Gettysburg, by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
This book is set during the US Civil War, specifically in the last days of June and first days of July, 1863. It is about the officers and how they interact. The men of both sides were well acquainted with each other, and in many cases, had served with one or more of the leaders on the other side. Even the individual solders would face friends, and sometimes relatives across the battlefield.
Both authors hold PhD.s in history, William Forstchen has authored numerous books of historical fiction and science fiction. The authors hold the position that history can best be understood by examining alternatives to what happened in history, looking at the events and the people to hypothesize what might have been. This book examines what would have happened if Robert E. Lee had taken a different tactic at Gettysburg.
The book is primarily told in dialog form. In this manner, we get to know the generals on a personal level. We get a feel for how they think and how they interact with each other, and with their enemies.
Gettysburg goes further to give a feel for battle of the era. We see the effects of the fog of war, and the difficulty of decisions when mens’ lives are on the line. And we are made to feel the guilt at sending men to their deaths. The battles are described in a bit too much detail for my taste. It is gruesome and bloody and seems futile at times. The authors describe the weapons, primarily the rifles used and cannons, and their affects on the troops, both as individuals and as formations.
Gettysburg provides a few photos and images of maps throughout the book that I felt the photos were very well selected. These appear to be prints from daguerreotypes, mostly of men, in formation or relaxed. Some images are of the dead, on the field or lined for identification or burial. There are also a few maps. These images are not bloody, and fairly benign. Although they do not directly relate to the story, they do set the stage for it, and I felt these pictures did add a lot. I do wish there were captions explaining a bit of what I was looking at.
I did enjoy this book ,and feel that anyone with a casual interest in the US Civil War will enjoy it, too.
Family Britain is a compilation of two books previously published as Certainties of Place and A Thicker Cut. These books are parts 3 and 4 of Tales of a New Jerusalem. Family Britain is a thorough sociological analysis of Britain from 1951-1957. There is a strong class division, the book discusses how they relate, how they spend their time and money, and issues they have with each other and with the government. During this period, Britain finally managed to come out of WWII rationing, started to rebuild its housing and began extending its road network. These were controversial, and these issues are represented well, detailing those involved and their positions.
Drive proposes that motivation can be strongly tied to creativity. Daniel Pink argues that our traditional understanding of motivation is flawed, and provides a more complex view. Whether at work, family, or self-motivation is the issue, allowing your creativity and personal preferences to come into play can increase your success.
After a hound show at a hunting club, a man, naturally hated and who mistreats animals, is murdered. Later, a woman turns up as an apparent suicide, and another body surfaces.
After more than 20 years, a young man appears at Kinsey’s office and asks her to investigate something he saw. Two men burying something when he was six years old. He believes it was related to a 20-year old kidnapping turned murder. During the investigation, they find a pet dog buried in the hold and that the man has a history of manipulation and a penchant for lying. However, the twists and turns lead to an interesting investigation and the death of the young man.
This is the latest in the series of Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russel stories by Laurie R. King. It is also the second in a two-part story starting in The Language of Bees. As its predecessor, this is more of an adventure story than a mystery, but the depth of Sherlock Holmes is not lost.
This book explains twenty principles of go fuseki. The book has plenty of detailed examples drawn from professional play. Each principle is demonstrated along with some consequences of missing the critical move.
This is a book on behavioral economics. The animal spirits is derived from Latin, and refers more to states of mind. Economics is driven more by perceptions and ideas about economics, sometimes irrational. The Keynesian adherence to simple profit-motivated activities can be misleading and inaccurate.
The Language of Bees, by Laurie R. King
This is book four in Lisa Lutz’es series of The Spellmans. The books is a humorous look at a family of instigators, only they are dysfunctional.
