Cape Ann Online

Reading a few books at once.  One is The Third Reconstruction by Reverend Dr. William Barber II.  He was put on this planet for a reason.

The Barber book made a huge impression on me...kind of validated some conclusions I'd been reaching on my own and added a lot of proof and hope that to move forward as a country we need a fusion coalition...all oppressed groups joining together and refusing to be divided.

Currently reading This is An Uprising by Mark Engler and Paul Engler.  I will report back.

Karly wrote:

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The Barber book made a huge impression on me...kind of validated some conclusions I'd been reaching on my own and added a lot of proof and hope that to move forward as a country we need a fusion coalition...all oppressed groups joining together and refusing to be divided.

Currently reading This is An Uprising by Mark Engler and Paul Engler.  I will report back.

Reverend Barber reminds me a little of Giants football player Rosey Grier. Rosey looks his size, skin tone, former minister, running in 2018 for governor of California (R) and of course there's Rosey's ACCLAIMED BOOK "Needlepoint for Men" (real).

BACK TO REVEREND BARBER - his recent tour had an unfortunate mishap just after he boarded an airliner - he was verbally abused by a racist passenger seated near him. The airline felt it would be easier to request Barber to miss the flight and de-board then tell a screaming racist to get off. He wrote a letter to the media explaining the incident - really gracious guy. Rev. Barber's book sounds like a view on humanity from a viewpoint that includes the less advantage - kind of a "silent fusion spring" coming in the future?

Always good to revisit the Classics once in a while.



Uncle Bill never lets me down.

William S. Burroughs...light reading for those hazy summer days.  

This is an Uprising by the Engler brothers was a very interesting book.  It detailed many of the movements world-wide during the past 50 years and discussed the difference between Alinsky-style community organizing groups and Piven-style Mass Movements.  The conclusion was that both are needed in some kind of hybrid.

Ordered a couple books tonight...The Handmaid's Tale and The New Jim Crow.

I'm on book 2 of the Richard Sharpe series. Love me some good Historical Fiction!
https://www.goodreads.com/series/40550- ... ical-order

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, gator.  When I'm just being decadent I like a really good psych thriller.  This past year I've read almost entirely non-fiction...just worked out that way and seems to be continuing.

Tonight I'm going to start Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33600.Shantaram

I'm so happy you resurrected this thread, gator.  You are one of my favorite CAO posters.  I love reading books (hard copy, not kindle) and have had trouble for the last couple of months getting into anything.  I ditched a couple book clubs and that didn't help!  However I am currently reading a most excellent book...A Woman's Place is at the Top by my friend Hannah Kimberley of Gloucester.   It is a biography of Annie Smith Peck who was a mountain climber, political activist and so much more.  

I appreciate you comment, even though at times I admit I can be a little combative with people!

Same here about preferring hard copies, although I do occasionally use a Kindle because of price differences. For the most part though, most of my books are purchased used. Currently, I have a nice pile that should keep me busy for a few months. After that, I might have to check out that book by Hannah Kimberley, which I do remember seeing on GMG.

Aw, shucks, gator -- I luv ya, too! Kumbaya!

I have such a heavy reading load for work that I don't do much recreational reading these days. I was in a book club that folded about two years ago. Alas, I think the last fiction I read was for that club. 

Are you talking about the one you were in with me, FC?  That was a long time ago. Or maybe you've done one since.  I've been in two since then...both excellent but one takes a few months off in the summer and the other is the resistance and after 6 books or so we were too busy to continue!

By the way...that book club started up again so you can rejoin if you want. I still don't have time.

gator wrote: Tonight I'm going to start Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33600.Shantaram

There are a few of us here who have read and enjoyed that. The bar frequently mentioned in it is a real place and it was shot up in a terrorist attack several years ago.  Leopold's, I think.

I just finished the Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler. I remember the author from my days in the bookstore, but I had never read anything by her. It takes place in California after climate change has taken a toll on the United States. The books were published in the early 90s, but she's got a presidential candidate who uses the slogan "Make America Great Again" and of course, wins. He's more like Pence than Trump though.

Island Annie wrote:

gator wrote: Tonight I'm going to start Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33600.Shantaram

There are a few of us here who have read and enjoyed that. The bar frequently mentioned in it is a real place and it was shot up in a terrorist attack several years ago.  Leopold's, I think.

I've only read one chapter and can already tell I'm going to like. It was supposed to be adapted into a movie a while back involving Johnny Depp and Peter Weir, but due to creative differences, it didn't work out. In my opinion, they should have given the helm to Director Peter Weir. I'm sure he could have turned the project into something really special.

I like this book. It seems especially good today
as the billionaire twerp Mark Zuckerberg is about
to get grilled in Washington.



I only just started reading, but it seems like a
good take on arrogant boy geniuses like Zuck.
He used to be so cocky on stage bragging about
his creation... and how anything related to social
media and "connectivity" is just intrinsically
wonderful and above reproach.

He is acting like less of a weiner these days, now
that he is regarded as a semi-criminal.

He was great at writing code. But he is just
a programming geek deep down, and seems totally
ignorant about the dark side of the business he
presides over and all the damage he has done to people.

I think he is a prick. Let's see how he does today.
He won't be in front of a worshipful audience like
he used to draw back in the day!

I would probably like to read that (The Know It Alls)...though I could take some exception to the "just" preceding programming geek.  I get what you are saying though, having worked in that field for over 25 years.  Some people in that field have amazing people skills but most definitely need to work on them.

I've actually watched young app developers as they gain the skill to present to a large group and get comfortable with it.  On the other side, I once shared a small work space with the absolutely most awkward app developer I have ever met...he couldn't even say hello though we were working back-to-back for a year.  I felt bad for him and tried to be nice but couldn't really help. And I'm pretty friendly so I worry for him.

 Of course being the head of Facebook is a whole different thing...he should have brought in the best of strategic advisers long ago and kept himself as head of development if anything.

As I've mentioned I like to read books in the hard copy.  And I've been getting rid of them en masse.  It is a process.  I finally decided to donate even my favorite books like those by Willa Cather in the hopes that they will land in the hands of someone who will love them as I do.

Mark Zuckerberg's background is not entirely in the tech world.

Beginning The Miner's Canary by Lani Guinier and Gerald Torres.  I'm feeling like this is an important book. Will report back.