The Age of Eisenhower by William I. Hitchcock

 This is a fascinating book. Eisenhower, a WW2 warrior who knew the horrific consequences of war resisted efforts to draw America into any global conflicts but at the same time, he presided over the development of the CIA and its subsequent insidious interventions around the World. He was a man beset by contradictions: personal integrity and a fervent morality vied with an unwillingness to "impose" upon others even when the Supreme Court mandated an end to segregation in schools. His reign of eight years reflected a strong commitment to fiscal prudence, even as he authorized large expenditures for defense against the overwhelming fear of Communism posed by the Soviet Union and the escalating fear of the spread of Communism into Latin America and Asia. This book was very informative and revealing about a modern president who served two terms in an important yet often sentimentalized decade. Leave to Beaver and Lassie aside, the reality was so much more complex and provides so clearly a context for the following tumultuous decade.

Hotel Silence by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir,

An older man, despondent travels to an ex-war zone country with the intent to commit suicide and takes up residence at Hotel Silence. Caught up in the lives of the small community, he begins to see his life differently. Poignant.

The Common Good by Robert ReichA powerful plea that we re-establish the essentiality of the "common good" in our government and society. The viability of our faltering Democracy depends on a populace that is educated to think critically and tolerant enough to disagree with civility yet cooperate for the common good of all our people. Profit for individuals and corporations cannot be the dominant concern but needs to be sublimated to a concern for the well being of all. Only in raising all Americans to a reasonable standard of living can our Society rise to its full potential of freedom and justice for all. The author begins his book by reminding us of JFK's inspirational words in his 1961 Inaugural Address: "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Our country needs more than ever to embrace this advice if we are to ensure the viability of the Democracy envisioned by the Founding Fathers so many years ago. Yes, the Democracy was flawed but it also held a promise that now more than ever still needs to be realized.

A powerful plea that we re-establish the essentiality of the "common good" in our government and society. The viability of our faltering Democracy depends on a populace that is educated to think critically and tolerant enough to disagree with civility yet cooperate for the common good of all our people. Profit for individuals and corporations cannot be the dominant concern but needs to be sublimated to a concern for the well being of all. Only in raising all Americans to a reasonable standard of living can our Society rise to its full potential of freedom and justice for all. The author begins his book by reminding us of JFK's inspirational words in his 1961 Inaugural Address: "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Our country needs more than ever to embrace this advice if we are to ensure the viability of the Democracy envisioned by the Founding Fathers so many years ago. Yes, the Democracy was flawed but it also held a promise that now more than ever still needs to be realized.