Author Archives: Mike
Fakers
In Fakers: Hoaxers, Con Artists, Counterfeiters and Other Great Pretenders (2008), Paul Maliszewski draws on his own experiences as a frustrated newspaper reporter who wrote fictitious letters to the editor and other submissions as a lens for viewing other liars, … Continue reading
Posted in book, con man, non-fiction, review
Comments Off on Fakers
Zone One
Wow. Not the best zombie apocalypse novel I’ve ever read, but certainly a good one. This book is much more than that; a meditation on America in the 21st century and whether it matters. I was very impressed with Whitehead’s … Continue reading
The Big Roads
In The Big Roads, Earl Swift tells the history of the conception and creation of the Interstate Highway System. For those of us who have lived only in the age of super highways, it is an interesting and well-told … Continue reading
Posted in book, history, non-fiction, public policy, review
Comments Off on The Big Roads
Gentlemen’s Blood: A History of Dueling
“The definitive guide to courtly violence.” A fascinating history of (sanctioned) male violence throughout western history.
The Man Who Saved New York
Seymour Lachman and Robert Polner’s The Man Who Saved New York (2010) tells the story of New York City’s near financial meltdown in 1975, and how newly-elected New York Governor (the “man” of the title) and his aides were able … Continue reading
Posted in book, history, public policy, review
Comments Off on The Man Who Saved New York
Pioneer Valley Road Trip (Part 3)
(Read about Parts 1 and 2 of our trip.) I was blown away by the Smith College Museum of Art. We could have easily spent two hours on just the top two floors of this museum alone. They have a … Continue reading
Posted in road trip
Comments Off on Pioneer Valley Road Trip (Part 3)
The Leftovers
Tom Perrotta’s The Leftovers (2011) is an interesting exploration of suburban life interrupted by a mass disappearance that many believe is the Rapture. It’s not clear from the book how many people have been removed from the face of the … Continue reading
An Ideal Wine: One Generation’s Pursuit of Perfection – and Profit – in California
In An Ideal Wine, David Darlington tells the story of the California wine industry since the early 1970’s — at times in numbing detail. There is a very interesting story in here, but it’s tougher than it should be to … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on An Ideal Wine: One Generation’s Pursuit of Perfection – and Profit – in California
Pioneer Valley Road Trip (Part 2)
(The first part of our trip is here.) Northampton, MA was the next stop on our trip. It’s a funky little college town about 15 miles north of Springfield. On the way, we learned that Holyoke, MA is where volleyball … Continue reading
Posted in road trip
Comments Off on Pioneer Valley Road Trip (Part 2)
Pioneer Valley Road Trip (Part 1)
What a better way to end the summer than with a trip to Western Massachusetts? We managed to check out Naumkeg, grabbed a nosh and a stroll around Northampton, and visited the Smith College Museum of Art and the Eric … Continue reading
Posted in road trip
Comments Off on Pioneer Valley Road Trip (Part 1)