This is just part one

I think most people can agree Barack Obama is an excellent orator so it should come as no surprise that his writing is just as eloquent, insightful, and personal. It's also THOROUGH. There's a reason that that book is super long and there's still another volume. For every decision that he made during his presidency, he gives detailed context, counterarguments, and reflections on the results. This book is biographical in that we learn about his childhood, schooling, family, and his thoughts and feelings on what it was like campaigning and ultimately serving as President. But it's much more than that because he gives the reader an in-depth view of life in the White House as well as the inner workings (and conflicts) in government. This is the first Presidential biography that I've ever read so I have no basis of comparison but he laid out the political environment in clear-cut and understandable language that somehow didn't read like a textbook or party propaganda. Quite a feat I think.

Some of my favorite parts of this book are the same things that endeared him to me when he held the highest office in the land. His idealism, forthright manner, and ability to not take himself so seriously really shine through when he talks about his meetings with his staff, discussions with foreign officials, and struggles to push through legislation against party opposition. While I felt a bit bamboozled by this only being the first volume (at 768 pages no less!), I had a fantastic time reading this book. It is lengthy (there's no getting around that) but it moves along at a good pace which had me picking it up again and again. Now I'll just have to wait for the announcement of the release date for the second book.  

Source: Amazon

What I'm currently reading: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

**If you're interested in buying any of these books or any books really, you can click here. This will re-direct you to AbeBooks which is a site I use all of the time to find used books at an excellent price. A lot of the time I don't even pay for shipping! Full disclosure: I will receive a commission on all sales made through this link. You will not be charged anything additional for my commission. I wouldn't recommend a site that I didn't use and you are under no obligation to purchase anything. :-) **

Citizen Scientists vs Government

Last year I was feeling a bit meh about the books on my shelves so I thought I'd give a book subscription service a shot to see if that could jumpstart my reading. The one that I chose is Coloring and Classics (this post isn't sponsored but I'd be thrilled if it was) which sends a hardcover bestseller (nonfiction in my case), a coloring book, and an activity book each month. [A/N: I haven't been disappointed with my choice so if you're in a reading slump maybe give it a try.] If you're wondering what kind of nonfiction books they send then wonder no more because today's book, The Poisoned City, came in my February box. Spoiler alert: It was BRILLIANT. Anna Clark gives readers an in-depth look at the water crisis in Flint, Michigan that resulted from a breakdown in infrastructure as well as many years of disinvestment from the rest of the state (one could argue the country). I appreciated how much history Clark gave on the creation of the town from a trading post to an industrial powerhouse (General Motors was a big deal there). She also explained how the infrastructure of pipelines across the country has severe flaws like being lead lined and poorly documented so that if they were to be replaced it would be nearly impossible to locate them. However, the biggest impediment to upgrades is the cost and time it would take to make these large-scale changes. Towns like Flint (which was already under emergency management due to debt) found themselves facing a public threat for which they seemingly had no recourse. Of course, the most infuriating and heartbreaking thing about Flint's case is that the townspeople were being thwarted at every turn by the very people that were tasked with their welfare and safety. When the water coming out of their taps was brown, oily, and smelly they complained. When people started to develop rashes and their hair started falling out they complained. But the government agencies tasked with monitoring environmental issues (in this case an absolute emergency) insisted that the water was safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing. When some of the residents had independent water tests conducted at their own expense they were pooh-poohed. This went on for over a year.

I cannot begin to express the outrage that I felt while reading this book. I had of course heard about the Flint Water Crisis but I wasn't fully aware of the duplicitousness of the local and state authorities or of the steady decline and disinvestment of the city. (And learning about water infrastructure is a lot more interesting than I'm probably making it sound. Trust me, it's fascinating.) Learning about how certain laws, statues, and ordinances have been finagled so that decisions that have far-reaching ramifications and consequences get made and justified...y'all it had me livid. But it serves as a powerful reminder that citizen scientists like the ones in Flint (who got almost no credit) are willing and perfectly able to advocate for their town. So this book serves as a warning and a testament to the strength of Flint's people. I'll never take my water for granted again. 10/10

Source: Amazon

What I'm currently reading: Amity and Prosperity by Eliza Griswold

**If you're interested in buying any of these books or any books really, you can click here. This will re-direct you to AbeBooks which is a site I use all of the time to find used books at an excellent price. A lot of the time I don't even pay for shipping! Full disclosure: I will receive a commission on all sales made through this link. You will not be charged anything additional for my commission. I wouldn't recommend a site that I didn't use and you are under no obligation to purchase anything. :-) **

Fact or fiction?

