and come share a brief, meaningful review of a book you found valuable. You need not present a book. You can just come and listen. Together, we’ll discover new perspectives, broaden our horizons, and build a community around the joy of reading differently.

Books and Articles

Not just books but journal articles as well.

Is this Book Club Idea Unique?
A quick internet search found nothing similar. My AI research assistant also found nothing like this. However, Phoebe Hartt tells me that she use to belong to a book club like this.

Perhaps this concept would appeal to readers looking for more flexibility and the opportunity to introduce others to a wider range of literature, offering a fresh twist to the book club experience!

Round Table Presentations
At each meeting each attendee will take a few minutes to present a book or article they found valuable. Or perhaps just listen.

Online Participation

Each meeting will include the option of remote participation via Google Meet. Each meeting will be recorded and each member will receive a copy of the recording.

Call for Books and Article to be Presented

We will request items to be presented from the membership. When 5 items have been identified we will convene a meeting.

1. Biography & Memoir – Personal stories and experiences, from historical figures to modern influencers.
2. Historical Fiction – Novels set in a specific historical period, blending fact and fiction.
3. Science & Nature – Books exploring scientific discoveries, natural phenomena, and environmental issues.
4. Mystery & Thriller – Suspenseful reads that involve solving crimes, mysteries, or high-stakes situations.
5. Fantasy & Science Fiction – Speculative worlds and futuristic technologies, from classic to contemporary.
6. Philosophy & Ethics – Thought-provoking works exploring life’s big questions, morality, and the human condition.
7. Self-Improvement & Personal Development – Books that offer strategies for personal growth and professional success.
8. Classics – Literature that has stood the test of time, from Austen to Hemingway.
9. Non-fiction & Current Events – Deep dives into politics, culture, or global issues.
10. Poetry & Short Stories – Creative, condensed forms of storytelling and lyrical expression.
11. Travel & Adventure – Books exploring different cultures, geography, or personal travel adventures.
12. Humor – Lighthearted and comedic works, from satirical essays to laugh-out-loud fiction.
13. Romance – Stories focusing on love, relationships, and the complexities of the human heart.
14. Graphic Novels & Comics – Narratives told through visual art, suitable for all ages and genres.
15. Psychology & Human Behavior – Works that delve into how and why we think and act as we do.
16. Spirituality & Religion – Books discussing beliefs, practices, and philosophical reflections on spirituality.
17. Children’s Literature – Classic or contemporary books for young readers, full of imagination and lessons.
18. Health & Wellness – Books on mental health, fitness, nutrition, and general well-being.
19. True Crime – Accounts of real-life criminal cases, investigations, and justice.
20. Art & Creativity – Books on visual arts, music, design, and the creative process.

Almost as if time no longer exists for him. And in a way, for the man and the people of Sarajevo, time is no longer a constricting factor on their lives. After he has opened the case, he takes out his cello and begins to tune it. Again, time plays no part here. He is not here for the rebels; he is not here for a political statement. He is here for the ones that are no longer able to be there. Slowly, like a surgeon making the first cut for open heart surgery, he draws his bow across the strings and plays. Music fills the empty air. And for a bit, anger and violence are no longer heard.

Had this been a one-time occurrence, this story would be a footnote in world history, a hushed whisper among historical enthusiasts. But the next day the cellist does the same thing; and he continues to partake in this seemingly idiotic music playing for twenty-two days. Every day is dedicated to one of the 22 that was killed by the mortar. This is all fact.

Enter Steve Galloway. This young author takes this story and does not necessarily spin it, in as much as he creates a perfect background for it. In his version of Sarajevo, he brings the reader into a world that few of us will ever experience. He builds a perfect world of rubble one dilapidated and shelled-out building at a time. Then he creates fictitious people to populate his vision. These are not military commandos performing feats of courage; these people are not villains and heroes that fight; the people within this story are ordinary people: an old woman, an exhausted man, a young woman who knows only the truth when she squeezes the trigger of her rifle, and a young man that wants to be courageous, but knows that courage is only a means to immediate death. These people are not selfish. They are not numb to what is happening in their city. They have become shells of themselves, like the destroyed buildings that once harbored commerce or residential life.

The story follows these people through an average day of what they could be expected to experience. For some, the day involves getting water from a well. For others, the action of the day follows them to the market, where they hope to get any type of bread, fresh or otherwise. Some of these characters have to run a gauntlet of enemy soldiers firing upon them. Some of them have to make hard decisions of helping thy neighbor, or helping only thyself.

The other main character is the female sniper that is pulled from her normal duties, and given the assignment of protecting the cellist. (This may or may not be fact.) At first, she argues against such a colossal task. The cellist has become something of a national figure now. The music that spews forth from his instrument is more devastating to the surrounding soldiers than bombs or missiles or bullets. For this music is hope. And hope is not what the conquerors want to face. They want to face scared men and women, trembling children. Reluctantly, she accepts this assignment. For the most part, she listens to him play, thinks about her own personal history, and wonders if there will ever be a day that all of this can be forgotten. 

