Book Reviews

I have been blowing through a lot of books recently. Here are my reviews of books I've read since the beginning of 2006:

My FBI - Louis J. Freeh
Freeh writes a rather egotistical account of his time as head of the FBI during Clinton's administration. There are some interesting bits in this but not much new for anyone who was paying attention during the 90's. The history books will judge Clinton. I hope I'm still alive when they do.

Last Dance - John Feinstein
This book track the four teams who make it to the 2005 Final Four in St. Louis. Feinstein compares those in the 2005 event with those coaches and players from past Final Fours. Enjoyment of this book will parallel your appreciation of college basketball.

A Travel Guide to Heaven - Anthony DeStefano
What is heaven like? DeStafano gives some insight of what we might be in for if we are lucky enough to reach the pearly gates. (Clue: Its' a lot like Deacon's Lodge on a sunny morning!) The bad news for the Cahoonas is that he does not give any hints about purgatory. I enjoyed this quick read.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - David Allen
This is the trendy, productivity manual that has given rise to websites, catalogue and a whole underground culture on personal productivity. It was a quick and easy read, and very informative. Good advice for becoming better at the day-to-day tasks of dealing with decisions, projects, and paper.

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century - Thomas L. Friedman
Another very popular book right now. Friedman looks at the global economy in a broad view. His view on several issues (including immigration and government subsidies) were offbase in my view but an interesting read, nonetheless.

Mexifornia - Victor Davis Hanson
In light of all the political fervor around the immigrant issue, this is a revealing study of one town's (the author's hometown) experience with immigration past and present. Hanson documents illegal immigration's effect on both the town and it's people. He looks at how the cultural bias of the immigrants themselves is locking them into a life of poverty. A fascinating study that no one should ignore in this day of controversy and argument and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to look "beneath the surface" of the immagration issue.

A Separate Peace - John Knowles
I missed this one in high school so when Alex told me how much he enjoyed it and what an impact it had on him, I read his high school library copy. It is a coming-of-age story of two best friends attending a New England boarding school during World War II. The story of their friendship is one of lost innocence and tortured adolescence during the dark years of war.

Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time - Tom Hanson and Ken Ravizza
Prompted by my son's desire to take his baseball game to another level, we both read this sports psychology book written by 2004 National Champions' team psychologist. Many themes could carry over to golf so take a look at this one boys.

The Wal-Mart Effect - Charles Fishman
Fishman looks at Wal-Mart from several different view points. This is a very interesting book. Though 70 percent of Americans now live within a 15-minute drive of a Wal-Mart store, we have not even begun to understand the true power of the company and the many ways it is shaping American life. In the end, Fishman sees Wal-Mart as neither good nor evil, but simply a fact of modern life that can barely be comprehended, let alone controlled. I recommend this book for anyone who thinks they may be affected by Wal-Mart (especially if you feel an urge to shop there on the opening morning of Cahoona Linx & Drinx each year!).

Charlie Wilson's War - George Crile
This is the untold story behind the last battle of the Cold War and how it fueled the rise of militant Islam. George Crile, a 60 Minutes producer who recently died, tells how Charlie Wilson, a maverick congressman from east Texas, conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch the biggest, meanest, and most successful covert operation in the agency's history. Very interesting for those interested in foreign affairs (other than the British Open).