This is a stunning picturesque book that’s illustrations give you a sense of an abstract Paper Mache placement from fabrics to the page in beautiful cThis is a stunning picturesque book that’s illustrations give you a sense of an abstract Paper Mache placement from fabrics to the page in beautiful colors.
The story takes readers to a pond (a small body of still water formed naturally) that explores pond life. Who lives in the pond? What do they do with their day? How do they grow and develop as creatures and/or plants from something small to mature?
The writing is poetic and thoughtful.
The author also provides notes about the animals and plants that inhabit the pond, which makes this a great learning adventure for kids.
“The National Daily Situation Room would be a permanent organization…It would serve as a management tool by providing intelligence, communications, br“The National Daily Situation Room would be a permanent organization…It would serve as a management tool by providing intelligence, communications, briefing, display and monitor facilities.”
The author is more than a television host of a popular morning show or his own show, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” He is a political commentator and former Democratic advisor. He was also the Communications Director for the 1992 presidential campaign of Bill Clinton before becoming his White House Communications Director. His resume is extensive, and so when this book came out, I thought it would be worth reading. I am glad I did. I now offer you, my review.
He tells us that the “Sit Room” isn’t much to look at, it actually is located in the White House basement. And, to him, it really is quite the modest cramped conference room. It wasn’t until August 2023 that it got a pretty facelift renovation. But (facelift or not) it is what takes place in this room that makes the difference.
The Situation Room began with President John F. Kennedy, and it had some captivating historical moments through the variety of presidents since.
A key statement that caught my eye was shared early on when the author wrote…
“In the six decades since the creation of the Situation Room, it has been the crisis center during America’s catastrophes. The men and women of the Sit Room have dealt with nuclear scares, the assassination of a president and attempts on two others. They stayed at their posts on 9/11, when the White House itself was the target of terrorists. And they tracked and analyzed American wars that cost hundreds of thousands of lives and billions upon billions of dollars. But never before had they dealt with an insurrection against our own government, inspired by the president of the United States.”
How does one feel, reading this paragraph, let alone this last sentence?
“Your allegiance to your country supersedes your allegiance to your role.”
Digest that statement above for a moment. It was uttered on January 6, 2021 by Mike Steigler, an intelligence analyst that worked at the White House.
The author clearly felt concerned as well when he stated, “those dueling loyalties had never been tested like this.”
In the chapter, “Postcards from the Edge” there is more detail on that president’s attitude towards the Situation Room and the problems overall with what occurred during his time in office.
And thus, throughout this book the author shares a lot of dynamic and engrossing Situation Room stories. And these same stories, were not typically or outwardly known to the public. Because these are the stories of what really happened “behind the scenes” regarding the issues we thought we laymen always knew – like when both Presidents Kennedy and Reagan were shot. But as laymen, we clearly did not.
Readers will get an insider view into each president’s attitude toward the Situation Room experience. And, how they viewed their role.
But it wasn’t even about just the various incidents that occurred under their watch. As an example, what will readers learn about President Nixon’s lack of interest in participating in those important Situation Room discussions? And, what circumvented President Carter’s negotiations in getting the hostages out of Iran? Or what really happened in those hours during the 9/11 attacks? Can we even imagine what it took to finally finding Osama bin Laden under President Obama’s leadership?
The author covers the Situation Room through President Biden. The author went through over 100 interviews and intensive research for this book. He also included black and white and color photographs throughout the chapters.
This is a fascinating, easy-to-read, inspiring, page-turning book that almost reads like fiction. For those interested in real history, this will be a worthwhile read....more
As I may have mentioned in some previous reviews, in my youth I had cats. I loved their independence, and they fit my lifestyle as I was learning my oAs I may have mentioned in some previous reviews, in my youth I had cats. I loved their independence, and they fit my lifestyle as I was learning my own way in the world.
This book is a beautiful introduction to cats in a gloriously illustrated way. For anyone who is looking to learn about cats, every corner of the book offers an opportunity to teach. With cute pictorials, information paragraphs that tell anyone everything you would ever want to know about kitten “caboodle” this truly is the book readers will want to add to their personal library.
There is also a page on the zodiac of cats with suggested “cat” names. Interestingly enough, the picture showcased for my birth month of the zodiac, Sagittarius, featured a black and white cat, which was my first cat when I moved out on my own, Patches. How did this book know?
The book also shares feline folklore, fun stories on catnaps, ways to please a cat, when a kitty goes on the prowl, kitty moods, famous cats that have been memorialized in books and music; and, so much more.
For the love of cats, this will be a book that all cat lovers will want in their book collection! Especially since it has cut-out pages that open within. Like peek-a-boo moments with information behind the cut-outs. Children will especially love learning about cats in this way!
“We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what“We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.” – President Barack Obama
I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this one. Not that it didn’t have a relevant message. Its message, if anything was critical. I just wasn’t sure the audience that needed to read it would. My head aches with information overload. But I believe in our country and our world that we can be a better place if we choose to listen to one another, be civil with each other and educate ourselves to the truth of what is happening around us. And as our former President Obama said above, “we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together…”
So, here I am. With you. Again. Reading and discussing another book about an important issue affecting our way of life.
“In a warm information war, the human mind is the territory.” – Renee Diresta, The Digital Maginot Line
First of all, what is disinformation? Dictionary definition:
“False information intended to mislead – especially propaganda issued to manipulate others.”
