"The Quotable Hitchens" -- Book Review

During my recent winter vacation, I read “The Quotable Hitchens”, edited by Windsor Mann. 

The full title of the book is “The Quotable Hitchens:  The Very Best Of Christopher Hitchens”; the book was published over a decade ago, around the time that Hitchens had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and roughly a year before his death.  Editor Windsor Mann was a friend of Hitchens and decided to assemble this collection as a way of appreciation for Hitchens’ work over the years – a gift to the writer prior to his passing.  For those unfamiliar with the writings of Hitchens, he was primarily a journalist but was also known as an expert polemicist – someone with whom you would not want to debate. 

Hitchens was known to have a mind and wit that were both equally razor sharp and capable of (virtually) drawing blood anytime he wanted, largely for his own personal amusement.  He was known to be a contrarian and a gadfly, getting under the skin of  political foes, regardless whether they were from the left or the right.  His disdain for religion was found equally irritating by the devout.  There was rarely someone whom he didn’t anger with his opinions and observations about life, society, culture, or any other subject. 

Structurally, the book is not divided into sections or chapters; instead, it lists the topics of Hitchens’ quotes alphabetically.  The cover of the book bears the subtitle “From Alcohol To Zionism”, but this is not entirely accurate; although the last topic of the book is in fact Zionism, the first quote is actually regarding Abortion.  In fact, Alcohol is covered, but that does not come until much later in the “A” portion.  The quotes are derived from a wide variety of sources; some of the quotes are from his writings (books, magazine articles, essays), others from interviews he's given (television, radio and print media) and still others come from various formal debates in which he participated. 

There is the old saying, “Brevity is the soul of wit”.  One is reminded of this when reading Hitchens’ quotes on various subjects.  Some of the longer passages just don’t quite have the impact as the shorter ones – he was clearly a master of the one-liner and the clever rejoinder that could pierce a bloated ego.  By far and away, the subject that has the greatest number of quotes in this book is Bill Clinton, whom he hated.  Quotes about the former president weigh in at a whopping nine pages.  On Religion, there is, unsurprisingly 11 pages.         

What’s great about this book is the fact that you don’t necessarily have to read it in order; you could just pick it up and randomly select any subject.  One of the best examples is his quote on the matter of martinis:  “On the whole, observe the same rule about gin martinis – and all gin drinks – that you would in judging female breasts:  one is far too few and three is one too many”.  Regarding Etiquette:  “It’s often necessary to be rudest to the nicest people” – a remarkably insightful observation on his part. 

If you are a Hitchens fan, then you’ve likely already read this book; if you are a Hitchens fan and this work has somehow managed to elude you, then your duty is both clear and immediate to get on it right away.  However, if you are not already a Hitchens fan, then this book might be something of a waste of time for you – at least until you’ve sufficiently devoured a good deal of this man’s work.  There isn’t a day when one wishes that Hitchens was still around to comment on today’s current events, not to mention the Trump years. 

"The Portable Atheist" -- Book Review

 

Over the recent holidays, I read “The Portable Atheist:  Essential Readings For The Nonbeliever” by the late Christopher Hitchens. 

“The Portable Atheist” is an anthology of writings on atheism that Hitchens collected for inclusion in this book.  Hitchens wrote the introduction; if you buy the book and read nothing but the introduction, then that alone is completely worth the price of the tome.  Each chapter is by a different author, some of whom are very familiar names.  My favorites included a controversial piece by Salman Rushdie, which was commissioned by the United Nations; a short-but-to-the-point essay by comedian/magician Penn Jillette (from Penn & Teller); and a truly heartfelt tale by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a previously unpublished story, stemming from her own book, “Infidel”. 

The book is 47 chapters long and also includes such luminaries as Charles Darwin (with an excerpt from his autobiography), Albert Einstein (selected writings on religion) and Carl Sagan (“The Demon-Haunted World” and “The God Hypothesis”, from his lecture at The University Of Glasgow).  Needless to say – but important to point out – no book on atheism would be complete without a section by Richard Dawkins (“Why There Is Almost Certainly No God”, “Gerin Oil” and “Atheists for Jesus”).  The stories these people tell are as varied as their backgrounds; they either evolved into atheism over time or have always been non-believers. 

It is noteworthy that many of the contributors to this work are scientists, who base their beliefs on facts which can be observed and proven by evidence; since the existence of god can be neither proven nor disproven (i.e., you can’t prove a negative), then the discussion of such a being is something of a moot point.  Where “The Portable Atheist” comes up a little short, however, is on the subject of faith; many people who believe in god will tell you that while they cannot prove the existence of The Supreme Being, they do, nevertheless have faith that their chosen god does in fact exist – which is the basis of just about any organized religion.

Despite that niggling shortcoming, “The Portable Atheist” will help answer many questions for those troubled by their religious beliefs and reaffirm the convictions of non-believers.  Whether you are an agnostic or an atheist, this book is most definitely a must-read.  For those who cannot be swayed, this work will either be an annoyance or an amusement – but it is quite unlikely that many who fall into that group would even consider giving it a read.  If you are one who belongs to the undecided camp, this book can serve as a new perspective on matters – not just from a single individual’s viewpoint, but from the perspective of many. 

Among the explanations some give regarding their non-belief is the fact that many of the original religious ideologies originates from myths, superstitions and the unfounded existence of demons.  An ancient term for a demon was a “mare” and it was thought that people who had bad dreams while sleeping were visited by evil demons (“mares”) – this is how we got the term “nightmare”.  Of course, there are those who used religion to control and manipulate people through fear; live your life this way or you’ll burn in hell forever (and they make a decent living this way). 

Religion-for-profit was also used during the Salem Witch Hunts; a panel of “experts” would be formed when someone was accused of being a witch; here, the burden of proof was on the accused, who had to pay the committee for their time.  When it was seen that the easily manipulated could be coerced, this spawned a racket which continues to this day, especially for people who fear what fate may await them in the hereafter.  The bible itself is also taken to task by none other than Mark Twain, who notes that while The Good Book embraced slavery, it was society that had to correct scripture by outlawing the practice.  

 

"Apropos Of Nothing" -- Book Review

 

This summer, I read “Apropos Of Nothing”, Woody Allen’s autobiography. 

