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The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy-John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man- John Perkins
They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby-Paul Findley
Simple tales and lost truths -- Cortés and the gold of Mexico -- Cortés expands the frontier -- The epic journey of Cabeza de Vaca and friends -- The new Viceroy ponders the North -- The case of the "Lying Monk" -- Marcos races back to Mexico City -- Cortés and the Viceroy compete for "country enough for many years of conquest" -- To Cíbola by land and sea -- Entering the Seven Cities of Cíbola -- Meanwhile-- on the Colorado River, in Spain, and in Mexico City -- Coronado fights a war, reaches Kansas, and returns to Mexico -- Aftermath.
Summary
"In Searching for Golden Empires, William K. Hartmann tells a true-life adventure story that recounts the shared history of the United States and Mexico, unveiling episodes both tragic and uplifting. Hernan Cortez Montezuma, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, and Viceroy Antonio Mendoza are just some of the principal eyewitnesses in this vivid history of New World exploration"--Provided by publisher.
The Secret Game by Scott Ellsworth is a great read....even if you hate basketball! And if you want to know the roots of modern basketball's style of play, this book gives you the origin story. And if you are curious about life in the early 40s and in the segregate south, this gives you that too. And some origin stories of the civil rights movement!
This book covers so many topics woven into a sports story.
The American ascendancy : how the United States gained and wielded global dominance / by Michael H. Hunt, c2007, U. of North Carolina Press, 327.73 Hunt.
Nineteenth-century foundations -- Grand projects, 1898-1920 -- The American way in a fragmenting world, 1921-1940 -- Reaching for geopolitical dominance, 1941-1968 -- In the American image, 1941-1968 -- The Third-World challenge, 1941-1968 -- Disoriented giant, 1968-1991 -- The neoliberal triumph, 1991- -- Conclusion: Hegemony in question.
Length
404 pages : index, chapter notes, illustrations, a guide to the literature.
V. good, especially on neoliberalism & its Wilsonian roots. A good explanation of how the US rose to prominence.
A history of turbulent U.S.-China relations from the 19th century to World War II and Mao's ascent.
"In each of his books, James Bradley has exposed the hidden truths behind America's engagement in Asia. Now comes his most engrossing work yet. Beginning in the 1850s, Bradley introduces us to the prominent Americans who made their fortunes in the China opium trade. As they---good Christians all---profitably addicted millions, American missionaries arrived, promising salvation for those who adopted Western ways. And that was just the beginning. From drug dealer Warren Delano to his grandson Franklin Delano Roosevelt, from the port of Hong Kong to the towers of Princeton University, from the era of Appomattox to the age of the A-Bomb, THE CHINA MIRAGE explores a difficult century that defines U.S.-Chinese relations to this day" -- provided by publisher.
An account of U.S.-China relations from the 19th century through post-World War II reveals lesser-known facts about America's role in Asia, including the historical influence of prominent Americans who made fortunes in China's opium trade.
Excellent - ties together the opium trade, the US Protestant fervor (& expectation) for a Christian Americanized China, the Soong family dynasty & fortunes, Chiang Kai-Shek/KMT, TR, Japan/Korea, FDR, Harvard, Henry LuceTime/Life/Fortune & media, the xenophobic rejection of Chinese & Japanese laborers in the US West (1860s - transcontinental railroad & mining & etc.), self-inflicted ignorance about China & Japan.
Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker (Kevin Mitnick)
So You've Been Publicly Shamed (Jon Ronson)
The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (Lawrence Wright)
Conspiracy of Fools (Kurt Eichenwald). 780 pages about the Enron scandal.
In a wilderness of mirrors. What will the spider do,
Playing to the edge : American intelligence in the age of terror /Michael V. Hayden, 1945- , c2016, Penguin Press, 327.1273 HAYD.
Subjects
o United States. -- Central Intelligence Agency.
United States. -- National Security Agency.
Intelligence service -- United States.
National security -- United States.
Notes
The system is down -- A national treasure...for how much longer? -- Going to war...with some help from our friends -- Going to war...again and again -- Stellarwind -- Going public...willingly and otherwise -- The public's right to know...and be safe -- Life in the cyber domain -- Is this really necessary? -- "I want you to take over CIA" -- Three "easy" pieces -- A unique view -- Going home -- "No core. No war" -- Espionage, bureaucracy, and family life -- Iran: bombing or the bomb? -- A global enterprise -- "There will be no explaining our inaction" -- Transition -- "General, they're going to release the memos" -- The private sector.