It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France and she takes yet another name: a code name.

As LUCIENNE CARLIER Nancy smuggles people and documents across the border and earns a new nickname from the Gestapo for her remarkable ability to evade capture: THE WHITE MOUSE. With a five million franc bounty on her head, Nancy is forced to escape France and leave Henri behind. When she enters training with the Special Operations Executives in Britain, she is told to use the name HÉLÈNE with her comrades. And finally, with mission in hand, Nancy is airdropped back into France as the deadly MADAM ANDRÉE, where she claims her place as one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, known for her ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and her ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied Forces. But no one can protect Nancy if the enemy finds out these four women are one and the same, and the closer to liberation France gets, the more exposed she–and the people she loves–will become.

In those essays, monologues really, he managed to hold a mirror up to world, and generally American, life that somehow managed to be, generally acerbic as a bite out of a lemon, yet were, in their own way, gentle – like a grumpy, loving grandfather.
Andy Rooney had some unique traits that drove editors nuts. He hated, and refused to use, apostrophes in anything he wrote – sprinkling his writing with elisions such as arent, cant, couldnt, didnt don’t hadnt hasnt havent Im, isnt its Ie, shouldnt thats theres theyd theyve theyre wasnt, werent, wont, wouldnt youd youll youre and youve. The one exception he begrudgingly made was the word “I’ll” because without an apostrophe it comes out “Ill.”
In 2003 he gathered many of his best essays into a volume titled “Years of Minutes – the Best of Rooney from 60 Minutes. If you ever heard him speak, you cannot read it without hearing his sardonic take on life – which is a challenge, because the written word seldom manages to sound like it is when it’s spoken. Even though this volume is over twenty years old, it is still worth a relaxed read on a rainy day, in
front of a warm fire with a cup of tea or coffee.

The account seems to be relevant to the great fire of Paradise California, from the perspective of a citizen and business owner.

Samuel Pepys is an accountant and his business is increasing.  He maintains a daily diary of the events of the day, including both his work life and personal life.  He includes reports of things that are relevant to the economy of London, such as the arrival of merchant ships and includes any news he can glean from the crews of those ships.  He also includes reports of conversations with his fellow businessmen.  He includes accounts of larger events that have an impact on London’s economy, etc, describing how those impacts affect his business.

The style of his diaries was significant enough that portions were required reading at West Point, when I attended the Academy.  They were interested in officers maintaining highly detailed diaries and my experience with analysis of the US involvement in World War II indicates that most of the military organizations involved in that conflict required their officers to keep diaries.  When collecting German officer data, from their diaries, they were extremely detailed, especially those of General level ranks.

Anyway, the two focal points of the two years covered by this book seem to be relevant to Paradise, starting with the highly destructive fire.  The second element of the book is focused on the Great Plague of London.  At this point, I think an outbreak of a plague in your community has been reduced by the actions of the fire, since fewer people reside in Paradise and visitors to your area have been reduced.

I asked my research assistant (BB Angel) about the military encouraging officers to write a diary. Here is what BB had to say.

Yes, many military academies and branches of the armed forces encourage officers to keep journals or diaries, though this practice may vary between institutions and individuals. The encouragement stems from several key reasons:

1. Reflection and Leadership Development

• Journaling fosters self-reflection, which is essential for personal growth and leadership. By recording experiences, decisions, and outcomes, officers can analyze their actions and learn from successes and failures.
• Reflective writing helps develop critical thinking and decision-making skills, which are crucial in the complex and high-stakes environments officers face.

2. Professional Accountability

• A diary serves as a tool for documenting key events, decisions, and the rationale behind them. This practice helps officers remain accountable and provides a record that can clarify actions if questioned later.

3. Historical Record

• Military diaries often become valuable historical documents, providing firsthand accounts of events and operations. They offer insights into the daily realities of military life, strategy, and the human dimension of warfare.

4. Mental Resilience

• Writing can be a coping mechanism to process stress and emotions in high-pressure environments. It allows officers to articulate feelings, decompress, and maintain mental health.

5. Communication Skills

• Keeping a diary hones writing skills, which are essential for clear and concise communication, a critical competency for officers who must write orders, reports, and analyses.

While not mandatory, journaling is seen as a practical habit that aligns with the military’s emphasis on continuous self-improvement and adaptability.

A gripping, inspiring novel based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law … It is true but it is more. It is a fantastic dual time book concerning Johanna Bonger in the late 1800’s and present day Emsley Wilson. It is a story of self-discovery, a story that shows the strength of women and the ability to continue on with life during challenging times.