Review

Allow me to simplify this for you right from the start:  if you are a Woody Allen fan who does not believe he is guilty of what he has been accused of, then this book is a must read.  On the other hand, if you are one of those people who believes he is guilty without any proof of such guilt, then you’ll obviously not read this book.  In fact, you probably shouldn’t even read this review.  If you’ve even read this far, it’s surprising.  Obviously, if I have read this book, I’m a member of the former rather than the latter. 

If you want to know why, then you’ll just have to do your own research, which would include watching the documentary, “By The Way, Woody Allen Is Innocent”, because there’s a significant amount of information there to make you question the accusations (not to mention the blogs of his adopted son Moses, which is a first-hand account that refutes many of the family’s accusations). Additionally, there is the information Allen provides in this book – but whether or not you choose to believe what’s already in the public record, that’s completely up to you.

As for the book itself, it is somewhat unconventional – not unlike its subject.  Specifically, it is not divided into actual numbered or even titled chapters; instead, it is divided into sections of anywhere from 15 to 30 pages, presumably done to create a sense of continuous flow of a single story.  That said, however, Allen does traverse his tale in a more or less chronological fashion.  Despite the relentlessly bad press he’s suffered through over the past few years, Allen never comes across as ever feeling sorry for himself; quite the opposite in fact – he often wonders at how unbelievably lucky he has been throughout the majority of his life. 

Once Allen reaches the point where he begins his filmmaking career, he starts alternating between his experiences making each movie and his personal life at that time.  “Husbands And Wives” was the last film he made with Mia Farrow – and despite the fact that they were in the middle of their very controversial and public breakup at that point, he claims that everyone remained professional enough to be able to finish the shoot in a timely fashion.  If you are looking for detailed technical information about precisely how Allen shot his motion pictures as a director, you’ll be sorely disappointed; he claims that it’s not a subject that’s interested him and that he was always too lazy to learn the specifics (which is why he left everything to the knowledgeable professionals).

The book is neither a text on moviemaking nor a tabloid-like tell-all; that said, it’s certainly not a boring read – in fact, it’s quite entertaining.  Unsurprisingly, Allen tosses in some good jokes periodically – and they pay-off particularly well due to the fact that they take the reader completely by surprise.  Most of these jokes, of course, are in the typical Allen self-effacing style, so they should be rather familiar to his fans.  Also, as an accomplished writer, Allen inserts some quite literary references, so as not to disappoint his more erudite fans. 

If there is any criticism of this book, it is in the lack of certain details regarding his personal life – and I’m not talking about the sleazy details between Allen and Farrow.  Instead, it would have to do with two of his long-time friends and collaborators.  For example, he mentions Mickey Rose and Marshall Brickman, but never explains exactly why he stopped co-writing screenplays with them.  This is particularly curious given the fact that that Rose, Allen’s friend since their childhood in Brooklyn, passed away a few years ago.  He also makes no direct allusions to Eric Lax, who wrote two of Allen’s biographies, but does seem to suggest that he may have hoodwinked Lax regarding the origin of how Allen Stewart Konigsberg changed his name to Woody Allen. 

“The Trial Of Henry Kissinger” – Book Review

During my winter vacation, I had a chance to read another work by Christopher Hitchens, “The Trial Of Henry Kissinger”.

One of the things I’ve always admired about Hitchens is that his approach is like that of a pit bull if you have the misfortune of showing up on his radar.  However, as much misfortune as it may be for his target, it inevitably proves to be serendipity for the rest of us.  He is simultaneously entertaining, edifying and horrifying with various and sundry tales of his object of revulsion – in this case, of course, Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon.  Having seen the Trump impeachment and learning of his past misdeeds, reading this seemed truly timely indeed. 

This book was initially published back in the Spring of 2001.  Why did Hitchens choose to write this tome?  Basically, he felt as though the United States was being somewhat hypocritical in that while it condemned world leaders of other countries for having either committed war crimes or crimes against humanity, it really need look no further to find such a villain among its own ranks.  Kissinger, Hitchens believed, should have been brought up against a tribunal at The Hague for actions taken during the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.  If no such trial would be forthcoming, Hitchens reasoned, then he would conduct his own in the form of a book where he would lay out the variegated allegations and accusations.

Chile resistance fighters were supplied with “sterile” arms by the U.S. – this means that the arms had no serial numbers and as a result, could not be traced back to the Nixon Administration.  Kissinger did this because he wanted its leader, Allende, out of office – despite having won a democratically-held election where he won by a slim plurality.  His reasoning for this was that Allende held strongly leftist views which, Kissinger reasoned, would completely destabilize the region and significantly harm relations with the U.S..  

Kissinger, it turns out, was also supporting a Bengali genocide in Bangladesh, which was being conducted by the primarily Muslim Pakistan.  Here, the State Department conducted what was referred to as a “Two-Track Diplomacy”, meaning that Ambassadors and Diplomats would conduct one track while the CIA would pursue a second track, which was counter to the first track; this was often done without knowledge by the Ambassadors.  The CIA’s murderous participation was nothing short of appalling.      

After citing Kissinger’s influence and antics in Indochina, Bangladesh and Chile, Hitchens spends Chapter 7 detailing about how a coup was allowed to happen on the island of Cyprus.  The strategy here was to allow the land to be used as a battlefield by Greece and Turkey to fight for its control.  The island was inhabited by both Greeks and Turks, but the overwhelming majority was Greek.   

Hitchens’ writing, as always, is top notch.  Unsurprisingly, his word choice – including and especially with respect to adjectives – is consistently perfect.  If there is one criticism, it is this:  Hitchens does an impeccable job of research – but it may be too good.  In fact, he’s so thorough that the material is densely packed with so many facts that it’s hard to process all of this information in the first reading.  This, however, is also typical of Hitchens’ writing style, if you are already familiar with his other work.    

“Men Without Women”– Book Review

Ernest Hemingway is a puzzle that continuously needs to be solved over and over again.  In a sense, reading him can be like reading Shakespeare in the sense that it desperately needs to be annotated in order to understand what’s going on at any given moment in the story.  Whatever he is writing about often needs to be unlocked by how he is writing it – i.e., the narrative descriptions and the comparisons, analogies or euphemisms.  As a writer, Hemingway struck the perfect balance between merely observing life (human nature) and being an active participant in it (war, boxing, bullfighting). 

