Hugh Milford is a Professor of History at California State University, Long Beach. Milford is a gifted writer and I love his snarky approach to the CIA. Here’s an example:

“In Indonesia, the hoped for mutiny in the military failed to materialize and Sukarno actually benefited from psychological warfare measures intended to discredit him. In one notorious instance, the CIA had sponsored the production of a pornographic movie featuring an actor made up to look like president [Sukarno]. Rumor had it that the movie backfired because Indonesians were so impressed by the the virility of the Sukarno look-alike.” (p. 91-92)

Wilford’s approach is designed to give the reader an accurate history of the CIA–both Good and Bad. Wilford starts with a brief description of international conditions that lead to the forming of the CIA in 1947. The focus then shifts to the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s. The CIA declined in the 1970s as part of the anti-imperial backlash against the CIA at home. But President Reagan reinvigorated the CIA in the 1980s as the Cold War with Russia was ending. Finally, Wilford examines the CIA’s role in the United States’s Global War on Terror and the menacing resurgence of Cold War-like tensions with China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

I found The CIA: An Imperial History (2024) compelling and informative. If you want to know more about the CIA, this is the place to look. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION — 1

Prologue: Imperial precursors — 11

Part 1. Overseas:

Intelligence — 35

Regime change — 69

Regime maintenance — 107P

Part 2. At Home:

Counterintelligence — 147

Publicity — 193

Unintended consequences — 239

Epilogue: The Global War on Terror — 279

Conclusion — 305

Acknowledgements — 315

Notes — 319

Index — 349

With the 23-20 win over the NY Jets on Monday Night Football, the 4-2 Bills are 8 1/2 point favorites over the 1-4 Tennessee Titans. The weather in Western NY is unusually warm and mild! Game Time conditions will be 70 degrees and sunny with 5 mph winds. The Bills should win this game, but in the NFL, You Never Know.

How will your favorite NFL do today?

Diane and I were part of the 2000 attendees of a Jon Meacham event at the Center for the Arts at the State University of New York at Buffalo, part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. Diane and I have read some of Jon Meacham’s many books, seen him speak on MSNBC and other TV news shows, and generally agree with his historical and political analysis of where America is right now.

Meacham spoke for about 90 minutes, then answered questions for 30 more minutes. The 2-hour event didn’t feel like 2 hours–it felt like about 20 minutes! Right now, Meacham is teaching a class in History & Politics at Vanderbilt University. It’s an elective class. Guess how many students signed up for it? If you guessed 1,100 students, you’re right! Meacham’s class is the biggest class in Vanderbilt’s history!

Meacham acknowledged that things don’t look great for America right now, but looking over the history of our country, Meacham pointed out we’ve been down before–the Great Depression, World War II, Vietnam, etc.–and managed to overcome our troubles.

Diane and I enjoyed Meacham’s use of humor to illustrate his points. Meacham is close friends of the Bushes and Meacham has a killer imitation of George H. W. Bush! Very funny!

Here’s more information about Jon Meacham:

Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham is one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals. A contributor to TIME, Meacham is a highly sought-after commentator, regularly appearing on MSNBC, CNN and other news outlets. A skilled orator with a depth of knowledge about politics, religion and current affairs, Meacham has the unique ability to bring history to life and offer historical context to current events and issues impacting our daily lives—whether we realize it or not—to audiences of all backgrounds and levels of understanding.

He served as Newsweek’s managing editor from 1998 to 2006 and as editor from 2006 to 2010.

Meacham released two podcasts with the History Channel: “Hope Through History” and “It Was Said.” Narrated and written by Meacham, season two of the critically acclaimed “Hope Through History” podcast explores some of the most historic and trying times in American History, how the nation dealt with the impact of these moments, and how we came through these moments a more unified nation. “It Was Said,” tells the stories of those crucial words, taking listeners back to inflection points ranging from the McCarthy era to our present time through the real-time rhetoric that shaped and suffused America as the country struggled through storm and strife. “It Was Said” captures the nation we’ve been, and points ahead to the nation we hope to become.

Meacham is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers including, “Songs of America,” which is a celebration of the music that helped shape a nation. Co-written by musician Tim McGraw, “Songs of America” was praised as “a glorious celebration of our diversity” by Quincy Jones and an “unusually well-written and moving story” by Ken Burns. Another #1 New York Times bestseller, “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels,”examines the present moment in American politics and life by looking back at critical times in U.S. history when hope overcame division and fear. He released “His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope”—an intimate and revealing portrait of civil rights icon and longtime U.S. congressman John Lewis that quickly gained bestseller status.

