Monday, June 29, 2020

American Crusade: Our Fight to Stay Free By: Pete Hegseth

You might be used to seeing Hegseth doing the cooky diner interviews all around the country during the 2016 election season. Or maybe if you are a Fox news watcher, you will recognize him from Fox and Friends morning show.  Either way, this man is a Harvard/Princeton.


This book is written by a man that is true to his country.  He was in the National Guard, went to Harvard and Princeton, and has done may works of charity around Veterans.  He was not a Trump supporter in the beginning. But like many other people, he saw Donald Trump for what he is; a threat to the establishment. When you see someone ruffling the feathers of both putrid parties, chances are they are doing it right.  The book delves into topics you would expect from a Conservative.  He is now a Trump supporter.  Interesting note, he was a term member of Council of Foreign Relations but quit the organization. 

He is truly a patriot and not just for what he did in the military but what he did for his fellow countrymen that returned from the military. 

It is a good book, obviously very pro-Trump so if you dislike or hate Trump, don't bother reading it.  Your eyes will bleed.  I am one of those not-so-silent majority that did not initially vote Trump, but feel he has done an amazing job.  I often wonder, if he would have had even the same level of support from the opposition as Obama did, our Country would be doing amazing.  In spite of all of the anti-Trump media (redundant statement), in spite of the fake investigations, trumped up (no-pun intended) impeachment, all other investigation, unfair treatment, et all, he was still able to make this economy thrive and do for POC what no other POTUS in my lifetime has done. 

Love the last chapter when he talks about Trump calling him on Halloween and told him "You are a fucking warrior Pete; A fucking warrior."  Love it.





Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Center Street (May 19, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1546098747
ISBN-13: 978-1546098744

Saturday, June 20, 2020

A Life in Parts By: Bryan Cranston

I love reading biographies and memoirs.  I love to see how people get to where they are.  It grounds me because I can see that people usually have hundreds of "L" before they have a single "W".   Cranston was the stars of one of my favorite shows which I had never planned on watching; Breaking Bad. I have reviewed other books in the past and have made the same comment.  Don't have a plan B.  It is a pattern I have seen in many of the subjects of the books I have read. 



Cranston decided at some point in his life that he was going to be an actor and never looked back.  He had a great approach to auditioning.  He thought of it as the ability to deliver a performance.  Not from a perspective of getting a job.  I believe that could be one of the secrets of his success.  The book begins with one of the most powerful scenes from Breaking Bad where Jane Margollis (Krysten Ritter), Jesse Pinkman's (Aaron Paul) girlfriend dies in front of White (Cranston), and he does nothing.  He admits to seeing his real-life daughter during that scene.  It that goes back in time and he writes about his life growing up and his challenges as a child and later adolescences and adulthood.  Cranston writes about his big break in Malcolm in the Middle as the father.  This made him an "actor"

If you are a Breaking Bad or Malcolm fan, this is a must read. This is a short read coming in under 300 pages.  But I was engaged the entire time. 

Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle



Breaking Bad



Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Scribner; First Edition edition (October 11, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1476793859
ISBN-13: 978-1476793856