Disinformation is designed to evoke a strong emotional response to push people toward more extreme views, unable to find common ground with others.
Would you agree?
McQuade was a U.S. Attorney in Michigan from 2010 to 2017. She was a vocal proponent about the effects of disinformation on society. Her point in writing this book is that she believes our democratic freedoms have become susceptible to disinformation.
Would you agree with the author?
I think that is what attracted me to this book in the first place.
Her basic argument is that “we need to have a conversation and common-sense solution to this issue.”
Instead, what she sees is that we are calling each other names, using labels, and retreating to opposite sides, instead of coming up with solutions. And, I think we could agree that is right.
Our country is more polarized than ever.
I saw this one meme on Facebook yesterday. It showed a picture of Obama with the word Hope, a picture of Trump with the word Hate, a picture of Biden with the word Heal and a picture of Harris with the word Grow.
It is easy to understand how each of those individuals became “labeled” with those words. That is the message that they have embodied. It is the message they speak. Think about this a moment.
Let us focus especially on how the message of hate may play out with disinformation.
“In fascist politics, language is not used simply, or even chiefly, to convey information but to elicit emotion.” – Jason Stanley, Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy, Yale University
For McQuade, as she shared more and more about the message of disinformation, and, the more she would speak out, the more she would be threatened with violence. She noted that disinformation and violence are part of the same authoritarian playbook. Her examples noted were quite historically familiar – i.e., Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union.
McQuade shared that “political violence not only eliminates some opponents it also silences others.” And, when that happens, disinformation is ignored. As well as goes unchecked.
McQuade, is unsparing throughout this book, when it comes to Donald Trump, his administration, and his enablers. Considering the “big lie”, the excusers of political violence (the insurrection comes to mind) and the distorters of history, their disinformation spreading is down to a science.
There is a lot of anger in these pages (or, is it just my interpretation of my feelings?). And, I am sure a lot of readers will recognize it, too. Or, am I projecting, again? Especially, since so much of this disinformation is so recent. But again, historically it goes back to Nazi Germany plays, and so forth.
Through her chapters, McQuade shows how the dis-informers gain their power, the tactics they use, how the disinformation works, the dangers of emerging technology, and how vulnerable we are – enough to destroy us as a nation.
Consider the many fact-checkers that come out after every political speech provided.
McQuade provides extensive footnotes to support her subject. She also provides practical solutions to break down the ways disinformation has taken over our lives, and shows readers how we can prevent future attacks on our democracy.
I’d like to believe we can see through the disinformation and find our way to a more rational way of governing ourselves. Moving beyond the hate mongering and returning to a more civil form of communication. Respecting differences and appreciating them, as well. And, perhaps even paying attention to the fact-checking. By knowing when a lie is a lie, is a lie....more
This is the story of mystery writer, Agatha Christie. It showcases her beginning as a child, her motivations for wanting to be a writer, her going awaThis is the story of mystery writer, Agatha Christie. It showcases her beginning as a child, her motivations for wanting to be a writer, her going away to boarding school after her father’s death, her working as a nurse during the war, and her beginnings as a writer.
She didn’t become famous overnight, but when she finally had her manuscript accepted, her first book, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” brought a smile to her face.
This is her story about her observations, about her successes, and how despite not having support to follow her passion to write, this is what she wanted to do, and those of us who love her writing, are grateful she did.
Now, kids can appreciate learning about her in this beautifully illustrated version of her life.
"Let freedom never perish in your hands.” – Joseph Addison
I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this book. Not because I don’t respect this author. On the c"Let freedom never perish in your hands.” – Joseph Addison
I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this book. Not because I don’t respect this author. On the contrary. I find her a brilliant commentator. It is because the more I read, the more informed I become. And, the more informed I become, the sadder I feel about what I see happening around me.
I am writing this review on July 4. Our American Independence Day. We are known as the United States. Today, we are not United. It is troubling how divided we are. And here we are supposed to be celebrating our Independence Day, and yet, there doesn’t feel anything celebratory about it. Everything this day was supposed to stand for feels like we are missing the most important point of all. As an American we would be valuing living in the greatest democracy ever conceived. And yet at this moment, it feels this same democracy is under siege – these rights we value – no longer reflect who we are as a majority people. So, what ideals and values do we hold sacred? What keeps us united? How do we keep hope alive? How do we put our country first? Our Voice Must count for something. November’s vote will be more than important. It will be crucial. Our future matters. How will we find ourselves United again?
Senator Raphael G. Warnock of Georgia wrote the following in his book, “A Way out of Now Way”...:
"I love our country. I love it enough to hold up a mirror so that we might see ourselves in all our beauty, complexity, and imperfection, and work to be better. The work starts with a basic question: Who do we want to be as a nation? Do we lean toward the hopeful, multiracial majority that showed up in Georgia, ready to move forward on January 5? Or do we fall back to the America that showed up on January 6, bitter, destructive, divisive? Reconciling those two Americas is the daunting challenge ahead. I choose the beloved community. That is the kind of world I want for my beautiful children and for yours. I do not believe that those who seek to divide us will have the last word. But that is left to us. We must put forth a vision of America that embraces all of us, all of our children.