Julian Jaynes’s The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (1976) presents a controversial theory on the development of human consciousness. Jaynes argues that early humans were not consciously self-aware as modern humans are. Instead, they experienced the world through a “bicameral mind,” where one part of the brain (the right hemisphere) communicated to the other (the left hemisphere) through auditory hallucinations perceived as the voices of gods or ancestors. These voices directed their actions, creating what seemed like divine guidance.

According to Jaynes, this form of cognition broke down around 3,000 years ago due to societal complexities, environmental changes, and the evolution of language and culture. As a result, humans developed introspective consciousness, a shift from reliance on hallucinated directives to self-guided, conscious thought. He connects this transformation to ancient texts, such as the Iliad, which lack modern concepts of self-awareness, contrasting them with later works like the Odyssey, which show a more introspective understanding.

Jaynes’s theory, though controversial and largely rejected by neuroscientists, sparked wide interest in psychology, anthropology, and literary criticism for its unique take on the evolution of human cognition.

In The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization, Peter Zeihan argues that the globalized economic system that has driven prosperity since World War II is unraveling. He contends that the U.S.-led order, supported by international trade networks and energy flows, is coming to an end due to shifting geopolitics, demographic decline, and rising nationalism.

Zeihan outlines how the decline of globalization will lead to a fragmented world where nations must adapt to localized systems for energy, trade, and resources. Some countries, he suggests, are better positioned to thrive in this new era, while others face severe challenges. His analysis explores regional dynamics, the impact of demographic trends, and the vulnerabilities of complex supply chains, offering a thought-provoking roadmap for navigating an uncertain future.

Wednesday, October 16

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff is a charming epistolary work that captures a 20-year correspondence between the author, an American writer living in New York, and Frank Doel, a reserved British bookseller working at Marks & Co., a secondhand bookshop located at 84 Charing Cross Road in London.

The letters begin in 1949 when Hanff, a voracious reader with limited access to the rare English literature she craves, contacts the bookstore in search of out-of-print books. Her sharp wit and warmth quickly endear her to the employees at Marks & Co., especially Frank, with whom she develops a close friendship, despite never meeting in person.

As their correspondence evolves, Helene sends gifts of food and supplies to the staff, who are enduring post-war rationing in Britain. The letters grow increasingly personal, with Helene forming bonds not only with Frank but also with his colleagues and family. The book provides a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone era of handwritten letters and long-distance friendships, with Helene’s humor and literary passion contrasting beautifully with Frank’s more formal tone.

The story touches on themes of friendship, the love of books, and the differences between American and British cultures, culminating in a poignant ending.

The book has been adapted into a play, a television series, and a 1987 film starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. Its blend of humor, warmth, and literary appreciation continues to resonate with readers.

Allen Added His Own Ending to the Story

On a trip to England, Allen decided he would try and find that book store at 84, Charing Cross Road. He was successful. He paused to savor the moment. He opened the door and discovered the book store was now a pizza parlor.

Wednesday, October 16

A brief summary of “God in the Dock” by C. S. Lewis

God in the Dock is a collection of essays by C. S. Lewis that addresses a range of theological, philosophical, and ethical topics. The title essay refers to the idea of modern society putting God “on trial,” with humans acting as judges who question and challenge Him, rather than humbly seeking His guidance. Lewis explores the modern disconnect from faith, the nature of Christian belief, and how people approach religion in a skeptical age.

Throughout the essays, Lewis defends Christianity, critiques secularism, and addresses issues such as the problem of evil, the rationality of belief in God, and the importance of moral law. He uses logic, wit, and clear reasoning to explain Christian doctrines and respond to contemporary criticisms of religion.

In short, God in the Dock provides insight into Lewis’s Christian apologetics, emphasizing faith, reason, and the importance of approaching God with humility rather than judgment.

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Presented by Wayne Angel, Oct.16, 2024

Wayne’s Comments

Wright explores the idea that human history and the evolution of life follow a pattern of increasing complexity and cooperation. Wright argues that this progression is driven by non-zero-sum interactions, where both sides in an exchange can benefit, as opposed to zero-sum interactions where one side’s gain is the other’s loss.

He traces these interactions through history, from the development of early human societies to modern technological advancements, suggesting that cooperation and complexity have been crucial to our survival and progress. Wright contends that this trend toward non-zero-sum relationships is not random, but part of a broader, almost inevitable direction in human and biological evolution.

However, I think, Wright does not adequately address a type of power interactions that are zero-sum by their very nature. In 1990 Kenneth Boulding wrote “The Three Faces of Power.” He identified three major types of power: threat power, which is particularly important in political life; economic power, which derives from the power to produce and exchange goods and depends on the changing distribution of property ownership; and integrative power, which rests on relationships such as love, legitimacy, respect, affection, community and identity. Boulding argues that threat power should not be seen as fundamental since it is not effective unless reinforced by economic and integrative power. Economic and integrative power are non-zero-sum. Threat power remains a zero-sum system.