September 2005 Bookshelf
What Are They Saying About the Formation of Israel? by John J. McDermott
This short book synthesizes the most recent archeological discoveries and resulting theories seeking to explain the origins of the nation of Israel. Outside of evangelical circles, the archeological evidence accepted by academia is seen as heavily discounting the Exodus chronicle and the conquest of Canaan. I would put good money on the bet that at some point in the near future, the Emergent movement will introduce the insights of William Dever as a means of explaining away the Canaanite genocide. Dever argues that the textual and archeological evidence, when taken together, are most easily explained by viewing the Israelites as Canaanites who became the primary voice within the geography of Israel through social upheaval probably due to their resistance, as peasant farmers, against Canaanite kings who were heavily taxing the people. If you do not have the patience to wade through Dever’s books, this short book by McDermott does a fair job of presenting Dever’s thesis with competing explanations of the archeological evidence we have.
Execution: the Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
I have had this book around for some time and have been reserving it for a time when I felt its topic would impact me the most. I picked it up this week to reappraise my professional experience in light of the discipline Bossidy and Charan advocate. More importantly, I read it as a reminder of the disciplines incumbent upon leadership, a good reminder for me during my J.D. program. The book is a good reminder of the importance of the details in making a business successful. For someone more focused on vision than details, the book was an important touchstone for me.
Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodron (unabridged book on CD)
Perhaps the greatest gift I am drawing from studying eastern mysticism and wisdom traditions – Buddhism specifically – is its acknowledgement of what is not and can not be known, and the resulting emphasis that is placed on the disciplined and self-aware act of change and becoming. Chodron’s book is a good and very basic introduction into some initial precepts of Buddhist thinking. Her comments touch on theism (as the title would suggest in relationship to Buddhism’s agnosticism over the question of God), but the majority of her writing is focused on the act of becoming aware of yourself – your inadequacies, your frustrations, your weaknesses. What we desire most can not come until we embrace exactly what we are, and are not; what we desire that is legitimate, and what we do not that is illegitimate.
Pornified: How Pornography is Transforming Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families by Pamela Paul
The question of pornography and its affect on our culture are discussed in this book. The relational dimension to pornography is presented in detail from both a man and woman’s perspective. A complete review of the book can be found here.
The Secret Man: the Story of Watergate’s Deep Throat by Bob Woodward (unabridged book on CD)
This book is, in part, the story of Mark Felt who as well all know now was the Woodward and Burnstein source for Watergate affectionately known as “Deep Throat.” Having finished the book, I am not sure Woodward did his typically insightful job at explaining what motivated Felt to direct the journalistic efforts that ultimately led to Nixon’s downfall. The majority of the book is about the process Woodward went through when it became obvious Felt’s identity was going to be affirmed. Within this book one takes away the sense that Woodward feels he needs to come to terms with the role Felt played in Watergate. It feels less a mea culpa for either Woodward or Felt as it does a cautious probing of whether or not Woodward did the right thing in using Felt as he did. Towards the end of the book Woodward writes that he wrote this book in part to close the chapter on Watergate; that Nixon’s presidency had been autopsied more than was necessary or productive. While an understandable emotion, the autopsy metaphor is fairly realistic; what the American people lost in trust of their government in Watergate has never been replaced, only distance has softened the edges of the betrayal. Maybe for Woodward this book was cathartic, and it is a good story in its own rite; however, nothing in the book heals any of the Watergate wounds.
The Anatomy of Fascism by Robert D. Paxton
While certainly an important history of fascism, at times this book played havoc with my nerves in its parallels to the American Religious Right’s motives and agendas. Perhaps no more simple thought can be taken away from Paxton’s book than the recognition that any effort to curtail any democratic process, whether free speech in the form of disagreement with the government or the rights of the accused to due process, lie at the heart of fascism. A complete review of the book can be found here.
Can God & Caesar Coexist? Balancing Religious Freedom & International Law by Robert F. Drinan, S.J.
My overall take on this book is one mixed with gratitude and yet unevenness. Attempting to balance the fact that various religions are incompatible with one another, and yet our world is growing increasingly small is not an easy issue to deal with. The book is gracious in its attempts to grant all religions (even agnosticism and atheism) equality; however, in its attempt to do so it is at times naïve. One over-arching example in the book is the emphasis Drinan places on international law as codified in various United Nations’ charters. It should be obvious to all that U.N. law has little persuasive ability on the global stage. Having said this, it is essential that we develop enforceable international law and what we have now is as good a start as any. The question of synthesizing international law and global religions may not be the place to start. It may prove more pragmatic to begin with international intellectual property and commercial transactional law before we get to more thorny questions of religion.
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“If anyone can show me, and prove to me, that I am wrong in thought or deed, I will gladly change. I seek the truth, which never yet hurt anybody. It is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance which does harm.”
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