Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness by Harlow Giles Unger


5 out of 5 stars  *****

I learn something immediately about James Monroe on the first few pages of this biography. I am a better student of history having read Unger's brilliant research and presentation. I have a deep respect for this last founding father of the greatest nation ever founded. James Monroe is so essential for America's success in his early years through his last. Men of outstanding character and integrity are true role models worthy of emulation. James is honored throughout the world as such a man. I am not surprised to learn what a devout man of God he is but one who did not use his Christianity as a political tool to lazily rationale his actions. Here is a man who has a tall stature, like George Washington, who commands a room full of dignitaries because of his intelligence, insight, courage, convictions, and behavior. Unger does not only focus on James but on his immediate family, relatives, and broad range of friends. Much of the American heritage I read attributes the men who came before Monroe for many of the accomplishments that James plays an integral part in either forming or finalizing. He helps usher in a time of burgeoning prosperity that strengthens the young United States of America but always with difficulty and hardship. He endures for duty's sake being his best for God, family, and country. He is truly an American hero deserving of the title, "Great." 

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Voyager (Outlander #3) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author)


5 out of 5 stars  *****

The third book in the Outlander series, Voyager, is just as fresh as the first two because new characters arise while old ones emerge by, what seems, magnetic attraction of time travellers to their acquaintances. The environment changes from land to sea for most of this thrilling adventure. Gabaldon does a great job capturing the dangers associated with this form of expedition since crossing the Atlantic from Scotland to the New World means gambling with one's life. Of course, Claire and Jamie encounter natural and manmade obstacles that separate them - what's new - so their love for each other can strengthen in their heroic efforts to reunite by sheer willpower. These likable protagonists interact with the worst conditions while maintaining a hope that can only exist with a faith that their history together demonstrates. The author handles every twist in the plot with a clever rationale that causes old and new to mesh in climactic fashion.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions by David Berlinski, Dennis Holland (Narrator)


5 out of 5 stars  *****

David Berlinski challenges every conclusion in every field of Science for the sake of truth. For example, Science versus Religion and the argument of God's existence. Logic and reasoning are his tools and truth is his standard. Creation, random or intelligent design; the universe or multiple universes; singularities, the Big Bang Theory; String Theory, quantum physics; Richard Dawkins (Atheist), Steven Pinker (How the Mind Works), and their salient points, are just a few of the many topics upon which this author can speak. He does so with style, respect, and humor making this book a cerebral delight.