The Hand That Feeds

"The human spirit glows from that small inner light of doubt whether we are right, while those who believe with certainty that they possess the right are dark inside and darken the world outside with cruelty, pain, and injustice." -Saul D. Alinsky "The Hand That Feeds" was the lead single from Nine Inch Nails' fourth … Continue reading The Hand That Feeds →

The Brass Check

The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism by Upton Sinclair Lulu.com (1 January 2019) Amazon The Brass Check is Upton Sinclair's account of journalism as an industry, published in 1919. The term "brass check" refers to money given secretly to journalists for their service, as a sort of pay-for-play racket of the media ecosystem … Continue reading The Brass Check →

The Uncrowned King

The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst by Kenneth Whyte Counterpoint (8 December 2009) Amazon What's it about?: Kenneth Whyte's biography of William Randolph Hearst, focusing on the years of his takeover of New York magazine. It attempts to challenge the popular image of Hearst as a ruthless mogul and media tycoon, … Continue reading The Uncrowned King →

War Is a Racket

War Is a Racket by Smedley D. Butler Dauphin Publications Inc. (7 May 2018) Amazon What's it about?: The famous speech and short book published in 1935 by United States Marine Corps major general Smedley D. Butler (1881-1940), on why wars are conducted. Butler describes the commercial relationship we call the military-industrial complex. He defines … Continue reading War Is a Racket →

Trust Me, I’m Lying

Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday Portfolio (29 July 2012) Amazon What's it about?: Trust Me, I'm Lying is a breakdown of the economics of online media, and a warning about the dangers of fake news and traffic worship. Drawing on author Ryan Holiday's time in marketing, as well … Continue reading Trust Me, I’m Lying →

Morning in the Burned House

Morning in the Burned House: Poems by Margaret Atwood Ecco Press (5 September 2023) Amazon What's it about?: A collection of poems by legendary novelist, poet, and literary critic Margaret Atwood. The subject matter and themes have to do with grief, growth, and the loss of innocence, themes that are often found in her works. … Continue reading Morning in the Burned House →

Be Like the Fox

Be Like the Fox: Machiavelli's Lifelong Quest for Freedom by Erica Benner Penguin (28 May 2018) Amazon What's it about?: A biography of Florentine statesman, diplomat, historian, and political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. In this text, Erica Benner sets out to counter some of the common misconceptions of the man as a ruthless amoralist, shedding light … Continue reading Be Like the Fox →

American Kingpin

American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton Portfolio (2 May 2017) Amazon What's it about?: The story of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who - under the moniker "Dread Pirate Roberts" - operated the online drug bazaar Silk Road, from 2011 until his arrest in 2013. … Continue reading American Kingpin →

The Secret War with Germany

The Secret War with Germany: Deception, Espionage, and Dirty Tricks 1939-1945 by William B. Breuer Presidio (1 January 1988) Amazon What's it about?: Soldier, journalist, and military historian William Breuer's account of espionage and counter-espionage between the Allied and Axis powers during World War II. Not war fought on the battlefield, but behind the scenes. … Continue reading The Secret War with Germany →

Bodyguard of Lies

Bodyguard of Lies: The Extraordinary True Story Behind D-Day by Anthony Cave Brown Lyons Press (1 November 2007) Amazon What's it about?: A detailed account of the deceptive strategies and tactics of the Allied Forces during World War II. Its name is derived from the (in)famous Winston Churchill wartime quote, "In wartime, truth is so … Continue reading Bodyguard of Lies →