JeremyShaffer.com Books/Readings

Starting off 2002 I have decided to post the books and daily news websites I read regularly.  Perhaps even post some commentary on the books.  Many of these books I have listened to on tape ... but I consider that reading too.

Books Read 2004-2005:

 Books Read 2002-2003:

8/25/03

The Crisis of Islam – A rather dry book outlining the main points of the history of Islam and how it perceives the western/Christian world.   Written in response to the Sept. 11^th events the book attempts to present the various opinions in the Islamic world and how they developed.

7/25/2003

History of Ancient Rome - Not really a book.  It is 4 part 24 CD course lecture series on the History of Ancient Rome.   From it's foundation to fall around the 4th Century A.D.  I really like the courses on tape and also have finished the Ancient Greeks.

5/28/03

Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy - A typical military/political Clancy story.   A little hard to believe at times that the plot suggested could actually unfold.  I liked his earlier books better, but easy light reading.   6 out of 10.

5/21/03

Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas -  The story of actually four adventurers in France as they strive to serve their King and themselves.   Of course mix in a power struggle and some women and an interesting story unfolds.   7.5 out of 10

5/1/03

Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris - The story of Roosevelt's tenure in the White House.   A very detailed presentation of major events and people effecting Roosevelt's presidency is outlined.   I enjoyed the first book a little more since it covered a greater breadth of information and time.  However, this too was a great book.  8 out of 10 

4/1/03

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris - This is the story of Roosevelt's adventure filled life before he becomes President.   Morris does an excellent job presenting the already action packed story which makes for an exciting read.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes history or politics.  9.5 out of 10 

3/20/03

Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala- An inspiring book about the importance of prayer and faith in Christian lives.   This is an easy read and I would highly recommend it.  9 out of 10.

2/15/03

Comrades by Stephen Ambrose - A good book looking at friendships between guys.  I most enjoyed the parts about friendships not including Ambrose such as the Lewis and Clark.   I'd recommend the book and give it a 7 out of 10.

2/15/03

A Walk in the Woods by  Bill Bryson -  The tale of a British American walking the Appalachian trail with his moronic friend.    The book also contains crass language and the authors ranting about history of different places as well as opinion on politics.  He seems to belittle most everyone he meets as being beneath him and his fine cultured ways.   I would give this book a  4 out of 10.  

2/1/03

The Book of Virtues by Bill Bennett - A collection of stories from all sorts of cultures and times that make a practical point.   An enjoyable variety of readings some of which you are probably familiar with and others you haven't heard.  8 out of 10.

12/5/02

Nelson by Ernle Bradford - A look at the life of Britian's foremost Navy hero.   The book can get a little slow and dry at times.   However, Nelson led an action packed life that carries the story through.  Having read Napoleon's biography also helped since the two were contemporaries and adversaries.   Napoleon was able to lead France to victories on land while Nelson led the British to victories on sea and helped check Napolean's dreams of conquest.   7 out of 10 

11/30/02

Lincoln on Leadership - I liked this book for the historical perspective on the Civil War and Lincoln.  I probably would have stopped listening too it if it just had the leadership focus.   5 out of 10

10/1/02

Every Young Man's Battle - An excellent book.   We used it at the CrossSeekers Men's Bible Study here at CMU.  I would highly recommend this to any young Christian Males.  9.5 out of 10

9/20/02

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - The book is full of useful analogies that Lewis uses to make his points.    It it is a little slow at points but overall I think it is a very good book read.  I would recommend this book to Christians and Non-Christians alike.   7 out of 10.

