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Author Archives: smellincoffee
American Cicero
American Cicero: The Life of Charles Carroll © 2010 Bradley Birzer 230 pages When Charles Carroll of Carrollton signed the Declaration of Independence, he was risking the biggest fortune on the American mainland. But Carroll had yearned for independence for … Continue reading
Recarving Rushmore
Recarving Rushmore: Ranking the Presidents on Peace, Prosperity, and Liberty© 2009 Ivan Eland527 pages Presidential rankings tend to favor those who were most active, reigning during a crisis or creating expansive new programs that alter the nation’s fortunes. What of … Continue reading
Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews
Tagged Hail to the Chief, history, libertarianism, politics, Politics-CivicInterest
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Summer vacation — bring on the light and fluffy!
Dear readers: My reading of late has been emotionally intense, and after the recent racial violence in Charleston, doubly depressing and disturbing. I haven’t felt this drained since surviving Chris Hedges’ Empire of Illusion, and I stand in need of … Continue reading
Posted in General
6 Comments
The Cost of Liberty
The Cost of Liberty: The Life of John Dickinson© 2013 William Murchinson257 pages “Experience must be our only guide; reason may mislead us.” Can you claim to be a Founding Father if you didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence? What … Continue reading
Behind the Mask of Chivalry
Behind the Mask of Chivalry: The Making of the Second Klan© 1995 Nancy MacLean336 pages I’m a faithful follower of Brother John Birch, and I belong to the Antioch Baptist Church — and I ain’t even got a garage, … Continue reading
Posted in history, Reviews
Tagged 1920s, American South, cults and conspiracies, fascism, gangs tribes and parties, history, KKK, social change
1 Comment
The Terrorist Next Door
The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right © 2004 Daniel Levitas544 pages How does the grandson of Jewish immigrants become a leading voice in anti-Semitic movements? The Terrorist Next Door reviews domestic militancy in the United … Continue reading
American Colonies
American Colonies: The Settling of North America© 2001 Alan Taylor526 pages American Colonies is a sweeping history of the New World, one that attempts to convey the full American experience, beginning with the arrival of … Continue reading
Posted in history, Reviews
Tagged Britain, Colonial America, France, Hispanic, history, Latino, Native America, Netherlands, Russia, slavery and rebellion, Spain, survey
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The Ashes of Waco
The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation© 1995 Dick Reavis320 pages What happened at Waco? Dick Reavis had an itch to find out, and since no one else at his alternative newspaper was curious, he volunteered as man on the ground … Continue reading
The English People on the Eve of Colonization
The English People on the Eve of Colonization© 1954 Wallace Notestein302 pages If there was ever an exemplar for not judging a book by its cover, The English People on the Eve of Colonization is it. The binding is … Continue reading
Posted in history, Reviews
Tagged Britain, history, law, social history, Stuart England
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So you say you want a revolution?
After a couple of months almost entirely devoted to England, ’tis time to part — momentarily. It’s June, and almost time for my annual tribute to the American revolution. I had thought to have an appropriate mix of English and … Continue reading
Posted in General
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