In a system deviled by pernicious schemes of voter suppression, we must insist that our democracy belongs not to the politicians and their sponsors but to the people. With vision and courage, we can live up to the promise and the power of our name. We can take all of the broken and beautiful pieces of our complicated American story and weld them together in a new chapter of hope and possibilities. We the people are called to this moment. And as my dad used to say, it’s time to get up, get ready, and put our shoes on. Together, we can make a way out of no way."
Even Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
So, reading “Prequel” was important for me. Reading any of these eloquent souls who care about the direction our country is going is important. It seems every day forward matters. And all I can do is be hopeful not just for America but for the world. And, in this book this author talks. She is helping us look at the past so we can better understand the threats we are facing today.
Are we listening?
She documents what occurred before and during WWII when German agents and Nazi sympathizers attempted to steer the United States away from fighting Germany – hoping they would align with Hitler. And, how this attempt worked to arm fascism in the United States.
“The German propaganda operation in America, according to the first U.S. academic study on the topic, identified these kernels of disturbance as “racial controversies, economic inequalities, petty jealousies in public life,” and “differences of opinion which divide political parties and minority groups.” Even the “frustrated ambitions of discarded politicians.” Germany’s agents were tasked with finding these fissures in American society and then prying them further apart, exploiting them to make Americans hate and suspect each other, and maybe even wish for a new kind of country altogether. A partisan, bickering, demoralized America, the Nazis believed, would be incapable of mounting a successful war effort in Europe. It might even soften us up for an eventual takeover.”
And, it is amazing how much of what occurred was bankrolled by the Nazi regime.
“Hitler was counting above all on racism and religious bigotry to carry the day in the United States, and to set the stage for global domination.” Hitler said. “The great issue was to liberate the world from the poison of democracy, with its degenerating doctrine of liberty and equality.”
But what is even more amazing is how history keeps moving forward. And, how she allows us to see the connections to the present moment.
“One big appeal of fascism, if nothing else, was its unapologetic embrace of cruelty. Cruelty toward others, coupled with hypersensitivity toward any slight to oneself.”
This is a powerful and captivating work of history, past and present. Fortunately, through her telling, she shows us that there were and still are the fighters, against the fascist movement. Civil rights. Women’s movement. LGBTQ movement and others who transform the way Americans think about equality. As well as, political action groups. Her book gives us hope. And, hope is certainly something we need.
Still, we are in a place of urgency. We cannot ignore the present threat. And, we have to hope we can stop this one.
I recommend this book highly to those who believe in democracy and finding our voices in November. And, for those who live outside the United States, this book will also be an invaluable historical lesson....more
I use to keep all my books. And I had thousands of them. Those were the days it was just me in my little insulated world. Before having a husband or cI use to keep all my books. And I had thousands of them. Those were the days it was just me in my little insulated world. Before having a husband or children. Just me and my books and my cat, Patches. And every time I would move, it would be me and my books and Patches. And the moving would be quite the “heavy” adventure.
After years of hauling books, I began to wonder what I was holding on to with these memories. I had read the books over and over again, or sometimes I was just finished with the book after one reading. Eventually I began to let go. Of my books.
But there were some books I kept. Mostly children’s books because I loved reading them with my grandchildren. And now, I just love looking through them now and again. For whatever reason, children’s books have a way of maintaining a special place, don’t you think?
The other day I received a large donation of children’s books to my Little Free Library Shed and this one was included. I thought, oh how fun it would be to imagine the type of foods that the various characters in Peter Rabbit’s world would love to eat.
And that is really what this book is about, except with recipes included. In this book!
There are buns, and vegetables and cabbage and carrot coleslaw and blackberry pudding and biscuits, and tea-time drinks, and so much more, hitting on all the types of meals that would include…breakfast and lunch and dessert.
What is special about this lovely little book, is that the recipes are laid out so that parents or teachers can easily prepare them with children. Which opens the adventure of reading and cooking with kids!
The other part of what makes this book so accessibly precious is that those that are into The Peter Rabbit stories, can appreciate that the characters are beautifully illustrated in this book, as well.
I would recommend reading a Peter Rabbit character story and then making one of the recipes from this book with the child/ren. It would make for a fun learning and teaching experience.
Reading Level: Age 3 – 7 years – Pre-school – 2nd grade...more
In many ways, I feel like I am in a race against time as I read and write about what we are facing in our country. I am still in “shock” awe by what I am witnessing. A man running for the most important office in the United States of America receives a guilty verdict and becomes a convicted felon. And yet, people gather in support of him. He lies, he is a fraud, he is a convicted rapist. And yet, people continue to support him. He is an insurrectionist, and he is an obvious racist. And yet, people continue to support him. He spews out hate. And yet, people continue to support him.
Why?
There is so much information that I have read that gives me so many reasons as to why people choose to fall under the spells of con men. I understand, and yet, I am perplexed. So, seeking more information, I chose to heed Casey’s recommendation, and read this book.
And, this book helped to provide another point of view. An interesting, rather frightening, yet important and significant view of what could possibly compel humanity to fall under the spell of a con man.
This well-researched book was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist. It is written by a New York Times journalist. He is giving us a devastating account of the inner-manipulations of how social media empires such as Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Twitter (to name a few), have impacted viewers by disinformation that is easily placed on their platforms.
Typically, this information is made up of invented accusations, often against minorities, and, usually political in nature. And, we can see, and, have seen how social media has been responsible for conjuring mass fear and anger.
