Non-Fiction – Page 5 – Ryan's Book Blog

Christlike Parenting

October 2, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2002, “Christlike Parenting” by Glenn I. Latham, presents a approach to raising children emphasizing the importance of kindness, patience, positive reinforcement in parenting, and encouraging parents to model their behavior after Christ. By focusing on building positive relationships and avoiding punitive discipline, Latham shows how effective parenting can lead to happier, more respectful children. The techniques are explained and both scriptural references and psychological insights are cited, making the book a useful guide for Christian families and those looking for practical parenting advice rooted in love and understanding.

My Thoughts

While I felt some of Dr. Latham’s methods were a little too “Pollyanna” for the real world, I do agree with most of what he put in the book. Kids really don’t need you yelling at them and the world heaps plenty of problems on them without their parents adding to the load. As much as I believe all parents try to stay in control of the situation, they typically aren’t in an environment of stress. That said, I thought the majority of the book to be pretty well spot on.

What I believe was missing from the book is how to “repair” the damage after it occurs. Likely his response would be something along the lines of being consistent, forgiving, and being the role model for the children to emulate. However, I believe that would include owning our issues and apologizing to children when appropriate. That can be a hard pill to swallow by several families, but I believe it to be worth it.

Also, Dr. Latham quoted my Psychology Chair at Utah State, Dr. Carl Cheney on page 115. That really made my day! He is an incredible man and loved seeing his name in print.

Recommendation

Not bad. It was a quick read and a good reminder.

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.

A Full Life Reflections at Ninety

August 18, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2015, “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety,” by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, is the reflection on his long and varied life, offering insights into his personal experiences, public service, and enduring values. Written as he reached his 90th year, Carter shares anecdotes from his childhood in rural Georgia, his years in the Navy, his political career, and his post-presidency humanitarian work. The memoir is rich with his thoughts on faith, family, and the principles that guided him through decades of public and private challenges. Carter’s humility, wisdom, and commitment to peace and human rights shine through in this deeply personal and reflective work, providing readers with an intimate portrait of one of America’s most respected statesmen.

My Thoughts

Honestly, I want to like President Carter. I respect that he really was his own person and by most accounts was a legitimately nice genuine guy. His charity work has been nothing short of amazing. He used his position to do as much good as he could and he was himself the whole time. He even mentioned my church in the book… However, I just couldn’t get into this book. I didn’t like the pacing and I feel like something intangible was tugging at me the entire time.

On a separate note, there doesn’t seem to be much room for a nice guy in politics. That thought gives me more pain than I’d like to admit. When I was in high school, I had a saying that if someone wanted to be politics, they shouldn’t be in politics. That’s exactly the kind of self defeating nonsense that justified me staying out of any meaningful work. I really don’t have an answer.

Recommendation

This was a hard one to get through.

Women, Peace, and Security in Professional Military Education

August 17, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2022, “Women, Peace, and Security in Professional Military Education,” edited by Dr. Lauren Mackenzie and published by the Marine Corps University Press, explores the critical integration of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda into military education systems. This book is a compilation of essays and articles published on the relevant topics and arranged to provide a narrative. It examines how the principles of WPS, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325, are being woven into the curricula of military institutions to ensure that future leaders understand the importance of gender perspectives in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Through analysis and case studies, the book highlights the impact of WPS on operational effectiveness, strategic planning, and the protection of vulnerable populations in conflict zones.

My Thoughts

The book doesn’t really read like a cohesive whole. This was to be expected as anytime you have a variety of authors, you run into this problem. However, the editors struggled to give it flow in areas that were in need of more form and structure.

Most of the segments came from articles or peer reviewed literature. Unfortunately, there are a number of statements and inferences made that seem unsupported unless you delve further into the references. I found myself wondering about a few seeming leaps in logic and occasionally about conflicting ideas. Below is an example.

