History
Des Ekin has uncovered a special piece of American history that has long been overlooked. This book follows the capture, imprisonment, and political and social maneuverings of the young American sailor James Leander Cathcart. Cathcart’s personality and wit guide him through the perils of being a Barbary pirate prisoner in Algiers and eventually place him before George Washington to help broker a deal for peace between the two nations. Ekin has established the foundation for a new American hero.
Foreign Affairs
Subtitled “A Warning to America,” Newsham’s book is important for several reasons. He imagines a Chinese seizure of Taiwan and its deadly consequences both for the Pacific region and America’s future. But he also describes in detail how China has waged a gray-zone war against the United States for decades with devastating effects on the American economy and its people and cities. He concludes with specific recommendations for resisting these assaults. This is a loud wake-up call for all Americans.
Geology
For many, a day at the beach is perfect. Yet a beach itself is surprisingly complex, a result of intricate dynamics and host to a multifaceted ecology. This book covers its subject on many levels and includes a wealth of visual aids. It takes readers on a Gulf Coast tour, starting in Florida and working counterclockwise through Mexico and into Cuba. Davis, a coastal geologist, explores the processes that create beaches, the plants and animals that inhabit them, and the human impact upon them.
Memoir
Mike Pompeo’s memoir is a bona fide tour de force that often reads like a thriller. It’s packed full of personal, political, and poignant content and told with unflinching transparency as he recalls his tenure during the Trump administration, first serving as the director of the CIA and then as secretary of state. Readers will feel the challenge and tension of daily decision-making—whether with colleagues or heads of state. Pompeo’s account of what it takes to keep America safe is riveting.
Classics
Francis Thompson’s most renowned poem was “The Hound of Heaven,” which tells of God’s pursuit of the fugitive human soul. Included in this collection are religious ballads and sonnets, a miscellany of verse, and poems for children. Some of the latter feature the daughters of Alice and Wilfrid Meynell, Thompson’s rescuers from poverty and obscurity. In the introduction, G.K. Chesterton labels “The Hound of Heaven” as the “greatest religious poem of modern times and one of the greatest of all times.”
For Kids
Each year, the bunny who decorates the most beautiful egg accompanies the Easter Bunny on Easter morning as he hides his eggs. As Hoppi dreams up his design, a robin’s egg falls out of the tree above, so he does his best to keep it safe. This sweet tale, coupled with Brett’s colorful and engaging illustrations, make for a perfect Easter-time read.
Friends Read Free