Book Reviews: (5)

Man, I've been remiss on the book review front, probably a few I'll miss but:

The Art of War, Sun Tzu (translation: Lionel Giles).

If you haven't yet read this one, do. Sun Tzu* has got some profound information to share with you. The
edition I read includes some commentaries from the great commentators but not all so now much like the
abridged version of Gulag Archipelago, I will, in the end have to go out and buy that too. While some of the commentators are wide of the mark some of what they have to say is very insightful and illuminates otherwise inscrutable passages.

One cannot but wish that more of our "leaders" had read this and spent even a moment reflecting on some of its more powerful lessons.

Not gonna go too into this one because I won't do it justice. I rarely (read: never) mark up or dogear
books but my copy of The Art of War looks like a kids coloring book.

Four out of four Lemons. Any quibbling I have is with the translator and commentators: Sun Tzu is genius.
Read it.

*and the folks included in it who may or may not have been Sun Tzu

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God and Caesar in America, Gary Hart

Yes, that Gary Hart. This is an essay more than a book (86pgs) and while you could crush it out in a
couple of hours I enjoyed it and spread it out over a fair amount of time to digest and pick up the threads
of its subject matter in the media/national discourse.

While Hart's worldview is fundamentally different from mine (I think we do hold many of the same political
beliefs and goals though) his take on the deliberate insertion/invasion of religion into American politics
is right on. A frank warning to us all on the dangers of the mix of religion and politics.

Sometimes he is maybe a little brief (but it is an essay) in his dismissal of certain points but
otherwise he nails them succinctly and beautifully. In general though, I think that Hart's pretty well pinned the issue of the "religious right" as it emerged in the late 20th/early 21st centuries.

It is also IMVHO educational/interesting for people from a great many points on the political spectrum though likely more appealing to "liberals" and "libertarians" and likely most uncomfortable for those with politically oriented religious fervor.

Two out of four Lemons (as always two is a really good rating, one still being books worthwhile and four for masterworks).

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Tender At The Bone;
Comfort Me With Apples; and
Garlic and Sapphires

Ruth Reichl

These three are reviewed together cause they're very similar and I read them all relatively close together. Could also be called, foodie tales one, two and three. Reads (and basically is) as an extended food oriented memoir. If you like foodie type books (eg: Anthony Bourdain) then chances are you'll like these. Reichl has a fast paced and breezy writing style that sucks you in and pulls you along her life effortlessly. Pt 1. Ruth becomes a cook. Pt 2. Ruth gets her cooking legs and goes through some ugly times (easily the darkest book). Pt 3. Ruth goes to NYC and has fun adventures dressing up to eat out.

These definitely trend toward the chicky end of the machismo spectrum but not so much as to be a guilty pleasure for the men.

Packed full of mouth watering recipes (each chapter ends with one) you get a little bonus for your time, Reichl is the editor of Gourmet so she knows a thing or two about recipes.

Fun books, high art they ain't, fast pleasurable reads? Oh yeah.

One out of four Lemons each (again, that's a good score well worth reading).

Nice, LB. I have to put in a vote for Art of War, too. My version had an introduction by James Clavelle who said exactly that--"This should be required reading for all of our present day global leaders" or something to that effect.

Shogun and Taipan by James Clavelle

These two are simply must-reads. They are long epics of historical fiction as the Far East is explored by the West for the first time. The character development and incredibly sophisticated weaving of aliances, betrayals, strategies and failures will literally alter your thought process. I found my self constantly asking "what would Toranga do in this situation" while at work. Clavelle's understanding of both that period and the mentality of the samaruai is nuts. Taipan carries on the story as the british merchants try to establish themselves on a new island called Hong Kong. Again Clavelle creates these incredibly dynamic characters and pits them against each other on the battlefields of wits, commerce and sabotage. Very cool books and worth the commitment.

both earn 4/4 collars.

Yeah, definitely a great series of books. I really enjoyed King Rat as well.

Shogun, Gaijin, King Rat, Taipan, etc by James Clavelle are bollox. If you want something worth reading try Yoshikawa Eiji's Musashi, Taiko, or Heike. Taiko and Heike are epic novels about two of Japan's greatest and most powerful families in 2 very turbulant eras. Musashi Miyamoto was Japan's most famous samurai and tells about his life. Musashi is a must reader for those interested in samurai and their lives.

One downfall about Taiko and Heike are the overwhelming abundance of names that appear that can be confusing. Once getting into the story a good bit that tends to calm down some.