An anthology of crime stories centered around cars and driving called The Highway Kind. Authors included Michael Connelly, C.J. Box, Diana Gabaldon, and James Sallis. My favorites were from George Pelecanos and Joe R. Lansdale.

My son John sent me a book I am embarked on and will rank the most important book read (started anyway) in 2018.
It is Deirdre McCloskey's Bourgeois Virtue. It is an apology for capitalism and the middle class as opposed to the intellectual softness on socialism. Filled with references economic, historic, literary, sociologic, economic-historic, literary-sociologic...OK Polonius you can stop there.

I'd have to throw out a set of three, all by the same two authors and covering roughly the same territory - The Plan De San Diego, The Texas Rangers and the Mexican Revolution and The Secret War In El Paso, by Charles Harris and Louis Sadler. If you can only read one, go with The Plan De San Diego.

Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It, Gary Taubes (2010).

"Street Without Joy" by Bernard Fall. I read it right before I went to Vietnam. Really helped me to better understand that part of the world. Highly recommend it.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:


Recently finished “Leaving Cheyenne,” McMurtry. Another great book.

That may be my favorite of his.

I also read a lot, but just finished Walker Percy's "The Moviegoer." Really good. Somewhat philosophical, and and a real evocation of New Orleans upper middle class society in the late '50s and early '60s. Beautifully written.

The Richard Sharpe series in order opened my eyes into life during the Peninsular Wars. They are a quick read.

“United B737 Flight Manual”...

Easy choice for me.

The Operator by Robert O'Neill. He was the Navy Seal that killed Osama Bin Laden.

Found out about the book when he did an interview on The Howard Stern show. Amazing guy and a great read.

King James Bible, read it through every year

I read a lot of books but this one was pretty good. The Fleet at Flood Tide. Americas Total War in the Pacific, 1943-1945 by James Hornfischer. Hornfischer writes great history books.

quote:

Originally posted by mrw:
I read a lot of books but this one was pretty good. The Fleet at Flood Tide. Americas Total War in the Pacific, 1943-1945 by James Hornfischer. Hornfischer writes great history books.

Based on a recommendation on this forum, I read "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailers" also by him. Excellent read.

A Higher Call by Adam Makos.

True account of a German fighter pilot who risked his life to escort an American B-17 to safety.

How to Be A Tudor

Pacific Northwest History
"The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche"
The book describes the events of the great blizzard of 1910 and the plight of those stranded on a passanger train on the west side of Stevens Pass near the town of Wellington, Washington. Gripping.

U.S. History
"Empire of the Summer Moon"
An unforgetable account of the long struggle between the Comanches and white settlers for control of a large portion of the American West with a focus on Quanah whom the author establishes as the greatest of the Cherokee leaders.

U.S. Politics
"Licensed to Lie"
A thoughtful read of this book will impact the readers perception of the Department of Justice forever.

U.S. Government
"Separation of Church and State"
A scholarly challenge to the contemporary understanding of the separation clause; an understanding that appears contrary to the evidence of history.

Silent

12 rules for life.

Bruce Lee: A Life

https://www.amazon.com/Bruce-L...%22+by+matthew+polly

Fascinating look into the life of a fascinating man.

A bunch of very good books. The best, perhaps by a hair; 'God is My Co-Pilot' by Col. Robert L. Scott, USAAF, 1943. I have the 1944 Bluebonnet edition.

It was my step-fathers, perhaps his father's before him. The timing is about right.

It's the first english language book I read, most likely, of my own choosing, once I finished with children's books in english to learn english in 3-4 months here. Been nearly 46 years now since I read it. Was amazed how much I remembered, so my reading comprehension in english at near age 11 was pretty good.

What's neat about the book is that it was written and released during war time. It also covers a theater of operations not covered all that well in history books. Col. Scott (made it to Brigadier) managed to live to the ripe old age of 97.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
A Higher Call by Adam Makos.

True account of a German fighter pilot who risked his life to escort an American B-17 to safety.

Thanks for posting this; I've ordered it.

Silent

"Grant" by Ron Chernow