As someone who devoted most of their working life to preserving and interpreting history, I agree with Snyder's assessment of American exceptionalism: "Americans risk of stressing its uniqueness is that it allows people to dismiss any learning from history." This work is a significant step towards rectifying that deficiency, with twenty lessons we can use to preserve our union.
This is a short read (128 pages), so it felt a little dishonest to count towards my Goodreads Reading Challenge (but I did anyway). This is a book I know I will return to, and one that I strongly encourage you to read.
Al Franken: Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
I listened to most of this on a very long road trip with my husband and the last few chapters on my own. I have enjoyed Franken's tv appearances and speeches, appreciated his Judiciary Committee questions, and read one of his earlier books, but didn't know that much about why he ran for the Senate or really anything about Minnesota politics. There's a good mix of politics, personal biography, and campaign drama.
What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
I finished this book in four days (started it at midnight the day it was released) and honestly, I'm still processing it (just as I'm still processing the election, almost a full year later). I needed this account -- not only to have so many things I felt echoed by the author, but to hear the reflections of the first woman (and the only person) to have had this experience. I'm going to one of her book tour events in December, and will hopefully have something cogent to say by then because we're MEETING HER. It's a focused, funny, raw, and engaging read, and I highly recommend it.
Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn
I read Guinn's most recent book, The Road to Jonestown, and was so impressed with his writing that I picked up Manson. I knew very little about Manson and the related homicides going into this book and was pleased that the work focuses not just on Manson and the Family, but the cultural context to the events.
Written In My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander #8) by Diana Gabaldon
According to my Goodreads account, I started this book on June 10, 2014 and got through about half of it before running out of steam. I picked it back up in September (not remembering a ton of detail about where I left off) and finished this October. The ending is strong and left me looking forward to the next book -- whenever that may happen. But for an eighth book of a usually 800+ page per book series, there are now a LOT of characters of which to keep track. And a lot of characters that might not be your favorite, but you have to get through to get back to the good ones (Claire).
Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon
As I was so enchanted by reentering Gabaldon's world, that I immediately started her most recent (June 2017) collection of short stories. I had read a few of these as individually released novellas, but was happy to be introduced to Lord John as a stand-alone character (he hasn't been one of my favorite characters in the Outlander series). Which then, of course, led to me starting the Lord John series of novels.
Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
While reading this book at bedtime, I laughed out loud at a mention of a "privy member," and my husband asked what had made me giggle. So of course, this book is now known as "Lord John and the Privy Member" in my house. And all subsequent Lord John books (I'm currently reading the second in the Lord John series). Sighs.
Since Labor Day, I finished the Harry Potter series, and then started it over again -- I'm on Goblet of Fire. Again. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