If you are an admirer of Hemingway, then rest assured that “Men Without Women” touches on all of these topics – human nature, war, boxing and bullfighting.  Originally published in 1927, this is a collection of fourteen of Hemingway’s short stories.  The title, however, might be a bit misleading because some of the stories are actually focused on the complexity of relationships between men and women – which is, arguably, the author’s métier.  Most notably is “Hills Like White Elephants”, which, at its essence, is about abortion. 

This particular short story is what motivated me to read this book because of my personal history with “Hills Like White Elephants”.  My first reading of this story was back in 1977, the Spring Semester of my Freshman year in college.  Given the fact that I was attending a Catholic University at the time, one might imagine how eye-opening it was for me to discover that such a classic short story was about this particular topic; at the tender age of 18, it was quite a bit for this teenager to wrap his head around, particularly in such a religious environment. 

What is a so-called “white elephant”?  One definition is that it is something that is not desired by its owner or a possession maintained at much expense.  It may be suggested that for those who do not seek parenthood that children, in general, are both unwanted and expensive – a difficult thing to refute.  The fact that Hemingway could write about it so artfully without actually mentioning the word abortion was never actually used speaks to the author’s skill and subtlety.  Also, keep in mind that this was written decades before Roe v. Wade, so the procedure could only be done legally in Europe. 

Another reason why this particular story so remarkable is how well Hemingway writes about the complexity of the relationship between men and women.  In “Hills Like White Elephants”, one gets the sense that the woman is going through with this simply to please her man because she doesn’t want to lose him – and yet it seems as though this relationship is nearing its end.  He knows that she truly wanted this baby and is now even trying to convince himself that this procedure was a mutual agreement between them, whereas it was really coming at his insistence.

While there are other good stories in this collection, it’s rather haphazard; there’s filler in between the worthwhile pieces.  What makes it worth the read, however, is not only the better stories but also the historical context; it features Hemingway at his early stages in life, working and practicing in order to become the legend that he was.  To see him make a misstep or two along the way almost humanizes him.  For all his success, there were considerable artistic imperfections.  Not even Babe Ruth hit a homerun every time he came up to bat.       

Men Without Women: Ernest Hemingway: 9780684825861: Books ISBN: 0684825864 ISBN-13: 9780684825861

“Rules For Radicals”– Book Review

During my winter vacation, I read, “Rules For Radicals” by Saul Alinsky. 

Review

Why read this book?  My inspiration was Newt Gingrich.  No, you didn’t misread that.  During the 2012 presidential campaign when Obama was running for re-election, my boy Newty kept bringing up Saul Alinsky; whatever Obama did or said, Gingrich would respond by saying, “That’s straight out of the Saul Alinsky playbook!”.  This begged the not-unreasonable question on my part, “Who Is Saul Alinsky?”.  Quite honestly, I had never heard of him prior to that, so I began to research him and found Alinsky to be a rather interesting character.  As soon as I was able to get my hands on one of his books, I promised myself it would be prioritized on my reading list.

So just exactly who was Saul Alinsky?  Born in Chicago over a century ago, he studied criminology in college.  While working at Joliet State Prison, he learned about life there and later developed the skills necessary to organize various groups of people – whether it was workers for the purpose of unionizing or communities in order to evoke change to improve their living conditions.  His efforts sometimes resulted in his occasional jailing (where he found time to do the majority of his writing).  Alinsky influenced not only Obama but also Hillary Clinton as well.    

The first chapter of the book, titled “The Purpose”, notes that in Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address, the president said something that is often overlooked in his history: 

This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.  Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it.

In other words, “It’s your country, do with it as you please”.  Some might interpret this as saying that he was calling for a war.  Another – and perhaps more likely – interpretation  was that he was just reminding people that we, its citizens, own this country (and by association, its government) and that the elected politicians are merely its temporary caretakers.  With this as an eye-opener, Alinsky catapults the reader into further, equally revolutionary concepts. 

The experience of reading this book was simultaneously exhilarating, invigorating and inspiring.  Chapter 2, “Of Means And Ends”, begins with the following question:  “Does this particular end justify this particular means?”  When reading it at the time the book was originally published (1971, a year before its author’s death), it might’ve seemed rather innocent; unfortunately, reading it in today’s context, it feels like something that could be used by terrorists as their very own justification.   

Other chapters include “A Word About Words” (in which he foresees Politically Correct terminology), “The Education Of An Organizer” (where he lists the qualities of a good organizer), “Communication” (arguably the funniest chapter), “In The Beginning” (wherein he states that you must start by gaining both credibility and trust), “Tactics” (lays out methods of how to get things done and where he reveals both his secrets and mistakes) and “The Genesis Of A Tactic Proxy” (how shareholders can use their proxy votes against a corporation). 

In the book’s 9th and final chapter, “The Way Ahead”, Alinsky almost seems to predict the coming of Trump by referencing the McCarthyism of the 1950’s in the following passage:

“It’s The Red Menace!”  Now, they are not only the most vociferous in their espousal of law and order but ripe victims for such as demagogic George Wallace, The John Birch Society and The Red Menace perennials. 

(In the above passage, substitute “Socialism” for the term “Red Menace” to put it in today’s context)

Throughout this chapter, the author outlines how to proceed by using the methods delineated previously and warns of the danger of doing nothing.     

 

Book Review: “The Art Of War”

On my winter vacation, I read “The Art Of War” by Sun Tzu, as translated by Lionel Giles.

Summary

In the 5th century B.C., Sun Tzu, a General in the Chinese military, wrote a highly regarded treatise about combat strategy and tactics.  While this has been used by armies around the world, it has also been adopted for use in various business cultures.  In more modern times, the General’s philosophy toward fighting a war has proven to be a useful guidebook for traversing through the often treacherous world of corporate America.  Regardless of whether you’re an enlisted person in the military or an office drone who daily faces cutthroat competition from co-workers, Sun Tzu has composed survival instructions. 

