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The gas lighting book sounds interesting. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

As i understand it she also shares things to look for if you are unsure you are being gaslighted (gaslit?), too. I'll keep you posted.

madrano wrote: "As i understand it she also shares things to look for if you are unsure you are being gaslighted (gaslit?), too. I'll keep you posted."

That makes it even better !

I checked and my library has it, so I am putting it on my list.

Thanks !

My pleasure.

Thanks to deb, I purchased a used hardcover copy online of
Civilisation: A Personal View ---Kenneth Clark

PBS currently is running a series based on the book.

I just picked it up at the post office today. However, glancing quickly through it, it has some really terrific photos.

Thanks, Deb ! (and debs bro, who first recommended the book)

LOL--i'll pass that along, Alias. I'm eager to see a copy, too.

There is a good book to be written about how Trump is gaslighting the USA but this isn't it.

I didn't know anything about Amanda Carpenter before requesting a copy of her book Gaslighting America: Why We Love It When Trump Lies to Us. And i was not in love with the subtitle because i'm certain we don't "love" it as much as have no way to confront it. Even had i known she was a Republican who worked for Ted Cruz and as a student went door-to-door for Michael Pence, i would have wanted to try the book, having seen her discussing the book on tv.

Instead i seethed as i read the first 3 chapters in which the Democrats and Obama were to blame for the name calling against McCann and Romney as each respectively ran against Obama. The most grating line was when she described the Democrats, "all they have to offer is more government control over the most personal parts of our lives--namely, our money, our health care, and our education." Really? Well, i won't enter a diatribe on those "namely"s but you get the point.

I thumbed through the subsequent chapters in hope of more instructional and less political insights but they were all wrapped up in the last campaign to the point where one needs to read her rhetoric to get to the core i wanted. So, i am returning it, unread.

This is not a review of the book itself, others may find it perfect as she illustrates specific lies. On television she presented the topic in an ordered fashion, which led me to believe this is the way the book would progress. It didn't. I know that problem of gaslighting is important but i want an understanding of the acceptance, which i didn't see here. I suspect i want a book that cannot be written because there is not much we can do but watch it happen. What can you do about someone willing to lie to you straight to your face?

This is the way we are now. An outrage occurs and it almost sounds as though the bad actor asks, "What are you going to do about it?" When, in fact, there is nothing we can do but try to avoid it, which is ceding the field. "What are you going to do about someone driving down the wrong lane into approaching traffic?" Avoid it. Same here...

Needed to vent.

Thanks, deb. Crossing it off my list.

Pity, really. I'm keeping my eyes open for a more proficient book on the topic & will keep you informed.

I went to the library today to pick up two books I had put a hold on. I had to laugh. Can you tell I'm getting old ? :)

Pain Free Living: The Egoscue Method for Strength, Harmony, and Happiness
I saw a youtube of the exercises and thought it would be interesting.

The Alzheimer's Solution: A Breakthrough Program to Prevent and Reverse the Symptoms of Cognitive Decline at Every Age
Another book I saw mentioned online and thought I would skim it for prevention tips.

LOL--is that the first sign? My siblings and i had our first casual conversation about aches and aging, then stopped to laugh at ourselves. You know you're getting old when the "baby" of the family, a decade younger than me, has old age issues. :-)

I picked up three books from the library today.

The War to End All Wars: World War I----Russell Freedman
I've read other books by this author and liked them very much. I've been looking for a basic book on WWI, so when I saw this on the library shelf, I knew it would fit my needs perfectly.

The Destiny Thief: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life----Richard Russo
I've read and enjoyed Russo's books. So I was happy to see this displayed on the new book shelf.

Younger Next Year: The Exercise Program: Use the Power of Exercise to Reverse Aging and Stay Strong, Fit, and Sexy---Chris Crowley
I am a bit of a gym rat, so I thought this book might offer some tips. It looks basic but you never know when something can be useful.

That's a plateful of reading, Alias. I hope they all manage to be worthwhile. I'm particularly interested in the Freedman book.

madrano wrote: "That's a plateful of reading, Alias. I hope they all manage to be worthwhile. I'm particularly interested in the Freedman book."