When you tell enough people lies, soon the lies sound like truth. And thus, individuals who con, amass followers in droves. Because the ones who have been driven to follow have lost their ability to see through the lies.
Why?
They have been intentionally manipulated.
Fisher shows how Google and Facebook and others have monetized their algorithms to promote hyper-partisanship, which drives divisiveness, which drives engagement, which drives advertising revenue. Because it is all about making money to them. Thus…intentional manipulation.
Fisher shares that YouTube, as an example, doesn’t just polarize political discourse and spawn conspiracy theories; by design they elevate extreme content, allowing “crazies” to find one another – and even ushering some of that recklessness to occur.
The question becomes for any of us – why are we choosing to be manipulated? We are/could be a fairly educated society. Why allow the con man to out con us? Why do we allow ourselves to be gullible? We should know better.
But then, the deeper questions might be…
What is this attraction to hate and violence? Is this really what is fueling the chaos?
“We enjoy being outraged. We respond to it as a reward.”
Fisher is being brilliant here. He wants us to be, as well. We don’t need to be conned. He is asking us to critically think.
“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” – Atwood H. Townsend
One of“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” – Atwood H. Townsend
One of the things I loved doing most with my grandsons, J and L was reading with them. They live in Texas and I live in California. So, between my youngest son and daughter-in-love we made an arrangement that during the school year, my grandsons would FaceTime read to me for a few minutes once a week. This has been going on for years now.
It has been a joy to “read” so many books with my grandkids over these past several years. And to create such a close relationship with them, even though we live such a distance from each other.
My oldest grandson, J is now in high school. We have since moved on to chat time with Oma (that is me). But to gain this chat time status, and ability to feel secure about talking about life in high school comfortably, it started with being able to read books with me.
In Miller’s book, there are some interesting teaching tools, i.e., library lists, and student forms. Through-out the book she has different self-reflection activities.
This book feels like she is speaking to the educator/parent in all of us. But mostly, her strongest intention is to build lifelong readers. By starting them young.
And certainly, if we surround readers with books early, it creates a condition for learning.
When my oldest son and his family used to live locally (they have since moved to Oregon), I would take my granddaughter A for one day a week to my local public library. They had the Children’s Librarian who had pre-school story hour, and we would sit in the audience with the other kids and listen to her tell the story of the day. A would just love it. Afterwards, we would walk around the children’s section of the library and pick out different books and sit in a corner and read together.
Recently, while chatting on FaceTime, as A was reflecting on her upcoming high school graduation, she shared a moment of how she remembered those experiences we shared. My eyes watered. Pass the Kleenex please.
Miller believes kids need to choose books that interest them, and schools and parents need to support children reading books that will engage their learning. Especially a love of learning. She also felt that mostly children need to be given time to read. And talk about what they have read.
I agree. I loved those moments when J and L would share how they felt about the books they were reading. Especially the ones they weren’t reading to me.
This book gets us to think about all the ways we need to love reading again. Because…in truth, there are so many distractions to take children away from reading.
As parents, or even as fellow readers, we need to find more ways to enhance the experience and joy of reading again among children in our communities. Instead of playing a video game, or streaming television, can we encourage them to read a book instead?
This book provides a sense of hope that perhaps with enough support and interest we can raise a new generation of readers.
So, what can we do…
We have to continue to support our libraries, our schools and children to be curious. To put books in front of them. To encourage reading. To let them love books (instead of banning them). To be engaged with ALL books. To let teachers teach by allowing reading to be a focal point of the teaching/learning experience.
“Reading is not a duty, and has consequently no business to be made disagreeable.” – Augustine Birrell...more
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” – Maya Angelou
There is something to be said about an author who teaches his readers. And for tha“When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” – Maya Angelou
There is something to be said about an author who teaches his readers. And for that I am immensely grateful to this one.
Politics can truly be polarizing, which makes me want to understand it more. And so, once again I found myself with my sticky index tabs fascinated with so much of what the author was sharing.
“Oh my, really!”
I would find myself saying to no one in particular. I was just so intrigued by his thought process and research. It made so much sense.
Political Polarization Definition – let us start here.
“When an electorate’s attitudes towards political issues, policies, celebrated figures or other citizens are neatly divided along party lines.”
So how does it start?
And that is the basis of this book. To answer the question.
“How American politics became a toxic system, why we participate in it, and what it means for our future.”
Which didn’t just begin at the point of Trump, although it felt like it. Even Hillary Clinton in her book, *“What Happened” asked the same questions we wondered, which the author pointed out here as well…
“…he lost the popular vote by millions of ballots, and his electoral college margin rested on a sliver of population. As Clinton writes, “if just 40,000 people across Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania had changed their minds,” she would have won.”
But the real question was how did a candidate “who radiated contempt for the party he represented and unfitness for the job he sought – get within a few thousand votes of the presidency in the first place?”
We can even ask the same question again in 2024. Because we truly are being faced with it again in America, aren’t we?
What the author is showing readers is the key to negative partisanship.
Behavior.
How to create negativity towards the “other side.”
He said, “we became more consistent in the party we vote for not because we came to like our party more – but because we came to dislike the opposing party more.”
Civil Rights Movement. Religious Divide. Demographics change.
