Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe

I had never read it until recently. Of course I had been told what it was about but I was surprised to find that much of what people think the book is about is skewed. It is of course a stark glimpse of life from the American South in the 1850’s and exposes the many ugly facets of slavery. But it is also a story of resistance both from slaves and those who wanted slavery to end. Many have depicted the character of Uncle Tom as too subservient. To me, and to the author, he was a Christian martyr who later willing chose death over his own life in order to protect slaves who had escaped. It was the second most read book of the 19th Century after the Bible. The book so profoundly affected society in both the North and the South that it ultimately became one of the catalysts of the Civil War. Not many authors are able to write books that create upheaval and positive change in their country. It was fascinating to finally understand how Stowe was able to move a nation.

 

Autobiographical
Endurance - Scott Kelley about his year in space

Biography
Bonheoffer - Eric Metaxas - German preacher resists Nazism and plots to kill Hitler

Literature
A Soldier of the Great War - Mark Helprin - Italian soldier recounts growing up in the 1900s and his time in WWI

Fun page turner fiction
anything Harlan Coban

Historical Fiction
Whiskey Rebels - David Liss - Early US based setting

Cultural/ Historical Commentary
The Dying Citizen - Victor Davis Hanson

 

Not a book rec per se. Just a shout out for a publishing company that reprints popular fiction and non fiction in beautiful bindings with illustrations.

Gorgeous. Also, very pricey. Fun for Christmas.



https://www.foliosociety.com/usa

 

Looks really cool. I am going to check them out, Thanks!

 

“Doolittle’s Men” by Paul D. Burgess.

Great book. I couldn’t put it down.

 

I could drink beer with you.

 

*MODERATORS*

Suggest we merge this into the other book recommendation thread:

Major
Normal Threads At the Bottom
Thread - Best Books for Pilots

That way we have just one Thread where everyone sees them, instead of two.

 

“Flying Blind” by Peter Robison. Not sure if this one was already mentioned (I haven’t read all of the pages in this thread). But Flying Blind is a good read. It’s about Boeing, it’s history, culture, and the events that led up to the 737 Max crashes - very informative.

 

I like to visit the local vendors on overnights. There are good deals, surprises, and interesting fellow bibliophiles to be encountered at the following:

PDX - Powells. The last truly great independent bookstore. Watch your six; the neighborhood is under new management, but this gem must be supported. Support what you love or it goes away.

NYC - The Strand. Best independent bookstore in NYC, bar none. Operated by the same family since 1927. 4 floors of books to wander through.

PHL - The Book Trader. Like most book resellers, a bit of a mess. Better organized than most though, and they curate their inventory carefully. Pleasant walk through major tourist sites from the hotel. Bring your own bag if you buy books by the pound though.

BWI - Back Street Books. Small store, very well curated for antique books. Bring your wallet. Owner very personable; spotted me as a Delta pilot a mile away.

———


Delta goes to many destinations. Love to hear about other local vendors.

 

In Burlington there's a tiny independent bookstore next to "Myer's Bagel Bakery." Nice little walk from the hotel, get a bagel and coffee and enjoy getting lost in a random little pocket of Vermont.