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Taking its title as a mocking reference to a series of essays on America’s founding that’s already been rebuked and denigrated by historical experts, one of this week’s featured selections offers a counterpoint to many of the orthodoxies of the modern left-liberal-progressive movement. There is also an exploration of the lives of larger-than-life Americans, starting with the amazing 350,000 women who volunteered their services during World War II, as well as the most successful sports gambler of all time, and the unlikely and unbreakable friendship between two heroes in their own right. The novel of the week is the latest installment of a popular series.
“Dead Mountain,” by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Grand Central Publishing)
This is the fourth in the No. 1 New York Times bestselling Preston-Child series teaming up archaeologist Nora Kelly with FBI Agent Corrie Swanson. In their latest adventure, the pair try to revive a 15-year-old FBI cold case with the code name “Dead Mountain,” in which nine mountaineers failed to return from a winter backpacking trip. Eight bodies have been discovered since then, most who died under bizarre and grisly circumstances. “Fun inspired brilliant mystery,” wrote Diana Curran, reviewing for GoodReads. “They write freaky creative stories that keep you up late to find out how they possibly make sense. … Together or on their own, these guys are masters of their genre. Adventure: (you name the harsh setting, they’ve been there: Rugged mountain/rain forest/arctic/under the ocean). Technology. Science. A dash of horror. Mystery, gruesome deaths and mayhem. (Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!)” [Fiction]
“The 1618 Project: Essays on the Threat of America’s Progressive New Left,” by Stephen Vicchio (Amplify Publishing)
This is a response to “The 1619 Project,” a series of essays written by a New York Times columnist and now Howard University journalism professor that suggested the United States was founded to perpetuate slavery. It amounted to an attack on the traditional view of American history that it was founded on traditions of liberty and freedom. The author of “1618,” who also wrote “Ronald Reagan’s Religious Beliefs,” refutes the philosophy of the New Left apart, led by the Biden administration, including:
- The Defund the Police movement
- The crisis at the southern border
- Big Tech and censorship
- The rise of a new Marxism
- The problems of hate crimes and hate speech.
Stephen Vicchio powerfully argues for a return to normalcy, the principles of freedom, capitalism, and personal responsibility that propelled the United States to greatness. [Nonfiction]
“Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk,” by Billy Walters (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster)
Billy Walters, also a Las Vegas businessman and philanthropist, is known as the “Michael Jordan of sports betting,” and tells all in this autobiography. He earned that reputation by betting $10 million on a typical weekend of college and professional sports. “That’s a gambler’s life. You’ll have good days and it’s chicken, and you’ll have bad days and it’s nothing but feathers,” Waters told the Las Vegas Review-Journal during a recent interview at Bali Hai Golf Club, which he owns. “I’ve had more ups and downs than most.” It also earned a 4.4 out of a possible five stars. “As a sports bettor myself, I found this book very interesting and filled with great stories and insights,” said Amazon customer Howard Fitz. “My personal congratulations to Billy on his recent induction into the inaugural Sports Betting Hall of Fame.” [Nonfiction]
“Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II,” by Lena S. Andrews (Mariner Books)
What Publishers Weekly called “An ingenious look at WWII,” this is the story of the more than third of a million women who served in what’s been called “the last good war.” They weren’t just nurses and typists. They served in every branch of the service as pilots, codebreakers, ordnance experts, gunnery instructors, metalsmiths, chemists, translators, parachute riggers, truck drivers, radarmen, and pigeon trainers. “‘Valiant Women’ is a vital and engrossing attempt to correct the record and rightfully celebrate the achievements of female veterans of World War II,” wrote Deborah Hopkinson reviewing for BookPage. “Few of the myriad books about World War II have ever attempted to provide a comprehensive history of its 350,000 American servicewomen. Out of the dwindling female veterans alive today, many have never even been asked to provide their first-person accounts.” [Nonfiction]
“The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams,” by Adam Lazarus (Citadel)
“The Wingmen” describes the strong, unlikely 50-year bond between two iconic figures in two wholly unrelated fields: astronaut John Glenn and National Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams. The author reveals this unbreakable friendship between the two larger-than-life heroes of their respective fields through personal interviews, unpublished letters, unit diaries, declassified military records, and manuscripts. Adam Lazarus “skillfully juxtaposes their vastly different backgrounds and accomplishments, highlighting the curious circumstances that brought them together,” wrote Chad Manske, reviewing for GoodReads. “The book offers a fascinating insight into the parallel worlds of space exploration and professional sports, showcasing the contrast between Glenn’s pioneering space missions and Williams’ record-breaking baseball career.” [Nonfiction]