It gave me a real insight into what he was able to accomplish as president, and why his military service was so instrumental in his policy and leadership. Some of my favourite quotes from the book attributed to Eisenhower were:

“God help the nation when it has a President who doesn’t know as much about the military as I do.”, when referring to the Military Industrial Complex, lobbyists, and foolish politicians.

Eisenhower had a healthy skepticism about the grandiose schemes of the  military. He knew how the top brass used worst-case scenarios to  frighten their civilian masters into spending more on unnecessary new  weapons systems and pet boondoggles.

In private conversation and in his public remarks, he often warned  against what he called “the garrison state.”7 Military necessity would  require citizens to give up their cherished freedoms—and, Eisenhower  feared, to become automatons of the state. Ike had witnessed the turn  toward fascism during the Great Depression.

Eisenhower was, in effect, his own secretary of defense. When Defense  Secretary Neil McElroy warned him that further budget cuts would harm  national security, Eisenhower acerbically replied, “If you go to any  military installation in the world where the American flag is flying and tell the commander that Ike says he’ll give him an extra star for his  shoulder if he cuts his budget, there’ll be such a rush to cut costs  that you’ll have to get out of the way.”

There are many more, but those were some that stood out to me, especially in regards to the current situation in the US.

The post My Review of Ike’s Bluff by Evan Thomas first appeared on Blog About Books.

The book is a very capturing read and at only 280 pages it isn’t a very long read. Andy experienced a lot of different adventures during his time in Russia, including buying a car, boiling snow for food, working with a local group of prisoners, and more.

The book has been reviewed four times over at Amazon, all a full five stars. You can purchase it through Amazon here.

The post Winter Road: Journey of a Russian Mission by Andy Frecka first appeared on Blog About Books.

At many points while reading this book I actually found it quite hard to believe that it was true. The book read to me more like a Fredrick Forsyth novel than an autobiography of a senior inteligence office. It is a much better read than fiction as it is written by a man who has been there and done that.

No book this century has attracted more attention than Spycatcher. It made front-page headlines around the world as the British government tried desperately to suppress Peter Wright’s explosive revelations. Spycatcher tells with startling frankness and detail the devasting story of a government agency which operates outside the law, where the only rule was the 11th commandment: ‘Thou shalt not get caugh’.

Spycatcher is the first real shaft of light to penetrate the murky world of spy and counter-spy. That world will never seem the same again.

The post Spy Catcher by Peter Wright first appeared on Blog About Books.

Singer/songwriter Keith Green challenged believers to break out of their status quo Christianity and embrace a put-it-all-on-the-line life of faith and action. Dynamic and charismatic, Keith was hailed as a prophet by many and a lighting rod of controversy by others. Never hesitating to speak his convictions, he often struggled to live up to his own strong declarations. In this inspiring biography, Keith’s wife, Melody, shares their years of spiritual searching, the events that led them to Jesus, and how their dedication to minister to others began. When Keith was 28, a tragic airplane crash took him and two of his young children home to the Lord. Left with a one-year-old daughter and another on on the way, Melody inherited Keith’s musical legacy of songs and his private journals. As she shares the highs and lows of their life together, you’ll be captivated by Keith’s courage, inspired by his commitment, and encouraged by the truths he shared.

The post No Compromise, The life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green and David Hazard first appeared on Blog About Books.

“Burke Davis brings the color, vivid characterization and immediacy of the best fiction to this fascinating biography of Stonewall Jackson. He was one of the most brilliant and enigmatic figures not only of the Civil War, but of all military history as well. From the remarkable Valley Campaign through the Seven Days, Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the masterful, through tragic, sweep at Chancellorsville where Jackson was felled by his own soldiers, this is a compelling narrative of men and war.

Through diligent research over several years, Burke Davis uncovered previously unknown facts about Stonewall, and is able to correct many misapprehensions – though he glosses over none of the faults and eccentricities that gave Jackson the unique personality that rose so well to the challenge of the Civil War. In this volume are also found other memorable personalities, character portraits of the men in Blue and Gray who spring to life fully realized.

Stonewall Jacksonâ€s story is full of the challenging facts of human history. Here was a military genius at once peculiar and perfect, a fearless soldier in battle but a God – fearing man who hesitated to kill on Sunday. He broke the rules of war to win, and yet his tactics are studied in military academies the world over.

Burke Davis brings both Civil War and one of its most famous generals to life, showing this dramatic period of American history in full detail, as well as the life of one of the countryâ€s most brilliant military strategists.”

This book really shows highlights the quality characteristics of Jackson as well as a good look at his morality which shows itself in his decision making, it is a shame that we are not given too many role models like him anymore. “They called him Stonewall” is an in depth book covering all aspects of Jackson’s life from childhood to his early death, it is definately not for the light browser of books!!

The book talks a lot about his character, through all the tragedies of his childhood to his determination to be educated and his outstanding military record. The part that caught me the most about this book is that Burke Davis really shows Jackson as a man that would not compromise his values, integrity or principles at any price. There are not too many people that you can read about with that kind of “stonewall” character (excuse the pun).

It is a book I would definately recommend to people studying great leaders and inspirational figures, it is not always an easy read – but well worth the effort.

Read more reviews on amazon

The post They called Him Stonewall by Burke Davis first appeared on Blog About Books.

Respected Scholar and teacher at Oxford and Cambridge universities, prolific writer of fiction, literary criticism, and poetry, and a committed atheist during the first half of his life, C.S. Lewis is acclaimed as one of the greatest Christian thinkers of the twentieth century.

To explain the Christian faith – and to unite Christians of widely differing backgrounds – he presented “mere Christianity.” The faith that is the center of the Gospel, freed of denominational and historical constraints. To explain the Christian faith, Lewis brought into focus what had become blurred: the identity and mission of Jesus of Nazareth.

Author of Mere Christianity, The Chronicles of Narnia,The Screwtape Letters, and many more well-known classics of Christian literature. Lewis†story is one of faith and courage, and of joy that, once discovered, cannot be ignored.

The book covers the highs and lows of Lewis’ life that really shows the shaping and defining of his character and thinking that, with regards to Christianity in postmodernism, is still revolutionary today. With the Chronicles of Narnia having recently been such a big hit at the movies it is eye opening to be able to read into the background of the author.

The post “C.S. Lewis” Author of Mere Christianity by Sam Wellman first appeared on Blog About Books.