Hurricanes: A Memoir By: Rick Ross

This was a great book.  Rick Ross grew up in Miami and a lot of the places he frequented are places I did as well.  I was never a huge fan of Rick Ross, however after reading his book, I certainly understand his music much more.  There was a lot of talk about Ross being a Freemason due to his song by the name "Freemason".  However he is not.  Ross has become a huge presence in the hip hop/rap world.  It is incredible to see how a person can turn their life around. 

In one of the chapters, Ross wrote about driving by Evander Holyfield mansion and parking where it was visible with his friend.  He was impressed at the accomplishment of Holyfield.  At one point, Holyfield filed for bankruptcy and Ross immediately purchases the property.  

Ross and I share a similar thought process.  In his book, he mentions how he thrives in the face of adversity and nothing drives him more than someone saying you can't do it.  I find myself at this point in a similar way as Ross did where his villain was himself.  That chapter was actually inspirational.

His mom and his sister are a big part of his life and his longevity.  It is great to see that someone that has been extremely street wise and exposed to so much crime and death, still looks to his mother and his family for support.   



Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Hanover Square Press; Original edition (September 3, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335999280
ISBN-13: 978-1335999283

One Year After: A John Matherson Novel By: William R. Forstchen

Another great, post apocalyptic book by Mr. Forstchen.  This book is the second in the series and follows One Second After by the same.  This book picks up with book 1 in the series leaves off. In this book, John meets with part of the newly formed US government after the EMP or "The Day" as they call it.

John Matherson again proves that he is a man of integrity and his historical knowledge, since his last job was as a history professor in Black Mountain, NC.  The book is somewhat slow but when you get to chapter 11, you cannot put it down.  John's ultimate villain is an overzealous politico that is trying to run NC as his own empire.  He tries to tempt John by offering him positions and rank but did not expect John to be as principled as he was.

Great, action packed book.  Can't wait to read the next one.

Series: A John Matherson Novel (Book 2)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (September 15, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765376709
ISBN-13: 978-0765376701

Guilt by Accusation: The Challenge of Proving Innocence in the Age of #MeToo By: Alan Dershowitz

This is an interesting book.  Dershowitz attempts to set the record straight from his perspective.  Dershowitz makes a compelling argument against his accuser and her attorneys. With the creation of the cancel culture, #MeToo and other movements and organizations, we have seen a devolvement of the legal system once founded and rooted in "innocent until proven guilty".  It has now been turned on its head.  It is now guilty until proven innocent, proof be damned.  

Dershowitz walks you through the evidence and is able to show exculpatory documents, recording, and fillings that exonerate him.  He even requested that FBI investigate him.  He initiated it, not the accuser.  However, it seemed that the accuser's attorneys refuse to do the right thing and have the accuser testify under oath and threat of perjury what her story is.

I do believe women should report sex crimes against them.  There have been too many victims of such crimes.  However I do NOT ascribe to the new legal system where all it takes is a woman to accuse you of something and destroy your life regardless of it being true or not.  I am positive that if the shoe were on the other foot and the US adopted some of the Sharia type beliefs where women need to have four male witnesses to prove rape, the "movement" would take on a different role with different goals.

The book is not his best work.  It is short coming in at 168 pages including the table of contents. And quite frankly did read a little whiny, but the content was interesting despite that.  It shows the sleaziness of the profession.  Hopefully it is the exception and not the rule; although I believe its the latter and not the former.

What I found appalling is how someone can make accusation about you and then when you come out and call them a lier, they can sue you for defamation.  It is a lose-lose scenario.  Thankfully for him, he is an attorney and can fight the fight better and cheaper than others.

Hardcover: 168 pages
Publisher: Hot Books (November 19, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1510757538
ISBN-13: 978-1510757530

One Second After by: John Matherson

This was a very apropos book.  Although NOT a pandemic, it is about an EMP.  However you the outcome and the scenario is very real.  The inability to get supplies, medications, and the very essentials to sustain life.  The threat of an EMP is very real and is not a science fiction movie.  Although a computer would be useless during a time of an EMP, it is imperative to be prepared.

It is important to have a classic car that would sustain an EMP.  Gasoline would be easy since all other cars would be fried and you could fill up as you go, but the problem is someone or a group would try to take it from you.  You would need an arsenal and plenty of ammo.  In the book John has an old Edsel (manufactured by Ford).  The book takes place in Black Mountain NC, a place I love and have looked at property to buy in the mountains.

