Three New Books

I got the itch in the bookstore and had to get some non-tech stuff.  So I gave in and made a few non-tech purchases:

1)  Peace Kills by P.J. O'Rourke.  Started reading it Saturday morning and have it finished already. It's not as funny as Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government but it's still well worth the read. And don't be taken back by the name, it's not what you think.  His discussion on Israel and Palestine for instance talks more about booze and lack thereof than anything else and the perspectives illustrated are really really worth reading (I won't spoil it for you but you won't get either viewpoint on TV or Talk Radio)

2)  Eats Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss. Well the way I remember it, it wasn't a panda bear it was a Koala Bear.  And it wasn't Shoots he was eating before he left.  But since that used to be one of my favorite jokes, well, I had to buy it.  A bit to anal for my taste regarding grammar but I learned a thing or two and it sparked the old memory on more than one occassion.  If you don't have any snob in you you probably won't enjoy it.  If you do however, it's a real treat. 

3)  Anit-Americanism by Jean-Francois Revel.  All I wanted was a good explanation on why Europeans always call Republican American presidents “Cowboy”.  I've lived in the states all my life, been in damned near every one of them, and have never seen a real cowboy in my life.  I've seen a few fake Don Imus types but I wouldn't know a real man if he Spit Beech Nut in my eye and “shot me with his old .45”.  So I'm to Chapter 3 and no mention of Cowboy.  There's no index either so I can't figure it out.  Well, anyway, the book is a French guy with a set of nads trying to explain all the America Hatred in Europe and abroad.  Basically, it comes down to playa hatin.  Take France for instance.  Loves to lecture us about our gas consumption and energy policy.  Yet heat waves usually don't take out 100 of our people at any given time.  Why?  Because even our poor people have air conditioning.  Not the case for many old folks on the poor end of the spectrum over there.  That's just one example of many and I certainly wouldn't call this a Pro America book, but it does take a pretty sobering perspective on all the America bashing (ever notice that Environmentalists for instance are willing to spend a lot of money on protests, advertising and the like but seldom willing to buy up the property they want to 'protect')  And have you ever noticed why every millionaire actor is a environmentalist?  And   more than a few Billionaires?  Sure, it's purely concern for the future --- concern that Ma and Pa Six pack might be hanging out in the same places they do.  Anyway, I'm only on Chapter 3 but so far it seems pretty good.  Calls America out where we've screwed up and does the same for Europe and the Middle east.  And I'll bet $20.00 that the dude uses deoderant and showers regularly which is pretty good for a Fren....  ahh never mind, I don't really mean that.