A Fever in the Heartland

Dr. Jones' selection is disturbing, horrific, depressing, and yet informative and insightful. Once again, we are rightfully reminded of the ingrained white supremacy in our country, particularly in the Heartland. The book follows the rapid rise and fall of a sociopath in Indiana in the heyday of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan claimed nearly 6 million members at its peak in 1925. The Grand Dragon of Indiana lead nearly 400,000 members, including the Governor, Mayor of Indianapolis, and many other political and legal appointees..."I am the law". The story ends somewhat upbeat, as the Grand Dragon is brought to justice by a dying declaration from the victim of a gruesome crime. Nonetheless, I was left saddened by the book and the realization of what can happen in a country with so much hate in the hands of a sociopath. When DC Stevenson was asked if he had been serious about running for President he said, "The form of government might have changed. You might have had a dictator."

Tom Lake

Ann Patchett's book is a coming of age, mother daughters, love, friendship, end of life, and simply a lifetime story told by a 57-year-old heroin. Laura tells her three grown daughters about her brief acting career and her short love affair with a famous actor, Duke. Most of her telling revolves around a summer at Tom Lake in her formative 24th year; where she takes on the character of Emily in "Our Town" and tries to hold on to her youth. It is a summer of passion, creativity, friendship, and betrayal. Although she has no regrets in her marriage to Joe, her three children, and her life on the cherry farm, she still has her memories of her brief life in the limelight and retains a few of her secrets.

Free and Equal

"Imagine: You are designing a society, but you don't know who you'll be within it—rich or poor, man or woman, gay or straight. What would you want that society to look like?"

This academically challenging read by Daniel Chandler applies the 20^th Century political philosophy of John Rawles to our current state of affairs. The first half explains the essential components of the Rawles liberal philosophy, not to be confused with a neo-liberal nor socialism. You will be introduced to the difference principal, equality of opportunity, the just savings principal, shared prosperity, and more. In the second part Chandler tackles issues such as free elections, progressive taxes, universal basic income, public schools, civics, climate change, fake news, money in politics, personal property, and a fair economy each with liberal solutions. 

The aftermath addresses current world trends and the ongoing struggle between popularist autocrats and pluralist democratic leaders. "A Rawlsian politics, then, would be principled, pragmatic, pluralist, unifying and hopeful." To achieve this, progressives "must also adopt a policy program that would tackle inequality and create a truly inclusive society."

When you are finished with the book, ask yourself if you are a true liberal.

Autocracy, Inc.

Applebaum's latest book is a brief description of the network of kleptocracies currently impacting the world. The liberal world order of free democratically elected countries is threatened by the block of authoritative autocracies. These autocracies include the likes of Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, North Korea, Egypt, Malasia, and Saudi Arabia. Each of them spread misinformation and sometimes even military support to try to undermine democracies around the world. Resisters to the autocrats are threatened, beaten, imprisoned, and sometimes killed. Their names and even their ideas are smeared and labeled as treason. The kleptocrats and their loyal supporters keep all the spoils with the aid of financially motivated enablers around the world. Applebaum ends the depressing book by calling for the democracies around the world to unite against the dictators through supporting the resistors, combating the misinformation, and stopping the enablers within.

Table for Two

Towles latest book is a collection of six short stories in New York and one novella in Los Angeles, all set in the 1930's. The six short NY stories each have cleaver plots and interesting twists. They include a capitalist communist, an unwitting forger, a likable drunk, a roller-skating breakup, an SOB ticket snob, and a battle over pieces of art. The LA detective story has a young heroin, a retired detective, and both real and made-up characters. For those of us who love LA, the story includes real places like the Beverly Hills Hotel, Hearst's Beverly Hill Hacienda, and various eateries. The real characters include the recently departed Olivia de Havilland (2020 at 104). Towles is a great storyteller, and I like the way he describes the strength and resourcefulness of Eve, the innocence and virtue of Liv, the evil of the villains, and the stable dependability of the detective. The other members of our group pointed out that Eve was in our previous Towles book, Rules of Civility, and got her scar from the auto accident in NY.

Made in America

Bryson's 1994 book is a wordy (in many ways) etymological history of America. The book is filled with his unique storytelling. He covers a wide range of topics including immigration, sports and games, sex and censorship, transportation, entertainment, business and consumption, and politics. He finishes the book with a discussion of offensive language and political correctness. I like the way he challenges America's tendency to white-wash our history and overestimate our exceptionalism. The nuggets of unusual information are fun. The reader comes away with knowledge of Pilgrims/Plymouth Rock, Bridegrooms/Dodgers, Woolworth's, Piggy Wiggly, Sears, Kodak, Kellogg, Hershey, Malls, "jumbo", Caesar salad, Conestoga wagon, Arroyo Seco freeway, Comstock Act, and many more tidbits. The book contains random historical quotes such as "I know it when I see it", that pitcher threw a "Linda Ronstadt", and a 1993 L&M cigarettes ad "Just what the doctor ordered." I have to admit I needed to hustle to finish in time and in the words of my late sister, "Whew, you are full of words."

