David McCullough Reflects on a Life of Writing and Learning

Wise words of wisdom from the late iconic writer David McCullough. 

Happy 4th of July!

 

The Declaration of Independence with Short Biographies of the Signers by Benson John Lossing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a nice pocket sized hardcover copy of the the Declaration of Independence. It also includes short paragraph length biography's of the signers in the back. Although pocket sized I'd say it's suitable for a handy bookshelf reference as the cover is handsome and presentable and would get wrecked it someones pocket. Besides it'd feel as if you had a piece of thin plywood in your pocket, not very comfortable. Enjoy.

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Books of June 2025

 Books I've read in June. 

• 6/21/2025 - Who is Government? by Michael Lewis: This book explores the often overlooked but essential role of civil servants and government agencies in maintaining the functioning of American society. Through investigative reporting and vivid storytelling, Lewis reveals how political neglect and misunderstanding of these institutions can have profound and sometimes dangerous consequences.
• 6/21/2025 - Voices From Chernobyl by Sveltlana Alexievich: This is an oral history that weaves together the haunting testimonies of survivors, officials, and families affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Through their deeply personal stories, the book reveals the human cost of technological catastrophe and the enduring emotional and psychological scars it left behind.
• 6/24/2025 - American Prometheus: Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird: (Audible): This book traces J. Robert Oppenheimer’s rise from visionary physicist to celebrated leader of the Manhattan Project, illuminating how his intellect and charisma helped birth the atomic age. It then follows his postwar transformation into a conflicted public figure whose moral doubts and political clashes led to the infamous 1954 security-clearance hearing, revealing the tragic cost of scientific triumph.

Hello again. Here is a summary of my book completions this past month. Last month, I was completing a book every few days. This month it took until the third week to finish. 

Two of my books this month were inspired TikTok videos I'd seen of TV/Movie adaptations. One was inspired by clips from the 2019 HBO series Chernobyl, which told the story of the 1986 explosion at the nuclear power plant. Coincidentally, I was close by in Germany at the time while serving in the Army. The book is called Voices From Chernobyl by Sveltlana Alexievich. It is a collection of stories of those who experienced the disaster at the time. The series borrowed many of the stories from the book. 

Scenes from the epic "Oppenheimer" movie, which was a biopic of atomic bomber creator J. Robert Oppenheimer, were the other popular videos showing up on my TikTok feed regularly. The movie was based on the biography by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. I did enjoy listening to the book on Audible, which was narrated by Jeff Cummings. 

 The book "Who is Government?" was originally a series of articles published in the Washington Post. It was put together from well known author, Michael Lewis(The Fifth Risk),  that who and other writers tell the story of federal workers who make a difference. A very relevant book considering how many federal workers were let go this spring, despite the essential work that many of them do. I think they get unfair wrap being labeled as "waste and fraud" by those with a political agenda and are ignorant to what these people do. 

Books of May 2025

 Welcome to spring. 

Here in New England, we've begun to lose track of how many weekends in a row we've had rain or inclement weather. It's similar to my reading multiple books this month, which often include essays or short stories. It's not that I don't like essays or short stories, but I began to miss getting into a long story after a while. 

I also finished two books by Roxane Gay, Opinions and Hunger. I don't usually read multiple books from the same author so closely together. They were different enough to be interesting.  Opinions were essays, opinion pieces, and Hunger was a memoir. The former was also narrated by the author, who does an amazing job. I first heard her on a podcast several years ago and always enjoyed hearing her speak with wit, sensitivity, and unapologetic about what she has to say.  

Jill Lepore is another author I enjoy listening to narrate her books and essays. Her book The Deadline is the third of her books I've listened to(These Truths and This America being the others). Being a history professor, I love how she dives into the historical aspects of her essays. I enjoy listening to her narrate as her enthusiasm and love of history are obvious and infectious. 

