2018 Winter Book Reviews
I read quite a few books since my last book reviews in January. In this article are the reviews of seven books ranging in topics from politics to murder mystery to history to Christian fiction. Although I did not technically read all of them in winter 2018, I just decided to label them all as winter reads because it will be at least a month before spring is completely over.
Books Read
The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by Robert Payne
In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon
The Summary
Elisabeth Elliot: Joyful Surrender by Janet and Geoff Benge
Since she was young, Elisabeth Elliot had been intrigued by missionaries who gave up so much to tell others about God s love. With a passion to translate the Bible into new languages, she followed God's call to work among tribes in Ecuador, including the Waorani (Auca), who had killed her husband and four others. Elisabeth kept a detailed journal of her life and missionary service. She returned to the United States after many years in South America, becoming one of the most influential Christian women of our time. A prolific author, speaker, and radio host, she passes on a message of joyful surrender to the world.
Here, then, is a truly American success story—a great and inspiring one. From modest beginnings as the son of a shoe salesman in Tampico, Illinois, Ronald Reagan achieved first a distinguished career in Hollywood and then, as governor of California and as president of the most powerful nation in the world, a career of public service unique in our history.
Ronald Reagan’s account of that rise is told here with all the uncompromising candor, modesty, and wit that made him perhaps the most able communicator ever to occupy the White House, and also with the sense of drama of a gifted natural storyteller.
He tells us, with warmth and pride, of his early years and of the elements that made him, in later life, a leader of such stubborn integrity, courage, and clear-minded optimism. Reading the account of this childhood, we understand how his parents, struggling to make ends meet despite family problems and the rigors of the Depression, shaped his belief in the virtues of American life—the need to help others, the desire to get ahead and to get things done, the deep trust in the basic goodness, values, and sense of justice of the American people—virtues that few presidents have expressed more eloquently than Ronald Reagan.
With absolute authority and a keen eye for the details and the anecdotes that humanize history, Ronald Reagan takes the reader behind the scenes of his extraordinary career, from his first political experiences as president of the Screen Actors Guild (including his first meeting with a beautiful young actress who was later to become Nancy Reagan) to such high points of his presidency as the November 1985 Geneva meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev, during which Reagan invited the Soviet leader outside for a breath of fresh air and then took him off for a walk and a man-to-man chat, without aides, that set the course for arms reduction and charted the end of the Cold War.
Here he reveals what went on behind his decision to enter politics and run for the governorship of California, the speech nominating Barry Goldwater that first made Reagan a national political figure, his race for the presidency, his relations with the members of his own cabinet, and his frustrations with Congress.
He gives us the details of the great themes and dramatic crises of his eight years in office, from Lebanon to Grenada, from the struggle to achieve arms control to tax reform, from Iran-Contra to the visits abroad that did so much to reestablish the United States in the eyes of the world as a friendly and peaceful power. His narrative is full of insights, from the unseen dangers of Gorbachev’s first visit to the United States to Reagan’s own personal correspondence with major foreign leaders, as well as his innermost feelings about life in the White House, the assassination attempt, his family—and the enduring love between himself and Mrs. Reagan.
An American Life is a warm, richly detailed, and deeply human book, a brilliant self-portrait, a significant work of history.
Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution from Reagan to Trump by Laura Ingraham
Americans didn’t just go to the polls in 2016. They joined a movement that swept the unlikeliest of candidates, Donald Trump, into the Oval Office. Can he complete his agenda? Or will his opponents in the media, protestor class, and political establishment block his efforts and choke off the movement he represents?
In Billionaire at the Barricades, Laura Ingraham gives readers a front row seat to the populist revolution as she witnessed it. She reveals the origins of this movement and its connection to the Trump presidency. She unmasks the opposition, forecasts the future of the Make America Great Again agenda and offers her own prescriptions for bringing real change to the swamp of Washington.
Unlike most of her media colleagues, Ingraham understood Trump’s appeal and defied those who wrote his political obituary. Now she confronts the president’s critics and responds to those who deny the importance of his America First agenda. With sharp humor and insight she traces the DNA of the populist movement: from Goldwater’s 1964 campaign, to Nixon’s Silent Majority, to Reagan’s smashing electoral victories.
Populism fueled the insurgency campaigns of Buchanan and Perot, the election of George W. Bush, and the Tea Party rallies of the Obama presidency. But a political novice—a Manhattan billionaire—proved to be the movement’s most vocal champion. This is the inside story of his victory and the fitful struggle to enact his agenda.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The second best-selling book of the 19th century, behind only the Bible, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic anti-slavery novel. First published in 1852, the work is a seminal piece of abolitionist literature which helped spur the country towards Civil War. The story centers on the lives of several slaves of a Kentucky farmer named Arthur Shelby. Mounting debts forces the farmer to sell two of his slaves, Uncle Tom, a middle-aged man with a wife and children, and Harry, the son of Eliza, the family’s maid. Fearing separation from her child, Eliza runs away with her son and reunites with her husband George, also an escaped slave, planning to travel north to Canada. Meanwhile Tom is sold and placed on a Mississippi river boat where he befriends a young white girl named Eva, whose father Augustine St. Clare purchases him and takes him to their home in New Orleans. What follows for Tom is a tragic set of circumstances which highlighted the brutal reality of slavery in early 19th century America.