We all have our identities. Family. Community. Ethnic. Racial. Religious. Etc. Whatever we identify with, it affects us. Our decisions.
Allegiances created. Allegiances divided.
“How we feel matters much more than what we think, and in elections, the feelings that matter most are often our feelings about the other side.”
And then of course there are politicians. And politicians are going to be responsive most to their base – “the ones who vote for them, volunteer for them, donate to them.”
So, in essence the author’s argument becomes, we are more inclined to stay true to our group than to be practical about what is good for our country. In other words, let’s follow this person that represents “my” group, as opposed to seeing the “truth” of who that person is…a criminal, divisive, authoritarian, disordered, amoral individual who will destroy our country and democracy. (Yes, you can probably imagine who I am describing. I am obviously not holding back.)
So, how do we overcome this polarization? The author has a few answers. He believes the problems are more cultural than structural. However, hope rests with structural reforms.
Many of his suggestions have been offered before, like…
Eliminate the Electoral College. Eliminate the Senate filibuster. Allow Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to become states, and take steps to make the House more reflective of the country.
As much as I agree with his suggestions, I think the only way for any of this to happen would be for the country to become more civil, aware of the current cancer in our political system and remove it outright.
Maybe then we can find a way towards thoughtful discourse and positive change.
Still…for anyone who is interested in finding a way through the political landscape, to seeing positive change in American politics, or any politics throughout the world, for that matter, there are two things, people can do.
One…read books like this. And, two, Vote. Preferably, vote hate out of office.
“Let it never be said that the dedication of those who love freedom is less than the determination of those who would destroy it.” – Margaret Thatcher“Let it never be said that the dedication of those who love freedom is less than the determination of those who would destroy it.” – Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
“We must abide by our duty to the Constitution, and demand that our political leaders do the same. Politicians who minimize the threat, repeat the lies, or enable the liar are not fit for office. Most importantly, we cannot make the grave mistake of returning Donald Trump – the man who caused January 6 – to the White House, or to any position of public trust, ever again.”
This book obviously has a lot to do with American Politics. But even if you don’t live on this side of the world, we all know everyone is affected by what happens in America.
In all candidness: I am not a Republican. This author wasn’t even on my radar until she was one of the few House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in his second impeachment trial. And then I started to pay attention to her.
Of course, I knew she was second in command to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the time. But even then, what she had to say had little relevance to me. We didn’t think or feel the same about what I believed was important in government’s role in supporting the people through executive function and regulatory power, economic policy guidance and/or budgetary acts.
Until that pivotal moment in politics. The second impeachment of Trump. And then Congressperson Liz Cheney stood out to me. And, when McCarthy blatantly removed her from her leadership role with the power of the Republican votes behind him, she still found a way to stand tall amongst her cowardly colleagues.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi knew that Representative Cheney would be the right person to not only sit on the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, but be a worthy second Chair.
To take on the job of serving on this committee would have major ramifications for the author as she suspected, she lost her re-election bid for Congress in 2022. But she felt it was worth it, and obviously her role on this committee, and the respect she has garnered continues to make up for that loss. As an example, this book sold out on the day it was released, and has remained an instant bestseller.
So, even if we do not speak the same language politically, her respect for the rule of law, and Constitution of the United States, garnered my appreciation for her. I truly felt she served our country honorably.
So, when her book came out, I put my name on my local library waiting list on December 23, 2023 to read it. I picked it up on May 3, 2024 and could not put it down.
The true question for me to answer was, why read and review a book in which a large percentage of this country is still under the spell of this charlatan Trump? They are the ones who should be reading this book. Not me. I already know and understand the threat of Trump to our country. I just couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t want to stop supporting him because they should see him as a threat, as well.
Still, I was compelled to read it. And, so here I am. Reading into the night. Giving up precious sleep on one night. Because I was that captivated by what I already knew. And now, I have closed the last page. It took me a couple of days, but I was invested.
Upon reading this book, how did I feel?
I was…Curious. Upset. Angry. Frustrated. Scared. Uncertain. And yet hopeful that maybe, just maybe because of this author, and others like her, they will find ways to convince the electorate to make sure that Trump will never see the halls of our government again. Nor will any of his craven minions be re-elected either.
Her book is her experience in government during a pivotal time. Her table of contents lays it out – The Plot Against America; The Attack; A Plague of Cowardice; No Half Measures; The Relentless March of Evidence; an Epilogue, Acknowledgments and notes.
She is clear about her message.
“This is the story of the moment when American democracy began to unravel. It is the story of the men and women who fought to save it, and of the enablers and collaborators whose actions ensured the threat would grow and metastasize.”
Of course, it is also the story of educating the world about what Trump did. And how we as Americans can hope to change any future outcome.
“The end of our story hasn’t yet been written. The threat continues. The outcome now is in the hands of the American people and our system of justice.”
Will justice prevail? Will the voters save us?
Judge J. Michael Luttig offered one of the most critical statements to the committee and heard by the American people that still rings true…
“Donald Trump and his allies…are a clear and present danger to American democracy.”
In her own speech at the end of the committee hearings, Cheney shared…
“…Every American must consider this: Can a president who is willing to make the choices Donald Trump made during the violence of January 6th ever be trusted with any position of authority in our great nation again?”
We the people.
We must not forget.
