Category Archives: History
Song Noir: Tom Waits and the Spirit of Los Angeles – Alex Harvey
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned My first introduction to Tom Waits was in Jim Jarmusch’s 1985 film, “Down By Law”. I found him quite enigmatic, and as a singer/songwriter was drawn to his authenticity. While reading Song Noir, I realized … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Culture, History
Tagged beat generation, film noir, Los Angeles, music, songwriting
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They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency – Malcolm Nance
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “We have something new in American history…a political party defined by the terror if feels for its own voters, that’s the Republican party right now” – George Will How was Donald Trump able to transform the Republican … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Politics
Tagged anti-antisemitism, domestic terrorism, QAnon, racism, Republican party, terrorism, Trump
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Love, Activism, and the Respectable Life of Alice Dunbar-Nelson – Tara T. Green
(Reviewed by Ann Onymous ) #CommissionsEarned This book was not the biography I expected. Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935) led an incredible life, full of love and activism indeed. This contribution into the oeuvre of African American history is from Dr. Tara … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Social Justice
Tagged African American history, biography, New Orleans, Women's suffrage
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Jazz Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from America’s Roaring Twenties – Cecelia Tichi
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned On January 16, 1920, the Volstead Act was enacted, which established Prohibition in the United States. Of course, people found a way around it and alcohol consumption and bootlegging flourished. Jazz Age Cocktails takes an … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction
Tagged American History, cocktails, jazz age, Prohibition, WWI
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Here, Right Matters: An American Story – Alexander Vindman
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Regardless of any impact on the president, the domestic and foreign policy consequences, or personal costs, I had no choice but to report what I’d heard. That duty to report is a critical component of U.S. … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs, History, Immigration, Non-fiction, Our Best, Politics, World Issues
Tagged Donald Trump, ethics, immigration, impeachment, military, Russia, Soviet Union
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Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon – Mia Bloom and Sophia Moskalenko
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “In a short four years, QAnon metastasized from a fringe movement on anonymous message boards into a cultlike movement, with millions of followers around the world…and practically seized control of the Republican Party.” What actually is … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Our Best, Politics, World Issues
Tagged conspiracy theories, psychology, QAnon, terrorism
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Operation Chaos: The Trump Coup Attempt and the Campaign to Erode Democracy – Kevin James Shay
(Reviewed by JD Jung) It’s bad enough that many Republicans still refuse to accept the validity of the legitimate 2020 U.S. Presidential election. Now congressmen such as Ralph Norman (R-SC), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and others even refuse … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Politics
Tagged authoritarianism, book reviews, democracy, insurrection, political history, racism, Republican party, Trump, White-nationalism
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The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi – Richard Grant
(Reviewed by JD Jung) I admit that I have never been to Natchez, Mississippi, but it seems to be a town full of contradictions. British travel writer Richard Grant accentuates this superbly as he relays his accounts and interviews with … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Travel
Tagged American South, culture, history, racism, slavery
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This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism – Don Lemon
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Racism is a cancer that has been metastasizing throughout this land ever since Columbus showed up. It’s persisted because the right people had the luxury of ignoring it. Not anymore.” In fact, Donald Trump, a blatant … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction, Politics, Social Justice
Tagged American History, racism, Social change, social justice
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