The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation, and Failing the Middle Class—and What We Can Do About It

Clusters. Any readers interested in public policy should consider reading Richard Florida's book titled, The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation, and Failing the Middle Class-and What We Can Do About It. Whether you agree or disagree with his thinking, Florida offers a cogent analysis about modern American cities, and offers possible solutions to the problems he's observed. Those who have read Florida in the past will find familiar themes here. He clearly displays his preference for "urbanism for all" and the benefits of clustering to long term prosperity. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The New Urban Crisis from amazon.com.

Asymmetry

Inequality. We seem to be living during a time of great differences and conflicts that can become defining for the prospects and lives of individuals. Lisa Halliday presents several aspects of inequality in her novel titled, Asymmetry. Structured in three sections, the novel opens readers to pondering many different questions throughout the finely written narrative. In this first section, we see the unequal relationship between an elderly renowned male novelist and a young woman in her twenties who works in publishing. Halliday presents these two complex characters in ways that demand a reader question memory and the feelings behind the behaviors described. The second section presents an Iraqi American narrator who has been detained at airport border control in London. The final section presents an interview with the eminent writer after he wins a Nobel. Fans of literary fiction are those readers most likely to enjoy reading this finely crafted debut novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Asymmetry from amazon.com.

The Deceivers

Russians. The twelfth thriller novel by Alex Berenson to feature protagonist John Wells is titled, The Deceivers. Pulled away from family for another special assignment, Wells expects one high profile assignment, but receives a different one as President Duto sends Wells into a complicated thicket of plots by Russian operatives to take over the United States government. Fans of the series will enjoy this novel, as will any reader who enjoys thrillers with plot lines grabbed from current headlines. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Deceivers from amazon.com.

Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship

Us. On any given page of Gregory Boyle's book titled, Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship, readers are likely to laugh, smile or tear up, as he tells the stories of the people he has gotten to know in Los Angeles in his work at Homeboy Industries. The title refers to one of many malaprops that Boyle has heard from in the three decades of work he has done at Homeboy. This book is all about inclusion: we live in mutuality, and there should be no "other." Kinship means that everyone matters, and there is no exclusion from "us." The stories in this book are our stories, and the people are all part of our extended family. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Barking to the Choir from amazon.com.

Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years

Wit. I didn't expect to do more than skim a few pages of the book by former Obama speechwriter David Litt titled, Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years. Instead, Litt's fine storytelling and wit carried me through, and before I knew it I had finished over three hundred well-written pages. There's often a "pinch me" quality behind Wit's story of coming of age in the White House. Whatever your politics, consider reading this book for the wit contained on its pages. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Thanks Obama from amazon.com.

Last Chance

Purpose. The second exciting novel in the Rains Brothers series by Gregg Hurwitz is titled, Last Chance. An alien invasion set off the plot in the first novel and in the current book, brothers Chance and Patrick Rains find out their purpose in life as well as why they were immune from the alien virus from an alien good guy: (p.149) "You and your brother's purpose is to die." No plot spoiler here: the excitement continues for those readers who love creepy and imaginative fiction. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Last Chance from amazon.com.

The Secret Life

Personalities. I am drawn toward finely written stories that bring out elements of interesting personalities and complex characters, whether in fiction or non-fiction. Three long form essays by Andrew O'Hagan have been assembled into a book titled, The Secret Life. One essay describes O'Hagan's relationship with Julian Assange on an assignment to ghostwrite Assange's autobiography. As expected, Assange is a fascinating and complex character, and O'Hagan unveils him to a reader's delight. A second essay explores identity theft and O'Hagan success in constructing for himself a new identity. The third essays involve bitcoin and the identity of its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. O'Hagan describes the relationship he develops with Craig Wright, an Australian who claims he is Satoshi. Fans of good writing are those most likely to enjoy reading these essays. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Secret Life from amazon.com.