The book consists of a total of 13 chapters as follows:

1.  Laying Plans	2.  Waging War	3.  Attack By Stratagem
4.  Tactical Dispositions	5.  Energy	6.  Weak Points and Strong
7.  Maneuvering	8.  Variation In Tactics	9.  The Army On The March
10.  Terrain	11.  The Nine Situations	12.  The Attack By Fire
13.  The Use Of Spies

Each chapter has sentences and paragraphs numbered for easy reference to the (usually short) pieces of information that the author has offered on a given topic.  While each item may be considered individually, they can also be taken within the context of a given chapter as well. 

Review

Is this book about The Art of War or is it about The Art of Survival?  It could be argued that survival is in fact a war against the forces in life that want to destroy you in one fashion or another – so yes, perhaps the art of survival is, indeed, the art of war.  From a philosophical context, one could make the argument that the art of war is both a war against society and a war against ourselves.  So, in that manner, the art of war is, indeed, the art of survival – however, what one may be trying to survive from may be different depending on what your individual perspective is on almost any given day. 

What exactly is it that motivates someone to read this book?  Perhaps it is literally a militaristic context, but frequently, it is a necessity to keep one’s head above water in the business world.  There is, however, another possibility:  to understand the political climate in which we all find ourselves presently.  To that end, “The Art Of War” may actually provide some insights – although that was probably not the original intent of its author from many centuries ago. 

As far as the book itself it concerned, it would seem that it is directed to the most absolute of purists – that is because this version leaves no indication of its publisher nor of the scholar who provided the translation.  The Spartan quality of the book would certainly explain the fact that it is without either an index, footnotes or annotations of any kind – too bad for the initial reader, but good for the more experienced reader familiar with this work.  This version of the book is not recommended for someone who has never previously read, “The Art Of War”; instead, it is better for someone who has already consumed a translation (with interpretations), but wishes to experience a version without any editorialized comments.  

 

The Art Of War: Sun Tzu, Lionel Giles: 9781545211953: Books ISBN: 1545211957 ISBN-13: 9781545211953

“Why I Am Not A Christian”– Book Review

During my recent vacation, I read “Why I Am Not A Christian” – a collection of essays by philosopher, writer and teacher Bertrand Russell.

Summary

Probably the people most in need of reading this book will never do so and the people who cleave toward Russell’s viewpoint will make up the majority of its readership.  In that regard, perhaps you could say that Russell is preaching to the choir.  Yes, that was a pun and no, I’m not apologizing.  The essays in this book were all written decades ago, which is part of what makes it all so interesting.  We don’t often think of discussions of atheism, divorce and birth control from our parents or grandparents generations.  It is therefore refreshing to read the essays with that perspective in mind.

The reason for the whole “preaching to the choir” issue is due to the fact that many people do not like to have their belief system questioned.  Often, this is because they fear that they can’t articulately and logically defend it in the first place.  This obviously begs the most necessary question, “Perhaps if you can’t defend your belief system doesn’t that seem to suggest that your belief system is of questionable value?”.  Unfortunately, people usually respond to this emotionally rather than rationally; they are infuriated by the thought that what they were taught by their family, their clergy and their school growing up was all untrue or unhelpful.

As you might expect, many of the views set forth by Russell are quite similar to those of the late Christopher Hitchens.  That said, however, Hitchens’ work is a more entertaining read; by comparison, Russell’s essays, despite the fact that they all have a sound basis in thinking, can be a bit of a slog – at least at times.  Many of these chapters are somewhat dry and you almost get the feeling that you are reading an undergraduate-level philosophy textbook.  It’s not an easy book to get through, especially given that Russell’s background is as an academician and he is prone to using language that doesn’t sound particularly natural. 

There is an essay titled, “Do We Survive Death?” where Russell almost predicts the terrorism that we are seeing today.  He says that nothing productive would come if we stopped fearing death – thus, this fear of death is mostly useful.  Having read that, consider how today’s terrorists – especially the suicide bombers – who give little or no regard to the thought of death because they are focusing on the afterlife where they will be greeted by 72 virgins (although I’m not sure how much fun just one virgin would be, much less 72). 

In “A Free Man’s Worship”, Russell almost foresaw climate change, by stating that natural physics leads to the destruction of man.  Additionally, there is the rather provocatively titled essay, “Sexual Ethics”, where the author discusses birth control, infidelity and how theology determines our attitude toward sex rather than our attitude toward sex determining our view of religion.  Consider two men:  one a pastor, the other a layman.  The pastor has 10 children with his wife, who dies from exhaustion.  The layman has sex with a woman he is not married to and uses birth control to ensure they don’t have any unintended children.  Which man is the more moral of the two?

One thing that might be seen as a serious flaw in the book has to do with the organization of the various essays.  Specifically, the fact that the essays are not presented in chronological order may pose something of a problem.  It might be better to read them in the order in which they are written.  Doing so would allow us to see how Russell’s views evolved, matured and refined over time.  Arguably the best part of the book is its Appendix; it deals with the 1941 court case in which Russell was involved resulting in a judge deciding that Russell was unfit to teach philosophy at the College at the City Of New York.  

Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects: Bertrand Russell, Paul Edwards: 8601421562652: Books ISBN: 0671203231 ISBN-13: 9780671203238

“On Paris”– Book Review

On my recent winter vacation, I read “On Paris” by Ernest Hemingway.

Summary

When the 20th century was in its early 20’s, so was Ernest Hemingway.  After his service as an ambulance driver during World War I, he lived in Paris with his wife Hadley and worked as a journalist for the Toronto Star.  Periodically, he would file pieces on a wide variety of topics – political, cultural, sports-related, you name it.  As a nascent writer, this young man was all over the place. While some may find these writings rather inconsequential, Hemingway devotees might in fact get a kick out of it because it shows the master as he’s figuring out how to perfect his craft.

This is a short, easy book to read, especially if you’re on vacation.  However, do note that if you’re on vacation in Paris (or are planning to go there), keep in mind that the places the author references in his florid writing may no longer exist since these articles are nearly a century old.  That said, it’s rather entertaining to see the references to prices with a favorable exchange rate between French Francs and U.S. Dollars (ah, the pre-Euros days).  That said, his love for the city of lights will still ring true for its most ardent fans. 