Kingdom on Fire

Scott Howard-Cooper's retelling of the UCLA Wooden years is a steady stream of consciousness with a plethora of sports and unrelated trivia. For me, too much of the book focuses on the underbelly of college sports boosters (i.e. Sam Gilbert) and a few disgruntled players. Nonetheless, it did little to take away from my loyal fandom of UCLA and my idolization of Johnny Wooden. 

I love coach Wooden's pyramid of success and his many great sayings and lessons. Good or bad, I live my live by "Be quick, but never hurry". I respected his modesty, discipline, intensity, and fair play. He won with small, medium, and tall players. He won consistently when basketball was more of a team sport with little or no dunks and no "cross-over" dribble or "euro-step". It takes more than great players to win 10 out of 12 NCAA championships and 88 games in a row.

The book was a series of flashbacks for me, from Gail Goodrich and Keith Erickson years, the Alcindor years, Wicks and Roe, and the Walton years. The lost weekend chapter was particularly long and a brutal reminder of triple overtime loss to North Carolina State. Liz and I drank entirely too much with her college roommates in Del Mar suffering through the loss. Funny how sports can have that effect.

James

"And who are you?" "I am James." "James what?" "Just James."

Percival Everett's book is mostly a captivating retelling of the "The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn" told from the perspective of the slave, Jim. In parts 2 and 3, the author adds more to Jim's tale and the struggles of an American slave at the time of the Civil War. It is a brutal story that points to the evil of the oppressive white people and even the acceptance of some of the slaves themselves. It leaves you with an understanding of how wrong slavery is, even in the best of situations. The book has a triumphant ending for both Jim/James and Huck, however humans continue to be subject to servitude and discrimination. 

Liz and I did listen to Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckelberry Finn" in our drive up and back to Hendy Woods. The book was a slog with too many N works, "by and by", and other flowery language. Still an interesting piece of American history and the acceptance of the evil of slavery. 

Bad City

Dave's selection is an interesting one coming from a USC educated Pasadena doctor that had his residency at USC's county hospital. The LA Times journalist, Paul Pringle, fearlessly takes on USC, the Pasadena Pollice Department, and his own newspaper the LA Times in his reporting on three separate scandals. Much of the book revolves around the first scandal involving the head of the USC Medical School, Dr. Carmen Puliafito. The story took years to publish due to special privilege and cover-up, with little justice ultimately served. The author focuses on the damage afflicted upon young victims, particularly Sarah Warren. The second scandal involved a USC student health gynecologist that abused young women for 30 years before being exposed. The third involved the massive college admissions bribery scandal involving wealthy clients, Singer, and USC as the prime college target. All three scandals happened under the watch of the powerful USC President, Max Nikias, who ultimately steps down with a golden parachute. 

The book is a triumph of hard-nosed journalism and the underdog over corruption, wealthy privilege, and bureaucracy. I remember hearing about two of the scandals, but not the first. There is limited justice served, but the privilege still get-off lightly, despite the best efforts of individuals willing to risk it all to do the right thing. 

Not the End of the World

Hannah Richie is a 30-year-old Oxford data scientist from Scottland. Her recent book is an optimistic guide to solving the major environmental challenges of her generation. The book addresses air pollution, climate change, deforestation, food sources, biodiversity, plastics, and overfishing. Each of these challenges are inter-related and affected by the wants and needs of a growing population. She optimistically points out that population growth is slowing and should top out at about 10 billion. Deaths from childbirth, infectious disease, disasters, as well as world-wide poverty, have all dramatically decreased. She paints a picture of a world where everyone will have the opportunities for a good live while sustaining and improving the planet for future generations.

Hannah challenges her generation to become the first sustainable generation. To pull together and overcome both the deniers and the doomsdayers. Through the use of data, see web site www.ourworldindata.org, she makes a convincing argument. What can we as book clubbers of a certain age do for the future of the planet?

My list of sustainable activities includes solar panels to meet energy needs, two all-electric cars, no heating or A/C, draught tolerant landscaping, rain barrels, increased insulation, four willy attic vents, induction cooktop, LED lighting, rechargeable batteries, compost, reusable bags, farm boxes, minimal air travel, and eating more veggies, chicken, sustainable fish, and minimal beef. As Kermit the frog said, "It's not easy being green." I remember in the introduction to "Upsizing" the author lamented that he promoted a soap that used palm oil that contributed to the destruction of rainforest. All we can do is the best we can and don't sweat the small stuff. 

