And now the finale' of my non-fiction picks from last year's Christmas book recommendation letter. Claire's list, including both fiction and non-fiction selections, will be posted soon.
9) The works of historian John Toland. The last couple of years have rewarded me with the chance to re-read both Toland’s two-volume history, Adolf Hitler, and his two-volume history of Japan’s role in WWII, Rising Sun. While I’m at it, I might as well mention a couple of other historians whose work I frequently read: English historian Antonia Fraser (Cromwell is my latest) and Walter Lord.
10) Speaking of multi-volume history, you can’t miss with Shelby Foote’s three-volume history of the American Civil War. He is one of America’s best and most poignant storytellers.
11) Reason in the Balance by Phillip Johnson. An excellent investigation into the roots of political correctness and its grave errors about evolution, law, education and culture.
12) God and Ronald Reagan by Paul Kengor. A look into Reagan’s spiritual convictions and how they shaped him and his public policy. It is a tragedy that the material in this book isn’t common knowledge among Americans but such is the bias of modern historians and educators. The book is especially revealing about Reagan’s early life.
