The Discourses by Niccolo Machiavelli Penguin (31 December 2000) Publisher's page What's it about?: Niccolo Machiavelli on Livy's history of the Roman Republic. From the Florentine diplomat's analysis comes this proposal: a system of government that would uphold civic freedom and security by instilling the virtues of active citizenship, and that would also encourage citizens … Continue reading The Discourses →

The Portable Machiavelli by Niccolo Machiavelli (edited and translated by Peter Bondanella and Mark Musa) Penguin (31 May 1979) Publisher's page What's it about?: A collection of personal and professional writings by Florentine diplomat and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. It includes complete texts of The Prince, Belfagor, and Castruccio Castracani. An abridged version of The Discourses … Continue reading The Portable Machiavelli →

The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm Penguin (31 October 1990) Publisher's page What's it about?: Janet Malcolm's study on the ethics of journalism, examining the professional choices that shape a work of nonfiction. It was originally published as a multi-part essay for The New Yorker. The journalist and murderer discussed are Joe McGinniss, … Continue reading The Journalist and the Murderer →

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, 1874-1965 William Manchester and Paul Reid Little, Brown and Company (6 November 2012) Publisher's page What's it about?: A trilogy of biographies covering the life of Winston Churchill, British statesman, solider, and writer. The first two volumes were published in the 1980s. Author William Manchester passed away while working … Continue reading The Last Lion (3 Volumes) →

Napoleon's Military Maxims by Napoleon Bonaparte Skyhorse (12 January 2016) Publisher's page What's it about?: The knowledge and intuition of Napoleon Bonaparte, French emperor and military commander who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. My opinion: Napoleon was a sociopath who restored slavery, abandoned his own army (twice), posed as a revolutionary while working … Continue reading Napoleon’s Military Maxims →

Lancelot: A Novel by Walker Percy St. Martin's Press (4 September 1999) Publisher's page What's it about?: Walker Percy's fourth novel. It is the story of a man -- Lancelot Lamar -- driven insane by the decadence of the world that is, to the point where he is institutionalised. My opinion: A fascinating read. I … Continue reading Lancelot →

The Age of Caesar: Five Roman Lives by Plutarch (translated by Pamela Mensch) Norton (5 February 2018) Publisher's page What's It About?: Plutarch's biographies of five Roman statesmen: Pompey, Julius Caesar, Cicero, Brutus, and Mark Antony. Selected from the Parallel Lives, these works address the question as to how a republic can be protected from … Continue reading The Age of Caesar →

Say Everything: How Blogging Began, What It's Becoming, and Why It Matters by Scott Rosenberg Three Rivers Press (1 June 2010) Publisher's page What's it about?: This is basically a history of blogging as an overall process, and its impact on the media, politics, business, and our personal lives. My opinion: A very concise history … Continue reading Say Everything →