ShelbyLife » Currently Reading

Reading Double Feature

ShelbyLife — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:38:28 +0000

I finally finished President Nixon: Alone in the White House. And have started some new books.

From Hiroshima to Glasnost

About – This book follows the career of Paul Nitze. In his 40+ year DC career, Nitze held positions of power in defense, economic, and strategic policy making. He traveled the globe to analysis the causes and effects of US affairs. His analysis and predictions greatly affected Presidential decision making, US policy, and continue to affects the state of World affairs today.

Notes – Never heard of Paul Nitze before seeing this book. Currently I’m sixty pages into it and already this guy has changed the world. Not only political and economic analysis, but very philosophical too. Very interesting.

The Secret Message of Jesus

About – Jesus’ message wasn’t about ‘get saved’ and wait to get to Heaven when you die. Jesus left heaven and became fully a man, yet also was fully God. He preached a message of repentance. He preached a message of revolution. He preached a message ‘hidden’ in parables and miracles. McLaren explores this message in its Jewish context and why the ’secret message’ of Jesus is worth searching for.

Notes – Haven’t read any Brian McLaren before reading this book either, but had heard of him. Not 100% in favor of writing style, but I like the book and agree w/ the message.

President Nixon: Alone in the White House by Richard Reeves

ShelbyLife — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:58:39 +0000

About – Nixon truly was insane. He goes upstairs and eats cottage cheese w/ ketchup during a State Dinner. He was great on foreign policy, or was it all Kissinger. Look up ‘Elvis’ in the index, and read about the one and only time Elvis visited the White House.
Notes – I’ve been ‘reading’ this book for more than 5 years. I’m picking it up at page 390 (of 610, so w/ 220 left that would still be a decent sized book) and plan to finish it this time….Kissinger was insane and paranoid too.

In My Library

ShelbyLife — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:54:45 +0000

Inspired by @karlrove’s New York Post In My Library article and to add some more interactivity to my site, I am starting a ‘Currently Reading’ category.

I know, there are plenty of services and widgets that I could use for this. But doing it this way will make it more prominent, add subscription capabilities, allow me to update reading progress and notes, and give you the ability to comment. Here are the two books I’m currently reading…

Man of the House

About - Detailed look at local and national politics of the 1900’s from the perspective of Speaker Tip O’Neill.
Notes - Should be required reading for any aspiring politician. Almost finished.

CauseWired

About - Highlights the beginnings and progress of some of the best causes on the Internet.
Notes - Although blogging, etc had been around before, Tom Watson explains that Hurricane Katrina facilitated the mainstreaming of Web2.0 social networking.