Review: Senator’s Son
Luke’s written a book that takes the nitty gritty 120-degrees-in-the-shade battle rattle and ties it into the strategic picture. It should be mandatory for every ROTC cadidiot everywhere. It’s the first COIN novel (in the way you can’t take a step into a Barnes and Nobles without running into some kind of SOF novel).
While at times it can be preachy – the monologues can be grating in their efforts to communicate ideas – this is forgivable. The focus of the book is complicated, and I’d rather have a clear writeup than not. But you see the thinking process of a LT trying to win the big war, while keeping his Marines safe. And that’s a big win.
My officer friends who bought it at my insistence thought it spoke to their own experience. And, even more importantly, a LT about to deploy said it really helped shape his thinking: on what it takes to be a man, a husband, a father, a warrior, a statesman, and a leader of men.
Not much else you can look for from fiction. I, for one, am looking forward to his next book.
Thanks to Luke for a copy of this book for my much belated review.
Review: Kindle 2
Thanks to a particularly cool cousin, I’m now seen around town sporting a Kindle 2 in a green leather portfolio case. Trying to figure out how this thing can fit into my flow.
Vs. Deadwood:
- Books I know I’m going to want to share, I buy in deadwood format.
- Books I know I’ll want to excessively mark up, I keep a journal next to the Kindle to do so. (Long ago, I adopted Boyd’s annotation philosophy – write whatever the hell you’re thinking about, regardless of its connection to the book.)
Advantages:
- New books are 50% cheaper on the Kindle. This is the only way I can keep up with the times (usually my book reading lags – to the paperback or used paperback cycles).
- The classics are free. I normally can’t justify the expense to get those.
- PDF reading is a total win.
Additionally, it is kind of crippling to be exposed to all of that fiction I normally ignore suddenly becoming affordable. My chances of reading it also increase.
Anyway, more as I figure out if this is something I can keep up long-run.
Tablet/E-Reader With Portable Scanner
Something like – to scan receipts, papers, notes, brochures, whatever on the go. Couple with a tablet. Now that would be a pretty killer combo. Is there a dongle for the iPad? (Or a bluetooth enabled portable scanner? Or software for a 5 megapixel cellphone camera?)
Long Now Foundation + Nils Gilman
Nice! Friend Nils is speaking at the Long Now Foundation on May 3. If you’re in the area, buy your ticket now!
If you’re not, fear not. Long Now puts together the smartest podcast (video and audio) in the world.
Sick
Heh. Probably TMI, but I’m fighting through a kidney stone. Apologies if I don’t respond to emails quickly.