Ours Was the Shinning Future

Bob's selection, subtitled "The Story of the American Dream", was a challenging read. The booked covered a long period of American history from 1890's Gilded Age, Progressive movement, Roaring 20's, 1930's New Deal, 1940's Labor movement, 50's Boom, 60's Civil Rights and Great Society, 70's Nixon, 80's Reagan, 90's Clinton, and the 21st Century. He covered the Roosevelts, Eisenhower, Kennedys, MLK, but also Randolph, Jordan, and Bork. The country has experience periods of Employer, Government, Employee, and employer again dominance. The book addresses classic liberalism, laissez faire, or rough and tumble capitalism, strong progressive, top-down government, and strong labor union involvement. The author favors a form of "democratic capitalism" that includes influence from labor. Too often our country has favored the wealthy employers and self-interest groups at the expense of the working class. He feels that there is not enough current investment in education, transportation, child-care, and research to build a strong future for the majority of Americans. 

Leonhardt challenges both political parties to address the growing inequality by both universal and communal means. Many issues, such as immigration, will require compromise on both fronts. The book seemed long, repetitive, off on tangents, too neatly analyzed, and a bit overwhelming. Nonetheless, I am glad I read it. The book was a great brain exercise that challenges the reader to address their own prejudices. It got me to look at labor unions, employers, the south, the working class, and the undereducated in a different light.

Oath and Honor

Liz Chaney's appropriately titled book Oath and Honor is a detailed account of the actions of Donald Trump and his associates starting with the election of November 3, 2020. Liz, her staff, and the House Special Committee engage in an in-depth examination of the creation of the "Big Lie" and the January 6, 2021 insurrection. The book is well written, with short chapters explaining each of the unlawful actions by the Trump administration, including the 7 parts of Trump's plan. She gives special attention to the brave individuals that stepped forward to protect our democracy and national security. Like all politicians, she is overly self aggrandizing of both herself and her team. Nonetheless, she bravely stood up to her party to protect the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power. By doing so she paid the price of loosing her seat and her power. 

Beartown

Beartown is the first of a trilogy about a small hockey town in northern Sweden. The story revolves around the lives of a male junior hockey team. The boys have to decide between loyalty and standing up for their principals. They are not only faced with deciding what is right and what is wrong, but what is good verses evil, weakness verses strength, the "Heights" verses the "Hollows", Beartown verses Hed, and the "three C's" (character, community, and culture) verses just "Win". 

The story follows the Andersson family and the dark and disturbing rape of their 15 year old daughter by the star player. The characters are complex, particularly Benji and his secret. Several of the players show their evil gang side and divide the town by blindly supporting the star player Kevin. On the other side, the strong Andersson women, Ramona, a few supportive fathers, and even the black jackets quietly stand up for the good side of Beartown. 

The story feels a little like both "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "Missoula" in addressing dysfunctional male athletes and a strong young woman overcoming a physical attack and injustice. Don't mess with Maya. 

American Ramble

Stanley's selection is an appropriately titled detailed recounting of a month-long walk from Washington D.C. to New York City. The author had recently completed a second round of cancer treatments and is clearly grateful to be alive. His hyper-awareness, interest in strangers, ability to join in, and listening skills provide ample material for a book about a walk. He throws in some American history from the settlers and Indians, the American Revolution, the Civil War, to the World Trade Center. He travels through various "countries", both urban and rural. I learned things about Washington, Jefferson and Madison, the Conestoga wagon, Mason and Dixon, Lincoln, Buchanan, and the influential Senator Stevens. He speaks of a time when people and horses were the way to get around, until the train came around in the 1800's, and that there are still areas where things move much slower. Neil once again points out that humans may be the only creature that gets to experience awe or wow. 

Heartbreak

"A Personal and Scientific Journey" by Florence Williams is a recap of the trials and tribulations of a fifty year old woman dealing with the trauma of a sudden and unexpected divorce from a 25 year marriage. The author is an outdoors journalist that turns to nature for solace. She embarks on a solo rafting adventure and later even tries psycodelic drugs in search of "Awe". She reaches out to family and a community center for support. She engages a gene consultant to monitor her recovery process by tracking vital indicators over the three year recovery (ie. you want more Best1 and less AGIR). The author concludes that "We seemed to know what was working for me - social support, time in nature, and purpose." Overall the author seemed to navigate her personal trauma well. She has the benefits of being in relatively good health, still young, active, and financially and professionally secure. You wonder, what's with the guy?