“Every one of us – Republican, Democrat, Independent – must work and vote together to ensure that Donald Trump and those who have appeased, enabled, and collaborated with him are defeated.
This is the cause of our time.”
We can’t help but feel after reading everything that Cheney shared, that she and many of her colleagues “all knew the truth” about Trump in 2019 (during the first impeachment – she voted “no”), just as she says they did after January 6. Had the Republican majority acted the first time, would that have saved us from him now?
She is however, a woman of substance and strong beliefs, imperfect in providing all the answers, but clearly passionate about her cause.
But her writing although filled with lawyerly wisdom regarding the constitution and criminal statutes which is key, is also wrought with anger and self-righteousness. In many ways, duly earned. This may or may not engage all readers.
And yet…she has spoken. I hope she is heard. Loud and clearly by those who need to listen....more
I actually started reading this around the same time we were watching the series on Apple TV+. For anyone who has access to the series, I recommend itI actually started reading this around the same time we were watching the series on Apple TV+. For anyone who has access to the series, I recommend it highly. The acting is superb and the nuances to what is happening in today’s American politics, cannot be ignored.
Back to the book. I forgot to add it to my currently reading pile. So, it may appear as if it took me hardly any time to read a 388-page paperback novel. Not true. I was immersed within this one, at the same time I was watching the series, even as I was reading other books.
To say I wasn’t riveted, curious, compelled, disturbed, or captivated would be an understatement.
This is a fascinating piece of history that needed to be told, and even as it was published in 2006, the fact that this television series is front and center in 2024, is a strong statement to the importance of this story.
The author is also clear in his note to readers that…
“This story is true. All the characters are real and were alive during the great manhunt of April 1865. Their words are authentic.”
The book also provides historical illustrations, an epilogue, as well as, a detailed acknowledgements, bibliography, notes and index section.
And, there is a bonus section which includes…about the author, the chase timeline, a conversation with the author, a couple of passages from Booth’s diary, pictures of fellow conspirators, and group discussion questions.
I have to believe this would make for a very interesting book group selection.
For those who are not clear, this story is about the manhunt for the murderer of President Abraham Lincoln, and his fellow conspirators. Although John Wilkes Booth clearly wanted everyone to know that he was the one who pulled the trigger, it wasn’t just John Wilkes Booth who was responsible for President Lincoln’s death.
So, this 12-day manhunt will be so much more that this one bullet and the death of a remarkable President.
Now, considering the television series of the same name, which was rather action-packed, and according to multiple reviewers, they either loved it or not – keep in mind it was not a documentary. It was just a well-acted story (or not) based on the research and whatever documents were still available, imagining what happened before and after Lincoln’s assassination (according to Swanson’s book) of the manhunt for his killer/conspirators.
And, with this story (the book), he created an action-adventure version of the assassination’s aftermath. Which makes this an exciting non-fiction book that reads like a fiction story. My favorite kind of non-fiction book.
You will have to forgive me if I have a tendency to compare the television series to the book within this review. Since I was reading and watching both at the same time, I had the opportunity to be evaluative concurrently.
I found the character of John Wilkes Booth to be portrayed as someone who was an attention-seeker. He appeared to be a person who needed to be the center of attention – someone who must be adored and loved and known by everyone. He wanted to be infamous. Not just famous. Coming from an acting family, it made sense. To want to do it in this criminal and egregious way, was devastating and sad for the country, obviously.
But at the same time, it was a divided country, and the civil war had just been ended. I certainly am not making excuses for him. Just creating an awareness of the time. He believed in his cause, and those that were helping him during those 12 days on the run, were also supporting him in that cause.
The author does an excellent job of creating a chronicle of events leading up to the assassination, being at the Ford’s Theater, the mayhem at the home of Secretary of State, William Seward who plays a significant role in both the book and series in seeking Booth and prosecuting the conspirators.
Mostly, the climatic moments will be the showdown for when the standoff comes with Booth and his faithful accomplice, David Herold and the cavalry forces.
In gaining perspective through Swanson, we come to understand so much of this side of history, including Booth and his accomplices, that we wonder, can we finally get to a place not to empathize with him, but, as the author suggests, forgive him, perhaps?
So many questions burned inside me, as I read through this book, and as I watched the series. And even as I considered our own democracy at threat today.
And yet, there is still the triggerman.
“John Wilkes Booth did not get what he wanted. Yes, he did enjoy a singular success: he killed Abraham Lincoln. But in every other way, Booth was a failure. …He did not become an American hero, but he elevated Lincoln to the American pantheon. And, in his greatest failure, Booth did not survive the manhunt. He wanted desperately to live, to escape, to bask in the fame and glory he was sure would be his.”
Once he was wounded and weakened, he “had been hushed and could no longer be heard past the first row.”
Tragedy all the way around.
Page-turner. Historically interesting and relevant. All these years later....more
“I realized that the time had come for me to cross over from scholarship and punditry to fight for the things I believed in: to go into politics or re“I realized that the time had come for me to cross over from scholarship and punditry to fight for the things I believed in: to go into politics or resolve just to be a sideline critic.”
Full Disclosure. I admire this man. Congressperson Jamie Raskin, who I will now refer through the rest of this review simply as the ‘author.’ I sat riveted every time he spoke during the Impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump and during the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
I couldn’t help but respect his tenacity, relevance and eloquence in what he would bring to the floor each time he spoke. I found him to be a brilliant, moral man. What he had to say resonated with me. So, when I heard he had written a book, I was interested and ordered it from my local library. I have read it and now I am bringing my review to Goodreads.
