Category: books

2005’s ‘A Soldier of the Great War’ by Mark Helprin

It’s the summer of 1964. A retired university professor, Alessandro Giuliani, and a young factory worker, Nicolò, set out to walk 70 kilometers (about 44 miles) from Rome to the village of Monte Prato. Along the way, musing on his rich and tragic past, Alessandro shares some of his memories and what he has learned…


Oscar Wilde’s Short Story, ‘The Happy Prince’

Over the centuries, humans have adorned themselves with gold and precious stones. Yet this decoration brings no happiness unless we also gild our souls with virtue. In his short story “The Happy Prince,” Oscar Wilde shows us that, when we adorn our souls with virtue and selflessness, we not only inherit redemption, but we also…


Book Review: ‘March to the Majority’

As a boy growing up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. Newt Gingrich was very fond of animals. When he was able, he enjoyed visiting the Philadelphia Zoo. At age 11, he decided that Harrisburg needed its own zoo. Wildwood Park in Harrisburg was a natural location for a zoo and the State of Pennsylvania could build and…


Book Review: ‘Naval Battle of Crete 1941′

In much the same way as Dunkirk, the Battle of Crete was an event of heroism during a retreat. Angus Konstam has presented a battle that took place on the Eastern Front of World War II in 1941, but delves into the details of all that surrounded the British defeat. In his new book by…


Book Review: ‘Brutal Minds’

Historically, colleges and universities have been known for civil discourse and intellectual debate—but something has changed. Clinical Full Professor of Management at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business Stanley K. Ridgley shares what that something is in his insightful and candid book “Brutal Minds.” “Brutal Minds: The Dark World of Left-Wing Brainwashing in Our Universities”…


Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for July 7–13

This week, we feature an in-depth biography covering Theodore Roosevelt’s final years and a comprehensive exploration of learning and the human mind. Nonfiction ‘Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic’ By Simon Winchester Data and information are available at the click of a computer key or swipe on…


‘A World War Two Secret: Glenn P. Larson and the U-505’

Glenn Larson was a 19-year-old North Dakota farm boy when the United States entered World War II. He volunteered for the U.S. Navy in December 1942. He could have gotten an agricultural deferment, but wanted to serve. Later, he was aboard the USS Guadalcanal when it captured the U-505 German submarine. “A World War Two…


O. Henry’s Short Story, ‘The Romance of a Busy Broker’

In “Essays, Letters and Miscellanies,” Leo Tolstoy says: “Stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.” Tolstoy urges us to resist the human tendency to be so consumed by work that we forget to look up and see the life that surrounds us. In his short story, “The Romance of a Busy Broker,” O….


Baseball Book Classics

Many people have a soft spot for baseball, America’s national pastime. Although having some enthusiasm for the sport won’t hurt, the following books are likely to be a hit even with those who don’t have a special interest in the game. For young children is Earnest L. Thayer’s classic baseball poem, “Casey at the Bat,”…


Vacation by the Book: The Joys and Benefits of Popcorn Reading

People pack all sorts of things when they head off on summer vacation. Most of these are standard for traveling: clothing suited to the destination and the weather, toiletries, food and drink, the wagonload of paraphernalia required for toddlers, and other necessities. Next come the specialty items. Some vacationers carefully select special treats—chocolates, wine, cheeses….