[Bramlet]

I am starting reading "The Case For Trump" – Victor Davis Hanson

[rtpoe]

Got to be a pretty small book! (grin)

Anyway:

The Kingdom of Nauvoo by Benjamin E. Park

Kicked out of state after state, Joseph Smith and his followers bought land in Illinois on the shore of the Mississippi River. There, they built a community and began to live their lives according to Smith's teachings. As they grew in number, and rumors of what was going on there spread, they started making enemies. Missouri, for one, wanted Illinois to hand over Smith because they had some outstanding warrants for his arrest.

The big question that they were asking was if a state will not protect the religious liberty of its residents, would the federal government come to their aid?

Religious freedom was a big issue in the 1840s. The Mormons weren't the only sect trying to set up an independent community where they could be free from persecution.

Lake, however, doesn't get into that issue much. But this is still a worthwhile read, since he's taken advantage of the recent opening of the LDS archives to write an incredibly detailed history of Nauvoo. It's a good look at a forgotten part of American history.

[TheZookie007]

Now: Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman

Synopsis:

Traction is a book that presents
 a system for organizational health and growth. It is
 a true system: do this, and then this, and then this, in this order, consistently, and this good stuff will likely happen. This system is called the EOS System® (the Entrepreneurial Operating System).

This book is the first part of a comprehensive system complete with forms, coaches, long-term connections to help a company move forward effectively. The top three points of the book:

1. We need to be reminded of the basics of being a business.  This books reminds us of these basics.

2. Each business needs a usable system: to plan for the future, to get all things done, and to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.  This book provides such a system.

3. We all need to know what to do at work – individually, and as part of the larger team.  This book is a very good “this is what needs to get done; this is what you need to do” book.


People have been on my case for not reading this so I finally succumbed. I'm glad I did.

[Hiram]

Derren Brown's television and stage performances have entranced and dumbfounded millions. His baffling illusions and stunning set pieces - such as The Seance , Russian Roulette and The Heist - have set new standards of what's possible, as well as causing more than their fair share of controversy. Now, for the first time, he reveals the secrets behind his craft, what makes him tick and just why he grew that beard. Tricks of the Mind takes you on a journey into the structure and pyschology of magic. Derren teaches you how to read clues in people's behaviour and spot liars. He discusses the whys and wherefores of hypsis and shows how to do it. And he investigates the power of suggestion and how you can massively improve your memory. He also takes a long hard look at the pararmal industry and why some of us feel the need to believe in it in the first place. Alternately hilarious, controversial and challenging, Tricks of the Mind is essential reading for Derren's legions of fans, and pretty bloody irresistible even if you don't like him that much...

[Zealot]

I just finished "Paying The Piper" from David Drake's "Hammer's Slammers" series.Great military sci fi.Now I'm about halfway through "The Forlorn Hope",which he also wrote.

[TheZookie007]

Derren Brown's television and stage performances have entranced and dumbfounded millions. His baffling illusions and stunning set pieces - such as The Seance , Russian Roulette and The Heist - have set new standards of what's possible, as well as causing more than their fair share of controversy. Now, for the first time, he reveals the secrets behind his craft, what makes him tick and just why he grew that beard. Tricks of the Mind takes you on a journey into the structure and pyschology of magic. Derren teaches you how to read clues in people's behaviour and spot liars. He discusses the whys and wherefores of hypsis and shows how to do it. And he investigates the power of suggestion and how you can massively improve your memory. He also takes a long hard look at the pararmal industry and why some of us feel the need to believe in it in the first place. Alternately hilarious, controversial and challenging, Tricks of the Mind is essential reading for Derren's legions of fans, and pretty bloody irresistible even if you don't like him that much...

Will add that to the list.

[TheZookie007]

I just finished "Paying The Piper" from David Drake's "Hammer's Slammers" series.Great military sci fi.Now I'm about halfway through "The Forlorn Hope",which he also wrote.

Military sci-fi?

[MaxBigfoot]

It's not really a book, per se, but I've been reading this huge fanfic by Diane Castle called "The Secret Return Of Alex Mac".  It crosses over a lot of different shows, movies, and books.  It's huge, clocking in at over 1.1 million words, but so far it's been riveting my attention.

[TheZookie007]

That sounds fascinating! Remember that Fifty Shades of Grey began as an adult fanfic of the Twilight series of novels

[MaxBigfoot]

That sounds fascinating! Remember that Fifty Shades of Grey began as an adult fanfic of the Twilight series of novels

It is fascinating, but I'm thinking I bit off a huge project.   
Turns out, this story is a sequel to another she did, and it's so popular that it's turned out to be the beginning of a shared universe series of works that is being written in by at least 10 other authors, plus herself.  Probably over 20 million words have been written in it, by some pretty talented authors.   

[TheZookie007]

I wish I could stop being so lazy and do NaNoWriMo

[MaxBigfoot]

I wish I could stop being so lazy and do NaNoWriMo

I didn't know you were a writer, Zookie!  Did I miss a post where you mentioned it before somewhere? 

[TheZookie007]

A wannabe writer, I suppose. I always wanna start but just never seem to get around to it. Life being what it is and all.

[rtpoe]

Stepin Fetchit: The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry by Mel Watkins

A biography of one of the bigger stars of the 1930s. Watkins doesn't focus on the racism, but rather on Perry's life itself. How he worked the "Chitlin Circuit" during the 20s, and reported regularly on his travels and work to the Chicago Defender, one of the nation's top Black newspapers. How he was a "bad boy" who couldn't be bothered to show up on time for his movie work, and was constantly getting pulled over for DUI. How he was stuck in the same acting style, which severely limited the roles he was offered......

[Zealot]

"The Forlorn Hope" and "Paying the Piper" by David Drake.Either one would be great to make into a movie.