by KeithE » Mon Dec 23, 2013 12:26 am
Just finished Sycamore Row by Grisham. It is one of his better ones.
Back a week ago, finished all of by Douglas Amy (as I have promoted herein). It is a real delineator between right and left in this country (angers many, resonates with many). Look at it’s online reviews (6 5 stars, 5 1 stars, no 2,3,4 stars). All in all it clarifies the chasm we have. I have always appreciated many government services that many take for granted, but Part I of the book shows me many ways I had not even considered. Part II (about the Crusade against government starting with Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind in 1953 thru the Tea Party in 2011) is OK but not as complete or insightful as by George Tyler or by Hedrick Smith. Part III was a real treat to this progressive about Revitalizing Democracy and Government starting precisely as I see it with strict public financing of political campaigns. He sees government as watchdog (I use the term accountability), consensus builder (perhaps impossible), law enforcer, acknowledges defense, provider of value-added jobs to grow the economy and more than anything use the power of creative ideas. Full of hopeful visionary ideas that have been proven out in smaller “state=level” programs (not much into learning from international approaches). Highly recommended if you want to understand the progressive mind (or even if you don’t). I do wish it had an index.
My son and daughter have been after me to read for some time. I’m have had some trouble getting into the “colors” of thinking in that book - must be a generational thing. But I’ll give it a longer try and that will probably take me into January. If any of you have read this or a follow-on book my son really wants me to read: by Ken Wilbur, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these new paradigms.
On the side for the last year or two, I have been trying to read 1 Lesson/week (as able on weekends) in by Richard Feynman, et.al. Still in Volume I (lecture 36) of III volumes. I find it interesting, but I’m a geek.
So many books I've bought that deserve reading. I’ll admit that I’m addicted to buying books and although I’m a moderately fast reader, I do not have that much time. Still pondering retirement but having too much fun at work these days. If that ends, I’ll retire.
Informed by Data.
Driven by the SPIRIT and JESUS’s Example.
Promoting the Kingdom of GOD on Earth.