The elevator pitch for Niall Ferguson‘s “Civilization: The West and the Rest” is simple: Western civilization has risen to dominate world affairs over the last five hundred years, a record unmatched in world history and at odds with its population and geography relative to other countries and civilizations, due to six “killer apps” that have provided an advantage […]
Review | In My Time by Dick Cheney
2011-11-29 · by ·
What will history think of Dick Cheney? I believe that jury is still out, but I know one thing: Cheney is doing his best to steer the criticism. I’ll be honest: I only read this up until the chapter when Cheney starts his account of 9/11 and its aftermath. At that point, I decided that […]
Review |1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
2011-11-28 · by ·
I’ll be the first to admit that my interests in the historical have generally been Eurocentric, especially the Roman Republic and Empire. Recently, though, I found reason to pick up Charles C. Mann’s “1491,” and I have had a hard time putting it down since. The children’s nursery rhyme reminds us that “In 1492, Columbus […]
Review | Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
2011-11-27 · by ·
To read the first in Edmund Morris’ biographical series on Theodore Roosevelt (see my review here: “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt“), one might be left with the feeling that it was inevitable that Teddy someday become President. Individuals from his German tutor while he studied abroad to those who came into contact with him while […]
Recommendation | Grand Strategies by Charles Hill
2011-09-27 · by ·
Let’s speak frankly for a minute: if you don’t read fiction–or worse, if you read bad fiction–you are short-changing yourself. You could be missing revelations into human nature, behavior, and nuance that you might not otherwise be able to observe. Further, you might be limiting your ability to empathize, to understand, and shift your perspective. If […]
Review | The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
2011-09-20 · by ·
The great thing about reading Edmund Morris is two-fold: he presents extremely thorough research with an enjoyable reading style that makes one feel like they are reading fiction. As a friend put it, it’s like reading a novel, not a biography. It doesn’t hurt that Theodore Roosevelt lived a life that makes easy picking for any biographer. […]
Review | The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies by Bryan Caplan
2011-08-11 · by ·
Lately, I’ve not had a lot of time to read. But when I have had time, I’ve enjoyed reading the wonkish and pointed “The Myth of the Rational Voter” byBryan Caplan. It’s an economist’s look at why, as the sub-title says, voters tend to support bad public policies. The reason, Caplan argues, is not special […]
Review | The Constitutional Origins of the American Revolution by Jack P. Greene
2011-07-21 · by ·
Time for a segment of “A moment in obscure history.” This time, we’re looking at the constitutional dispute that resulted in the American Revolution. Since sometime in 2009, the Tea Party movement has lead a revival of interest in theUS Constitution. Senator Mike Lee summed up why the increased interest of late during the release of his new book , The Freedom […]
Review | Comeback America by David M. Walker
2011-05-04 · by ·
As the former comptroller general of the United States, David Walker knows a little about the fiscal workings of the modern federal government. For fifteen years, he served under both Republican and Democratic presidents from Reaganto Clinton to the Bushes), and had a unique opportunity to call into question the decisions that have lead to our current fiscal woes.And he doesn’t hold back. As […]
Review | Rubicon by Tom Holland
2011-03-16 · by ·
“Beware the ides of March!” After a palace coup demolished the reign of King Tarquin of Rome in 509 B.C., a republican government flourished, providing every person an opportunity to participate in political life in the name of liberty. As Holland, a novelist and adapter of Herodotus’ Histories for British radio, points out in this […]
