THE OTHER SIDE(S) TO THE STORY
As we begin to journey through the 21st Century, it might be fun to shut off the TV, take a walk down to the local library - assuming your village even has a library - pick up a book, and dust off a few of those altogether too often unused synapses between the ears with a good read. It might be even be fun to discover that the 60 second sound bites - both the ones peddling schlock (and political wannabes as election season rolls round) and those calling themselves "NEWS" - aren't the only forms, or sources, of "information". Anyway, here are a few suggestions for starters. There's no assurance you'll be able to find all the titles listed here - or even any one of them for that matter - since they ARE NOT the favorites of today's flack-hack and schlockmeister trade. (And they definitely are on whatever "hit-list" - and that's not "hit-parade", either - that your local Lord-High-Holy-Baloney - of whatever cult or persuasion - doesn't want you even to suspect exists.) But we are told: "Seek and ye shall find". So, go looking around.
From time to time, we'll try to add to the list; and suggestions are welcome.
Revised-09/22/09
A READING LIST FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Since a good many libraries today are under constant pressure to remove anything controversial, or intellectually stimulating, from their shelves, it is not really possible to guarantee where one might find a copy of any of the following. We believe that most of these are still in print; and we recommend you to your local book store for any further help in obtaining a personal copy.
1. John Cornwell: Hitler's Pope and Breaking the Faith:
2. Michael White: The Pope & the Heretic:
3. Israel Finklestein and Neil Asher Silberman: The Bible Unearthed:
4. John Boswell: Same-Sex Unions in Premodern
5. Michael Grant:
6. Anthony Summers: Official and Confidential, The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover -This should be found in any - and every (!) - good Public Library in the United States; and ought to be made required reading for every pupil in every Civics Class in High School. Availability for purchase, however, is most probably limited to used book stores, or response to advertisement.
7. John F. Wilson & Donald Drakeman: Church and State in American History: Again something that ought to be in every Public Library, as well as on every High School required reading list.
8. Sinclair Lewis: Elmer Gantry: - The best, most comprehensive, most accurate, and most readable portrait of a Protestant Minister (Je$u$ Bu$ine$$ Huck$ter) - of any "Denomination" - ever written. THE BOOK! Not the movie. That was "Bowdlerized" to meet the qualifications for a "rating" in its day. Again, this ought to be in every Public Library, as well as on every High School required reading list. But . . . ! Good Luck in even finding a copy!
9. Ellen Alderman & Caroline Kennedy, In Our Defense, The Bill of Rights in Action. Excellent contemporary synopsis of the most important of the Decisions concerning the First Ten Amendments to our Constitution.
Further suggestions welcome.
Revised-06/26/10