His view of French politics is particularly interesting, especially given the fact that the memories of The Great War are still fresh among its citizens.  What’s amusing, though, is the twenty-something Hemingway railing against the “old” politicians remaining in office.  He gives a peek behind the curtain of journalism describing the trials and tribulations of being a newspaperman.  The story related is about the installation of a new Pope and how the Vatican (like the politicians) didn’t trust journalists.  An appreciation of French History and world politics is not necessarily a pre-requisite for this book, but if you have this knowledge, it’ll certainly come in handy.     

In contrasting the way we currently express ourselves now as opposed to then, text dripping with racism was rampant.  As an example, there was an author of African-American descent who was notorious for writing a controversial novel.  Having met the man, Hemingway not only mentioned the man was Black, he went on to try to describe exactly how Black by comparing his skin color to that of a known boxer of the day who was also African-American.  Reading this particular piece, it is hard to imagine it being written in this manner today.

One of the funnier items is “American Bohemian”, where he writes about American artists (or artist wannabes) who come to Paris seeking networking with other such artists and, hopefully, to be discovered and get a shortcut to fame and fortune.  Hemingway describes these people as “the scum of Greenwich Village”.  He also writes harshly of the tough, gritty nightlife of the real Paris where you can be robbed by a waiter just as easily as you can by a young street thug with a weapon (although the latter method will induce considerably more physical pain). 

Besides writing about dilettantes, Hemingway also notices that Russians abound in Paris and they seemingly are able to get away with anything because the French are so gullible.  He also complains about how absinthe was outlawed and how Berlin tries to compete with Paris in terms of its nightlife (he says that Berlin is overrated because of the abundance of cocaine there, which is readily available almost everywhere you go).  The French themselves don’t get let off the hook quite so easily; Hemingway whines about how rude they are and that everywhere you go, they will harass you for tips. 

On Paris (On Series): Ernest Hemingway: 9781843916048: Books ISBN: 1843916045 ISBN-13: 9781843916048

“Heretic”– Book Review

This summer, I read the political analysis, “Heretic:  Why Islam Needs A Reformation Now” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Summary

As a self-described heretic and apostate, Ayaan Hirsi Ali long ago questioned the religion of Islam, in which she was raised.  Upon fleeing Islamic countries for The Netherlands, she received higher education in the more liberal Western culture and it was this that shaped her views that Islam was not only misogynistic, but also, doctrinaire as well.  In her writings, interviews and speeches opposing Islam, she has been met with many death threats.  Ultimately, she has arrived at the conclusion that the only way Islam can be fixed is by reformation – much in the same way as other major religions have undergone their own reformation over the ages. 

The author is of the belief that within Islam, there exists three types of Muslims:  The Medinas, The Meccas and The Modifiers.  She identifies herself as a Modifier – an apostate who cast doubts upon the religion in order for it to be reformed.  The Meccas – which is how the author was raised – are the peace-loving group that closely follows the rules of the religion.  The Medinas are the most problematic group because these are the ones who are the most violent and see the purpose of their religion as a political movement.  It is this group for which the book was written. 

Hirsi Ali then goes on to outline her own five-point plan of areas where Islam Reformation need to occur: 

1. The Prophet Muhammad’s infallibility and the literal interpretations of The Qur’an
2. The fact that life after death is valued much more than life before death
3. Denunciation of Sharia Law
4. Commanding “right” and forbidding “wrong” in order to enforce the religion  
5. The importance of Jihad (holy war)

Review

It is simply undeniable that Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the author of “Heretic”, writes about her topic with passion, conviction and absolute sincerity.  Her wisdom borne out of a lifetime full of her own personal experience combined with impeccable research imbues this book with tremendous authenticity which makes this book worth reading.  Traversing from chapter to chapter, it’s nearly impossible to keep from nodding in agreement with just about everything this woman says because it all makes such perfect sense.  All of which makes the ending of the book so maddening.

The main problem with “Heretic” is the fact that it never explains either how or why this religion would ever seriously consider reformation.  Based on what we know and what we have seen from Islamic extremists, this appears to be totally against their nature; there is essentially nothing in the world that would motivate these people to consider reforming the religion, especially when you remember that these very same people want to live as though they are still in the 12th century (and also want everyone else to live that way).  It is this matter that seems a huge flaw in the logic behind this otherwise intrepid work.

If you are familiar with the background of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, you know that this woman is far beyond merely courageous; in fact, calling her courageous almost seems like something of an insult.  Therefore, it is painful to say that her optimism – Hirsi Ali’s belief that this reformation has in fact already begun – is naïve and lacks sufficient foundation.  Does she truly believe this herself?  Or was she convinced by her editor that she needed to have some semblance of a “happy ending” in order to sell more copies of her book?  It would be nice to think that Hirsi Ali is far too smart to fall for that.  

Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now: Ayaan Hirsi Ali: 9780062333940: Books ISBN: 0062333941 ISBN-13: 9780062333940

“Our Revolution: A Future To Believe In”– Book Review

During this year’s winter vacation, I read the new book by the junior United States Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, “Our Revolution:  A Future To Believe In”. 

Synopsis

Senator Bernie Sanders describes his personal and professional background, provides a diary of his presidential campaign and supplies fine points for each of his policies.

Summary

“Our Revolution” is made up of two parts:  Part One is “Running For President”, Part Two is “An Agenda For A New America:  How We Transform Our Country”.  Part One is the shorter of the two, containing the following six chapters:  “How Do We Turn Out The Way We Do?”, “My Political Life In Vermont”, “Thinking About Running”, “How Do You Run A Presidential Campaign?”, “The Campaign Begins”, and “On The Campaign Trail”. 

Following the introductory chapters on Sanders’ background and political résumé, the remainder of Part One is essentially a diary of his 2015-2016 Democratic Presidential Campaign.  After years as the lone House Representative from Vermont, Sanders won a vacant Senate seat, representing his state as an Independent.  In describing those early days in the Senate, Sanders talks about the hostility he encountered from Democrats when he started; initially wanting to caucus with the Democrats, he found many of them opposed to him doing so.  Leader of the Senate Democrats, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, finally interceded on Sanders’ behalf; it wasn’t until that point that he was finally given committee assignments. 

