Required Reading; Volume I

From time to time, I will give you some "book reviews" on some of the interesting books I have read recently. I love to read, especially the politically themed books, the ones with a conservative slant, to be sure. I will let you know the ones that I feel are worthwhile, so that you too can be part of the Right Wing.

Today, I will suggest four books, all of which I found to be quite provocative.

The first is American Soldier by General Tommy Franks. This is a very candid look at the life of a great American military mind. His thoughts and strategies on modern warfare will, in my estimation, become the status quo and will be studied by soldiers for years to come. His approach to modern warfare may well be an advancement on par with the radical strategy employed by General William T. Sherman during the Civil War. Likely a new strategy that many will consider in future conflicts.
The most important part of this book is the predictions that General Franks makes regarding the aftermath of the Iraqi conflict. His insight is dead on and could be a helpful primer for the US media, if only they would take the time to consider that almost everyone involved in the war on terror predicated a long and drawn out battle. This is a long book and is very specific in the military terminology, but it is worth the time it takes to read it.

The next two books are political through and through. The first, Enduring Revolution: How the Contract with America Continues to Shape the Nation by Major Garrett is a very good read and very historical in its content. It is a first hand look, from a reporter's point-of-view, at the 1994 Republican take-over of the United States House of Representatives. Garrett is very unbiased in this book and it puts a great amount of perspective on the political landscape of today, and what this country might have been like had this major political uprising not materialized.
The second, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America by Newt Gingrich is an outline of his positions on various subjects that he feels are necessary to keep the United States strong for the next century. While I do not agree with everything that Newt proposes, I do feel that he has a very mindful eye on the political future of this country and I feel that this is a good (and quick) read for anyone who wants to espouse conservatism, but maybe needs some pointers on how to express their thoughts.

Lastly, I must remark on Men in Black by Mark Levin. This is an extremely important essay on the renegade Supreme Court of the USA and is very insightful on explaining how the high court is slowly imposing its will on every American. Since this book was published, there have been several more examples of the Black Robes legislating from the bench and each and every example is like a ghost of the message that Levin is sending. I think that every American should read this book and think about the consequences of a judiciary gone wild. It could ultimately spell the end of our nation as we know it.

Again, my thoughts on the books selected, not a review, but a suggestion to read for yourselves and make your own decisions on the material and [hopefully] apply the lessons to the way you conduct yourself as a citizen.