John has a diabetic daughter who relies on insulin.  The book quickly devolves and the citizens of Black Mountain unite to form a militia to protect the resources of Black Mountain.

Death, destruction, and mayhem.  People may laugh at me but I plan to prepare for an EMP.  Better safe than sorry.  The fact is the US relies too much on technology.  GPS, Electricity, etc.  You need to be prepared.

Matherson has other books;  One Year After, The Final Day and 48 Hours.  I plan to read them all.

Series: A John Matherson Novel (Book 1)

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (March 17, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0765317583

ISBN-13: 978-0765317582

12 Years A Slave By: Solomon Northup

Amazing book.  I cannot wait to watch the movie.  Sadly but necessarily, it reminds me of the abhorrent practice of slavery.  At first the book is a little slow but soon you are neck deep in the story and wishing Solomon escapes or is saved.

This is not the first time I read about the trade freedmen being sold back to the South.  Its funny to listen to those who align with the NORTH because they are from the north and they seem to think that the entire north was against slavery.  The dirty truth is that the Civil War was not fought to end slavery.  Anyone doing cursory research will agree with that statement.  The "North" was not without sin.  They did plenty including selling free black people into slavery or back to slavery if they escaped bondage.

Although the book is promoted as a true story, there has been some historians that have questions certain facts.  Although I have not read those reports, and even if 90% of this book is true, it is appalling.  Hell, even if 1% of it were true, it would be appalling.

The books is about Solomon Northup, a freeborn African-American that was born in NY but kidnapped by conmen and sold into slavery.  Northup leaves his wife and daughters and they have no idea where he went.  Northup had to hide his ability to read and write because he would have been killed.  Blacks were not allowed to learn any skills that could allow them to understand laws and such.

I read the book prior to watching the movie as is my modos operandi, so I was not aware of the story prior to reading.

Read it, then re-read it.  Great book

Hardcover: 202 pages
Publisher: Engage Books (January 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1927970164
ISBN-13: 978-1927970164

The Outsider By: Stephen King

Another great book by Stephen King.  I started watching the series with Justin Bateman. I watched the first 3 episodes, waited for my wife to catch up and then my wife moved forward without me :-(.

The book starts off with a brutal murder of a young child.  The description is extremely disturbing.  In the book the boy is mauled and also sodomized with a branch.  The town coach, Terry Maitland is the main suspect.  However the case soon unravels.  Ralph Anderson, the investigator of the crime and himself being the parent of a murdered child, arrests Maitland in front of the entire town and a game he is coaching.  The investigation takes a turn when Terry Maitland is 70 miles away at the time of the murder.  

As with a lot of Stephen King novels there is a lot of product placement within the book.  Sometimes it was a bit too much.   I will admit that I was tempted to cheat and watch the show in order to find out what was going on.  It is a suspense book all the way until the end.  I did find it a bit disturbing as King kept circling back and mentioning what had happened to the Frankie Peterson.  I felt as if King wanted to remind me again and again about the crime.  As soon as I started thinking about the plot, someone mentioned the gruesome act.


** SPOILER **
The crazy part is that I remember as a child when my parents told me about "el viejo de saco".   Little did I know that he would be the subject of a Stephen King novel.


Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: Scribner; First Editiion edition (May 22, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1501180983
ISBN-13: 978-1501180989

The Fifth Domain: Defending Our Country, Our Companies, and Ourselves in the Age of Cyber Threats By: Richard A. Clarke and Robert K. Knake

Great book about cyber security.  I am in the business and can see the author(s) are well versed on that industry.  The authors however, make their political biases known to the reader.  Although I DO read political books and expect the political biases, I hate when authors, actors, musicians, etc try to use a platform to spew their political views when the content is not political.  It is not overwhelming to the point that it is not readable, but it is palpable.

Authors cover many of the concerns I and others have to deal with. They have different views and proposed solutions than mine. I tend to not want government involved, however the authors seem to be pro-Big Government.  This is strange to see in InfoSec since you have a majority of people in this group are usually libertarian leaning weather that is left-leaning or rigs-leaning libertarian.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Penguin Press (July 16, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 052556196X
ISBN-13: 978-0525561965