An American Life by Ronald Reagan
Few presidents have accomplished more, or been so effective in changing the direction of government in ways that are both fundamental and lasting, than Ronald Reagan. Certainly no president has more dramatically raised the American spirit, or done so much to restore national strength and self-confidence.
Here, then, is a truly American success story—a great and inspiring one. From modest beginnings as the son of a shoe salesman in Tampico, Illinois, Ronald Reagan achieved first a distinguished career in Hollywood and then, as governor of California and as president of the most powerful nation in the world, a career of public service unique in our history.
Ronald Reagan’s account of that rise is told here with all the uncompromising candor, modesty, and wit that made him perhaps the most able communicator ever to occupy the White House, and also with the sense of drama of a gifted natural storyteller.
He tells us, with warmth and pride, of his early years and of the elements that made him, in later life, a leader of such stubborn integrity, courage, and clear-minded optimism. Reading the account of this childhood, we understand how his parents, struggling to make ends meet despite family problems and the rigors of the Depression, shaped his belief in the virtues of American life—the need to help others, the desire to get ahead and to get things done, the deep trust in the basic goodness, values, and sense of justice of the American people—virtues that few presidents have expressed more eloquently than Ronald Reagan.
With absolute authority and a keen eye for the details and the anecdotes that humanize history, Ronald Reagan takes the reader behind the scenes of his extraordinary career, from his first political experiences as president of the Screen Actors Guild (including his first meeting with a beautiful young actress who was later to become Nancy Reagan) to such high points of his presidency as the November 1985 Geneva meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev, during which Reagan invited the Soviet leader outside for a breath of fresh air and then took him off for a walk and a man-to-man chat, without aides, that set the course for arms reduction and charted the end of the Cold War.
Here he reveals what went on behind his decision to enter politics and run for the governorship of California, the speech nominating Barry Goldwater that first made Reagan a national political figure, his race for the presidency, his relations with the members of his own cabinet, and his frustrations with Congress.
He gives us the details of the great themes and dramatic crises of his eight years in office, from Lebanon to Grenada, from the struggle to achieve arms control to tax reform, from Iran-Contra to the visits abroad that did so much to reestablish the United States in the eyes of the world as a friendly and peaceful power. His narrative is full of insights, from the unseen dangers of Gorbachev’s first visit to the United States to Reagan’s own personal correspondence with major foreign leaders, as well as his innermost feelings about life in the White House, the assassination attempt, his family—and the enduring love between himself and Mrs. Reagan.
An American Life is a warm, richly detailed, and deeply human book, a brilliant self-portrait, a significant work of history.
Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution from Reagan to Trump by Laura Ingraham
Americans didn’t just go to the polls in 2016. They joined a movement that swept the unlikeliest of candidates, Donald Trump, into the Oval Office. Can he complete his agenda? Or will his opponents in the media, protestor class, and political establishment block his efforts and choke off the movement he represents?
In Billionaire at the Barricades, Laura Ingraham gives readers a front row seat to the populist revolution as she witnessed it. She reveals the origins of this movement and its connection to the Trump presidency. She unmasks the opposition, forecasts the future of the Make America Great Again agenda and offers her own prescriptions for bringing real change to the swamp of Washington.
Unlike most of her media colleagues, Ingraham understood Trump’s appeal and defied those who wrote his political obituary. Now she confronts the president’s critics and responds to those who deny the importance of his America First agenda. With sharp humor and insight she traces the DNA of the populist movement: from Goldwater’s 1964 campaign, to Nixon’s Silent Majority, to Reagan’s smashing electoral victories.
Populism fueled the insurgency campaigns of Buchanan and Perot, the election of George W. Bush, and the Tea Party rallies of the Obama presidency. But a political novice—a Manhattan billionaire—proved to be the movement’s most vocal champion. This is the inside story of his victory and the fitful struggle to enact his agenda.
Peril at End House by Agatha Christie
On holiday on the Cornish Riviera, Hercule Poirot is alarmed to hear pretty Nick Buckley describe her recent “accidental brushes with death.” First, on a treacherous Cornish hillside, the brakes on her car failed. Then, on a coastal path, a falling boulder missed her by inches. Later, an oil painting fell and almost crushed her in bed.
So when Poirot finds a bullet hole in Nick’s sun hat, he decides that this girl needs his help. Can he find the would-be killer before he hits his target?
