
Watch Ov’em Gene is the title of the historical fiction authored by Lee Stith and co-authored/edited by Akin Smith.
Above ground or underground, trendy or seedy, it was the lifestyle of the business and commercial district that served the Black community.
This book takes a look at some of the characters of the famous triangle area in Petersburg, aka “The Avenue,” during the 1950’s and 60’s.
Currently on sale at The Seige Museum, it can also be found on the shelves of the Petersburg Public Library.
A recommendation:
My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir.
by Clarance Thomas
When I was still an adolescent, the quality of writing was paramount to me. I could read soul-crushing fiction such as “The Trial” and be delighted, as long as the prose was outstanding.
At some point, I realized that the environment I choose, and the ideas I chose to put in my head, effected me, and that some of our world’s best writers were also some of our world’s most unwise, and emotionally, the most disturbed.
Clarance Thomas has been almost totally defined in the public imagination by the far left. As a youngster, I first heard about him in the context of being a sexual harasser, and an example of tokenism — a betrayer of the concept of tokenism no less, since someone with dark skin is OBLIGATED to be reflexively, pigheadedly, liberal.
You never heard too much about the man after that, and I never knew much either.
Years ago, I was told by a very well educated, and extremely liberal lawyer that the man was “practically illiterate,” and the contempt in his voice basically told me that that was all I needed to know about Justice Thomas, and why he was where he was in Washington.
There you go.
I heard contrary arguments defending and praising him, but these opinions came from the far right.
Every great person is flawed, but given our many tendencies to be bad as people, it truly is a miracle when anyone approaches greatness in their lifetime, especially when the only advantage one is given early in life is a firm moral compass.
This book gives Clarance Thomas a chance to give the world a deeper understanding of who he is, and why he thinks the way he does.
I don’t agree with everything he says, but no one can read this book and think the man is merely a male-pig, an uncle-tom, or not a Master of English due to stupidity.
If you have any human feeling at all, his life story will inspire you. It will change your opinion about the man, if not the message.