Blue Skies

TC Boyles' 2023 novel feels like an extension of his 2000 novel "A Friend of the Earth" set in 2025 with the absurdity of the state of Florida thrown in. The matriarch mother tries to hold the dysfunctional daughter and the wondering son together in the Anthropocene world under total destruction. The story is set in the Santa Ynez Valley with extreme heat, winds and fires, along with the heat, rain and flooding of the Florida coast. The daughter lacks considerable common sense and is an alcoholic. The son is uncommitted and bitter with the state of earth and the loss of his arm. The daughter incredibly purchases an invasive Burmese Python that ends up killing one of her twins, because she can. As the owner says, "owning a snake is a basic Constitutional guarantee-life, liberty, and happiness, right?"

The book is very depressing and the humor is very black. Even with the butterflies on the last page, the author offers little hope. I hope his imagination is wrong and that mankind will change.

How to be Perfect

"How to be Perfect, The correct answer to every moral question" is a light-hearted, philosophy for dummies book by Michael Schur. Schur takes on many of the deepest questions facing mankind through the eyes of many of history's greatest philosophers. From Aristotle's virtue ethics, to Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mills utilitarianism, to Immanuel Kant's deontology, the author tries to answer moral questions. He moves on to Scanlon's contractualism, to African ubuntu, to Thich Nhat Han's mindfulness, to William James' pragmaticism, to Singer's selflessness, and even to Ayn Rand's egotistical selfishness. Throughout the book Schur provides cleaver stories and classic case studies, such as the run-away trolley. He often references a favorite TV series of mine that he wrote and created called "The Good Place." For example, Ted Danson asked the character Chedi (a Kantian rules based philosophy professor) "Has anyone told you what a drag you are?" Chedi responds, "Everyone, constantly." It becomes clear that no one can be perfect and in fact it is not necessarily a good thing. There are so many moral dilemmas and rules that one gets moral exhaustion. We look for little digressions but look out for the Overton windows. We don't want to become Atlas Shrugged or engage in "whataboutism". Schur finishes up with Satre's existentialism, Frank and the luck factor, and the effect of privilege on our ability to make good choices. He concludes that "nobody is perfect" and goes on to apologizing. How moral is good enough? The important thing is that we keep striving to be better. We owe it to ourselves and to others. "Try again, fail again, fail better."

Victory City

Salman Rushdie's novel is a provocative tale of the 247 year life of the god-like heroin Pamopa Kampana and the rise and fall of the mythical city of Bisnaga (1335-1565). The young Pampa gives rise to the city from seeds. She aids the cowherds Hukka and Bukka in molding Bisnaga into a glorious city with arts, culture, and powerful women. Bisnaga is constantly challenged by foreign invasion from factions in the south, sultans in the north, and Portuguese in the west. There is also the challenges of theological "advisors" with excess power challenging free will, women's rights, and education. The initial five "remonstrances", or protests, involved the separation of church and state, the observance of mass worshipping, policing morality, making war, and the pursuit of the arts. Bisnaga experiences years of glory with wealth, poetry, temples and military conquests. There are also years of decline with beheadings, poisoning, blinding, and unrest. Eventually Bisnaga falls and Pampa meets her demise upon completing her manuscript. The fictional tale warns the reader of the threat of theological zealots and ruthless, unjust, and/or sly rulers. The many lessons of Bisnaga can be applied to all social orders and countries. 

Rules of Civility

Amor Towles' book is a story of the events and relationships of a woman in her twenties in Manhattan in 1938. The story begins and ends with Katey reminiscing of her adventures and affairs with Tinker, Eve, Wallace, Dicky, and Anne. Katey has become successful and happily married, yet you feel a little sadness for the people in her past, especially Tinker. 1938 was a special year filled with good friends, fast times, Jazz, successes, and personal loss. The characters are mostly likable, friendly, and civil. The book ends with an appendix of George Washington's "Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation" that was kept by Tinker and picked up by Katey. The final entry #110 reads, "Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience."

Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver's book is a grueling coming of age novel of an orphan growing up in the rural south. Demon is born to a junkie mother, abused by a step father and foster care, blows out his knee playing football, and gets addicted to drugs. Despite the best efforts of two teachers, a bullied friend from foster care, the Paggots, June, and Angus, Demon takes a long road to the bottom with drug addition. The book highlights the opioid and meth epidemic in poor communities in the US, along with its origin. Demon and Tommy explore the plight of the poor rural south through comics and a pending graphic novel. They compare the hustle in the cities for money verses the struggles of the poor land people. They defend the resilient people of the land as having the advantage of finding a way to get by with little to no money and the help of the local community. At least before the drugs.