Maus: A Survivor's Tale I, was my first plunge into a graphic novel. I had heard about this for many years and finally got into it and wasn't disappointed. A fascinating story of a Jewish son learning about his parents' survival of the concentration camps of World War 2, told to him by his father decades later. 

I'm now on my 3rd Jack Reacher novel, "Persuader" by Lee Child. This is the basis for 3rd(and latest) season of the Reacher series on Amazon Prime. If you think Reacher is brutal on the screen, just wait to you read about him in the book; they softened him up for the screen, is all I'll say. 

The book  A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn was one that I've heard about for many years, but only finally got around. Recently, it came up in my TikTok feed and wouldn't go away. This is apparently controversial to some because Zinn tells the story of the United States from the common people rather than famous Presidents, generals or major events. 

Books I finished in April 2025:

• 5/6/2025 - The Deadline: Essays - Jill Lepore - (Audible) - This is a collection of essays by Jill Lepore, an American History Professor at Harvard University and staff writer for the New Yorker Magazine. Jill explores American History, culture, and politics in her unique storytelling style. She also does a masterful job of narrating the audiobook. 
  
• 5/8/2025 - Maus: A Survivor's Tale I: My Father Bleeds History - Art Spiegelman - This award winning graphic novel is the story of the author's parent's, told to him by his father Vladek Speigelman, surviving NAZI death camps during World War 2. It's my first dive into a graphic novel, and it certainly lived up to the hype. 
• 5/17/2025 - Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticisms, and Minding Other People's Business - Roxane Gay - (Audible) - This is an interesting and compelling compilation of Roxane Gay's essays. She comments on social justice, gender politics, feminism, civil rights, and offers cultural critiques. I did enjoy her narration. 
  
• 5/18/2025 - Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body - Roxane Gay -This is a deeply personal and, at times, heart-wrenching memoir. As a preteen, she experiences a traumatic assault that transforms her life, body, and identity. Her testimony explores how she used food and her body to shield herself from the world. Her prose is vulnerable, simple, and precise. She is honest and doesn't make excuses; if she does, she doesn't apologize. 
• 5/23/2025 - Persuader: A Reacher Novel - Lee Child - This is the 7th installment of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and is the basis of the 3rd season of Alan Richson's Reacher series on Amazon Prime. Reacher goes undercover and confronts an old nemesis whom he thought he had eliminated 10 years ago. The book features fast-paced action, unapologetic violence, and unrelenting to the finish. Trust me, you want Jack on your side.
• 5/27/2025 - The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury - (Audible) - This is a collection of science fiction short stories by the legendary Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451 & The Martian Chronicles). The stories are thought-provoking and imaginative, and often have a dark twist at the end. 
• 5/30/2025 - A People's History of the United States - Howard Zinn - The history of the United States told from the perspective of the ordinary people. We hear from indigenous people, women, laborers, the enslaved, and many more to tell the story of America. 

Books of April 2025

 Welcome to spring. 

Books I finished in April 2025:

• 4/11/2025 - Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past by  Kevin M. Kruse (Audible) - Prominent historians debunk misconceptions about U.S. history by examining how political narratives have distorted the past. Immigration, race, economics, American exceptionalism, and more are examined.  
• 4/23/2025 - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick - This alternative history classic takes place in the early 60's in a world that Japan and Germany actually won World War 2 and the United States is split between the victors with a neutral no-man's land in between. Also, there is a book within the book in which Germany and Japan lost the war. Well written, captivating, with a unique twist at the end. 
• 4/29/2025 - The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer and More Resilient by William B. Irvine - William B. Irvine presents a modern take on ancient Stoic philosophy, offering practical strategies to turn life’s setbacks into opportunities for personal growth. By treating obstacles as tests from the “Stoic gods,” Irvine encourages readers to build resilience, emotional control, and inner strength. I felt like I was missing something after reading this. Though it was a good intro to the Stoic philosophy, but felt a little thin on putting it into practice.