Review: The Armed Society: Militarism in Modern America

The Armed Society: Militarism in Modern America by Tristram Coffin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



This author plainly wears his heart on his sleeve and as the book heats up, it is clear that this a passioned attack on the then American military adventure in Vietnam, the military power and influence over the elected government. I came across this book reading others inspired by the JFK anniversary, the Snowden revelations, and the "J. Edgar" movie. This is another block in the foundation of my conviction that there isn't much neo about the Neo-cons (Major General Edwin Anderson Walker), Americas vacillates between flirtation with police state and reform, and American is an unadmitted empire built on overwhelming military superiority.

"The military decided long ago to concentrate its conquest of political power on Congress. This was a sagacious move. Congress is ... the least responsive to national need (as apart from local ones), and the most antagonistic to the Executive."

Even the themes of at least implicit support of water torture and government spying on citizens and allies arises here.





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Review: One for the Road: How to Be a Music Tour Manager

One for the Road: How to Be a Music Tour Manager by Mark Workman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Mark Workman’s guide for the professional or would-be professional tour manager is encyclopedic in scope and detailed yet is often entertaining due to Workman’s pithy delivery (complete with Star Wars allusions), anecdotes, and humorous asides. Mark’s history is with heavy metal (Testament, Megadeth, Slayer, Exodus, etc.) but the mechanics and logistics of his overview is applicable to any touring band and, while he does not say so, I think managing any touring arts ensemble such as scholastic or theater groups will be easier after reading this work. Not only has Workman organized an impressive body of knowledge around his craft, but he imparts wisdom earned as a music industry professional marking him as an educator with a direct story to tell that is at times gritty and insightful. The coherent book is organized into logical sections such as budgets and booking, contracts and catering. This will make the book serve as a reference work as well as a map to get a career off on the right foot.

Look for my entire review on National Rock Review.



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Review: Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus

Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus by Bill Wasik

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is a fascinating look into the rabies virus. Highlights include an exploration of the diseases as a basis for the legends of vampires & lycanthropes, "I am Legend", the fears and reactions of island populaces like England (The Chunnel) and Bali (blow dart canine culling), hopes of the virus as a delivery system through the blood brain barrier, and more. Very good narrator, too.



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Review: Automate This: How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World

Automate This: How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World by Christopher Steiner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This brisk read goes into a lot of detail on pioneer hacker Petterfy and how he innovated, at the oscilloscope and cut wire level, the "quants" role on Wall Street. This part of the book reminded me of the early computing age era whodunit [b:The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage|18154|The Cuckoo's Egg Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage|Clifford Stoll|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1385177918s/18154.jpg|19611]. Steiner follows the bouncing ball of algorithm-driven economic growth to the West Coast and Facebook, a fascinating account of what is being done to auto-analyze customer service calls, Google's driver-less cars, and a future of computer-filled Rx and other medical tasks.



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Review: The Story of Dr. Dolittle

The Story of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



It's funny that this part of Audible.com's "Audible Kids" edition. All that means is the audio is bookended with a chorus of kids screaming "Audible Kids!" The talk of coons, darkies, and n*ggers should get this banned more often than the oft-cited [b:The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn|2956|The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn|Mark Twain|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1274410225s/2956.jpg|1835605]. Of course, the "Black Prince" tribal leader in this mostly African adventure isn't as evil as he seems, he really just wants to get away and be a white man ... with blue eyes. Still, the Bond-esque English sanguine attitude of John Dolittle is quaint but what really makes this edition is the gusto the narrator [a:David Case|20429|David Case|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-e89fc14c32a41c0eb4298dfafe929b65.png] throws into grunting and squeaking through the animal dialogues of Gub-Gub the pig, Jip the dog, Chee-Chee, Dab-Dab the duck, and the two-headed Pushmi-pullyu.




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Review: Master Pieces: The Architecture of Chess

Master Pieces: The Architecture of Chess by Gareth Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a beautiful, special little book. It two layers of dust jacket with the outer most translucent. Inside, the thick, glossy pages are an excellent medium for the frequent full-color images generally of exotic, rare, and detailed chess sets. The books touches on the history of human migrations, military technology, cultural exchange seen in the evolution of pieces in their style and usage. A real treat for anyone with appreciation of the art of chess. Chapters cover ecumenes, and eras.



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Review: Beethoven's Shadow

Beethoven's Shadow by Jonathan Biss

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This (audio)book would be ideal to be set down (or paused) to enjoy and reflect on the relevant Beethoven works, say a little Op. 190 before proceeding in this chapter... Biss threw himself deep into Beethoven's sonatas and concerti. He does much to explain and detail his process and craft in a way any art-appreciator can enjoy and not just for the professional musician of even Classical music fan.



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