Biography – Page 2 – Ryan's Book Blog

Old Breed General

October 30, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2022, “Old Breed General”, written by Amy Rupertus Peacock and Don Brown, explores the life and military career of Major General William H. Rupertus, a key figure in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the author of the Marine Corps Rifleman’s Creed. The book covers Rupertus’s leadership in crucial battles against Japanese forces, including Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu, where his strategic decisions were instrumental in the Pacific theater. Drawing from Rupertus’s wartime diaries and firsthand accounts, the authors detail his commitment to his troops, his resilience, and the legacy he left for future Marines. This biography also delves into the personal side of Rupertus, providing insights into his character, relationships, and the challenges he faced both on and off the battlefield.

My Thoughts

The book was written in a first person narrative form that was very effective in bringing the feel of the people and the peril on both sides of the war. Unlike the standard war movie, the book would endeavor to show the Japanese side of the engagement along with some of their ups and downs. In war, it is very easy to demonize the other side and is even helpful to dehumanize both the people and their culture. This was certainly the case on both sides of the war, but I appreciate the attempt at unbiased perspective given in the book. I learned quite a bit.

Recommendation

A good entry into the pacific theater.

Bradley

October 25, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 1971, “Bradley” by Charles Whiting is a detailed biography of General Omar Bradley during World War II. Whiting explores Bradley’s rise from a quiet, unassuming West Point teacher to the leader of the Twelfth United States Army Group, the largest force commanded by an American general. The book covers his involvement in significant battles, including the defeat of the Afrika Korps, the invasions of Sicily and Normandy, and his leadership across the Rhine. It also discusses his post-war role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

My Thoughts

This book was fairly underwhelming, which I imagine was the point of the book. According to the book, General Bradley wasn’t someone who liked to pander to the press. That alone impresses me. He seems like a man with morals, which is also impressive. However, the book also details a few times where Bradley or “Brad” was jockeying for position and worried about his reputation. That was less impressive. In short, I am conflicted on my mental image of him and will have to seek out another source.

Recommendation

I appreciated the read.

Counting the Cost

October 23, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2023, “Counting the Cost” by Jill Duggar and co-written with her husband Derick Dillard and Craig Borlase, offers an unfiltered look into Jill’s life growing up in the Duggar family, who were featured on the reality show 19 Kids and Counting. Jill shares her experiences of living under the strict rules of her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, and the pressures and manipulation she faced while being part of the reality TV world. The memoir details the control her father exerted, including contract disputes and financial injustices, as well as her and Derick’s struggle to break free from the family’s influence to build a life of their own. Jill also explores the impact of her brother Josh Duggar’s scandals on her life and mental health, revealing how the public release of her traumatic experiences affected her and her family.

My Thoughts

I never saw the show, but even I had heard of the Duggar family and would occasionally would be asked if they were “Mormon”. Spoiler, no, they are not. They are a fundamentalist Christian family who was led by an extremist group called the Institute in Basic Life Principles or the IBLP. IBLP’s leader, Bill Gothard, stepped down due to a sexual misconduct scandal while the Duggars were still on TV. IBLP’s teachings include the superiority of the father figure, no consumption of media or internet, the wearing of dresses for females, no dancing and so on.

Much like the book Educated by Tara Westover, this is a story of someone finding life outside of the bubble created by their parents and adapting to it. In that sense, it is an almost universal narrative as we all leave the nest and figure out how to become members of a productive society. Of course, this is an extreme example and the Duggar family are certainly not the norm. I resonated most with Derrick Dillard who truly has the patience of Job as he is portrayed in the book. He seems to have his head on straight as he slowly guided his family away out of, “the umbrella” of her parents. Even the cover photo shows him staring directly at the reader while his wife looks off to the right in the distance.

Recommendation

If you enjoyed the reality show, I’m sure you’d like the book.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

October 22, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2022, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing” by Matthew Perry is a candid memoir, where Perry, best known as Chandler Bing on Friends, opens up about his decades-long battle with addiction, the impact it had on his career, and his personal life. Perry details his struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, offering a raw and honest account of his experiences, including multiple rehab stints and a near-death health crisis in 2019. The memoir also explores his childhood, relationships, and how fame both fueled and complicated his path to recovery.

My Thoughts

This book was painful going through, particularly when his addiction finally took him such a short time later. It hurts to see people we know and love in pain and while I never knew him, I certainly watched Friends and saw his movies. The story was certainly raw and honest even to the point of showing his selfish side. In short, his life was tragic and it will be hard to watch those shows and movies again knowing the back story.

I’ve seen what drugs and alcohol can do to people and yet they are still everywhere. Perry’s story is an outlier, but no one wants that to happen to anyone. I don’t know the answer, but I for one, intend to stay as far away from it as possible.

Recommendation

I don’t know if I can recommend this or not.

Life as We Know It (Can Be)

October 7, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in April of 2024, “Life as We Know It (Can Be)” by Bill Weir (CNN’s chief climate correspondent), reflects on his life including decades of reporting and speculates on the future for his children. Written as a series of Earth Day letters to his son, the book explores ideas, communities, and various solutions in energy, food, and sustainability. Weir weaves together personal reflections, stories of resilience, and a call to action to build a more hopeful and sustainable future.

My Thoughts

Though the book was interesting at times, I can’t say it was unbiased and objective. He constantly referred to President Trump as “The President in the red hat” and his stories consistently showed his bias as a climate activist. (His story about Al Gore was the most flattering of the former Vice-President that I’d ever seen.)

Recommendation

I’d skip this one.