About 3 pages into Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade I felt that the author had a real issue with Muslims and he wrote this book to denounce them through a historical lens. As he drew parallels to the Barbary Wars (what's detailed in this book) and present day conflicts, he made the claim that slavery was a unique and barbarous practice only perpetrated by Muslims against whites. (Duh that's not the case.) By the time I had finished the book my overwhelming impression was that this book was not only Islamophobic but a major piece of revisionist history. (I even checked other reader's reviews to make sure that I wasn't completely off the mark here and they back up my feelings pretty much across the board.) He makes a strong argument for a show of military strength over diplomacy. In fact, the Barbary Wars were what precipitated the formation of the Navy and Marines (the 'shores of Tripoli' ring any bells?). I couldn't even tell you if what he says happened really happened when such a large focus was on ideas other than the historical events of the moment. 0/10

And then to discover that this book which was recommended to me by a coworker was in fact written by a co-host of Fox & Friends made total sense after the fact. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Source: Amazon

What's Up Next: The Star Diaries by Stanislaw Lem

What I'm Currently Reading: Inside Out: A Memoir by Demi Moore

**If you're interested in buying this book or any books really, you can click here or here. The first will re-direct you to AbeBooks and the second will re-direct you to The Book Depository. These are great websites for purchasing books (AbeBooks carries inexpensive used and out-of-print books and The Book Depository ships free everywhere in the world). Full disclosure: I will receive a commission on all sales made by following either of these links. I wouldn't recommend a site that I didn't use and you are under no obligation to purchase anything. :-) **

Historical figures: Awesome ladies edition

This book was just what was needed to pull me out of a reading slump. Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts is an account of the women who supported and helped shape the development of the democratic government in the United States. While I initially thought that this would yield minimal new information considering how heavily this period of time was covered during my schooldays I discovered just how wrong (and ignorant) I was especially in regards to the women. I realized that it had never occurred to me to wonder just how long the absences of these women's husbands were during the creation of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution (including the Articles of the Confederation), and the U.S. government as a whole. Not to mention how absolutely strong-willed and informed these women were about the affairs of state (which was beneficial as they passed on the latest news to their husbands through extensive letter writing). Best couple award goes to George and Martha Washington who were the most well-adjusted and steadfast couple of the lot. Martha went everywhere George went including Valley Forge where she was instrumental in keeping the morale of the men up (and getting them to stay at all) as well as organizing other women into organized sewing groups to keep the troops clothed. Favorite woman of the many discussed was hands down Abigail Adams who not only had the keenest mind but also the sharpest tongue. She had no problem telling John where to go and letting him know that just because he was away didn't mean that the romance in their relationship needed to suffer. In fact, theirs was the most strained relationship of all as John was in high demand and for the majority of their marriage they were separated as he worked tirelessly in his work as a member of the Continental Congress and then later as the Vice President. If you, like me, love reading about confident women and relish learning new things about a slice of history you thought you had thoroughly mapped then I must point you in the direction of Founding Mothers. 10/10

PS Benjamin Franklin was the worst.

Source: Amazon

What's Up Next: Mary B. by Katherine J. Chen

What I'm Currently Reading: Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

**If you're interested in buying this book or any books really, you can click here or here. The first will re-direct you to AbeBooks and the second will re-direct you to The Book Depository. These are great websites for purchasing books (AbeBooks carries inexpensive used and out-of-print books and The Book Depository ships free everywhere in the world). Full disclosure: I will receive a commission on all sales made by following either of these links. I wouldn't recommend a site that I didn't use and you are under no obligation to purchase anything. :-) **

It's time for a change

There's a very good reason that it took me several weeks to finish up Russell Brand's newest book. When you read a book that questions the very fabric of reality which you have been indoctrinated into...well it takes a bit to let it all sink in. What can I say about Revolution except that it was utterly brilliant? It's clear from the opening pages that Brand is passionate about the topic of change on a global level. The book focuses on environmental and economic change which can only occur if our current system is overthrown completely. He makes several valid points and backs it up with solid data. The only problem I really had with Revolution is that there was no index (which anyone who is a nonfiction guzzler will say is a big no-no). It won't be difficult to verify the facts but it does lend firing power to anyone who seeks to argue the credibility of the work. He doesn't pull any punches (when does he?) and I think for a work such as this you can't if you sincerely want people to rise up and unite. So basically I think you should all give this book a read. It will make you think about the current system we have in place and make you question why we accept it knowing that it's faulty.

For a complete change of pace, I'm next going to read Zoe Sugg's debut novel, Girl Online. This book is written in a blog style format as its protagonist is a blogger who shares her deepest fears, feelings, and future hopes with strangers online while maintaining a pretense with those she interacts with on a daily basis. I'd say the work is semi-autobiographical as Zoe herself started out as a blogger and like her character she suffers from panic attacks. I've been hearing a lot of mixed reviews on this one so I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible with my thoughts on it. :-)