Meacham’s presidential biography of George H. W. Bush, “Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush,” debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. According to the Times, “‘Destiny and Power’ reflects the qualities of both subject and biographer: judicious, balanced, deliberative, with a deep appreciation of history and the personalities who shape it.” He is a co-author of “Impeachment: An American History,” which reveals the complicated motives behind the three impeachments in U.S. history. A #1 New York Times bestseller, “Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power” was hailed as “masterful and intimate” by Fortune magazine. Meacham’s other national bestsellers include “Franklin and Winston,” “American Gospel,” and “American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House,” which won a Pulitzer Prize.

Meacham is a frequent guest on “Morning Joe;” “Real Time with Bill Maher;” “The 11th Hour,” and was featured in Ken Burns’ documentary series “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.” FOX News produced an hour-long special about Meacham’s “Destiny and Power.”

Named a “Global Leader for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the Society of American Historians. Meacham is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University where he holds the Rogers Chair in the American Presidency. His latest New York Times bestseller, “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle,” was published in October 2022.

The University at Buffalo’s 2024–2025 Distinguished Speakers Series features four speakers, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a Nobel Laureate, a ballet dancer, and a Buffalo Bills player:

• Jon MeachamPresidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who will speak on October 16, 2024
• Nadia MuradNobel Laureate, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, and bestselling author who will speak on November 14, 2024
• Misty CopelandPrincipal dancer for American Ballet Theatre, philanthropist, and New York Times bestselling author who will speak on February 12, 2025
• Damar HamlinBuffalo Bills safety and commotio cordis survivor who will speak on March 13, 2025 

Originally published in the June 1983 issue of Analog and the winner of both the 1983 Nebula and 1984 Hugo awards for Best Novelette, Greg Bear’s classic story of biotechnology became one of the Science Fiction Book Club’s celebrated titles for their SFBC 50th Anniversary Collection.

I was a subscriber to the Science Fiction Book Club for a number of years. I liked the reasonable prices for the books and the unique omnibus books they offered.

Greg Bear’s Blood Music is Number 32 of the 40 books in this series. Here’s a list of the books in this celebratory series. How many have you read?

SFBC 50th Collection

Over the years, I bought a lot of Arista albums. I remember playing Al Stewart’s Year of the Cat album in 1976 and wearing the grooves out! I was also fond of Patti Smith’s “Because the Night”–written with Bruce Springsteen–on her 1978 album, Easter.

Arista liked British bands like The Alan Parsons Project, the Thompson Twins, and the Eurythmics and promoted them relentlessly in the U.S.

“Founded in November 1974 by Clive Davis and deactivated in 2011, Arista was re-established in 2018. Along with RCA Records, Columbia Records, and Epic Records, it is one of Sony Music’s four flagship record labels.” — Wikipedia

Were you a fan of Arista? Any favorites here? GRADE: B

TRACK LIST:

My favorite story in Murder Most Confederate (2000) is Brendan DuBois’ chilling “Last Hours in Richmond.” A woman and her disabled husband contend with the end of the Civil War in an unexpected fashion.

I also liked “The Hessian” by Doug Allyn about the tragedies of war. Edward D. Hoch’s “The Price of Coal,” “Ghost” by Bradley H. Sinor, and “The Last Day of the War” by James Reasoner weave mysteries and murder into the Civil War settings.

Like the other Martin H. Greenberg Murder Most… series, this anthology presents a variety of stories with plenty of suspense and historical accuracy. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction by John Helfers — vii

The Hessian by Doug Allyn — 3

The Price of Coal by Edward D. Hoch — 23

Last Hours in Richmond by Brendan DuBois — 41

Veterans by John Lutz — 63

The Cobblestones of Saratoga Street by Avram Davidson — 77

A House Divided by Marc Bilgrey — 89

Blossoms and Blood by Janet Berliner — 103

Whistling Dixie by Billie Sue Mosiman — 111

Behind Enemy Lines by John Helfers and Carol Rondou — 131

The Unknown Soldier by Kristine Kathryn Rusch — 151

A Woman’s Touch by Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens — 159

Ghost by Bradley H. Sinor — 177

The Last Day of the War by James Reasoner — 193

Valuables by Kristine Scheid — 213

The Face by Ed Gorman — 233

Matthew in the Morning by Gary A. Braunbeck — 249

Authors’ Biographies — 267

Copyrights and Permissions — 274

Diane and I had never heard of Sandra Cisneros or her Young Adult novel, The House on Mango Street (1984). Diane and her Book Club had read books by the three other Babel authors–Tommy Orange, Cheryl Strayed, and James McBride–so Diane decided we should just get tickets to the whole series.