Part Two’s 10 chapters are as follows:  “Defeating Oligarchy”, “The Decline Of The American Middle Class”, “Ending A Rigged Economy”, “Health Care For All”, “Making Higher Education Affordable”, “Combating Climate Change”, “Real Criminal Justice Reform”, “Immigration Reform Now”, “Protecting Our Most Vulnerable”, and “Corporate Media And The Threat To Our Democracy”.

The chapters in Part Two allow those unfamiliar with Sanders’ policies to glean an in-depth understanding of what they are and exactly why they are of importance to him – as well as why they should be important to the rest of us.  For people who have scoffed at his ideas of a “Medicare For All” system or free public college, here you have a detailed breakdown of how Sanders proposes to pay for these social programs.  The Senator maintains that giving greater access to higher education is crucial for young Americans if they are to effectively compete in what is now a global market.  In discussing climate change, Senator Sanders suggests that since coal will eventually be phased-out, companies that specialize in making solar panels should be incentivized to establish factories in former coal country locales such as Central Pennsylvania and West Virginia so as to put displaced coal miners back to work,  re-training them to manufacture and/or install solar panels.  This, he believes, might also work in Rust Belt states where the unemployed could find new careers in a burgeoning field.   

Review

Those looking for a first-hand memoir by “The Man Himself” will be sorely disappointed.  His personal and professional history are glossed over without much detail.  The divorce from his first wife, the breakup with the woman who was the mother of his first son, Levi, and his subsequent marriage to Jane are just a few examples.  Sanders clearly wants to keep his private life private and who can blame him? 

Throughout “Our Revolution”, Sanders keeps referring to his movement as a “struggle”, which is uncomfortably reminiscent of “Mein Kampf”.  The Senator credits himself with single-handedly changing Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign as well as making the platform of the Democratic Party the most progressive it has ever had.  To some extent, this book is something of a victory lap of a losing campaign, much like Trump’s self-congratulatory “Thank You” tour.  “Our Revolution” is rather self-congratulatory in tone, Sanders patting himself on the back despite coming in second.  He lacks some degree of objectivity and will tell you gladly everything he did right during his campaign but won’t always admit to exactly what he did wrong.

The book is certainly no great piece of literature – it’s written in a very conversational style and as you read it, you can almost hear Sanders himself speaking it to you in his own form of Brooklynese.  It could have used an editor.  In addition to some occasional typos, one example is on page 175, where he almost seems to be suggesting that Alaska is not a state.  Perhaps its most unforgiveable sin is the fact that the book lacks an index, which is shameful – there is absolutely no excuse for that.

While “Our Revolution” cannot be recommended for its relatively flimsy Part One, it most definitely is worth reading for Part Two alone.  The considerably longer portion of the book, it is by far the more interesting read.  There, Sanders goes into  great detail spelling out not only what America’s objectives should be throughout the next four years but also why they are important and how to achieve them as well.  If anyone had any questions about Sanders’ thoughts on various policies, they will all be addressed and answered extensively throughout each chapter. 

In its conclusion, “Our Revolution” ends on an upbeat, inspirational note with the Senator’s coda for the book being, “Let’s get to work!”.   Yes, Senator Sanders, let’s indeed.   

Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In: Bernie Sanders: 9781250132925: Books ISBN: 1250132924 ISBN-13: 9781250132925

“The Missionary Position”– Book Review

 

For my final book of the summer, I read “The Missionary Position:  Mother Teresa In Theory And Practice” by Christopher Hitchens.

Synopsis

Mother Teresa has made a reputation for herself as someone who helps the poor – but upon closer examination, is this “saintly” woman really all she’s cracked up to be?

Story

Around the world, Mother Teresa of Calcutta has been lauded as a great humanitarian and spokesperson for valetudinarian indigents.   But is she truly as magnanimous as The Catholic Church would have us believe?  With The Church behind you, you’ve got some powerful Public Relations machinery – at least, so author Christopher Hitchens believes.  That’s why he decided to take a closer look to see if the woman actually lived up to her legend.  It is no surprise, then, that Hitchens set about to disprove her believers and expose Mother Teresa as a total phony. 

In pursuit of the truth, the premise of Hitchens’ book poses one key question:  Should the world judge Mother Teresa’s reputation by her actions and words rather than judge her actions and words by her reputation?  Is this Albanian nun worthy of beatification and canonization?  If she is in fact going to be considered a saint, has she truly performed any miracles that have been verifiable?  All are reasonable questions, despite the fact that some would accuse the inquisitor of blasphemy.  But do people prefer to believe in the myth over the reality because the reality shatters their world view and personal beliefs?

Among Hitchens proof includes Mother Teresa’s associations, which have included Haitian dictator Duvalier (who stole millions of dollars from his country before fleeing to avoid prosecution) and disgraced financier Charles Keating (who did prison time for his role in the Savings & Loan scandal).  Despite the fact that millions were donated to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, it is difficult to trace exactly what happened to all of that money.  Since Mother Teresa believed that the ill should suffer just as Christ suffered during his crucifixion, she chose not to spend any of that money building a hospital and hiring physicians to treat and heal them. 

Review

Christopher Hitchens is at his best in “The Missionary Position”; he was an evil genius who’s both mean and hilarious concurrently – resulting in a fully entertaining read.  The last thing you ever wanted to do was to wind up on Hitchens’ radar, because when you did, he would bombard his target with a degree of vitriol that has to be witnessed in order to be fully appreciated.  He was notorious for whittling any target down to size in a seemingly effortless manner.  This pretty much sums up Hitchens’ approach toward dealing with Mother Teresa in this book, which was considered highly controversial when originally published 20 years ago. 

Is nothing sacred?  To Christopher Hitchens, the answer was an unambiguous “no”.  Hitchens shunned the appellation “atheist” in favor of “anti-theist” – basically, he thought religion was poisonous.  It didn’t matter what the religion was, he believed they were all corrupt and suffered from their own various hypocrisies.  So, Hitchens was not about to pull any punches with a nun whom the powerful Catholic Church had beatified.  In this work, Hitchens brilliantly reveals Mother Teresa to be a manipulative fraud who believed more in palliative care for the afflicted in favor of the more costly medical treatment that might have saved lives.  In keeping with Catholic doctrine, she also opposed abortion, thus enabling poverty stricken women to remain in dire financial straits.  

