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A Real Thriller

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-03-23

Clear the Bridge by RAdm Richard O'Kane is a detailed account of his 5 war patrols on USS Tang.
Grab a pencil and a chart as he leads you through the encounters of Tang with Japanese ships both merchant and warships. You will get a white knuckle grip on your chair as he reveals the intensity and clear headedness needed to survive in combat. There is plenty of detail to chart Tang's progress and follow along with the tactics O'Kane implemented to sink ship after ship. Because of the limitations on WWII submarines due to design and engineering compounded by the requirements of torpedoes he shot to get a hit, Tang is maneuvered into really close quarters where the bearing rate and distance change rapidly. The book is long but so was the war for those who fought in it.
Reading the Appendix is well worth the price of this book. It is that good at making the case that the U.S. submarine force was instrumental in bringing Japan to an unconditional surrender in 1945.

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The Justification for a Conservative Viewpoint

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-14-22

I enjoyed the breath of discussion and the reference to specific instances calling out the hypocrisy of the left. This book is encyclopedic in scope and thorough in presentation. Murray covers the pitfalls of listening to only one side of an argument. He is deep into the cause and effect, action and consequence of believing only what is presented ad hoc and losing memory of all that has gotten us to this point in history.
The Conclusion chapter of the book is priceless. Like the Nuremberg trials it lays the problem open and delivers a moral victory to those wondering why the past is the past and the future is worth living. Murray's soliloquy delivers a classic on why conservative thought is a valid moral imperative.

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Deep, Mathematical and Dry

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-14-22

This book was anticipated to contain more philosophy and less mathematical procedure. The opposite was the case.

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A Document Foundation for Humanity

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-10-22

The story of English king overlordship, especially King John continues in places today. To see it in hindsight and understand the ramifications of resistance is wonderfully told and detailed in this book.

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White House Administration Behind the Scenes

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-04-22

Jared Kushner provides an open view into many of the machinations that took place during the Trump administration. From inside the White House as well as having a family connection to the 45th President, Kushner tells the story of hard work, determination and diplomacy used to advance the projects he was intimately familiar with and/or driving the agenda.
At times, the narrative gives the impression that the major accomplishments of the Trump administration were due to the single focus of Jared Kushner, a bit too much chest thumping. However, the Abraham Accords, Covid dealings, and impeachment investigations definitely involved him to high levels and he has much to claim credit for.
I enjoyed the book because of the interplay between personalities and how Kushner kept a rational approach to events without pointing fingers and blame. The story provides a reminder that the Trump administration did accomplish many purposeful and needed corrective actions to stabilize America's place in the world.

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Economic Cycles over the long haul

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-04-22

I found the material in this book very detailed while following the thread of historical economic patterns. Ray Dalio traces the data over major economic forces and empires to show the consistency he draws attention to. This focus is historical and data driven, not investment advice or here's what I did right.
The purpose of the book is to bring information and clarity to an often murky and confusing subject. What makes economics work and fail, and how the major forces play out is a thoroughly discussed subject. Although the book is long and goes into depth, I found it enlightening and thought provoking.
Hats off to Ray Dalio for putting in the time and energy to provide an experienced investors thinking based on what happens on a global scale.

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Comprehensive story in the 16th century

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-22-22

This book was very long but thorough in describing Columbus, his time and his environment. The one take away from reading
this book was: human nature hasn't changed, only the circumstances in which it is placed.
Columbus was persistent and visionary. He was a great explorer and a failed administrator. His ability to continue to get financing for four voyages after failing at each one was a remarkable performance at the highest levels. His legacy is more the result of the Spanish elite than of Columbus himself. The shear audacity to take a small ship across the unknown was breathtaking. The openness of the inhabitants of the Caribbean were sad to see taken advantage of. I think Columbus wanted to treat them reasonably but his time and orders were such to subdue them much as modern indentureship does today.
this book is well worth reading to understand the environment and culture in which Columbus lived.

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Gallant man remembered

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-18-22

Adm Chester Nimitz was a superb naval officer and a magnificent person. He is well remembered by E.B. Potter in this full and detailed account of his accomplishments. From expertise in diesel engine technology to constructing the naval submarine base at Pearl Harbor in the 1920s, Adm Nimitz career spanned the incorporation of new technology, tactics and strategy into serving the U.S. naval interests. He was an unflappable but dedicated giant amongst others able to forge a fighting force projecting the interest of the nation.

This audiobook portrays a man worth knowing.

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Seems to capture scenes fro today

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-05-21

The book is a well written review on the debate between isolationism and interventionism for the United States. It is also a mini biography on Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne.
The commentary on Generals George Marshall and Hap Arnold throughout the war were enlightening, telling a story of strife and discord while pursing the goal of winning World War II.
I Thoroughly enjoyed the story and it presentation.

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Social engineering doesn’t work

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-14-21

Shlaes does a masterful job of putting the details together in showing the well intentioned ambitions of people to form committees and bureaucracies that fail in completing the goal. Not only failing but making circumstances worse, usually much worse and selling with talk for convincing the disparaged that they are really being helped. In the meantime the expenditure of funds provides a flood of money that is just wasted.
Conclusion, reduce federal government authority in domestic matters and hold projects to their budget, eliminating those that don’t live up to it (or down to the allotment).

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