Category Archives: history

Bananas

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Mike

Peter Chapman’s Bananas (2008) tells the story of how the United Fruit Company pretty much ran Central America for a good part of the 20th century. A good read that will help explain why “Banana Republics” became the norm in … Continue reading →

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The Fish that Ate the Whale

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Mike

The well told story of the Russian immigrant who competed against, sold out to and then took over the United Fruit Company.  By Rich Cohen, author of the memoir “Sweet and Low” and “Tough Jews.” Read reviews from the NY … Continue reading →

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Dealers of Lightning

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Mike

Michael Hiltzik tells the story of the Xerox scientists and engineers who established the company’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where many of the fundamental innovations underlying computer networking, graphics, and Internet were invented. Xerox could have been on the … Continue reading →

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The Watchers

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Mike

In The Watchers: The Rise of America’s Surveillance State (2010), Shane Harris explains the modern world of “signals intelligence,” and how it got to be this way. To summarize the current state of affairs, some arm of the U.S. government … Continue reading →

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Modern New York

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Mike

In Modern New York (2012), Crain’s New York columnist Greg David offers an insightful history of New York City and its economy since 1965.  David demonstrates how tourism has filled the gap left by the decline of the city’s manufacturing … Continue reading →

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Over Time

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Mike

Quite simply, the best sports book I have ever read. Deford’s stories are often fascinating, and his ability to put them into the perspective that 50 years of sports writing provides makes this a quite enjoyable read. Read reviews from … Continue reading →

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Visit Sunny Chernobyl

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Mike

I have to thank Andrew Blackwell for the time and effort that went into researching and writing this fascinating book of industrial disaster areas (some still serving industrial functions) throughout the world. As I might want to visit some of … Continue reading →

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The End of Money

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Mike

David Wolman’s The End of Money: Counterfeiters, Preachers, Techies, Dreamers — and the Coming Cashless Society (2012) is an interesting look at our faith-based economic system.  If you haven’t already thought the through the implications of an economic system based … Continue reading →

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The Architect

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Mike

The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan for Absolute Power (2006) is an interesting (though uneven) review of Karl Rove and his ride to the White House by two veteran Texas political reporters. A non-believer who built a machine … Continue reading →

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Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Mike

Paul Barrett’s Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun (2012) is an eminently readable history of the lightweight Austrian pistol. Somehow, the gun that’s “uglier than a sack full of assholes” has become the “Google of modern civilian handguns: the pioneer … Continue reading →

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