They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-45 by Milton Sanford Mayer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an interesting study of human psychology and our ability to justify actions and beliefs. And given the situation in the USA at the moment (2026) the book is apropos. Mayer interviews ten individuals in a small town in Germany directly after WWII and while each individual’s replies are different they all have the same underlying meaning.

With the interviews, Mayer also waxes poetic about Germany and his perspectives on the country and the reasons given by his interviees , which seems out of place and colors the book as a whole. The interviews are wrought with the feeling that those interviewed were somewhat stifled and confused themselves with many of the replies referring back to Mayer: “What would you have done?!”

The book does give some insight into the culture and social pressures in Germany at the time, but this is difficult to know for sure unless one has lived in that country. As a result these insights are questionable. That being said, there is a lot here that can be referenced (unfortunately) to attitudes in the USA during this dark time of Donald Trump’s America.

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The Five-Year Guide to Self-Sufficiency: Simple Living Made Simpler by Amelia Barrows
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ms. Barrow’s book is a good beginning for anyone who wants to take their idea of being actually self-sufficient. It is clear and concise and geared towards an absolute beginner or someone who has done some backyard gardening. It covers a broad range of topics but does so in a general sense.

The generalities are perhaps necessary, but they could also be misleading. On the other hand, it is a quick and easy read and a great place to start a possible adventure. However, it lacks sufficient information regarding livestock (other than hens).

This is not a book on par with someone like John Seymour’s book on self-sufficiency and I would not recommend it as a resource on its own. As a opening to a possible lifestyle before the actuality of a self-sufficient farm, it would do fine.

View all my reviews Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency by Michael Wolff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story presented is of Trump’s last days in 2020 and culminates in the atrocious and grievous acts of his followers on January 6th. Michael Wolff’s second installment of his ‘insider’ take on the Trump Whitehouse is illuminating, horrifying, entertaining, and sad. Much of the book is written in the first person of people that work closely with this regime.

In reading, the writing is story-like rather than historical, which makes it a quick read. That, and the fact the Wolff plays a loose game of fact and pseudo-fiction throughout. It is not difficult to imagine the conversations taking place as most are available on live television, but Wolff’s claims should not be taken as hard facts, although I don’t think he meant the book to be taken that way.

Wolff’s writing is both that of a gossip and a journalist as much of the book could not be checked or warranted. Wolff is fair with Trump, a bit too fair given the current second term. If the reader is searching for hard facts concerning Trump a better book in all ways would be Woodward’s Rage and The Trump Tapes. But if one is looking for a little historical entertainment, Wolff’s book would do the trick.

View all my reviews Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Picking up this book not expecting much other than some entertainment, I did some research and found that it was likely that Schwarzenegger wrote this book himself without the help of a ghost-writer. I was impressed and decided to give it a try. Afterall, being useful is a virtue if such usefulness is a positive for both the individual and society. In Schwarzenegger’s case, according to his book, he is both. I would tend to agree.

One can say much about Schwarzenegger’s acting skills, his politics, and his talent altogether, but one cannot deny that his story is fascinating and impressive. This alone warrants reading the book. But equally interesting is his take on usefulness. Almost madly driven, Schwarzenegger boils down his beliefs into seven rules, each of which is geared towards getting ahead in life, something Schwarzenegger knows a lot about!

The book is definitely geared towards the all-American drive for money and fame, but that aside the rules can apply to almost any goal. Two points that Schwarzenegger makes throughout the book that is laudable is his ability to dismiss what others think about him, and his belief that one should give back to the community, both of which he does very well.

This is an easy, interesting read for anyone who has ever wondered how a person from Austria can come to America and actually achieve their dreams, and is enjoyable to boot.

View all my reviews On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve never thought of Stephen King as a producer of good literature, but more of an entertainer. I was wrong. Being a writer myself I enjoy reading and listening to other writer’s processes and rituals concerning their own writing and King’s book is one of the best books that I have found concerning writing.

It is personal but reaches beyond his own experiences. His advice is straightforward and offers no shortcuts to writing. But one of the most important pieces of advice that King offers is one of the most difficult for most writers, including me, to accept: we must take the art and mechanics of writing seriously. To King, writing and story-telling are serious endeavors.

King’s book is honest and entertaining all at once and his advice hits hard. The voice of his words are easily recognizable and his informality is refreshing. I can highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever been curious about, or writes themselves. Read it a few times because some of the advice feels like a slap in the face, something most of us need every once in a while.

View all my reviews The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward’s Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump by Bob Woodward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bob Woodward is famous for his honesty and his straightforward journalism and while some may admire him and some hate him, these characteristics cannot be denied. The Trump Tapes are a collection of recordings that Woodward had with Donald Trump during his first presidency. In them Trump comes across as amiable and willing, almost too willing, to tell the truth.

It is important to state that Trump was aware that Woodward was recording the interviews (by phone) and that Woodward did not hide his intentions of writing a book about Donald Trump. Of all the media coverage, books and interviews that Trump has had in the past years, these tapes reveal more about his personality, his intentions, his drive, and his persona than any other.

The Trump Tapes is also entertaining, but unfortunately so at the cost of Mr. Woodward’s necessity of having to listen to the often meandering and narcissistic monologues that Trump dutifully delivered all for the sake of being interviewed “by the most famous of all journalists”. It is apparent throughout the recordings what Trump was after and Woodward delivered.

This is and will be an amazing piece of history, sadly so.

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