Missive #152 Published 4 November 2023
Drawing from history, psychology, and anthropology, bestselling author Sebastian Junger shows us just how at odds the structure of modern society is with our tribal instincts, arguing that the difficulties many veterans face upon returning home from war do not stem entirely from the trauma they’ve suffered, but also from the individualist societies they must reintegrate into. Read the rest
Missive #151 Published 3 November 2023
7. Nasruddin’s Donkey Crosses the Stream...
Only three essays in this small book that are available in his other books of collected essays. Only selected it to read because of its publication date. Read the rest
Missive #150 Published 2 November 2023
This book is not as entertaining as was Innocents but it does provide a lot of historical information. It also provides some good information about Mark Twain. In some instances contradicting what you might read elsewhere. In this book he writes that he was editor for the Territorial Enterprise but in the language of his day that meant he was a reporter, he was only the 'managing editor' for one week and didn't like it at all. Read the rest
Missive #149 Published 31 October 2023
The first half of the book was understandable, the second half would have been if I were a West Pointer or had a BS from one of the few universities that offer a degree in military science. It is best read with how the Ukraine War has progressed in mind; that may help. Read the rest
Missive #148 Published 27 October 2023
6. BORROWING NASRUDDIN’S DONKEY …
This is a very good book. I think it may be even better than The Fourth Turning published in 1997 which I read not long after it was published. The author is optimistic but he does provide an outline of what we may face if his optimism is misplaced. Recommended! Read the rest
Missive #146 Published 23 October 2023
This is a good book for what I label as current history. The story line is a little disjointed with quick transitions from one country to another but not a serious fault. The author had a media basis imposed by the main stream newspapers that he worked for during the period of the story but he has held it in check rather well for this book. Read the rest
Missive #144 Published 20 October 2023
5. NASRUDDIN, HIS SON, AND THE DONKEY
Nasruddin was going to town with his son. Nasruddin walked while his son rode their donkey. Read the rest
Someone saw them and scoffed. “Lazy boy! Why must your father walk?”
So the son got off, and Nasruddin got on.
Farther down the road, someone else saw them and said, “Cruel father, making your son walk!”
So they both rode the donkey.
Missive #143 Published 18 October 2023
This is a good start to another trilogy. The author seemed to like to write a series of books which I like plus they are alternate history which I also like. The author also seems to like to have strong, active female characters playing the lead in his books which may have captured some female readers which alternate history is usually not their genre. Read the rest
Missive #141 Published 13 October 2023
4. WHY NASRUDDIN RIDES BACKWARDS Read the rest
Nasruddin was riding his donkey to the school while his pupils walked behind him. Nasruddin sat backwards, facing the children.
“You look funny riding backwards!” they said.
Missive #140 Published 11 October 2023
Conservative historian Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, faults what he sees as a diminished respect for American citizenship. What does it mean to be a “citizen”? In a deeply contextualized call to arms, Hanson moves from the ancient Greeks and Romans through the Federalists and Enlightenment philosophers to show how answers to the question have evolved and why he believes cherished ideals about American citizenship are under assault by progressives. As he sees it, “citizens must be economically autonomous.” Unless a sturdy middle class can achieve “material security,” a society divides into “masters and peasants.” Read the rest