From books that we have been reading to sports, news, and history, you'll find plenty to read here. Post a comment, email your reviews and we'll keep this reading thing going.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Decision Points by George W. Bush
Most presidents write a book after they leave the Oval Office. Generally their books are biographical and give the president an opportunity to thank supporters. When I've read (or started to read them because I rarely finish them) a presidential autobiography in the past, I get bored. The books are dry summations of accomplishments. In his book Decision Points, President George W. Bush has taken a new tack in this presentation. In a primarily chronological order, Bush tells us about turning points in his life through the decision process he took. He acknowledges his faults as a young man regarding his known alcohol use and the point in his life when he realized the harm it was causing. Each decision point offers the reader an opportunity to understand George W. Bush, the man and president. If you're a history buff, if you follow politics, if you like to learn about great leaders, then you'll want to read this book. It takes you into the mind of one of our most honest, dedicated, and principled presidents. Listen to President Bush tell you in this video.
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I like to read books that portray true-to-life characters. I like to feel the gritty side of life. People with all their faults. Situations full of trouble. For many years my favorite books have been mysteries or crime stories. I also like female authors writing about strong female characters. Give me a crime story with a female detective or investigator any day and I'll have it read in a day or two.
Lately I've been enjoying memoirs. More than an autobiography, I feel a good memoir gives details of experiences written more from the heart. I find that great memoirs come from people whose life experiences, especially as a child, were dismal. Usually one parent was a loser and the family was poverty stricken. Often the author has grown to become successful beyond anyone's expectation so I'm always seeking answers as to how they did that. In spite of all that was missing from their life, they are still somebody. It's when I reflect on those lives that I find real meaning to what is life, love, and family.
Why Mrs. Dunaski Enjoys Reading
I most enjoy reading historical fiction. Reading transports me to times and places that I can never visit, and introduces me to people and cultures that I will never know. Reading answers many questions for me, such as How would it feel to be a slave? What would it be like to be a pilgrim crossing the ocean to an unknown land? How would I handle being Jewish in Europe during World War II? What would it be like to be a southern belle prior to the Civil War? How would I survive in Ireland during the famine? What would it be like to be an immigrant entering the USA through Ellis Island? What would it be like to be part of England’s royal family? How would I have supported my family and lived through the Great Depression? …and thousands of other questions about the human condition and how people, past and present, react to and thrive in their daily lives during the best and worst of times.
I don’t believe in living in the past, but I think it is important to learn and understand history and what came before us to help us understand where we are going, both as individuals and as a collective. Reading does this for me.
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