The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by Robert Payne
A New York Times Bestseller In The Life And Death of Adolf Hitler, biographer Robert Payne unravels the tangled threads of Hitler's public and private life and looks behind the caricature with the Charlie Chaplin mustache and the unruly shock of hair to reveal a Hitler possessed of immense personal charm that impressed both men and women and brought followers and contributions to the burgeoning Nazi Party. Although he misread his strength and organized an ill-fated putsch, Hitler spent his months in prison writing Mein Kampf, which increased his following. Once in undisputed command of the Party, Hitler renounced the chastity of his youth and began a sordid affair with his niece, whose suicide prompted him to reject forever all conventional morality. He promised anything to prospective supporters, then cold-bloodedly murdered them before they could claim a share of the power he reserved for himself. Once he became Chancellor, Hitler step by step bent the powers of the state to his own purposes to satisfy his private fantasies, rearming Germany, slaughtering his real or imaginary enemies, blackmailing one by one the leaders of Europe, and plunging the world into the holocaust of World War II. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ADOLF HITLER is the story of not so much a man corrupted by power as a corrupt man who achieved absolute power and used it to an unprecedented degree, knowing at every moment exactly what he was doing and calculating his enemies' weaknesses to a hair's breadth. It is the story of a living man.
In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon
One of the best-selling books of all time and an inspirational classic, this 1896 phenomenon popularized the question "What would Jesus do?"
Things I Liked
Elisabeth Elliot: Joyful Surrender by Janet and Geoff Benge
I don't have much of a comment because who am I to say anything about a perfectly accurate biography? But I liked how this novel referred me to a lot of other books by Elisabeth Elliot that I will hopefully be able to check out later.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
This is definitely one of the greatest American classics I have ever read. This book graphically highlights the evils of slavery, and it was certainly eye-opening to what the slaves faced only because of their race. The characters and lessons are so complex and marvelously written. The story is extremely dynamic and emotional, and it displays the skill of the author.
Besides the theme of why slavery is unjust, the author pointed out the ineffectiveness of Northerners in this matter. The whole point of this novel was not only to inform the North about what slavery really entails but also to give a call to action. The author points out that although many Northerners were disgusted at slavery, they made no attempts to stop it or to relieve the suffering of the slaves. One of the characters, Miss Ophelia, was a Northerner who kept condemning her cousin, St. Clare, about keeping slaves. But when St. Clare gave her a young girl to raise, she backed off before realizing that the North needed to give the slaves more than freedom. They also needed the gospel, education, skills, and other necessities for making a living.
An American Life by Ronald Reagan
This is a great biography about the Reagan Administration. Reagan does write about his childhood and work in Hollywood, but most of the book is focused on his presidency.
Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution from Reagan to Trump by Laura Ingraham
This book is about the people of America: the people who caused election upsets and surprised the Establishment of our country. This book covers each president from Reagan to Trump and what they did or did not do for the people of America. It is punctuated with the author's own personal stories about each of those administrations.
Peril at End House by Agatha Christie
This book is the 8th book in the Poirot book series. It includes a wonderful little reunion between Poirot; his sidekick, Hastings; and their friend Inspector Japp. As usual, it contains an astoundingly logical mystery to solve: a lot of red herrings and a lot of mind-blowing answers. I love the bits of humor and the way Christie writes through the process of solving a mystery without making the book boring at all.
This book is like a look inside of Hitler's mind. It is so comprehensive. I'm just amazed at all of the information in it. I just want to hold onto all of the historical facts, but my brain won't. :(
In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon
This is an excellent book about a group of people who decided to never act on their own will but to ask "What would Jesus do?" first. It's a really good idea actually; although the book seems to have this shallow question, the theme goes deeper than that. It is the story of a group of people who decided to yield their will and to follow God's will regardless of the results. This book shows how Christianity permeates all of life.
Things I Disliked
Peril at End House by Agatha Christie
Hastings suggests talking an already deceased character through a séance. Poirot stages a supposed séance, but it only consisted of turning the lights out, Hastings closing his eyes, and someone pretending to be a ghost.
The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by Robert Payne
But because it is so comprehensive, it is a lot of material to take in with one reading.
In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon
There is one aspect of the theme that is not extremely clear. The characters sometimes ask "What would Jesus do?" when the question "What would Jesus want me to do?" is more appropriate. This can be seen when characters are wondering about God's will in their life, but it doesn't make much sense to ask "What would Jesus do?" pertaining to which job to take for instance. This is more related to God's sovereignty and God's will for someone's life instead of imitating Christ's actions.
Rating
Elisabeth Elliot: Joyful Surrender by Janet and Geoff Benge: R (Recommend)
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: R (Recommend)
An American Life by Ronald Reagan: R (Recommend)
Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution from Reagan to Trump by Laura Ingraham: R (Recommend)
Peril at End House by Agatha Christie: R (Recommend)
The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by Robert Payne: R (Recommend)
In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon: R (Recommend)
***
I will close this article with something to think about. Honestly, if we put more thought into our Christian lives, if we made it a habit to ask ourselves whether Jesus would or would not want us to do a particular thing, we would probably bring less harm and trouble upon ourselves. Sin always has negative consequences on the world which could be avoided if we didn't sin so much.
It's not easy to not sin or even be consciously aware of our actions and their consequences, but it's extremely important. Sin never just affects yourself; it always causes damage to everyone else around you. Pray that the Lord would give us the strength to obey His word.
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