Summary
"An unprecedented high-level master narrative of America's intelligence wars, from the only person ever to helm both the CIA and the NSA, at a time of heinous new threats and momentous change. For General Michael Hayden, playing to the edge means playing so close to the line that you get chalk dust on your cleats. Otherwise, by playing back, you may protect yourself, but you will be less successful in protecting America. "Play to the edge" was Hayden's guiding principle when he ran the National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran the CIA. In his view, many shortsighted and uninformed people are quick to criticize, and this book will give them much to chew on but little easy comfort. It is an unapologetic insider's look told from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head on, in the moment. How did American intelligence respond to terrorism, a major war, and the most sweeping technological revolution in the last five hundred years? What was the NSA before 9/11 and how did it change in its aftermath? Why did the NSA begin the controversial terrorist surveillance program that included the acquisition of domestic phone records? What else was set in motion during this period that formed the backdrop for the infamous Snowden revelations in 2013? "-- Provided by publisher.
Length xiv, 448 pages : index
(My emphasis) Very interesting book - by an intel insider. Worth reading for his insights on the business of intel & the wider issues involved. A very readable account.
American guerrilla : the forgotten heroics of Russell W. Volckmann: the man who escaped from Bataan, raised a Filipino army against the Japanese, and became 'father' of Special Forces / Mike Guardia. c2010, Casemate Publishers, 940.5485 Guar.
Subjects
Volckmann, Russell W.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Philippines.
The true father of US Special Forces (Green Berets), innovator - FAO, close air support, combined guerrilla & reg forces, later invented helo (air cav) tactics. Wrote 2 army field manuals - counter guerrilla & guerrilla ops. Worked up spec ops tactics & strategy in Army & @ RAND. Very interesting reading.
Please list a few 'great' non fiction books. Due to time constraints and not really enjoying fiction, I read only non fiction, and have for most of my life.
I will start.
1. The Smartest Guys In the Room by Peter Elkind/Bethany Mclean. The Enron Story. Reads like fiction, but it's true. It's a huge book and I've read it more than once.
2. Charlie Wilson's War by George Krile Later made into a movie (which I didn't see), the story of U.S. congressman who helped to arm the Afghan rebels against the Russians.
3. The Snowball by Alice Schroeder Warren Buffett's biography
4. Trumped! The inside story of the real Donald Trump John O'Donnell Focusing mainly on Trump's management of his A.C. casino's.
Here are my favorite nonfictions books
1. The Bible. Obviously
2 American Sniper" by Chris Kyle. This is the book that the movie is based on. This may not be "classy literature" but its a powerful book that really speaks with his voice, and makes us feel what he feels. His love for his family, his grief at losing friends in battle, his hatred for the enemy and the frustration and anger against the political correctness that hampered military operations. He places you right there in the action. This book is more visceral and politically incorrect than the movie, but it is REAL and is a must-read for anyone who loves military stories. This is a straight-up, no holds barred look into Islamic terrorism and military combat.
3. "The Roots of Obama's Rage" by Dinesh D'Souza. So many of what is written and predicted in this book has already come true. This is the book that "2016 Obama's America" has based on. Dinesh is a LEGAL immigrant who has become a patriotic American and is undoubtedly and unabashedly loyal to the United States and truly cares about our nation. This book places so many of Obama's actions in context. I disagree with what he says about the Civil War (I am a Southerner and support the Confederacy and see the war and its causes differently, and I also am a person of color like Dinesh) but other than that he really analyzes Obama and his radical past. This is not "birther" stuff and doesn't address that. It does into Obama's past and his radicalism and how this radicalism has contributed to his radical liberal administration.
4. Who Are We by Samuel P. Huntington. This is an excellent movie about illegal Mexican immigration and the cultural and economic threat that it poses to the United States. So many of what is mentions has already come true. Once again, as a person of color and the son of LEGAL Asian immigrants, I see illegal Mexicans as a cultural and economic threat to our nation.
5. "The Art of the Deal" by Donald Trump. This is NOT a political book but helps put his campaign in perspective. It was written in 1987 before he even thought about running for president. It is a book about life and success. You do learn a lot about life in this book. I've taken some of the things in this book to heart, and this has served me well.
1.The Bible
2.Claytie:The Roller Coaster Life of a Texas Wildcatter...I think by Mike Cochran
3.Friday Night Lights-H.G.Bissinger
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Marching on Cibola