8/23/02

Friday Night Lights by HG Bissinger- A great book about the 1988 season of a high school football team in Odessa, Texas.  The book shows how the whole community revolves around the team and the amazing aura that surrounds it.  Other aspects of the community's life are explored such as the oil industry, race relations, and politics.   I thoroughly enjoyed the book. 9.5 out of 10

8/4/02

Napoleon by Felix Markham - The author managed to take the fascinating life of Napoleon and make it slow and rather tedious to follow.   The book fails to capture any of the excitement of Napoleon's brilliant military successes and instead analyzes them in the most sterile of terms.   Another annoying feature is the tendency of the author not to just go chronologically through the story of Napoleon's life.    2 of 10 

7/10/02

Great Catherine by Carolly Erickson- The story of Catherine the Great the Empress of Russia in the mid/late 1700s.  I think the book could be better written.  However, the story of Catherine is quite impressive.  Born a minor Princess in a small German state and married to the insane Grand Duke of Russia also her cousin.  She is constantly having to fight for survival and endure many hardships.  The book also gives an interesting look into 1700s Europe and especially Russia. 5 of 10

6/23/02

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea - A non-fiction book that recounts the tale of the U.S.S. Central America a ship that sunk in 1857 off the coast of North Carolina.  The boat had over 500 passengers on board and I especially enjoyed the first quarter of the book that recounted the fate that they endured.   The remainder of the book was dedicated to the engineering and human problems of recovering the wreck.  Although not as captivating as the initial part of the book I enjoyed hearing of how the many challenges involving deep-water recovery were solved in the. 8 of 10

6/19/02

Candide by Voltaire - This was a short, easy to follow book of the bizarre trials and journeys of Candide an idealistic and rather gullible young man in 16th century Europe(?).   Mix in a bizarre love plot and travels ranging across Europe to South America back to Europe and you have an interesting story.  This isn't the normal sort of book.   As Candide loved to quote "All things work for the best" or something like that.  8 of 10 

6/5/02

Thou art the Man by Edgar Allan Poe -  A neat short story which was one of the first fiction mysteries written.  I enjoyed it.  

6/4/02

James Madison by Robert Rutland - A biography of our 3rd President.  It was interesting historical work.  I would  recommend reading it in conjunction with the biography on John Adams.  Madison and Adams were contemporaries in opposite political parties.   Madison was an Anti-Federalist/Democrat-Republican while Adams was a father of the Federalist movement.  Madison's biography was drier and less interesting than McCullough's rendition of Adams. 9.5 of 10

5/1/02

Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy - One of Clancy's Cold War style books.   A tale of how World War III starts over a shortage of Oil in Russia.   A long and action packed book.  I would give it a 7 out of 10 on my scale.

4/1/02

The Capital of the World by Ernest Hemingway - A short story about life in Madrid and the Bull Fighting that goes on there.  I enjoyed it.   I also tried to do the The Snows of Kilimanjaro however that book I found slow and uninteresting. 

1/26/02

The Phantom Island by Washington Irving - Stories of a mysterious island off in the uncharted sea inspire a young Portuguese man to create a bold expedition to find it.   All does not go to plan though and in the tempest tossed sea things are not always what they seem. A short and interesting story.   Although I must say I liked Irving's Rip Van Winkle better. 

1/25/02

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - An old man, a really big fish, La Mar (the Sea) in a battle between man and animal and man and himself.   If you like fishing you will probably find the story interesting.   It does seem to drag on a little long.

1/17/02

Sea Wolf by Jack London -  A story prompting much thought about the meaning of life but set in a high action environment.  The first 1/3 of the story I really liked.  Once the semi-love plot got introduced I felt it lost a little.    Still overall a good book.  

1/10/02

John Adams by David McCullough - Excellent Book.  I really enjoyed learning about Adams.  He exhibits so many admirable qualities throughout his amazing life which I had known so little about before. 

Online Newspapers (normally read):

WashingtonPost - Yes it is liberal but does have good stories.

Times Picayune - New Orleans newspaper.  Got keep track of the Big Easy.

Nando Times - Carries most AP stories.  Pretty good coverage.

Times-Dispatch - Richmond newspaper.  Good source for Virginia news.

Sydney Morning Herald - News from down under!

Jerusalem Post - Rarely a day without any lively news from the middle east.

BP News - Official news of the Southern Baptist Convention

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Pittsburgh Newspaper (Liberal)

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh Newspaper (Conservative)