1. The Life of Johnny Reb/The Life of Billy Yank
Two separate books published years apart, bound in one volume. Author chronicles the everyday life of Confederate soldiers and Federal soldiers before and during the Civil War. Not really a fan of Civil War shit and much more interested in 20th century war-related, I still found both books very fascinating for the detail. Interesting that 90% of the information is gathered not from so-called historical experts, but, rather, from letters and other documents scribed by the soldiers themselves to relatives back home and friends elsewhere. Down to the hen's teeth are descriptions of their weapons, their food, camp life, marching, travel, battle scenes and much more etc. Very humorous at times, especially the name-calling between the two sides.
Largest take away from the volumes? Much Civil War history, it appears to me, focuses on battles and politics when there was an enormous human side to the story. Also, neither side was much prepared to fight the Civil War, it seems. Lots of flag waving and huzzahs and over-exuberant patriotism around the time of Fort Sumter and such (like modern-day Conks with Iraq or any conflict in which non-whites and non-Christians can be killed
) but all that waned after a few months as both sides realized it was gonna be a long drawn-out affair. Rifles and clothes were shitty for both sides; food sucked, especially for the Rebs. Shelter was dilapidated, illness rampant, most officers were incompetent (often attained their positions by popularity contests, North and South) and pay was low. Desertions and post abandonment hit the South something fierce beginning somewhat early mostly due to conditions, not for lack of courage or fight in the ranks.Cap'n Cat's Rating: Four Sticky Paws Up (4 out of 4)
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2. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
If there is someone out there who really hates Conkunism and dangerous patriotism, he must read this book. Follows the life of atom bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer from birth through his remarkable career and ultimate sad decline and death, victim of the hysterical anti-Red shit of the 1940's and 1950's. The man was harassed from the 1930's when a professor at Berkeley virtually all the way until his death in the mid 1960's. Gnat's ass detail about everything he did, everywhere he went, etc, paints a terrific portrait of a true American patriot ruined by Conkunist paranoia. His crime? Coming out against use of the bomb he helped create. Two people who come out of this book looking particularly bad were Harry Truman (impulsive simpleton) and J. Edgar Hoover (power-mad marionette puppeteer, liar and general louse).
Later in his life, Oppenheimer was "rehabilitated" under Democrat administrations and became an in-demand speaker around the world on the topic of nuclear proliferation. Received honors all over the world, yet fucked at home. America does that.
Very long book, but worth the read. Touched on a couple of the longtime affairs he conducted with colleagues' wives, seems the guy was quite a pussy-hound. Interesting to read what happened to his wife and two children after his death. Read and find out.
Throughout, while reading of his trials and hurt, I could not help but think of assholes like Bush and Cheney and Rummy and the whackjobs on the far right of the spectrum, such as Bachmann and Perry and Priebus and Santorum. Back then, the bogeyman was Communism, whereas today, it's all brown-skinned people and their religions.
Cap'n Cat's Rating: Four Sticky Paws Up (4/4)
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