To be perfectly honest, I chose this book as my final read for the summer because it was by one of my favorite writers (Hitchens) and because it was a short, quick read.  Also factoring into my decision was the fact that Mother Teresa was recently canonized.  What makes “The Missionary Position” such a pleasurable read is due in part to the author’s style and wit as well as both the depth and breadth of his research.  In “The Missionary Position”, Hitchens pulls the curtain back on Mother Teresa – this woman who exploited the sick and the poor and who said the way to make the world a better place would be by smiling more.  Surely, if Mother Teresa or her acolytes read this book, none of them would be smiling. 

The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice: Christopher Hitchens, Thomas Mallon: 9781455523009: Books ISBN: 1455523003 ISBN-13: 9781455523009

“No One Left To Lie To”– Book Review

 

Recently, I read “No One Left To Lie To:  The Triangulations Of William Jefferson Clinton” by Christopher Hitchens. 

Synopsis

After two terms of President Bill Clinton, in what shape is the nation and the Democratic party?

Summary

The book is made up of seven chapters, plus a Preface and Afterward, as well as a Foreward that was done by presidential biographer Douglas Brinkley specifically for the twelfth edition.  The chapters, in order, are:  Triangulation; Chameleon In Black and White; The Policy Coup; A Question Of Character; Clinton’s War Crimes; Is There A Rapist In The Oval Office?; and The Shadow Of A Con Man. 

Originally published in 1999, Hitchens began working on this book as President Clinton’s second term was nearing its end, shortly after the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke and around the time of the impeachment proceedings.  Hitchens uses the book as a way to not only reflect on the many scandals that touched Clinton’s presidency but also to look at his history of repeated behavior that foretold what he would do once he became the most powerful man in the country, if not the world.

Ultimately, Hitchens concludes that Clinton has left a legacy that neither the former President nor The Democratic Party can point to with any degree of pride.  For example, Hitchens cites The Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA), which basically sold the homosexual community down the river, angering many of the Liberals who supported him (not to mention the gays themselves).  DOMA alone is believed to have significantly delayed marriage equality in The United States. 

Whenever scandal threatened to draw negative attention his way, “Slick Willy” would invoke tactics similar to those seen in the movie “Wag The Dog” by bombing a country for no apparent reason, whether they deserved it or not; this would distract the press and the public substantially in the hope that by the time the “war” coverage was no longer on the front page of the newspapers or the lead story of the evening news, the scandal that precipitated it would have long since died down and the source of the hubbub will be a distant memory.   

Review

The title “No One Left To Lie To” was not an original thought by author and journalist Christopher Hitchens; it was actually borrowed from someone whom he heard on the news.  In an airport waiting to board a plane, Hitchens was watching television when David Schippers was being interviewed; Schippers was the chief investigative counsel for the House Judiciary Committee at the time Clinton’s scandals had reached their peak.  In his analysis of the besieged President, Schipper said of Clinton, “He lied to the people, he lied to the Cabinet, he lied to his top aides and now he’s lied under oath to the Congress of The United States.  There’s no one left to lie to”.   

The subtitle of the book is “The Triangulations Of William Jefferson Clinton”.  Triangulations, as explained by Hitchens, were those acts by Clinton where he made promises to the Liberals and Democrats while delivering actions to the Conservatives and Republicans for the purpose of holding on to political power.  The author poses the reasonable question, “Why is Clinton not hated by the Left and not loved by the Right?”.  The result of this was that not only did Clinton in fact hold on to his power, but also, he dragged the Democratic party further to the political Right than the party itself wanted.  The pain of such Clinton acts as NAFTA, for example, are still being felt by Americans to this day. 

This is a short book and an easy read – one you can get through rather quickly.  Especially pleasurable is Hitchens’ typically meticulous research and rapier wit.  Hitchens, an avowed Socialist, was much further to the left than Clinton himself, so this is in no way a hit-job by someone with Conservative leanings.  In the last weeks before this year’s presidential elections, it is also a vital book to read.  Even if you choose not to read the entire work, you should at the very least read its final chapter which details similar misdeeds by Clinton’s wife.  Did one teach the other or are they two people with similar talents who found each other?  In any event, it is worthwhile to check out before deciding for whom to cast your vote in November. 

No One Left to Lie To: The Triangulations of William Jefferson Clinton: Christopher Hitchens, Douglas Brinkley: 9781455522996: Books ISBN: 1455522996 ISBN-13: 9781455522996

“Sinatra: The Chairman”– Book Review

 

This summer, I read “Sinatra:  The Chairman” by James Kaplan, a biography of Frank Sinatra from 1954 until his death in 1998.

Synopsis

After Frank Sinatra wins the Oscar in 1954, can this change the momentum of his career or is he basically done at this point?

Story

In the Spring of 1954, having secured his acting award for “From Here To Eternity”, Sinatra was sure that he was on the comeback trail.  Having been jettisoned by his former recording company, Columbia Records, he was in dire search for not only a new contract, but a new start as well.  Before long, it would be Alan Livingston of Capitol Records who would be willing to take a chance on Sinatra.  While the singer wanted to work with Axel Stordahl, the arranger with whom he had so many successes in his glory years of the 1940’s, Livingston played a hunch and paired him with an up and coming staff arranger named Nelson Riddle. 

Having spent the next few years re-establishing himself as the premier song interpreter of his time by working with Riddle and Billy May to produce hit singles and albums that were praised by both critics and the public alike, Sinatra once again found himself at the top of the world professionally.  As might be expected, however, his personal life was another matter entirely.  After many highly publicized separations and reconciliations with then-wife Ava Gardner, they finally divorced; although their tumultuous marriage was officially over, their passion was not – in fact, their life would intersect many times for decades to come. 

