|
Title |
Author |
Rating |
Description |
|
Atlas Shrugged |
Ayn Rand |
***** |
A classic tale of the goodness of capitalism and how, once
success is achieved, everyone wants a piece of it. Named as one of the most
influential books by many CEO's, it is a good read, though a little long and
preachy in places. |
|
Crashing Through |
Robert Kurson |
***** |
An amazing true story of a man who list his vision at age 3
in a chemical explosion. For the next 43 years, he lived as a blind person -
and a very successful one, setting speed records for skiing, being a
somewhat successful enterpreneur, even driving his sister's car! Then, a new
procedure, using stem cells, restores his sight. Amazingly, that's where the
story really starts. Both inspirational and educational, I highly recommend
this book to anyone. I selected it because I so thoroughly enjoyed the
author's previous book, Shadow Divers, which also earned 5 stars from me!
Please don't ask me to choose between the two! Bradley adds: One of the most
motivation and inspirational books I have ever read. What holds you back
from reaching your full potential, will definitely be weakened after reading
this book. This is a must read book in life. |
|
Dear Hermit |
B. McClenon Clark |
***** |
A collection of correspondence between my mother (the
author) and her long term pen-pal, a self-described hermit who lived in the
hills of North Carolina. The two never met, but through their letters they
get to know each other in special and uniwue ways |
|
Diary of a Reluctant Political Candidate |
B. McClenon Clark |
***** |
Any book written by my mother is going to get 5 stars!
Actually this is an excellent semi-biographical book about the author's
experience running for political office. The book takes the reader through
the diffult decision to run for office, then a day by |
|
Guns, Germs, and Steel |
Jared Diamond |
***** |
One the best books I've read. It explains how the white
European people ended up conquering the world. A very easy to read and
understand history of why people in the "fertile Crescent" area were able to
get a head start on farming and domesticating animals and therefore develop
their civilization more quickly. Bradley's comment - 5 stars. This book
should be required reading for high school seniors as it offers an important
perspective regarding race, timing, place and luck in the outcome of
history. |
|
Hope and Honor |
Major Gen. Sidney Shachnow & Jann RobbinsSid |
***** |
(From Bradley) This is a must read book, especially for
anyone who has been in the military or who parents served while they grew
up. It is an incredible story of Major Gen. Shachnow's experiences
from the notorious concentration camp Kovno in Lithuania from age 7 until
10. He and his whole family not only lived through the experience, but
escaped just before the German command ordered the complete destruction of
the camp and those in it. However there problems were far from over,
as they were now back home, but behind what was to become the Iron Curtain.
Again his family escaped to West Germany where they struggled to survive,
before immigrating to the US. For anyone who does not understand the
price the free societies must pay for the freedoms we enjoy, there is no
better example, than that of Major. Gen. Shachnow's life. |
|
Lonesome Dove |
Larry McMurtry |
***** |
One of my all time favorites. I read it years ago, but have
rarely found a book I enjoyed as much. It's a novel about two former Texas
rangers who decide to drive a herd of cattle to Montana. Great story and
fascinating characters. And the TV mini-series was great too! |
|
Miracle in the Andes |
Nando Parado |
***** |
Fantastic personal account written by a survivor of the
famous plane crash in the Andes in 1972. There were 19 members of a rugby
team who survived for 72 days before two made an incredible trek across a
17000 ft peak to obtain help. A previous book, called Alive! provided a
factual account of the ordeal. This book, written more than 30 years after
the event, is a wonderful, gripping, amazing, and well told story that I
highly recommend. One caution - there are some graphic descriptions of
injuries and what they did to survive, so be prepared for a vivid and
emotional ride! |
|
Night |
Elie Weisel |
***** |
A new translation of this classic book first published in
1958 that gives a first hand look at the horrors of the Jews who endured
Nazi camps. The author and his family were transported from Transylvania and
the author is the only survivor. A short, but graphic and poignant story
that should be required reading for all. |
|
Pillars of the Earth |
Ken Follett |
***** |
The story of an architect and builder in the 13th century
in England. A fascinating story which I really enjoyed. |
|
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea |
Gary Kinder |
***** |
The first part of the book re-creates the shipwreck of the
USS Central America during the California gold rush. The boat sinks off the
coast of North Carolina in a hurricane. The second part of the book deals
with the efforts to locate the wreck and to salvage the treasure. The boat
sank in 8000 feet of water. It wasn't easy! You won't be able to put this
book down. Bradley's Comments: 4;.5 Stars Agree with Kathy, a wonderfully
engrossing book to read. It offers great insights into the complexity of
deap diving. It also offers some discuss, that could have been expanded
regarding the issue of whether treasure should be recovered and who owns it.
|
|
Space |
James Michener |
***** |
This was the first Michener book I read and I was hooked.
It tells the story of the US space program and the stories of many of the
scientists involved. |
|
The Count of Monte Cristo |
Alexandre Dumas |
***** |
I first read this book in high school and its just as good
the second and third time! Bradley's Comments: 5 Stars |
|
The Old Man and the Sea |
Ernest Hemingway |
***** |
A beautifully written story of an old fisherman's struggle
to catch a huge fish and get it back to shore while a shark tries to snack
on it. |
|
The Source |
James Michener |
***** |
A must read book detailing the history of Israel. Gives a
wonderful understanding of the history of the region, the establishment of
Israel as a nation, and the underlying causes of the tensions that continue
to exist. |
|
Troublesome Young Men |
Lynne Olson |
***** |
(Bradley) This is the incredible true story of how a group
of brave young men, over a period of 14 months challenged the stodgy back
room politics of British parliament, ultimately bringing Neville
Chamberlain’s government down and installing Winston Churchill as the War
Prime Minister. What is so revealing is to see in great detail how
close the world came to losing England as a democracy, which would have
clearly changed the course of history. What is truly amazing is how loyalty
and fear were used so successfully by Chamberlain and his Whips to keep the
Tory MP’s in line, while Chamberlian tried to appease Hitler for four long
years. Lynne does an excellent job of presenting back room politics,
where the outcome is already know as a great mystery thriller. For
anyone who is a fan of Churchill or who enjoys history and politics this is
a must read. Maybe we should make every politician running for office
in the US read Troublesome Young Men, so they may play a little less
politics and starting making the best decisions for this country as a whole.
England came so close to being lost, that your heart is in your throat.
Enjoy |
|
Wild Swans |
Jung Chang |
***** |
Fabulous book about the cultural revolution in China and
the effect it had one one family. A great combination of history and
storytelling, I highly recommend it |
