Albert Millspaugh: The Mystical Vortex: Gateway to Another Dimension
Not my favorite genre, but well written and plenty of action. (***)
Poul Anderson: David Falkayn: Star Trader (Technic Civlization)
Still Reading . . .
James Thomas Flexner: Washington: The Indispensable Man
Great biography of a great man. Get to know the real person behind the legend. From his days as a surveyor to the nations' first president (and the politics he had to deal with) this book covers his adventurous life. Highly recommended. (*****)
Larry Niven: Man-Kzin Wars XI
Decent stories about Man-Kzin wars. Nothing really exciting or special although one author did have a quirky sense of humor (as did his characters). (***)
Thomas Sowell: Conquests And Cultures: An International History
Interesting history of peoples across the world and how conquest has shaped their history and culture. Very intelligent and cogent book. (****)
Poul Anderson: The Van Rijn Method: The Technic Civilization Saga #1 (The Technic Civilization Saga)
My favorite genre (old science fiction) by one of my favorite writers. What's not to love in this collection of short stories (and one short novel from back when novels didn't have to be 100,000 word gargantuans). Great fun. (*****)
P. J. O'Rourke: Modern Manners: An Etiquette Book for Rude People (O'Rourke, P. J.)
O'Rourke is usually funny when he writes about serious things (war, economics, government). In this book he's just trying to be funny but often the jokes fall flat. Funny (at times) and offensive (often), the biggest risk is someone may take him seriously. (***)
Poul Anderson: Mother of Kings
Finally done reading this long ponderous tome. Officially my least favorite book by one of my favorite writers. Over-long, thickly written, and in the end, not very satisfying. Slightly interesting from a historical perspective. Think I'll avoid any more of Anderson's Viking sagas. (**)
Milton Friedman: Free to Choose: A Personal Statement
A bit dated but still very relevant. A very good primer on libertarian economics. Highly recommended. (*****)
Jonah Goldberg: Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning
Brilliant analysis of the fascist roots of modern liberalism and it's dark dirty secrets and not so secret desires to control your life. Goldberg has researched his subject well (I cringe to think of all the bad books he must have read from Mein Kempf to It Takes a Village) and shows that not only were Nazis leftists, but leftists are often fascists. (*****)
Stephen A. Slivinski: Buck Wild: How Republicans Broke the Bank and Became the Party of Big Government
Depressing little tome about how the GOP was seduced by power and money to turn into a party of Big Government. Makes you believe we'll never get the government under control no matter who's in power. (****)
Poul Anderson: Brainwave : The Greatest Masterpiece by the Science Fiction Grandmaster
A bit dated (written 1954) but still interesting story of man suddenly becoming more intelligent (and animals, too). Some cope, some do not. (****)
John R. Lott Jr.: Freedomnomics: Why the Free Market Works and Other Half-Baked Theories Don't
Lott oversimplifies at times, but his discussions of economics (once you get past the basics) are interesting. Lott has studied crime, voting, media bias and other social phenomena through the lens of economics and come to some interesting conclusions. (****)
« The End of Ethanol? | Main | Clean Air? »
This Ivy-Leaguer doesn't know how many states there are?
Okay, we all make mistakes. And when a person is tired they are more prone to mistakes. And it's easy to get tired when running for President and the demanding schedule that entails.
Or maybe he's adding in D.C., Puerto Rico, Upstate New York, West Texas, Eastern Washington, Lower Alabama, and Downstate Illinois.
Can you imagine the howls if, oh, George Bush or John McCain made a similar faux pas?
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bfdb453ef00e552322c948834
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Obama: 57 (58? 59?) States of the Union?:
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Comments