Lion Country by Frederick Buechner

Bebb is described and one is sure not to like him but is slowly drawn into his web as is the narrator Antonio. Flawed, a con, a manipulator, is he better than he seems or am I worse? Deep writing, whimsical and distracted. Buechner avoids the ordinary and winds his way through clichés, deftly avoiding any obvious preaching, but there is a message, many messages; some are uncomfortable and meant just for the particular reader. I was discovering more than I wanted to know about a character I didn't want to meet or talk to and finding myself attacking him and defending him at the same time.

A Very Private Plot by William F. Buckley

A Blackford Oakes story of a plot to kill Gorbachev. The usual interesting historical and linguistic, grammatical, and vocabulary sleights of hand but little else.

Dealers of Lightning by Michael Hiltzik

The story of Xerox PARC - a story of brilliant design, innovation, creativity and missed opportunity. A story of corporate executives who didn't listen and knew better than the researchers they hired. A failure to see that what was difficult, slow, and expensive now would be easy, fast, and cheap, even ubiquitous, soon. Also a story of scientists who fail to get the big picture. The invention of the laser printer is a bright spot. Some less interesting parts about corporation politics.

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

A very detailed book with a cogent and very well developed thesis: "History followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among people's environments, not because of biological differences among people themselves."

The case is well made and worth much more careful reading than I could spare. I am uncomfortable with a few things. A feeling of a priori dismissal of genetics having an influence and then proceeding to prove this. A lack of regard for religion. Basing huge decisions on a very few skeletons - sampling error. Dependence on dating methods.

Many fascinating facts and insights. The significance of north/south versus east/west axis on development. Taming vs. domestication.

Evolution and New Guinea and birds are the author's expertise but his general skills are formidable. This book is a major achievement.

The Pleasure of Finding Things Out by Richard Feynman

A delightful collection of his essays with prescient discussions of quantum computing, nanotechnology, and the place of mathematics in physics. His discussions of religion and science surprised me by being somewhat open and germane, even interesting. He sees the limits of science better than most, though he chooses a radical skepticism.

Travels in Egypt: Volume II by V. Denon & Vivant Denon

More of the same, a mysterious tale with much meaning lost to me. I would love to read an annotated version and the official report he defers and refers to at the end. The amazing thing is that he survived. Denon seems a sensitive, observant, even compassionate man.

Rigoberta Menchu and the Story of all Poor Guatemalans by David Stoll

A study in correcting leftist revisionist history, this book reluctantly pokes holes in the Nobel Peace Prize winner's story of her life and struggle. While essentially confirming the broad outlines of the struggle of indigenous peoples, it shows that her story was really a series of convenient fabrications and a patchwork of others' stories made prototypical. In leftist fashion, this seems to be excused and justifiable but not by this author, who while generally sympathetic to her aims is not willing to follow her historical reconstruction. No surprise to this conservative reader.

Steep Trails by John Muir

This old book by the founder of the Sierra Club is an amazing description of his hiking all through the west, Yosemite to Victoria. Of greatest interest are his hiking in Oregon, his climbing Shasta and Rainier, and his descriptions of Portland and Puget Sound. His forest descriptions are great and his fortitude on cold climbs is amazing.

The Promise of American Life by Herbert Croly

Not finished - completely misunderstands in my view the creative tension between nationalism (federalism) and states rights. Completely over-values the efficiency of strong federal government. Very condescending to constitution and founders.

Travels in Egypt: Volume I by V. Denon & Vivant Denon

Delightful account of travel with Napoleon, translated either in archaic or inept English. His way of describing is as intriguing as are the descriptions themselves. His discussion of people and places and behavior is so interesting. Seems he was frustrated by being amongst so many artifacts but lack of time and concerns for safety prevented complete drawings. In any case he was often in mortal danger and suffered severe privation with the soldiers. He even seems aware of the basic folly of the enterprise. Napoleon figures small in the narrative. Denon is very self-effacing, the desert, the setting, the river, the mountains, the Marmlukes dominate and inspire awe and fear.

D. Martin Lloyd-Jones: The first 40 years 1899-1939 by Iain H. Murray

An old-time biography of a great reformed pastor who was a physician of great promise and went into the ministry preaching the infallible word and following reformed principles of evangelism. Very encouraging. Then as now the clear preaching of the Word was missing, needed, and responded to when present.