Several of the studies were using small sample sizes requiring t-distributions. It’s hard to see many of the findings to be much more than anecdotal evidence when you are interviewing 6 people. A specific example would be the quantitative discussion that 20% of women failed a course over a 4 year period only to find out the study was only involved 10 women. It’s hard to follow the sweeping generalizations on such evidence. It is also a little frightening that the evolving military attitude toward female combat fitness could be based on that kind of data. I only hope more data pours in as the years go by and all of us can have an honest look at what happened without the bias of our preconceived notions.

Recommendation

This one was difficult to get through.

The World According to Bob

August 14, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2013, “The World According to Bob,” by James Bowen, continues the true story of his life with Bob, the streetwise cat who helped him overcome addiction and homelessness. This sequel delves into their deepening bond as they face new challenges brought on by James’s sudden fame following the success of his first book. Through short anecdotes, Bowen reflects on the lessons he learns from Bob about trust, loyalty, and the true meaning of companionship, showcasing how Bob continues to be a source of strength and inspiration in his life.

My Thoughts

I had some time to kill at the library and did a walk around through the biography section when I saw this book. Having not read the first book, or heard anything about it, the second looked like a fun read. My youngest noticed it in my room and took it from me that evening. Yet another testament to the power Bob has over us mere humans…

The book was just ok though. It wasn’t terrible and I enjoyed the stories, yet I felt like it could be more. I did enjoy the illustrations and I was glad I had the physical book so I could enjoy them. I wish James and Bob the best, but likely won’t be reading any of the other books.

Recommendation

You have to love Bob!

Education of a Wandering Man

July 23, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 1989, “Education of a Wandering Man,” by Louis L’Amour offers an autobiographical account of his unconventional path to becoming a celebrated author. This memoir chronicles L’Amour’s early years of adventure, from “hoboing” during the Great Depression to traveling the world as a merchant seaman and prizefighter. Alongside his physical journeys, L’Amour shares his lifelong passion for self-education through reading, documenting the diverse books and experiences that shaped his worldview. This book provides an inspiring glimpse into the formative years of one of America’s great storytellers.

My Thoughts

This book was very unexpected as I only knew L’Amour from his writings. (And second hand at that!) He references so many books that I lost track of where I might want to start next. Thankfully, there is a list of the books he mentioned at the back of the book.

L’Amour lived an interesting life to say the least. There isn’t much of his later years, but what he covered does adequately surmise his views on what an education is and how to get one. In short, it takes effort on the part of the learner and it never ends. I agree with that view wholeheartedly.

Recommendation

I bit much to plow through but it was enjoyable.

The Sling and the Stone

July 12, 2024 by Ryan

Background

Published in 2004, “The Sling and the Stone,” is a comprehensive exploration of modern warfare and the evolution of conflict in the 21st century. Authored by Colonel Thomas X. Hammes, the book challenges conventional military strategies and highlights the increasing relevance of irregular warfare and insurgency tactics in contemporary conflicts. Drawing on historical examples and extensive research, Hammes examines the strengths and weaknesses of both conventional and unconventional approaches to warfare, offering insights into how nations and armed forces can adapt to effectively combat non-traditional threats.

My Thoughts

I’m amazed at how well this book has held up as it is over 20 years old. Of course, much has changed particularly with Al-Qaeda as the book was written before the Arab Spring. Still, it gave valuable insight into the Middle East and their varied intertwining histories. It is interesting even today that most people conceive of war in terms of nation states and battlefields. We have moved into a completely new paradigm, particularly now even our Marines have divested themselves from traditional armor and artillery. It’s a brave new world out there and I hope we are ready for it.

It was very interesting to see how the vision of 20 years ago gave seed to the Marine “Force Design 2030” and similar measures. Also, I really enjoyed the idea of modern warfighters playing MMORPGs to ready themselves for 4th generation war. Maybe all that time in my life wasn’t wasted after all.

Recommendation

An older read, but surprisingly relevant.