Book Review Mondays

More information at Amazon.com No obligation to buy Click below:

Friend or Frenemy? A Guide to the Friends You Need and the Ones You Don’t by Andrea Lavinthal and Jessica Rozler

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Lavinthal and Rozler divide their 230-page book into three sections, “Friendly Conversation,” “Your Buddy List: The People in Your Social Stratosphere,” and “That’s What Friends are (And Aren’t) For.” Honestly, this is a frank, straightforward, and very practical approach to friendship; however, what makes it truly a pleasure to read is the wit and charm the authors add. With just a dash of sarcasm, irony, and cynicism, the authors make this a must read for all those looking for, involved in, or just getting out of a friendship. Lavinthal is an editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, and Rozler works in book publishing and their experience in writing is obvious in this young, hip, and totally cool book. Here is a typical example of their approach: “No matter how many times a particular male friend has said to you, ‘You’re like a sister to me,’ a part of him can’t help picturing you naked. (Gee, we wonder what part.) His crush might seem harmless at first — that is, until he buys you a white suede outfit to replace the one you borrowed from your mom in exchange for pretending to be his girlfriend.’”

More information at Amazon.com No obligation to buy Click below:

The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism
by Andrew J. Bacevich

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

In this 182-page book with a dozen pages of notes, Bacevich discusses the problems facing our economy, the difficulty created by an imperial presidency, and the seriousness of being involved in endless wars and suggests that all our problems have been exacerbated by this country’s continual quest for more. This is not a book for Democrats or Republicans, and Bacevich writes in an unbiased manner. I recommend the book regardless of your views. As a professor history and international relations at Boston University, a colonel in the U.S. Army and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he brings tremendous experience, credibility, and expertise to his insights and conclusions. His writing is fluent, succinct, concise, intelligent, and never boring or dry. This is a powerful book that explains our country’s practice of exceptionalism (illusions of grandeur) and the difficulties that result from it. Bacevich writes with intelligence, passion, and clarity, and this book is a thought-provoking and approachable analysis.

----

Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.