Tim > Recent Status Updates

Read the prologue out loud to two kids. The 11 year old wasn't very engaged, but since it was my birthday present, maybe she'll humor me. 350 pages seems a lot to ask of her.

This lecture series is a delight! Really turns this Shakespeare stuff into a multi-layered subject without being overwhelming.

I tried to read this about 10 years ago. I got about 200 pages in and then gave up. I've been intimidated to start it again. I'm glad I let it sit because right now I'm really enjoying it. I had to start over because I don't remember jack, which is itself intimidating. Anyway, it is a very good way to tune out current political rhetoric, and also realize underhanded politics were a thing in the early 1800s.

This is a delightful book. All kinds of stuff about St. Paul. I often ride by one of the houses the author lived in as a child. It is a family's story told from a child's point of view and in language a child would use. Very insightful into the refugee experience.

another 800 page history book. This one is easy to read because it is so well written and is all brand new.

What an engaging, informative read. So strange to read it in the wake of the Snowden revelations and in the wake of Bitcoin. If you like heroes of science and math, and like them personalized, then you will love this book.

When it switched over to World War Two, it abruptly stops being about "The American People" and only about the generals and military events. The depression section was all about the American people, often in their own words, but the WWII home front or the experience of the soldiers and their families is barely touched upon!

I thought I studied labor history pretty thoroughly in college and after, but I was not aware of a bunch of depression labor history, especially the role of John L. Lewis.

I thought I studied labor history pretty thoroughly in collage and after, but I was not aware of a bunch of depression labor history, especially the role of John L. Lewis.

this is a very meat and potatoes book about the depression. The value is the introduction of all these characters in american political life - Roosevelts advisors as well as the Father Coughlins and Huey Longs, the labor leaders and old George Norris.

Bobby Kennedy is not the man I thought he was.

These Grinnell people, they drink a lot of beer. When they want "good" beer they buy Moosehead or Stella. When they drink beer in their own homes, they drink Miller. This rings false. Small college town? They'd all drink "Craft" beer!

Just recieved word that this is on hold for me at the library

This is reminding me of The Time Traveler's Wife, with its references to 90's bands and time traveling men visiting young girls.

Even though I knew what LBJ was capable of, I was still surprised and saddened by what he did to his friend and mentor, Sam Rayburn. On the other hand, that was awesome reading!

I've been infected by a ghost of Lyndon Johnson. "If you did everything, everything possible, you could succeed"

just read about LBJ's college years. what a read! his actions were chilling. made me think I should compliment people more.

just read the part where Joseph Kennedy Jr. was killed. made me really sad.

I got another copy out of the library. Joseph Kennedy made some really unfortunate statements in favor of appeasing Hitler, long after it was fashionable. In other news, my wife hid my new copy of this book and told me, "Kathleen Kennedy can kiss my ass"

Joseph Kennedy is way more interesting than his kids, I have to say. I guess he gets taken down in the next couple of chapters.

Really loving this book, except now I've lost my copy! I'll have to find another.

The editing is hilariously bad and some of the characters remind me of NPCs from video games, but the plot is interesting and the writing is good enough.

Realized that this is indeed a very compact summary even though it is 800+ pages.

This ranks up there with The Butcher Boy and Civil War Land In Bad Decline for books that make me fold over in pain

I like the tidbits he drops about house rules, personal anecdotes about fellow representatives, and his own career highlights.

I have no idea what will happen. I like that in a book

This book and its description of Islamic repression will make Santorum seem like a free-love advocate. I _Love_ this book and I have deep admiration for this woman. She is a great writer and exceptionally brave.