"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”— Stephen King, On Writing Photo by Ed Ortiz I have seen many movie adaptations of Stephen King’s books over the years—The Shining, Carrie, IT, Pet Sematary, just to name a few—but the only … Continue reading Book Review: On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft
Category: Book Reviews
Book Review: The Hardest Job in the World – The American Presidency
Photo by Ed Ortiz It’s interesting to learn how the office of the president of the United States came to be and how it has changed over time, mostly due to Congress’s neglect. I have been reading about the Founding Fathers and the important documents they produced that have guided this country. So when I … Continue reading Book Review: The Hardest Job in the World – The American Presidency
Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
Jade’s Broken Bridge, my notes, and a steaming cup of coffee. I’ve been following Michele Lee Sefton for a while, and her writing has always captivated me. There is depth behind her words, and her growth as a writer shines through in every blog post. Reading her poems and novellas, Her Coastal Cottage and Honeysuckle … Continue reading Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
Book Review: Tyranny of the Minority
Photo by Edward Ortiz The Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt was an interesting read. It is a close examination of what they perceive as structural flaws in the U.S. Constitution that have allowed minority rule to undermine, in their opinion, democratic norms. Most … Continue reading Book Review: Tyranny of the Minority
Book Review: Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here
The book Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer is a well-written work that feels more like a history book rather than a work on social science or government policy. It describes in detail the horrendous situations forcing the people of Central America to leave their countries and embark on the difficult journey … Continue reading Book Review: Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here
Book Review: John Adams
Photo by Edward Ortiz It really gives me a lot of joy when I start reading a book to learn about a particular subject and discover something I wasn’t expecting. That is exactly what happened with the biography of John Adams written by Page Smith. I’m setting a goal to read the biographies of the … Continue reading Book Review: John Adams
Book Review: Democracy In America
Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville was a heavy read, to put it mildly. Tocqueville visited the United States in 1831 to study the country. Initially, his focus was the prison system, but his study expanded to include the government structure and the socio-economic conditions of the country. Once he completed his research, he … Continue reading Book Review: Democracy In America
Book Review: Bittersweet
Bittersweet—that’s a word we hear often, probably several times a week. My 1995 Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as "pleasure mixed with sadness,” which is okay, but not nearly as powerful as how Susan Cain describes it in her wonderful book, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. Here is Susan’s description: “The … Continue reading Book Review: Bittersweet
Book Review: Surviving Sue
As I was preparing this post, I considered writing it in two parts: a book review and my commentaries. However, since this is a blog and I appreciate the flexibility it provides, I decided to write a single post that includes some commentary, personal reflections, and concludes with the book review. In my head, it … Continue reading Book Review: Surviving Sue
Book Review: Just Discipleship
I was very intrigued when I read the title of this book. My first thought was about discipling Christians to be just and fair. This should, of course, be a given, as all Christians are called to model these virtues. However, in many cases, these characteristics are lacking, which I believe is due to a … Continue reading Book Review: Just Discipleship
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 