Ignorance is bliss. It surely, surely is. If the public knew the truth, well, probably not much would change but I still wish people knew. Just when you think you know a little bit about your home you read a … Read More
Read: A People’s History of the United States
Okay, so I knew in middle school that the version of history I was being taught was a very Americanized version of actual history. I knew it. From day one it just felt wrong. And by middle school, I’d already … Read More
Read: Aldo Leopold’s Southwest
If you don’t already know this name make sure you remember Aldo Leopold. Why? Because we own him for all the wilderness areas in the United States. He’s the human that got this ball rolling. Now, I know the environment … Read More
Read: Goodbye to a River
I loved this book. I had never heard of John Graves. My bad. This book was first published in 1960 but it reads like it could have been written last week. Knowing the great Brazos River was about to receive … Read More
Read: The Woman at Otowi Crossing
This is such an interesting book and Frank Waters is an absolute legend. Sometimes writers are labeled as “regional” and get snobbed out by the New York literary establishment. I have no idea how Waters ranked with that crowd, but … Read More
Read: D. H. Lawrence in New Mexico
This is a very quick read but interesting as it traces first contact between the writer and the magic of Northern New Mexico. This land has seen a constant pilgrimage of artists, photographers, writers and others who know the unique … Read More
Read: The House at Otowi Bridge
This is mandatory reading in these parts, and I believe this should be mandatory reading for all of us. This is a wonderful book covering a story that never got as much play as you would imagine it would. Peggy … Read More
Read: Everything You Love Will Burn
White Nationalism is a truly odd thing. This book does a solid job of helping people like me comprehend the nuances, the ideology and the mission of many of these groups that seem to be coming out of the woodwork … Read More
Read: H is for Hawk
This book came out a few years ago and won several literary prizes. I still managed to avoid it. And then, like a hawk, I pounced. Last week I met a gallery owner who specializes in ancient, Japanese armor. My … Read More
Read: Deep Creek
I had never heard of Pam Houston. Sam Houston, yes, I’d heard of him, but not Pam. My bad. Apparently, she is famous. I somehow missed this point. But, I’m catching up and I chose a good book to do … Read More
Read: American Meteor
Just get it and read it. I think this is a wonderful book. Came out of nowhere. Apparently, this is a stand-alone book of a three-book series. Norma Lock’s American Meteor. Manifest Destiny, the Civil War, Battle of the Little … Read More
Read: Isaac’s Storm
Man, I’m glad I don’t live in Galveston. Just kidding. I actually really like Galveston. Not only the city itself but the Gulf Coast in general. I love the food, the structure and look of the city, and I used … Read More
Read: Earthquake Storms
Talk about ironic timing. I reserved this book weeks ago, weeks before the most recent California quakes, so the timing is fortuitous, to say the least. Californians are odd creatures. They have trained themselves to look the other way when … Read More
Read: The Monk of Mokha
Is a cup of coffee worth $14? Well, my friends, I’m here to tell you that yes it is. And in some cases, it might be worth even more. Dave Eggers is quite the writer. He’s done numerous books, and … Read More
Read: Natural Born Heroes
A few years ago Christopher McDougall published a book titled “Born to Run.” Shortly thereafter I began to see people running barefoot around the streets and trails of Southern California. “What the heck,” I remember wondering. The popularity of the … Read More
Read: American War
Omar El Akkad gets it right. A slight trend toward the World War Z style story but American War builds upon this idea with its own personal flair. A fictional future, a what if? A second Civil War fueled by … Read More
Read: The Moor’s Account
This book was a Pulitzer Prize finalist which is what piqued my interest. This is a story about the New World told through the eyes of a Moorish slave. Discovery, exploration, death, violence and the terrible themes of the Spanish … Read More
Read: Atlantic
Once again, I’m late to the game. Pretty much everyone I know has read Simon Winchester, but me. Until now. This is a great book. A book about an ocean that reads like an adventure novel. A few things. Winchester … Read More