Jefferson's America Review

 I think Jefferson would have recognized himself in this book -- and that isn't true of all of his biographies. If you read a lot about him, then Jefferson's America will surprise you with a trove of fresh material, like a whole undiscovered chapter in his life. I also agree with other reviewers who said that if you thought you knew all about Lewis & Clark ... you probably didn't until you read it. The author makes the point that Jefferson was in no position, nor would he be inclined, to use government funds to sponsor an exhibition just for the sake of scientific curiosity (as we usually hear). The American frontier was in danger from European countries. We were treading on a war then, a war Jefferson was determined to avoid and so he used Lewis & Clark, along with the basically unknown Hunter & Dunbar, Freeman & Custis and by extension, Zebulon Pike to put America in the west, without gunfire. All of them are in the book, with additional depictions of ancillary figures such as George Rogers Clark (William's uncle) and Andrew Ellicott. Importantly, Native Americans are featured with specifics not usually seen in books about this era. Jefferson's philosophy on land is a running theme; it colored his treatment of Indians, which could be heinous. In the world of books about this era, I'd compare Jefferson's America to Undaunted Courage by saying that as a story-teller, Stephen Ambrose was great at simplifying and staying on a straight course. As a storyteller, Fenster revels in the complexities, which I do too, and she has a host of ways to make them gripping. I read most of it twice.

Love That Boy Review

Love That Boy is a heartwarming story that shows how powerful acceptance is. Ron Fournier is a wonderful Detroit writer, and while I am blessed to be from the Detroit area and may have been persuaded to review this book because Detroit authors have quite the history (Mitch Albom, Elmore Leonard, etc.) I really wanted to get to know Ron the person better. He at first struggles to grasp with his son's Aspergers, as he tells him to not speak out of turn and other adults find him socially awkward at first. He even misunderstands former President George W. Bush when he tells him to love that boy. He thinks he means to love him in spite of his abnormalities, but at the end of the novel he says that he loves loves him and wishes he could be more like him. It is hard not to cry at the end of this 5 star book. It also is refreshing to read a book that has politicians in it that isn't political and portrays them as the imperfect yet servant leaders they truly are. 5/5

Spaceman

Spaceman is a wonderful story that captivated me on a journey through the life of an astronaut in a way that I have never experienced before. Spoken from the heart and soul of a big kid with a bigger imagination and spirit, Mike speaks to the kid in all of us: to dream big; to take big steps; to undertake big challenges. And to persevere through it all. This is the quintessential book for any kid, big or small, who desires to be involved in space exploration in some manner; whether as an astronaut, an astronomer or an educator. Mike makes those dreams seem more attainable through his experiences and revolutions. This is a 5 star quality read and good for all ages, although parents should read to the younger ones and explain its themes.

In a Different Key: The Story of Autism

John Donvan and Caren Zucker's In a Different Key:  The Story of Autism tells the story of a psychological disorder that was ignored for decades, and only recently has been discovered and researched. It is a moving and absorbing resource that tells the tale of the early roots of autism and provides some stories on how it's been misunderstood. 

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I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.

Performing Under Pressure Book Review

This book is an outstanding glimpse at the importance of using specific strategies to your advantage when addressing a pressure situation. All fields, athletes, and students go through some element of pressure in their lives and the authors provide ways to depressurize certain situations by looking at it in a positive light and approaching situations differently. 5/5 stars on creative and innovative approaches to desensitize and depressurize situations that are backed up with evidence by psychology studies, and a great analogy of the "clutch" myth that many believe in sports and in business.

Encountering Truth Review

Encountering Truth is an insightful and wonderful collection of homilies from Pope Francis at masses in an entire year. I chose to read this around the Year of Mercy so I could find ways to become a better, well-rounded Christian. Many of the homilies are about seeking peace and humility, and thanks to this book I am sure to lead a more humble life following the example of Jesus. I will do my part to feed and advocate for the hungry, heal the sick, and care for the homeless near my community.  Mentions a little bit about unfaithful priests and bishops involved in scandals. A reminder to not idolize money and power and to focus on growing as a person who follows up their faith with good works. As the pope notes, faith without works is just words. 5/5 stars and a must-read for religious and non-religious to understand and admire this incredible man of God uniting the world in a time of injustice, persecution, and hatred.

Stress Test Review

I recently read Timothy F. Geithner's riveting account of the financial crisis in the United States. Geithner has been deemed softspoken, however he has shown through the writing exactly what role he played on the crisis team. The book is a clear cut tool that any government leader should read, as it is sort of a how-to get out of crises & a roadmap for avoiding future crises. Geithner is not a partisan hack, so his brutal attacks on the Bush administration tactics (Iraq War, unaffordable tax cuts for the wealthiest) make a lot of sense. Contrary to how many view him, he is a pragmatic leader who managed to find a way to save Wall Street and Main Street from a dumpsterfire. This is a phenomenal read for any American who wants to know what happened during the crisis when hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost and how we responded through the Recovery when private sector jobs such as the recovery of the auto industry in Detroit, Michigan were added. 5/5 stars! A must read for politicians and aspiring public servants.