This story is heart-wrenching as much as heart-inspiring. There was also a sense of urgency as it related to our state of democracy.
Even as he shared in his preface about the coup of January 6, 2021, he felt that “our fundamental expectations about the peaceful transfer of power in America, the norms of our constitutional democracy had already been overrun by years of political propaganda, social media disinformation, racist violence, conspiracy theorizing and authoritarian demagoguery.”
And here we are, April 2024! Have we not learned any lessons?
As I continued to read, I found myself flooding the pages with sticky index tabs so I could remember the quotes that stood out for me. Soon his book was immersed with color! How could I put all these thoughts into a simple review that you would take the time to read? My heart was beating so fast. I clearly was so invested here.
Mostly, I was encouraged by the author’s heart-full look at the world. His love of family. Through heartbreak and beyond. His love of country. His immense knowledge and his belief in us.
“We can renew. We can rebuild.”
But I was also filled with immense emotion, because he wasn’t just a Congressperson to me now. He was someone who was sharing his life openly on these pages for us to read. And I could feel his feelings so deeply. I never expected that I would be reaching for Kleenex, as well.
Because it was those personal parts that really got to me. And I found myself asking…
How do we even begin to talk about the loss of a beloved child to suicide?
“Please forgive me. My illness won today.”
We don’t ever think of our world without our children. We grow them to be there long after we are gone, not for them to leave before us, especially in this way.
We read about Tommy’s struggles, and how the family worked to cope and help. And of Tommy’s brilliance and brightness, despite his own fading light through depression. And, the impact his life and death had on everyone, especially the author – which would include garnering forgiveness and healing.
Moving on into the political side of this book, it is fascinating to watch January 6 unfold from an insider’s viewpoint. The strength of Speaker Pelosi as she “invoked a message of unity against insurrection and terror and said we would not allow any violence to go unpunished.”
And when it was clear to everyone that Trump not only incited the insurrection – the coup – and organized it, “and was the key actor all along,” what would anyone eventually do about it?
Some thought that invoking the Twenty-Fifth Amendment would be the best resolution. Afterall, it was established as a bipartisan resolution to address when a President has gone off the rails, as this one seemingly had. But it is sad to note the cowardice of Trump’s Cabinet to do anything about him.
And even more so, that this current Republican party would even reconsider allowing this person to be their presumptive nominee to ever be near the halls of our government again.
By Chapter 7, I felt exhausted. It wasn’t as if I didn’t already know everything that was shared and experienced. That I hadn’t seen it in video or read about it in countless newspaper stories.
But this time, I felt as if I were present in the room. The author’s writing was so clear and excruciatingly explicit.
I could literally feel the tension. Experience the anger, shock, disappointment, trauma and mourning all over again.
What Trump did on January 6, before that day and beyond, was brutal. And to even consider that people are forgetful about it and still support him today breaks my heart. How can they not care about the circumstances of his actions? The sheer madness of that man? The criminality? The con?
By Chapter 8 we begin another impeachment of Trump. We know how that turned out. The author shows how Speaker Mitch McConnell could have changed everything if he would have voted guilty and convinced his fellow Republicans to do the same.
Imagine this…if he were actually convicted from his impeachment, we would not be in a position of having to reconsider Trump as a candidate today. McConnell knew Trump was complicit in an insurrection, he even said so. And it was proven through documentation, witness testimony and visual evidence.
In his epilogue, the author shows that they are just beginning the process for the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. For those of us who watched it, read the report and reviewed it (I did), you can’t help but feel tremendous respect for the thoroughness that went into their work. Currently, Trump is facing numerous criminal and civil charges, along with others who have been cited for their involvement in his deceptions.
Congressperson Raskin also shares…
“In an authoritarian society, a dictatorship, or a failed state, the mental and emotional health of the population is, at best, irrelevant to the government, and it may in fact be dangerous to the government. The ruling class is no more interested in uplifting the mental and emotional health of the population than it is interested in promoting mass education, public literacy, or the physical health of the public.”
This is a good warning for us to take into consideration going into the November elections.
And yet, we are also given a sense of beautiful hope, too. Because this is where the author truly shines. His love of democracy. And his belief in us.
“…in a democracy, the mental health of the population is essential and vital to the success of a society. …we all benefit when we are all at our physical and mental best.”
When we are at our mental and physical best, we thrive. Yes, we do.
Yes, this is a political story. But it is also a story of love. Love of family and country. And yes, I probably sound a bit biased because of my respect for the author. And I do recommend you read it....more
I was thrilled when I saw this one so prominently displayed in the children’s section of my local library.
It is clear from the beginning that this isI was thrilled when I saw this one so prominently displayed in the children’s section of my local library.
It is clear from the beginning that this is a teaching book. One that hopes to change the landscape of our thinking about racism. Of how we can teach children to think and have explicit conversations about race and equity.
Through beautiful, colorful illustrations and nine lessons, the author outlines those nine ways to be an antiracist baby.
I can’t emphasize enough how much this book is such a powerful teaching tool that needs to be available in all homes and libraries throughout the world!