Now I just need to get off this computer and read ! I need to finish up Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg which I am enjoying.

That looks like a good book, Alias. I'm pleased to see you are liking it.

I am reading The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies, a good assessment of international politics from US point of view, by Michael V. Hayden. He is former director of the CIA, so i trust what i'm reading about how long Russia has been working its way into our election system. The difference appears to be that former Presidential candidates reported the Russian outreach to the government, from at least 1960.

madrano wrote: "I am reading The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies, a good assessment of international politics from US point of view, by Michael V. Hayden. He is former director of the CIA, so i trust what i'm reading about how long Russia has been working its way into our election system. ."

On TV I've seen the former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper. His new book seems like a good companion to the one you are reading. From what I've seen of him on TV, he also seems like a credible source.

He will be on C-SPAN2 Book TV
Airing Saturday, May 26 9:59pm EDT on C-SPAN2


Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence----James R. Clapper
When he stepped down in January 2017 as the fourth United States director of national intelligence, James Clapper had been President Obama's senior intelligence adviser for six and a half years, longer than his three predecessors combined. He led the U.S. intelligence community through a period that included the raid on Osama bin Laden, the Benghazi attack, the leaks of Edward Snowden, and Russia's influence operation during the 2016 U.S. election campaign. In Facts and Fears, Clapper traces his career through the growing threat of cyberattacks, his relationships with presidents and Congress, and the truth about Russia's role in the presidential election. He describes, in the wake of Snowden and WikiLeaks, his efforts to make intelligence more transparent and to push back against the suspicion that Americans' private lives are subject to surveillance. Finally, it was living through Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and seeing how the foundations of American democracy were--and continue to be--undermined by a foreign power that led him to break with his instincts honed through more than five decades in the intelligence profession to share his inside experience.

Clapper considers such controversial questions as, Is intelligence ethical? Is it moral to intercept communications or to photograph closed societies from orbit? What are the limits of what we should be allowed to do? What protections should we give to the private citizens of the world, not to mention our fellow Americans? Are there times when intelligence officers can lose credibility as unbiased reporters of hard truths by inserting themselves into policy decisions?

Facts and Fears offers a privileged look inside the U.S. intelligence community and, with the frankness and professionalism for which James Clapper is known, addresses some of the most difficult challenges in our nation's history.
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Viking (May 22, 2018)

It is fascinating to see these respected heads of our government agencies under siege by the US executive head. They have dedicated their lives to making these communities strong and reliable, only to see someone who won't even read their reports trashing them like used plastic cups.

madrano wrote: "It is fascinating to see these respected heads of our government agencies under siege by the US executive head. They have dedicated their lives to making these communities strong and reliable, only..."

Truth !

Downloaded Overdrive library audiobook: Murder on Black Swan Lane. First in a mystery series set in Regency England featuring an Earl who's an expert in chemistry, and a renowned political satirist (kind of a Thomas Nast figure) - a woman writing (drawing) under a gender neutral set of initials. They've been introduced in such a way I can't wait to see their paths cross!

I love Overdrive for audiobooks. I usually only listen to audiobooks when I am at the gym. A book is a nice change from music once in awhile.

I really like Andrea Penrose's photo. I hope the book continues to engage you. I don't think i use audiobooks enough but may eventually surprise myself, as i have with ebooks.

I liked the mystery novel above quite a lot - hope to get to the sequel soon.

Headed home from the library right now, with two new acquisitions:

Bai Ganyo: Incredible Tales of a Modern Bulgarian, recommended by a Bulgarian acquaintance and How the Other Half Lives; walking down 125th Street on my latest visit to New York was like seeing ghosts everywhere as the cornerstone of each building were circa 1900 when my father's extended family all lived in the area.

John, it's neat that you have a context for the Riis book. I spent much time looking at maps to figure out where the neighborhoods were. It was worth it.