After leaving Capitol to form Reprise, his own record company, Sinatra found the business of running a label to be a challenge; as music tastes were changing in the early 1960’s, Reprise – adamantly against signing any rock and roll acts – relied solely on the performers that were more or less contemporaries of Sinatra.  He signed his Rat Pack buddies Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr., among others and found that his dream company was hemorrhaging money.   Eventually, in order to save the label, Sinatra wound up selling it to Warner Brothers, in exchange for a movie deal.  Again, however, Sinatra’s personal life was considerably turbulent; as a notorious playboy, he had many romances – one of which culminating in a brief marriage to actress Mia Farrow. 

Through his many connections with organized crime, Sinatra was able to help get John F. Kennedy elected president of the United States; their close friendship ended when Kennedy rebuffed Sinatra.  In later years, Sinatra became a Republican, supporting candidates like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.  Following a brief retirement in the early 1970’s, he tried to make a comeback, but his time had clearly passed.  He remarried in 1976; with age, he slowed down and this marriage would prove to last him until his demise in 1998. 

Review

About a year ago, I reviewed the biography “Frank:  The Voice” by the same author; it was considered the first volume in a two-volume set on the singer’s life.  Once again, Kaplan does not disappoint; just as Sinatra’s unique singing voice brought a new interpretation to old songs, Kaplan’s unique writing voice brings a new perspective on an oversized personality we all thought we already knew far too well.  Both Kaplan’s writing style and research prove to be what shines above all of the so-called gossip because he provides readers with substantial facts that either buttress or refute the various stories that have circulated throughout Sinatra’s life. 

One of the things that Kaplan appears to be trying to do is to get inside Sinatra’s head.  Without a doubt, this is something which sets this book apart from others who have attempted biographies of the star.  At the risk of sounding like the author is attempting to psychoanalyze his subject, Kaplan cites Sinatra’s behavior over the decades to draw conclusions that are quite credible, based on the evidence previously provided.  Another thing that enriches this biography is that there are an abundance of details that very often have gone either overlooked or omitted altogether in past biographies.   

Arguably, Kaplan’s best writing comes at the very end of the book when he describes visiting Sinatra’s gravesite.  After so many years of writing about this icon in the history of popular American culture, he sounds like he comes away a little disappointed.  There are no long lines wrapping around the site.  The letters have somewhat faded from years of being in the sun.  Perhaps the most egregious error of all is that in literature supplied by The Palm Springs Desert Memorial Park, The Chairman takes second billing to Sonny Bono, who is also buried in the same cemetery.  Is the disappointment Kaplan conveys due to the underwhelming gravesite of his subject?  Or is the disappointment in knowing that his fine work on this idol of millions has come to its inevitable conclusion?   

Sinatra: The Chairman: James Kaplan: 9780385535397: Books ISBN: 0385535392 ISBN-13: 9780385535397

“Why Sinatra Matters”– Book Review

 

My final book of this year’s summer reading is “Why Sinatra Matters” by noted journalist Pete Hamill.

Story

For decades, journalist Pete Hamill was friends with the legendary entertainer Frank Sinatra.  While never the closest of friends – which Hamill readily admits – they nevertheless spent a considerable amount of time together whenever the singer was visiting New York City; occasionally, whenever Hamill was in Las Vegas, Los Angeles or anywhere else where coincidence might have found the two simultaneously, he would meet Sinatra for dinner, or to attend a sporting event or simply to spend a night out drinking with the coterie of Sinatra’s hangers-on at the time.

With this as his perspective, Hamill draws upon years of personal experience – both before and after meeting Sinatra – to attempt to provide an explanation as to exactly what the singer’s importance and relevance was to society.  Despite being significantly younger than Sinatra – he recounts times when he was growing up that he would hear young “Frankie” on the radio – the two were able so somehow form a bond even though Sinatra hated and distrusted most reporters.  Based on his relationship to Sinatra, Hamill maintains that the singer matters for two reasons:  Immigration and Culture. 

Regarding immigration, the early 20th century saw America maintaining immense distrust and prejudice towards Italians; many – whether or not they were in the entertainment business – wound up changing their name so that no one would know the truth about their heritage.  As far as culture is concerned, the author explains that Sinatra – particularly during the 1950’s and 1960’s – showed America what it meant to be “cool”; in fact, Hamill seems to imply, Sinatra defined “cool” for a generation.  While John Wayne may have been a symbol for macho, Sinatra taught men how to be men. 

Review

This was by no means my first read of this book; it was my second pass at it – I originally read it over 16 years ago when it was first published, just a matter of months following Sinatra’s death.  In this, the year of The Sinatra Centennial, the reason why I re-read this book at this particular time is because it comes on the heels of my recently having read an early history of Sinatra (reviewed here) in which it was frequently cited and because it is such a short book, making it a quick read; I literally re-read it in a day.  Since summer is rapidly drawing to a close, I wanted to finish with something I knew could be completed relatively quickly.

After reading many biographies about Sinatra over the years, it is my personal opinion that in order to understand Sinatra, you must first understand the history of America in the 20th century; likewise, to understand the United States of the 20th century is to also understand Sinatra – and not just to understand who Sinatra was, but also to understand why he was relevant and to appreciate his impact on modern society at that time.  Sinatra was a fighter because he had to be; he was brought up during a time when bigotry was less subtle than it is now – to put it simply, intolerance was tolerated (if not expected). 

Lastly, understanding where the nation was in the 1950’s is to realize that it was an America that was putting behind it memories of World War II.  In that joyous post-war time, men and women were encountering relationships that were more sophisticated – some would argue complex – than what had been experienced in the simplicity of previous decades.  What Sinatra brought our society during that time – aided in part by technology combined with new social and sexual mores – is how the two sexes would relate to and interact with each other. 

Hamill writes with great passion about his old friend, whom he honors by making the subject of this book. “Why Sinatra Matters” is not so much a biography as it is a personal memory.  In a sense, it somehow feels more like the protracted eulogy the author wanted to give his old drinking buddy rather than a biography of any sort.  But the author does not whitewash matters in any way; he acknowledges Sinatra’s unpredictable behavior and his cruelties without excusing them.  Instead, Hamill tries to explain peccadilloes by reasoning that such conduct is not entirely uncommon among artists as great as Sinatra. 

 

Why Sinatra Matters: Pete Hamill: 9780316347969: Books ISBN: 0316347965 ISBN-13: 9780316347969