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I Respectfully Disagree by Justin Jones-Fosu
I think I stumbled across this book in a Humble Bundle. It was a lucky find. I ain’t gonna lie. This is a subject I find very difficult at times. I have a tendency at times to brood on disagreement. But at the very least, this book offers some pointers. One fundamental thing the book…
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Toward a Meaningful Definition of Patriotism
The terms “patriot” and “patriotism” get thrown around a lot these days. And frankly, they get used to describe some people and actions I wouldn’t consider patriotic in the least. I think part of the problem is the lack of a meaningful definition of patriotism. So, for the sake of having something to work with,…
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The Diplomatic Bookshelf 2026
I had mixed results with my reading last year. I read through some of the books, but others fell by the wayside. This year, I’m planning to finish those and add a few more. These are the books I plan to add: Eat That Frog! Author: Brian Tracy This is a book largely about time…
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Into 2026
A new year is already upon us, ripe for fighting the forces of evil and standing up for peace and justice, like all good superheroes do. And since we’re getting into February, I should probably write this post already. My plans have changed little from last year. I’m still, slowly but surely, fleshing out that…
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Let Nobody Rob You of Your God-Given Dignity
There’s something God has invested in every last one of us. Every last one of us. I like to call it our God Given Dignity (GGD). It relates to everybody’s innate worth. To trespass against it is nothing less than to trespass against God. I believe this is deeply related to the concept of man…
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Where Are Your White Lines?
In geopolitical discourse, we often hear about nations’ “Red Lines”. These are statements of what their ruling class considers to justify war. In short, they are the lines that a nation will not allow other to cross. Let’s flip the concept. What about the lines you will defend? The lines you will not allow yourself…
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How To Fight A Bear …And Win
This was a fun, lightweight read. I found the authors’ snarky tone rather endearing. I also like the way, unlike most survival skill books, this one includes crazy scenarios like getting attacked by a hoard of chipmunks, or being on a runaway train. The book is clearly meant to be humorous, and not a serious…
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Favorite Folktales from around the World by Jane Yolen
I found this book very enjoyable. Yolen has collected around 155 stories from around the world, so I think just about everyone who picks this up should recognize at least a few. And when I say around the world, I mean it. It has stories from 6 continents. If they found folk tales passed among…
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Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
This is a really interesting work, with some unexpected twists. It’s simultaneously a story and a series of lessons in philosophy. I don’t want to spoil what makes it novel, so I can’t delve too deeply into its details. I will say, despite what the cover claims, it’s a good book about the history of…