COMING HOME by BRITTNEY GRINER

 I have been aware of her for a long time by virtue of her athletic ability in basketball, one of my favorites (I was a member of the Brockton High School Championship in 1944). She clearly was unique in size (6.6). 

Her narrative was about her WNBA trip to Russia. When arriving, the investigators noted cannabis oil in her luggage. She was arrested and sentenced to prison. Her nightmare is captured in her story as well as the eventual news.

One could feel the tears about living in such a nightmare. 

SMALL ACTS of COURAGE by ALI VELSHI

Small acts of courage matter. This experience of Ali Velshi taps into 125 years of family history from South Africa to Kenya, then Canada and then the United States. He shares the impossible journeys and becoming citizens as they come. Ali Velsi now has his own MSNBC program.

VETERANS DAY

 I have always treasured the veterans who served our nation and the world.  Admittedly, as a priest, I hated violence and prayed that everyone would see each other as their brother and sister, regardless of their color or intelligence. I became more convinced that all the world, all the universe is holy. However, I also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Veterans Affairs and became so aware of the injuries associated with the defense of those who want to destroy others for no other reason than that they want what others had. I surely became a true lover of those who served in the military.

My good fortune was becoming a loved friend of a war hero. Jeff Hackman did much in serving to protect those in need when faced with violence against others. He unfortunately was a victim of those who were making war. He was injured. Fortunately, he has done extremely well. Jeff never questioned his duty and always responded to opportunities to serve. 

I am so fortunate that I consider him a brother. 

THE UNFINISHED LOVE STORY by DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN

 Dick and Doris Goodwin were married for forty-two years and married to American history even longer. In his twenties, Dick was one of the brilliant young men of President John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier. In his thirties, he both named and helped design President Lyndon B, Johnson’s Great Society and was a speechwriter and close adviser to Senator Robert F, Kennedy. Doris Kearny was a twenty-four-year-old graduate student when selected as a White House Fellow. She worked directly for Johnson and later assisted in his memoir. 

Over the years, with humor, anger, frustration, and in the end, a growing understanding. Dick and Doris had argued over the achievements and failings of the leaders they served and observed, debating the progress and unfinished promises of the country they both loved 

The Goodwins’ last great adventure involved finally the more than three hundred boxes of diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick had saved for more than fifty years.  They soon realized they had before an unparalleled personal time capsule of the 1960’s, illuminating pub and private moments of a decade when individuals were powered by the conviction they could make a  difference; a time, like today, marked by struggles for racial and economic justice; a time when lines were drawn and loyalties tested.

Their expedition gave Dick’s last years renewed purpose and determination. It gave Doris the opportunity to connect and reconnect with participants and witnesses of pivotal moments of the 1960’s. And it  them both an opportunity to make fresh assessments of the central figures of  the time —John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Martin Luther King  Jr., Robert Kennedy, and especially yndon Johnson, who greatly impacted both the it lives  The voyage of remembrance brought unexpected discoveries, forgiveness, and the renewal of old dreams, reviving the hope that the youth of today will carry forward this  unfinished love story with America.

SAY MORE by JEN PSAKI

 Jen Psaki has been one of the best political reporter that utilized her history of involvement in political issues effecting her, her family, and neighbors. She had an insight to what was right and when she was puzzled by circumstances, she used it as an opportunity to learn what would be helpful to others. 

I first knew her when she was conducting White House Briefings during the first two years of Biden’s administration. After that, I always look forward to Sunday and Monday to watch Inside with Jen Psaki. She always articulates the issues, the current political arguments, and her approach to the right thing to do!

Her writing is so similar to her articulation that I could hear her voice as she related so many circumstances impacting the nation. 

The book is great for reporting history (I remember much), articulating the issues and the impact on the administration. 

THE INTERNATIONALISTS by ALEXANDER WARD

 This is a detailed history of President Biden’s first 2 years of addressing the issues impacting the failure of Afghanistan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  It spells out the detailed decisions made which were problematic then and still a major question in history. Surely i would not have wanted to make the decision to leave such a disastrous situation 

WE ARE FREE to CHANGE the WORLD by LINDSEY STONEBRIDGE

 It was an amazing experience to read in  such detail about the history of Hannah Arendt.  She was born in 1906 as a Jewish lady from Prussia who immigrated to the United States. She taught in many colleges and wrote many books. She wrote about power and terror and about freedom. She died in 1975 after contributing much to understanding democracy.