The Holy Bible, New International Version
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
The Baburnama
Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Colonel Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris
Acts of Faith, Philip Caputo
Follow Me Down, by Shelby Foote
Beyond Black, by Hilary Mantel
Runaway, by Alice Munro
Moscow Rules, by Daniel Silva
Facebook for Dummies, by Carolyn Abram and Leah Pearlman
Bad Luck and Trouble, by Lee Child
Reversal, by Michael Connelly
LinkedIn for Dummies, by Joel Elad
The Narrows, by Michael Connelly
61 Hours, by Lee Child
June was a rather busy month, in the reading department. I started nine books during the month, and I finished five. For one thing, following up on various recommendations, I started two books by Michael Connelly (best known for The Lincoln Lawyer) and two by Lee Child.
My reading in the Bible continued, as I finished the book of Job and started Psalms.
Glenn A Knight
In my study
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Reading List: May 2011
The Holy Bible, New International Version
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
The World in 2011, by The Economist
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
The Baburnama
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
Facebook for Dummies, by Carolyn Abram and Leah Pearlman
Spies of the Balkans, by Alan Furst
The Foreign Correspondent, by Alan Furst
LinkedIn for Dummies, by Joel Elad
Colonel Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris
Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky
That was a pretty good list, I think. There were a couple of pretty heavy-duty books I started last May. The third volume of Edmund Morris's biography of Theodore Roosevelt was very good. It took up in 1909, after Roosevelt had left the White House.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
The World in 2011, by The Economist
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
The Baburnama
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
Facebook for Dummies, by Carolyn Abram and Leah Pearlman
Spies of the Balkans, by Alan Furst
The Foreign Correspondent, by Alan Furst
LinkedIn for Dummies, by Joel Elad
Colonel Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris
Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky
That was a pretty good list, I think. There were a couple of pretty heavy-duty books I started last May. The third volume of Edmund Morris's biography of Theodore Roosevelt was very good. It took up in 1909, after Roosevelt had left the White House.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Measuring Failure and Success
I made the assertion in an earlier post that the United States lost the War of 1812. Agim Zabeli disputed that conclusion, pointing out some of the reasons one might say that the United States won the War of 1812. This difference of opinion actually underlines my original point, which is that it is very difficult to say whether a person, or a country, or an organization, has succeeded or failed in an endeavor, unless one has a clear statement of the objectives they hoped to achieve. In the case of the War of 1812, some of the motives for taking the United States into war with Britain stated before the war, were downplayed after the war, and some different war aims were asserted to have been decisive. If one can move the goalposts at will, one can always claim victory.
One standard for victory in battle is possession of the field. In the American Civil War, there were several battles which might appear to have been a victory for one side or the other, but the palm is usually awarded to the side which stays on the battlefield after the fighting is over. I think it is the Battle of Chickamauga which is particularly troublesome in this regard.
Another standard depends upon a determination of which side was the aggressor. The Battle of Gettysburg, for example, is clearly a victory for the Union forces for two reasons:
First, the Confederates retreated back to Virginia after the battle, leaving the Union in possession of the field;
Second, the Confederate invasion of the North was stopped, and its objectives were not attained.
If, however, one asserts that the objective of General Meade's army was (or should have been) the destruction of General Lee's army, then the Union Army cannot be said to be the clear winner at Gettyburg. Rather, one might say, both sides were frustrated in their objectives.
Whether the United States interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq were successful depends, therefore, upon one's view of what the American government intended to accomplish in those conflicts, as well as upon what has actually been attained.
One standard for victory in battle is possession of the field. In the American Civil War, there were several battles which might appear to have been a victory for one side or the other, but the palm is usually awarded to the side which stays on the battlefield after the fighting is over. I think it is the Battle of Chickamauga which is particularly troublesome in this regard.
Another standard depends upon a determination of which side was the aggressor. The Battle of Gettysburg, for example, is clearly a victory for the Union forces for two reasons:
First, the Confederates retreated back to Virginia after the battle, leaving the Union in possession of the field;
Second, the Confederate invasion of the North was stopped, and its objectives were not attained.
If, however, one asserts that the objective of General Meade's army was (or should have been) the destruction of General Lee's army, then the Union Army cannot be said to be the clear winner at Gettyburg. Rather, one might say, both sides were frustrated in their objectives.
Whether the United States interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq were successful depends, therefore, upon one's view of what the American government intended to accomplish in those conflicts, as well as upon what has actually been attained.
Reading List: April 2011
During this month I continued to read the New International Version, and the New King James Version, of the Bible.
Captain Flandry, by Poul Anderson, compiled by Hank Davis.
Excel Dashboards & Reports, by Michael Alexander and John Walkenbach
The Rembrandt Affair, by Daniel Silva
Obama's Wars, by Bob Woodward
Wicked Prey, by John Sandford
The Baburnama
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
The World in 2011, by The Economist
The thing that struck me about Bob Woodward's Obama's Wars, was the degree to which the military refused to be pinned down with regard to either objectives or requirements. They kept putting themselves in a position so that they could say later on, as they now do, that they didn't get what they asked for. At one point, the President drafted up a memorandum of understanding and made everyone sign it.
Captain Flandry, by Poul Anderson, compiled by Hank Davis.
Excel Dashboards & Reports, by Michael Alexander and John Walkenbach
The Rembrandt Affair, by Daniel Silva
Obama's Wars, by Bob Woodward
Wicked Prey, by John Sandford
The Baburnama
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
The World in 2011, by The Economist
The thing that struck me about Bob Woodward's Obama's Wars, was the degree to which the military refused to be pinned down with regard to either objectives or requirements. They kept putting themselves in a position so that they could say later on, as they now do, that they didn't get what they asked for. At one point, the President drafted up a memorandum of understanding and made everyone sign it.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Reading List: March 2011
In the month of March, 2011, I was reading the following books. I might note that I started seven books during the month, and I finished six.