The author provides a note to parents and caregivers at the back of the book that helps with conversation about race and racism with young children. ...more
Another book that came up on my Facebook memory page that was not posted on my Goodreads reviews. I am now bringing it here.
Who wouldn’t want four frAnother book that came up on my Facebook memory page that was not posted on my Goodreads reviews. I am now bringing it here.
Who wouldn’t want four friends as your tour directors across China?
Ning, Cai, Na and Song are available to take readers across China’s thirty-four provinces, municipalities, and other regions in this fun and fact filled illustrated guided tour.
Each page provides interesting information on the types of animals, or foods or mineral resources that are popular in that area.
There is so much to learn for kids and adults, that it makes for a great reference tool, as well.
This is a wonderful donation by the authors to our Little Free Library Shed. ...more
I first became aware of this book when actor, Mark Harmon was in an interview around the time he announced his retirement from his CBS NCIS series, asI first became aware of this book when actor, Mark Harmon was in an interview around the time he announced his retirement from his CBS NCIS series, as the popular, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He tells of how he was writing and researching this book with his technical adviser, retired NCIS veteran Leon Carroll, Jr. Because of his experience on the show, he wanted to go back and find out more about how the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) came to be.
He didn’t realize then, how this was to become a passion project and that it would take him through piles of research back to WWII.
Which truly is the beginning. Because that beginning becomes a true story of a big crime – the Japanese attack that ignited World War II, and how these early days of what use to be known as the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) would eventually birth itself into what is now known as NCIS.
And with any story, there is a hero. And this hero is ONI spy, Douglas Wada, Hawaiian born, to Japanese immigrant parents. He was recruited specifically to sleuth out Japan’s spies in Honolulu. Unbeknownst to Wada, he actually did see the smoke on that fateful day of December 7, 1941, but it was the person working at the lighthouse that announced to him that the attack had actually happened. Still Wada was the first Japanese American ever to work in intelligence in American government, and he now had a job to do. Notify everyone else!
Also within the story is Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese spy sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information on the U.S. fleet. Their dueling stories anchor the gripping depiction of the outbreak and upheaval of the beginnings of WWII stateside.
Reviewing long-buried historical documents to bring forward truths not before known, the authors provide this inside view of history.
And through their lens, as readers we come to discover…Deception. Danger. High stakes. Naval intelligence in its infancy.
That even as a non-fiction story, this one is a fast-paced, interesting page-turner.
One last thing, for those of you who are fans of the television program, NCIS, if you haven’t already wondered…
The character of NCIS Director Leon Vance, who is played by American actor Rocky Carroll (no relation to the co-author, Leon Carroll) is partly named after him. Another interesting tidbit, as the character, he also chews on a toothpick, which is inspired by Carroll’s real-life habit.
This book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed last summer. I chose not to list it on Goodreads as something I was currently readingCatching up…
This book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed last summer. I chose not to list it on Goodreads as something I was currently reading, because I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. But I was reading it. Very, very slowly. To be clear, this was another big book. And I am not a fan of big books. This was the paperback version. There are 5 parts to it. An Author’s note and acknowledgement, notes, bibliography and an index. 591 pages for the story. From the author’s notes – onward, 721 pages. That is an investment of time.
And, this book was the inspiration for the major motion picture “Oppenheimer,” which just won the Academy Award this past Sunday. Also, this book, was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2006. And you already heard my rant about Pulitzer’s when I discussed the book, “Trust” in that review. Thankfully, I liked that book.
So, how did I feel about this one?
Well, it is obviously voluminous. And it is truly a multifaceted portrait of a complicated person that gets to his essential nature. Brilliant. Innovative. Competitive. Inscrutable leader. A mixture of charisma and cruelty.
Readers will see him in the midst of Communism in the 1930’s, politics (think the McCarthy era), and ethics questionability. This book is a thorough examination of all things, overwhelming in its detail.
Its title comes from a quiet little Santa Fe office that served as a gateway to the hidden research colony at Los Alamos.
And then there is Hiroshima. Were they really back slapping and showing triumph for that bomb? And then the fallout from it. How Oppenheimer feels about what he contributed to, well, that is for readers to contemplate.
I have yet to watch the movie. This book was a journey. Not easily taken.
Even though this book was written in 2006 and also read about the same time, it is interesting to note that it was also donated to my LittCatching up…
Even though this book was written in 2006 and also read about the same time, it is interesting to note that it was also donated to my Little Free Library Shed recently. Obviously, what is happening presently in Gaza and Israel, means that this is a conflict that still resonates with people.
Since the book was recently donated, it gave me an opportunity to re-visit the book again and bring my review to Goodreads.
Premise: In 1967, nearly 20 years after his family was forced to leave their home, Palestinian Bahsir al-Khairi was able to finally return. Thus began his friendship with an Israeli woman named Dalia Eshkenazi. This is their true story, which was first told in a 1998 radio documentary on NPR’s Fresh Air.
Now, through extensive research, the author gives readers the experience of the house, the lemon tree in the title, the families, and the complex history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
What is particularly interesting is the symbol of the lemon tree, which I won’t spoil here – that is an experience for readers to explore on their own.
The story is rich in detail and research and beautifully portrayed. And considering we are still in conflict all these years later, the word that comes to mind over and over in this readers mind is…
Hope. For an end to conflict. To live in peace with security and dignity.
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