Review: The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"What's wrong with American Evangelicals?"

Winians thought a moment.

"America," he replied. "Too many of them worship America."

-Tim Alberta (page 23)

 

 

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Stephen King reflects on his iconic career and latest release 'You Like ...

Review: Social Studies by Fran Lebowitz

Social Studies by Fran Lebowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Think before you speak. Read before you think. - Fran Lebowitz from Social Studies(page 25)

Fran is one of those people you see all over the place usually on television with her wit and sardonic look on life involving books, writing, and people and, she usually centered around life in New York City. Much of the book is a social commentary on life in the Big Apple in the late 70's. It is entertaining and humorous. Some of her observations could be dated but in that sense, it's a snapshot in time. The chapters inside the book are relatively short(as is the book itself) because, like many in New York City, I imagine who has time for long-winded writers bloviating on end about how tough it is in the city. Fran is to the point with her wit and sardonic humor which is refreshing nor too heavy a reading load. It was a joy to read.

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A Monk Swimming by Malaky McCourt

 

A Monk Swimming by Malachy McCourt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Malachy McCourt was a younger brother of the well-known memoir writer Frank McCourt who won the Pulitzer Prize for his book "Angela's Ashes". It doesn't mean Malachy was riding Frank's coat tails. He did initially follow his older brother to the U.S. but that seemed to be the only they shared, If there ever was a stereotypical Irishman Malachy who seemed to drink and fight his way through life. He managed to find his way to being a part part bar owner and even manged to appear on television as a local character while living in New York City. Played on an Irish rugby team and managed to encounter future senator Ted Kennedy at Harvard. He also allegedly encountered members of the royal family too. After that he found a way to supplement his income by smuggling gold bars from Europe to India. After all that he managed somehow to get married and have a baby.

Much of the book is lighthearted and will make you laugh at times. He saves his most serious moments for when for his parents, especially in some anger towards his father who spent most of his time drinking and was in out out of jail leaving Malachy's mother , Angela, raise a family in poverty alone. After Angela, with the help of Frank and Malaky emigrates to the U.S. the father begs, pleads and cajoles his family to bring him over too. Frank and Malaky are skeptical but bow to their mother's wishes to bring him over and give him a chance. It turned out he hadn't changed and was still the same unrepentant alcoholic whom the boys wanted nothing to do with.

Overall the book is an entertaining trip with Malaky who is witty, boisterous and adventuresome. It has it's touching moments but is not as heavy as his brother's more famous memoir. His older brother Frank seemed to be the more intellectual and serious type verses the more out-going and adventurous Malaky. Enjoy.

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Review: The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump

  The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump by Bob Woodward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

To get the full experience of this book the audio version I believe would be the best way. I don’t think one would get the full scope of this by text. Whatever award Bob Woodward is eligible to win for this book he should automatically win for having undergone listening to Trump talk for this many hours. I wasn't even sure I'd make it to the finish line.

The tapes range from when Trump was a candidate in the spring of 2016 to the summer of 2020 during the height of Presidential re-election, Covid-19 pandemic and the George Floyd unrest across the country. He spends much of the time talking(more like shouting) about how well he’s done and how everyone is unfair to him. No other President has ever done what he has done for (insert accomplishment or feat) the country. It’s pure hyperbolic sales pitch(more like BS) mode.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic you’d swear his greatest accomplishment was the letter exchanges with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He constantly bragged about them.

He also stood by the perfect phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine where he tried to get the newly elected leader to investigate then former Vice President Joe Biden for alleged corruption. He would not admit his own release of the calls transcripts played a big part in his first impeachment. Woodward presses him on this but would never admit releasing the transcripts was a bad idea because, as he insisted, they were “perfect “ phone calls.

Why torture one self to listening to Trump for hours on end? It is a challenge I admit. He constantly interrupts and is almost always shouting or at least talking over Woodward. It’s amazing Bob got in the questions he did. He’s also very repetitious to an almost nauseating number of times. I think sometimes that’s part of his success as he just wears you out. It’s constant grievance and self aggrandizement in his conversions and attitude. I do think it’s important to hear what Trump is like as he could be President again. I think four years later people have either forgotten or downplay how bad he was. This book should serve as a reminder how Donald really is, and this isn’t even including the election denial and January 6th attempted insurrection that followed the events of this book.


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