Book Review - Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy

Title: Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy

Author: Kent Nerburn
My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍
My Review:  The story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce is beyond tragic. This is a well written and well researched story on the history of the Nez Perce tribe and how Chief Joseph became a mythical and somewhat reluctant leader in the struggle to maintain their homeland and way of life. Love this book!

Description (Audible): Hidden in the shadow cast by the great western expeditions of Lewis and Clark lies another journey every bit as poignant, every bit as dramatic, and every bit as essential to an understanding of who we are as a nation - the 1,800-mile journey made by Chief Joseph and 800 Nez Perce men, women, and children from their homelands in what is now eastern Oregon to Montana. There, only 40 miles from the Canadian border and freedom, Chief Joseph, convinced that the wounded and elders could go no farther, walked across the snowy battlefield, handed his rifle to the US military commander who had been pursuing them, and spoke his now-famous words, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." Drawing on four years of research, interviews, and 20,000 miles of travel, Nerburn takes us beyond the surrender to the captives' unlikely welcome in Bismarck, North Dakota, their tragic eight-year exile in Indian Territory, and their ultimate return to the Northwest. Nerburn reveals the true, complex character of Joseph, showing how the man was transformed into a myth by a public hungry for an image of the noble Indian and how Joseph exploited the myth in order to achieve his single goal of returning his people to their homeland.

Description (ChatGPT): Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce: The Untold Story of an American is a gripping tale of courage, survival, and resistance, as the legendary Nez Perce leader, Chief Joseph, takes on the U.S. Army in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. It’s the ultimate underdog story—except, spoiler alert, the "underdogs" are the ones with the strategy, the heart, and the spirit of freedom on their side. A must-read for anyone who thinks history is just about battles—and not the battle for what’s right.

Book Review - The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster

Title: The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster
Author: John O'Connor

My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍
My Review: When I saw this book at the local bookstore, my first thought was, COOL! a book about Bigfoot! My second thought was, I hope it’s not one of those poorly written books based on little or no evidence trying to exploit the Bigfoot legend. Thankfully, my second thought was wrong, and the book turned out to be a surprisingly well-written, well-researched book that kept me entertained from start to finish. I was especially surprised at the amount of humor and philosophy the author used and how he tried to make the book relevant to current politics in America. I loved this book and am surprised to admit that it is on the list of my all time favorite books.

Description (Audible): From the shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest to off-the-wall cryptozoological conventions, one man searches high and low for the answer to the question: real or not, why do we want to believe? Bigfoot is an instantly recognizable figure. Through the decades, this elusive primate has been featured in movies and books, and on coffee mugs, beer koozies, car polish, and CBD oil. Which begs the question: what is it about Bigfoot that's caught hold of our imaginations? Journalist and self-diagnosed skeptic John O'Connor is fascinated by Sasquatch. Curious to learn more, he embarks on a quest through the North American wilds in search of Bigfoot, its myth and meaning. Alongside an eccentric cast of characters, he explores the zany and secretive world of "cryptozoology," tracking Bigfoot through ancient folklore to Harry and the Hendersons, while examining the forces behind our ever-widening belief in the supernatural. As O'Connor treks through the shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest, listens to firsthand accounts, and attends Bigfoot conventions, he's left wondering—what happens when the lines between myth and reality blur? This heartfelt exploration of a cornerstone of American folklore unpacks why we believe in the things that we do, what that says about us, and how it shapes our world.

Description (ChatGPT): Field Notes on a North American Monster is a quirky, darkly hilarious exploration of the human fascination with the strange and the unknown. Blending folklore, memoir, and a touch of the absurd, the book pulls you into its wild ride through the forests of skepticism and superstition. It's like an anthropology project gone delightfully off the rails—think The X-Files meets a college thesis on cryptozoology, with a wink and a nudge. It’s the kind of book that makes you question everything... and also kind of hope that Bigfoot is real, just for the drama of it all.

Book Review - What This Comedian Said Will Shock You

Title: What This Comedian Said Will Shock You

Author: Bill Maher
My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍
My Review: I love Bill Maher’s Real Time on HBO Max. Unfortunately, about a year ago, we canceled our HBO Max subscription. I always looked forward to his “Editorial” segment at the end of each show where he would discuss and usually give quite provocative opinions on current issues. I’d been missing those segments more than I realized. So, when I saw that his current book was a compilation of those “Editorial” segments, I was ecstatic. After reading the book, I can’t say that I was “shocked” but I would say that I was totally entertained and enlightened. However, the book is fairly provocative and likely would be a bit shocking for some people. So, it’s good that Bill provided a trigger warning in the title. I absolutely loved this book but recommend keeping an open mind when reading it.

Description (Audible): Some of the smartest commentary about what’s happening in America is coming from a comedian—this comedian being Bill Maher. If you want to understand what’s wrong with this country, it turns out that one of the best informed and most thought-provoking analysts is this very funny pothead. The book was inspired by the “editorial” Bill delivers at the end of each episode of Real Time. These editorials are direct-to-camera sermons about culture, politics, and what’s happening in the world. To put this book together, Maher reviewed more than a decade of his editorials, rewriting, reimagining, and updating them, and adding new material to speak exactly to the moment we’re in. Free speech, cops, drugs, race, religion, the generations, cancel culture, the parties, the media, show biz, romance, health—Maher covers it all. The result is a hugely entertaining work of commentary about American culture in the tradition of Mark Twain, Will Rogers, and H. L. Mencken.

Description (ChatGPT): What This Comedian Said Will Shock You by Bill Maher is like a stand-up special in print form – sharp, unapologetic, and ready to offend anyone with a fragile sense of humor. Maher brings his usual blend of political banter, societal observations, and uncomfortable truths, wrapped in the kind of snarky wit you either love or dread. It's a book that will make you laugh, think, and possibly throw it across the room. Either way, it’s a fun ride for those who enjoy their comedy with a side of controversy. Just don’t say you weren’t warned!