I am reading Bone Rattler, a mystery set in early US colonial times and featuring Scottish immigrants. Pretty good. I'm reading it while i wait for another in the Eliot Pattison series.

As I wait for my hold to come from the library

I checked out . its been on my to read list for to long.

I just finished Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. Even though it had mixed reviews, I enjoyed it.
Now diving into Circe by Madeline Miller.

Danielle, both books are well reviewed, i see. I don't know that i could handle the first one, Killman Creek, but maybe by reading the first in the series you were primed for it. The Blake Crouch book sounds intriguing and the fact he is connected to Wayward/Pines makes it more interesting.

Casey, the Madeline Miller book sounds ripe for those who enjoy mythology. Enjoy!

Casey wrote: "I just finished Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. Even though it had mixed reviews, I enjoyed it.
Now diving into Circe by Madeline Miller."

Welcome to Book Nook Cafe, Casey. Thank you for sharing your reads with us. We love active posters ! :)

I have seen the series all the way through (until the upcoming final season, of course) three times. I finally decided to try to novels. Just got this in the mail yesterday!

A Game of Thrones

Anita, it will be neat to see if you like them as much (or more than/less than) the series. Enjoy!

Many libraries these days have a system where some copies of popular books can be read right away on the shelf, as they cannot be included as a hold, NO renewals. Here in Seattle the program is called Peak Picks, allowing one two-week check out, with overdue fines kicking in there after. We can see in the catalog whether certain locations have a copy on the shelf ahead of time, a huge plus!

I'm a part way through such a copy of David Sedaris' latest essay collection Calypso. Better than the previous offerings of his, where I've been bored to death of his continuous mining of his dysfunctional family. Here, he does some of that, interspersing non-family stuff as well. So far, the only real dud has been a chapter on shopping in Tokyo where he seems to come off as bragging about how rich he is now.

John wrote: "I'm a part way through such a copy of David Sedaris' latest essay collection Calypso. ."

I'm glad to hear the new one is good. I was really disappointed in
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls as I had enjoyed some of his other books.

John, i've been part of library systems which do that & miss it here in Texas. It was wonderfully random and teeming with options. Many of my unexpected pleasures have come from those shelves. Enjoy!

I picked up two books at the library today. The first one, I wasn't sure if you read and reviewed it, deb. I seem to think you did and didn't like it. But a GR search didn't turn it up.

Anyway the author is from Hunter College in NYC and the book sounded interesting to me.
The Death of Democracy: Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic--Benjamin Carter Hett

The other book I picked up happened to be on the New Book Shelf at the library. Since I had two short books on the topic of Rome already out from the library, I thought I would check this longer book out. I'm not sure if I will be able to get to it as my reading schedule is getting crowded.

Rome: A History in Seven Sackings---Matthew Kneale

Alias, i didn't read that book but i recall asking about the topic in a general way. I wondered what happened then and could it happen again, but what i most wanted to know (& this book didn't seem to answer) is how they could have stopped it. You may be able to see it coming but how could they have stopped it in its tracks.

I didn't know you were so interested in Rome. One thing i noticed when we visited was that, unless you have many, many days, there's so much to see--ancient Rome? other history? Vatican? Fountains/architecture? churches?--that you cannot grasp it all. The Kneale book looks as though it addresses much of it. I hope you are able to read it, so you let us know! :-)

madrano wrote: I didn't know you were so interested in Rome. ."


My interest is due the fact that many posit that the U.S. could never lose it dominance in world affairs and see it's democracy fade away. From what I see we are already falling way behind in many key areas.

Our exploding debt causes me to worry about our current economic health. The United States recorded a government debt equivalent to 105.40 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2017.


According to WHO we are #37 in healthcare


And

According to Pew Research we are in the middle of the pact in Education



Also according to American Society of Civil Engineers
we score a D+ in infrastructure.


And on and on. It seems to me that if we don't admit and address this decline is to live in a dangerous fantasy world.

So, I thought it might be useful to learn about the causes that precipitated the fall of the once great empire of Rome. It may or may not have lessons or us today.

