Book Review

by Edward H. Newland
March 14, 1996

"Bent's Fort" by David S. Lavender

I thought this book gave me a better understanding of the growth and development of the Southwest brought about by the fur trade and the mountain men. The destruction of the American plains Indians was brought into a very clear light. George Bent, one of the five brothers was married to a Cheyenne woman, the daughter of one of the most important Cheyenne leaders and George's sons become highly involved in fighting against the influx of whites coming into the West. It was interesting that no matter how George tried he couldn't take the indian out of his sons and they were all destroyed by war, liquor and their inability to adjust from a hunting to an agricultural society. The Bent brothers were physically and mentally very tough human beings. It is exciting reading and gives you a good insight into the clash of the three cultures, American, Indians, and Spanish.

"The Naturalist" by Edward O. Wilson

This is an autobiography. Wilson is a biologist who grew up in Alabama and was really into studying insects. His real love is studying ants. He ends up doing his graduate work at Harvard and goes on to teach at Harvard. He is an excellent writer, and received a Pulitzer prize for Literature writing a book on insects. He also came up with the idea that heredity may affect animal behavior in all species, from ants to human beings. This was in direct conflict with the far left who believed man can change human behavior only by controlling environment. Fun to read and I think a must read. One of the best books I have read or listened to in the last couple of years. I listened to a great deal of this book twice because I enjoyed it so much.

"War In the Shadows or the History of Guerilla Warfare" by Robert B. Asprey

Since we are continually getting drawn into small wars which are being fought to control other human beings' minds and bodies I found this book gave me a much better background and therefore more understanding of the problems involved in fighting wars like Vietnam, Serbia, Somaliland etc. The entire book was excellent but the parts on Vietnam and Afghanistan were especially informative. Not a great fun book to read, but I thought I learned a great deal and feel it is a must read for any one who want to really understand the problems of going into Serbia or anywhere else in the world and fighting limited wars. The bottom line if you are not willing to pay the price of victory don't go into a conflict which you can not really win.

"Flashman" by George MacDonald Fraser

There are about 7 books about Flashman all written by George MacDonald Fraser The major character is the world's biggest rascal and coward. The series starts out with Flashman being kicked out of a boys' public school in England in the early 1840 for being drunk and disorderly He ends up in the English army and fights in Afghanistan, the Crimea and almost every where else. He wins the first Victoria Cross and is supposed to be the bravest of the brave but underneath he really only trying to save his own skin and chase every female he can find. The history in all the books is outstanding from fighting in Afghanistan to being in the Charge of the Light Brigade. Very humorous and keeps you laughing but you will learn a great deal about the growth of the British Empire and most of the major nations that the Empire touched. Most all the characters were really live people, from Bismack to A. Lincoln. Have not read a bad one in the series and I have read 5 and plan to read the rest.

Tony Hillerman's Southwest mysteries

All the books by Tony Hillerman about the Navajo police are really excellent. He is a great story teller and his characters are very interesting. I save these books to listen to when I travel up north to visit my children. Ann likes them as much as I do so it make the trip much more fun. You will learn a great deal about the indians of the SW and particularly about the Navajo and the Hopi. Hillerman has received several awards from the Navajo nation so his books must give one a good understanding of these people.

"Sasha's Tail" by Jacqueline Damian

If you are into cats as I am you will really enjoy this book. The author will give you some clear insight into what and why cats do thing. Cats are introverted and dogs are extroverted. Maybe this is why introverted people like cats and extroverted people like dogs. On the other hand I am sure Kurt Edler is an extrovert but he is a real cat person. Both Ann and I enjoyed this book. I know I have a better understanding of Lucky than I did before and I have lived around cats all my life.

"Pertinent Players" by Joseph Epstein

Epstein is the editor of 'American Scholar' and a professor at Northwestern University. This is a group of short biographies of some very worthwhile authors and interesting intellectuals such as H.L. Mencken and George Orwell. His observations and understanding of just these two authors alone is worth the price of this book in time spent reading and the money it cost to buy the book. Epstein has written at least 5 more books and I was so impressed by this one that I plan to read all the books he has written. Wigely, if you don't like these book, I will pay you back what every cent you spent to get them.