I picked up a copy of The House on Mango Street from our local public library and we both read it. In addition to writing novels, Sandra Cisneros is a poet, essayist, and excellent oral reader. The poetic side of Cisneros shows up on just about every page of The House on Mango Street.

You will think you’re reading a James Patterson book because Cisneros uses the “short chapter” strategy that Patterson is famous for. The House on Mango Street is the story of Esperanza Cordero, growing up in Chicago. Esperanza narrates the experiences she navigates the difficult transformation of morphing from a child into becoming a teenager with all its problems, excitement, anxiety, fears, challenges, mistakes, and risks.

Esperanza lives in a community made up of mostly newly arrived immigrants from Mexico and first-generation Americans including black and white people from Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Europe, and Puerto Rico.

Esperanza, her parents and sisters, live in a small house. Here’s how Esperanza describes It:

It’s small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath. Bricks are crumbling in places, and the front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in. There is no front yard, only four little elms the city planted by the curb. (p. 9)

The House on Mango Street has sold 7 million copies. The presentation Diane and I attended showed Sandra Cisneros at her best. She read from The House on Mango Street, she read some of her poetry. And she read an essay on Peace. As I mentioned before, Cisneros is a great oral reader. The audience of 1200 literary types gave Cisneros plenty of applause after a lively Q&A session. I highly recommend The House on Mango Street. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• The house on Mango Street — 3
• Hairs — 6
• Boys & girls — 8
• My name — 10
• Cathy queen of cats — 12
• Our good day — 14
• Laughter — 17
• Gil’s furniture bought & sold — 19
• Meme Ortiz — 21
• Louie, his cousin & his other cousin — 23
• Marin — 26
• Those who don’t — 28
• There was an old woman she had so many children she didn’t know what to do — 29
• Alicia who sees mice — 31
• Darius & the clouds — 33
• And some more — 35
• The family of little feet — 39
• A rice sandwich — 43
• Chanclas — 46
• Hips — 49
• The first job — 53
• Papa who wakes up tired in the dark — 56
• Born bad — 58
• Elenita, cards, palm, water — 62
• Geraldo no last name — 65
• Edna’s Ruthie — 67
• The Earl of Tennessee — 70
• Sire. — 72
• Four skinny trees — 74
• No speak English — 76
• Rafaela who drinks coconut & papaya juice on Tuesdays — 79
• Sally — 81
• Minerva writes poems — 84
• Bums in the attic — 86
• Beautiful & cruel — 88
• A smart cookie — 90
• What Sally said — 92
• The monkey garden — 94
• Red clowns — 99
• Linoleum roses — 101
• The three sisters — 103
• Alicia & I talking on Edna’s steps — 106
• A house of my own — 108
• Mango says goodbye sometimes — 109

JUST BUFFALO LITERARY CENTER BABEL SERIES 2024-2025

October 10, 2024: Sandra Cisneros

November 13, 2024: Tommy Orange

March 20, 2025: Cheryl Strayed

April 30, 2025: James McBride

GO BILLS!

The Buffalo Bills travel to New Jersey for tomorrow night’s Monday Night Football game. Despite the firing of Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh, the Bills are a 2 1/2 point favorites. The Bills have lost their last two games–against the Ravens and the Texans–so this Jet game means a lot. How will your favorite NFL team perform today?

I’m always eager to try new coffee flavors. Last week I was running errands which included a stop at our local Sam’s Club. Just inside the door, there was a pallet of Member’s Mark Winter Variety Pack Coffee so I bought it. Now, after drinking all of the flavors–Salted Caramel Bourbon, Maple Pecan, Cinnamon Roasted Almond, and Butter Toffee–I can recommend these K-cups without reservation.

Before I get into the flavors, I want to point out this box of 60 K-cups only cost $14.98. Starbucks boxes of K-cups cost double this price. Of the four flavors in this box of coffee, I preferred the Cinnamon Roasted Almond. I’m a fan of cinnamon, I love almonds, and the medium roast is just right. Also good is the Maple Pecan. Love maple, love pecans! The Salted Caramel Bourbon was just okay. I’m not a fan of the Butter Toffee, but it was drinkable.

If you’re in the mood to try some different flavors of coffee, you might consider the Member’s Mark Winter Variety Pack Coffee. But, don’t delay: this is a Limited Time Offering. GRADE: B