All the Shah's Men
This is an excellent read for any of you who are interested in why Iran is the way it is today. This is an overview of the recent history of that country (around the turn of the last century to the 1970's hostage crisis). It's a must read for any of you who are interested in the whys of the current Middle East. It is a relatively easy read, not terribly scholarly in that it is not bogged down in jargon or paragraph-long sentences. Fiasco
For those of you who are puzzled as to what the h--- went down in Iraq! Whether you agreed with the invasion and aren't sure why we seem to be policing a civil war or you think it was a really sorry episode from the beginning, this book will broaden your understanding of the people involved and the critical decisions that were made and why. Don't let the title put you off, all you Republicans. It's not a howling finger-pointing rant but the story of the people on the ground doing an impossible job and how they got there.
The Assassins Gate
This is written by a guy who was there before and a couple of years after the invasion. It tries to portray the perspective of the Iraqis. Interesting read. Gives you some idea of what kind of country this really was...is?
The Bush Tragedy
Wow. This one was really fun to read. Very thought provoking. It explores the relationships within the Bush family and their collective and individual relationships to others outside the family circle. This book does not attempt to paint W as a villain; instead it attempts to explain who this man is and why he thinks and acts the way he does whether or not you agree with him. The author uses the word tragedy in the sense of Shakespeare and the Greeks. He draws upon Shakespeare's Prince Hal (sorry, I don't know which play that is off the top of my head and my library is still boxed up from a painting project) as a metaphor for understanding the dynamics that seem to inform this president.
For the ladies, may I recommend:
The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love
Oh my, how many times do you find a writer who makes you laugh out loud? There are several Sweet Potato Queen books but you MUST read this one first because you learn who Moon Pie, Lance Romance and Bo-Peep are as well as who the Sweet Potato Queens are and how they came into being. "The promise" is not for young readers but is the only thing likely to be not up to standards for anyone who needs a heads up. It is very funny in context and oh, so true. I could not read it in bed because I would laugh so hard I shook the bed and Kelly couldn't sleep. You can read all the other books in whatever order after this one and they are all just as funny.
What do y'all recommend? I love a good read whether it's non-fiction (especially current affairs or histories that shed light on current events) or the latest rollicking good book you devoured on the beach! I am in school but I'll still sneak over to the Columbus Library once in a while to check out something more interesting than Real Property or Probate...
