This Might Be in the Running for 3rd Best Book Ever

[Spock]

Why have I never heard of it before?

I have heard of Malcolm Muggeridge-for some reason, "Catholic Convert" comes to mind-correctly or not.

Just learned of his autobiography "Chronicle of Wasted Time" and it looks delightful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15738 ... 0DER&psc=1

>>>""There is not a flat page in this mingling of anecdote, comment and self-criticism. . . . An international throng of writers, politicians, soldiers, spies, traitors and eccentrics jostles in these page from Attlee to Wodehouse via Burgess and Philby, Churchill, de Gaulle, Gide, Chanel, Montgomery, Evelyn Waugh." -The Daily Telegraph "Much of it . . . is very funny indeed; his description of being inducted into the mysteries of invisible writing when he joined the M16, for instance, is one of the great comic set-pieces that are artfully placed throughout the book. . . . Apart from these, the wit sparkles on almost every page." -<<<<<

The reason it is only in the potential running for 3rd is that #1 and #2 are permanently occupied with 2 books by George MacDonald Fraser.

1) "The Private McAuslan Stories"

2) "Quartered Safe Out Here"

[Spock]

Currently reading a book that has already earned a place in my all-time Top-Ten favorite books.

Noel Mostert's "Frontier". I am about 1/4 of the way through this massive tome on South African history focusing on the century of the Xhosa Wars (1775 to 1875 or so) but pretty comprehensive up to that point as well.

My favorite part is how he brings the geography into the story as well.

In my freshman spring of college(1986) I took a South African History class and he let us use Michener's "The Covenant" as our main reading for the class if we chose.

Well, this book wasn't out till 1992, but if I were teaching that course, I would use this book as the core for the course with supplemental stuff for later years.

FWIW, it is a much easier read than I might have made it sound. It is really, really good.

[tlynn78]

Currently reading a book that has already earned a place in my all-time Top-Ten favorite books.

Noel Mostert's "Frontier". I am about 1/4 of the way through this massive tome on South African history focusing on the century of the Xhosa Wars (1775 to 1875 or so) but pretty comprehensive up to that point as well.

My favorite part is how he brings the geography into the story as well.

In my freshman spring of college(1986) I took a South African History class and he let us use Michener's "The Covenant" as our main reading for the class if we chose.

Well, this book wasn't out till 1992, but if I were teaching that course, I would use this book as the core for the course with supplemental stuff for later years.

FWIW, it is a much easier read than I might have made it sound. It is really, really good.

I love it when they pull in geography to a good story. I may have to check this one out.

[Spock]

Currently reading a book that has already earned a place in my all-time Top-Ten favorite books.

Noel Mostert's "Frontier". I am about 1/4 of the way through this massive tome on South African history focusing on the century of the Xhosa Wars (1775 to 1875 or so) but pretty comprehensive up to that point as well.

My favorite part is how he brings the geography into the story as well.

In my freshman spring of college(1986) I took a South African History class and he let us use Michener's "The Covenant" as our main reading for the class if we chose.

Well, this book wasn't out till 1992, but if I were teaching that course, I would use this book as the core for the course with supplemental stuff for later years.

FWIW, it is a much easier read than I might have made it sound. It is really, really good.

I love it when they pull in geography to a good story. I may have to check this one out.

A smaller book and an easy read that did a good job of pulling geography in was "After Custer" by Paul Somebody. Set in your neck of the woods with its focus on the "Big Open." The area between the Yellowstone, Musselshell and the Missouri.

[tlynn78]

ooh, thanks. I have the geography of this area down pretty well, but I know more than a few peeps who might like this.

[Spock]

I would never need to buy another book as long as I live, but WOW!!!!! did I score some free ones on the discard card at a library that I only visit every few months. It was like somebody designed the discards especially for Spock. I could not believe it and I still can't.

1) "At the Hand of Man: Peril and Hope for Africa's Wildlife"

2) "Our Lot: How Real Estate Came to Own Us"

3) "Bring Back the Buffalo:......"

4) "Jaguar: The Struggle to set up the First Jaguar Preserve"

5) One of Land Trusts in America

And

6) Daniel Yergin's "The Quest"-sequel to his oil book The Prize."