“Maximalist is a highly readable account of American engagement during the Cold War and the War on Terror. It provides a commonsense means to assess American military and diplomatic policy without the fog of political rhetoric.” Continue reading Maximalist, by Stephen Sestanovich @ NYJB
“. . . with modern permutations of American fun, American Fun: Four Centuries of Joyous Revolt offers a history that is about fun and is fun to read. It illuminates the very American tradition of stickin’ it to the man, dancin’ in the street, and havin’ a blast.” Continue reading American Fun, by John Beckman @ NYJB
Over at the New York Journal of Books, I reviewed Arik: The Life of Ariel Sharon, where I state that, “Sharon lived a life saturated with controversy. Mr. Landau’s biography paints a comprehensive picture of Ariel Sharon, a man easy to hate, but harder to understand.” Continue reading Arik: The Life of Ariel Sharon, by David Landau @ NYJB
“The Burglary shows how a small group of committed individuals performed the bravest act of all, exposing Hoover . . .” – See more at: http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/burglary-j-edgar-hoover#sthash.4xcuE9qY.dpuf Continue reading The Burglary, by Betty Medsger @ NYJB
At the New York Journal of Books I review The Confidence Trap: A History of Democracy in Crisis from World War I to the Present, by David Runciman, a challenging, confounding, but ultimately rewarding political analysis democracy’s ability to weather crises and occasionally get blindsided by the next crisis. Continue reading The Confidence Trap, by David Runciman @ NYJB
Over at the New York Journal of Books, I review Calder Walton’s fascinating Empire of Secrets: British Intelligence, the Cold War, and the Twilight of Empire, all about the UK’s precarious position and its nefarious intelligence practices during the Cold War. Continue reading Empire of Secrets: British Intelligence, the Cold War, and the Twilight of Empire, by Calder Walton @ NYJB
This week at the New York Journal of Books, I review Tales of Two Cities: Paris, London, and the Birth of the Modern City, by Jonathan Conlin, which is “. . . an entertaining account that strings together fascinating factoids into a tapestry of urban history and cultural anthropology.” Continue reading Tales of Two Cities: Paris, London, and the Birth of the Modern City, by Jonathan Conlin @ NYRB
At NYJB, I review Happy Mutant Baby Pills, by Jerry Stahl, “. . . a comical descent into the carefully choreographed madness of contemporary American culture.” Continue reading Happy Mutant Baby Pills, by Jerry Stahl @ NYJB
My Crazy Century, by Ivan Klima, is a memoir about the famous author’s Czech childhood and adulthood under Nazi and Communist occupations, shot through with wit and rage. Continue reading My Crazy Century: a memoir, by Ivan Klima @ NYJB
Stanley Weintraub’s brisk, short, and informative book covers FDR’s years as Undersecretary of the Navy under President Woodrow Wilson, where FDR has to contend with the shadow of his wife’s uncle, former President Teddy Roosevelt. Continue reading Young Mr. Roosevelt, by Stanley Weintraub@NYJB
The Driftless Area Review 