Operation Jacknap

October 6, 2024 by Ryan

Published in 2020, “Operation Jacknap”, Jack Teich recounts his experience of being kidnapped at gunpoint outside his home in Long Island, New York, in 1974. These kidnappers demanded a record-breaking $750,000 ransom, which his family raised and paid under the guidance of the FBI. The book details the Teich’s week in captivity, his interactions with his kidnappers, and the nationwide manhunt that followed. Although one kidnapper was caught, many details remain unresolved, including the whereabouts of most of the ransom money. Teich’s memoir offers a narrative of survival and the impact the ordeal had on his family and community, while also delving into the larger social issues surrounding crime and justice at the time.

My Thoughts

This was a surprisingly good read. Much of this case would have been completely different if it had occurred today, which might be something in favor of modern credit card transactions and cameras. It was of particular interest how the defense lawyer immediately tried to politicize the trial and make the issue about race. Ironically, the fact Mr. Teich was Jewish was a reason given as to why he was targeted.

There really is so much hate in the world and this book serves as a reminder of what could happen. “Trust but verify”, is one of my favorite phrases as is, “have your head on a swivel.”

Recommendation

A good read

Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family

September 15, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2024, “Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family” by Mark Daley is a candid and emotional journey through the U.S. foster care system. Daley and his husband, Jason, embark on a quest to become parents, navigating the often broken and bureaucratic world of foster care. Their experiences highlight the complexities and challenges of adopting children who have faced severe trauma and instability. Daley’s narrative also reflects on the broader issues within the foster care system, while providing a personal look at love, resilience, and the lengths people will go to create a family. The memoir serves as both a critique of the system and a hopeful story of the transformative power of parenthood.

My Thoughts

This book was hard to get through the beginning, as Daley centered largely on his own issues and early marriage. I imagined this served as the platform as to why they wanted to foster children, but it came across like overcompensation for coming out as gay or like he was trying to force acceptance or validation from the reader. For example, there were a number of very specific physical descriptions like kissing, “on the lips” which felt like the author desperately wanted the reader to know they are actually gay. It felt out of place and unnecessary given the topic at hand.

Thankfully, when the book starting getting better when it dealt with the issues of the children. The foster system has a lot of problems and this book highlighted a few of them. The book is anecdotal to their experience, yet it showed how easily children can be lost in the system. This was an issue of interest to me some time ago and more particularly for those who are aging out of the system. At age 18, the funding for this population dries up completely, making them high risk for crime, drugs, homelessness, and so on. I’m personally thankful for all those people who open their homes to those that need it.

Recommendation

I’d steer clear of this book. It puts a human face on the problem, but there are better books that do the same.

In the Mind of Stalin

August 31, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2023, “In the Mind of Stalin” by James Greensmith, provides an in-depth exploration of the psychological landscape of one of history’s most enigmatic and ruthless dictators, Joseph Stalin. Through meticulous research and analysis, Greensmith delves into the paradoxical nature of Stalin, examining how he could display moments of personal tenderness while orchestrating mass atrocities that led to millions of deaths. The book seeks to unravel the complex motivations, fears, and strategies that defined Stalin’s rule over the Soviet Union, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the man behind the iron fist. It is a compelling study for anyone interested in the darker aspects of political power and totalitarianism.

My Thoughts

Not exactly a book to pick you up and put a smile on your face. I didn’t like this one. I didn’t like how it read and I didn’t enjoy how everything was put together and referenced. Ironically, it read like propaganda with the exception of it being anti-Stalin.

I am no fan of Stalin, but I don’t know this narrative was an accurate picture of him. I found myself feeling like very little was definitive and I really wonder if the public will ever really know what happened.

Recommendation

Skip this one.

The Fifth Act American’s End in Afghanistan

August 22, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2022, “The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan,” Elliot Ackerman provides a firsthand account of the final days of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. Drawing from his experiences as a Marine and CIA paramilitary officer, Ackerman recounts the evacuation of Afghan nationals who had worked closely with the American forces as the Taliban closed in on Kabul in August 2021. The memoir intertwines personal narratives with a broader reflection on the two-decade-long conflict, highlighting both the heroism and the failures that marked America’s longest war.

The Fifth Act American's End in Afghanistan — The Fifth Act American’s End in Afghanistan

My Thoughts

It’s always interesting to hear the first hand accounts of people living through moments in history. We know our part and have our specific observations on the greater whole. Sometimes those observations come through the keyhole of our limited experiences. The author had the benefit from personally seeing for multiple keyholes and even from differing organizational vantage points. However, it is still a first hand account.

I sympathize with his opinion that the withdrawal from Afghanistan was one of the most embarrassing moments in our history. I do think we needed to leave, but how we went about it will go down in history as a black mark on the United States for all time. We signaled weakness to the rest of the world and our foreign policy lost any teeth it had.

Recommendation

I enjoyed it. It was both readable and relatable.

American Woman The Transformation of the Modern First Lady

August 21, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in February of 2024, “American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden.” by Katie Rogers explores how the role of the First Lady in the United States has evolved from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden. Rogers examines the shifting expectations, media scrutiny, and political influence that have shaped the position over the past few decades. By comparing and contrasting the last 5 First Ladies, the book provides a look at how each navigated her role, balancing personal identity with public duty in a changing political landscape

My Thoughts

While the book came from a New York Times correspondent, it was decently balanced in terms of political leaning. It was still left of center, but most of political commentary was kept to a minimum. There was a long section on President Biden I could do without, but I appreciated that it largely kept to subject at hand.

It makes me feel old as I remember each of the last 5 First Ladies well. (Same with a few of the previous ones as well.) Rogers was in line with what I remember happening at the time. Plus, after reading a few of their biographies, her research seemed to true to their narrative. I appreciate the aggregation of the information and taking the reader through the lens of precedent and expectation. It does make me wonder what the first “First Gentlemen” will feel and what they end up doing with that platform.

Recommendation

Not a bad read.