You make good points all around, imo. One would think that parallels between USA & the ancient Romans would be worth looking into, as there seem to be so many. I cannot speak to much of what you mentioned but will say that when we were in Europe for months last year, the number one US issue which dismayed Europeans was the state of our healthcare. They could not believe that all citizens weren't covered under some government program such as they had. The topic usually began after questions about our sanity in electing Trump but the next most common concern was why elect a man who doesn't believe in gov't health care programs. Frankly, i didn't realize other nations even noticed.

madrano wrote: The topic usually began after questions about our sanity in electing Trump but the next most common concern was why elect a man who doesn't believe in gov't health care programs.."

And we don't have healthcare for our insanity. :( LOL

Indeed.

I just got home from a small town fall festival here in Western Mass., and the local library was having a book sale. I picked up a pile, paid a dollar a book. Score!!

Promise of Blood

The Amulet of Samarkand

The Goblin Emperor

Gone for Good

Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire

Nice haul, Anita. 'Tis the season for book sales, i guess. We went yesterday but only walked away with two. There were plenty of choices, i was just in a rush. NOT the way to visit! I purchased

1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West by Roger Crowley


I wasn't aware how many 1400 history books there are named by a year. I have read only 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann, who also has written 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created. I also own one titled 1421: The Year China Discovered America, written by Gavin Menzies, who also wrote 1434. Who knew?

My other purchase is Secret Soldiers: The Story of World War II's Heroic Army of Deception by Philip Gerard. . I read a bit about some of the deceptive tricks the military (particularly the UK, who used a magician even) employed to fool Germans during the war when i read Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre. Much of it was about creating illusions on the landscape to make it appeared something was happening/happened. For example, ZigZag was supposed to blow up an arms factory so the magician created the allusion this occurred. Neat, i must say. So, i'm looking forward to the book.

Alias, Texas and football Saturday reminded me of another way i think we parallel ancient Rome. They spent enormous resources for the entertainment offered in the Colosseum and other similar structures. The diversion factor is one i've watched increase dramatically (not to mention the finances entailed) over the last 50 years when i met my sports-watching husband. These help bolster city spirit and bonds communities, but they also serve an indolent aspect of viewers...and immense wealth for owners, players, coaches, sponsors, and on.

Anita wrote: "I just got home from a small town fall festival here in Western Mass., and the local library was having a book sale. I picked up a pile, paid a dollar a book. Score!!


Wow ! Enjoy.

madrano wrote: "Nice haul, Anita. 'Tis the season for book sales, i guess. We went yesterday but only walked away with two.
"

Nice. Enjoy, deb.

Glad I didn't run into any book sales. I can't resist. I'm a book hoarder.

madrano wrote: "Alias, Texas and football Saturday reminded me of another way i think we parallel ancient Rome. They spent enormous resources for the entertainment offered in the Colosseum and other similar struct..."

Good point. Also they keep the masses entertained and not focused on the shady goings on by the officials and the elite 1%.

True. Masses entertained, 1%'s coffers increased. Win-Win.

Today the movie theater we usually go to was closed temporarily so we headed to the book store as a consolation prize and I picked up Jell-O Girls: A Family History and Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man].

Julie, the reviews on GR are mixed for this but most seem to be because people began reading the book with certain expectations. I've fallen into that trap myself, so know its frustration. I hope you enjoy it.

My husband really liked the book on the Indianapolis. What a story--some parts haunt me still, just from what he told me.

My library hold of Secrets in Death arrived to my kindle today’s! I really love this series. JD Robb aka Nora Roberts is such a fantastic writer. She keeps me guessing who the killer is and what is going to happen!

Wow, #45 in the series. Now that is a series! Does she still write her own, as opposed to some other prolific writers? Or do you know? I don't think i've read any in the series, surprisingly enough. I hope you relish each moment, Stephanie.

I believe she still writes her own books :) What I love about her books is I feel like you don’t have to star at book #1 in order to know the characters but a person would miss a lot of good reading if they didn’t. I would love to see a TV series based on the book series. I love cop dramas/mysteries :)