I was reading my two Bibles in parallel, according to a one-year reading plan. In March I finished Deuteronomy; I read Joshua, Judges, and Ruth; and I started 1 Samuel.
Beginning in Archaeology, by Kathleen M. Kenyon
The Night Crew, by John Sandford
Chosen Prey, by John Sandford
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
The View of Castle Rock, by Alice Munro
Farmville for Dummies, by Angela Morales and Kyle Orland
That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
Excel Dashboards & Reports, by Michael Alexander and John Walkenbach
Captain Flandry, by Poul Anderson, compiled by Hank Davis
The Baburnama, translated by Wheeler M. Thackston
The Rembrandt Affair, by Daniel Silva
The World in 2011, by The Economist
Yes, there is a Dummies book for Farmville players. And, by implication, I am a Farmville player.
I was reading my two Bibles in parallel, according to a one-year reading plan. In March I finished Deuteronomy; I read Joshua, Judges, and Ruth; and I started 1 Samuel.
Beginning in Archaeology, by Kathleen M. Kenyon
The Night Crew, by John Sandford
Chosen Prey, by John Sandford
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
The View of Castle Rock, by Alice Munro
Farmville for Dummies, by Angela Morales and Kyle Orland
That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
Excel Dashboards & Reports, by Michael Alexander and John Walkenbach
Captain Flandry, by Poul Anderson, compiled by Hank Davis
The Baburnama, translated by Wheeler M. Thackston
The Rembrandt Affair, by Daniel Silva
The World in 2011, by The Economist
Yes, there is a Dummies book for Farmville players. And, by implication, I am a Farmville player.
Reading List: February 2011
The Holy Bible, New International Version
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
Dark Voyage, by Alan Furst
The Koran for Dummies, by Sohaib Sultan
Storm Prey, by John Sandford
Beginning in Archaeology, by Kathleen M. Kenyon
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
Young Flandry, by Poul Anderson. Compiled by Hank Davis.
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
The View from Castle Rock, by Alice Munro
The Night Crew, by John Sandford
There is some good stuff in this group. Alice Munro is one of the best short-story writers around, and this collection contains some prime stuff. Hilary Mantel won the Man Booker prize for Wolf Hall, an historical novel set in the reign of King Henry VIII. Beginning in Archaeology is a classic, aimed at those who want to pursue a career in archaeology, even if it might be an amateur career.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
Dark Voyage, by Alan Furst
The Koran for Dummies, by Sohaib Sultan
Storm Prey, by John Sandford
Beginning in Archaeology, by Kathleen M. Kenyon
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
Young Flandry, by Poul Anderson. Compiled by Hank Davis.
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
The View from Castle Rock, by Alice Munro
The Night Crew, by John Sandford
There is some good stuff in this group. Alice Munro is one of the best short-story writers around, and this collection contains some prime stuff. Hilary Mantel won the Man Booker prize for Wolf Hall, an historical novel set in the reign of King Henry VIII. Beginning in Archaeology is a classic, aimed at those who want to pursue a career in archaeology, even if it might be an amateur career.
Reading List: January 2011
In January, 2011, I was reading the following books:
The Holy Bible, New International Version
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
The Vampire Archives, edited by Otto Penzler
The Legions of Fire, by David Drake
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
The Koran for Dummies, by Sohaib Sultan
In the Stormy Red Sky, by David Drake
Dark Voyage, by Alan Furst
Storm Prey, by John Sandford
I note that my so-called Current Reading list includes some books I had finished before December 31, 2010. I will be deleting those books from the list today.
Three of the books listed above were completed in January, 2011, and they will not stay on the Current Reading list for very long. Only until the next update, based on my notes for February, 2011.
For those of you who know my skeptical bent, it may seem odd that I was reading four books centered on religion. In 2011, instead of The NIV Study Bible I'd been reading since 2007, I read two copies of the Bible, one in the New International Version transalation, and one in what is called the New King James Version. The Koran for Dummies is the worst-written Dummies book I've ever read, but it contains a lot of good information on how Muslims read, interpret, and use the Koran. While religion is a key theme in The Poisonwood Bible, it is more about the plight of Americans thrust into strange circumstances in the Third World, than about religious belief per se.
The Holy Bible, New International Version
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
The Vampire Archives, edited by Otto Penzler
The Legions of Fire, by David Drake
The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
The Koran for Dummies, by Sohaib Sultan
In the Stormy Red Sky, by David Drake
Dark Voyage, by Alan Furst
Storm Prey, by John Sandford
I note that my so-called Current Reading list includes some books I had finished before December 31, 2010. I will be deleting those books from the list today.
Three of the books listed above were completed in January, 2011, and they will not stay on the Current Reading list for very long. Only until the next update, based on my notes for February, 2011.
For those of you who know my skeptical bent, it may seem odd that I was reading four books centered on religion. In 2011, instead of The NIV Study Bible I'd been reading since 2007, I read two copies of the Bible, one in the New International Version transalation, and one in what is called the New King James Version. The Koran for Dummies is the worst-written Dummies book I've ever read, but it contains a lot of good information on how Muslims read, interpret, and use the Koran. While religion is a key theme in The Poisonwood Bible, it is more about the plight of Americans thrust into strange circumstances in the Third World, than about religious belief per se.
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