As horrible as the pandemic has been, there were some positive outcomes. One of those blessings in disguise was creating more opportunities for us to read. With summer approaching, perhaps even more opportunities will emerge. If so, I’d like to pass on some book recommendations for your reading or listening (Audible.com) pleasure.
One of my favorite Wall Street Journal reporters is Barton Swaim. I like his writing so much that I checked to see if, by chance, he’d written any books. Lo and behold, I found “The Speechwriter” that he had written in 2015 about his experiences working for the controversial former governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford. If you want a captivating and sometimes hysterical view of what goes on behind closed doors in politics, this book is for you.
My favorite business book of the year is “The Lords of Easy Money” by Christopher Leonard. This important book describes with clarity and historical depth the impact of a 10-year period of quantitative easing on the part of the Federal Reserve Board. It’s not a pretty picture.
With the war still raging in Ukraine, I highly recommend “D Day Through German Eyes” by Holger Eckhertz. There are many parallels between WWII and what’s going on today in the Russia-Ukrainia war. This WWII book, however, has the distinction of seeing how German soldiers—not the Allies—viewed the war.
Most of us have been shocked by the war crimes being committed in Ukraine. No question, war is an ugly business. But one book that shows how humanity sometimes reveals itself in even the worst of circumstances is “A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II,” by Adam Makos. The title says it all.
I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing Michael Dobbs discuss his book, “The Unwanted,” at a Chapman University event sponsored by our Rogers Center for Holocaust Education. Since reading that book, I’ve become a Dobbs groupie and have read all of his books.
In addition to “The Unwanted,” I loved “King Richard,” a book that should be listened on Audible to hear actual recordings of the Nixon-Watergate tapes. But the Dobbs’ book I recommend you start with is “Down with Big Brother.” This book describes the geopolitical factors that explain the dissolution of the Soviet Union. To better understand the current Russia, one needs to understand the Soviet Union and its unraveling. History matters!
One of my all-time favorite movies is the 1952 classic “High Noon” starring the great Gary Cooper. Glenn Frankel’s book, “High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic,” is a chilling reminder of the dangers of limits to free speech. In reading this thought-provoking book, I could not help but see many parallels between the Red scare of the early 1950s and the cancel culture of today. History not only matters; it repeats itself.
These recommendations may smack some as pretty heavy going. For those in the mood for lighter fare, I suggest Gianrico Carofiglio’s series of mystery novels starting out with “Involuntary Witness.” I don’t ordinarily like mysteries, but these books, with a moody setting in Bari, Italy, are much more than crime capers. They also probe deeply into the human psyche. Carofiglio’s writing is top-notch.
Now let’s check out some movies. For those of you, like me, who got hooked on Korean streaming, my favorite this past year is not “Squid Game” but “Move to Heaven.” This multi-episode Netflix series centers on the relationship between an autistic boy and his uncle. How that relationship grows from distant to nurturing reveals the power of the human spirit.
Another movie that involves the relationship between an autistic boy and, this time, his brother is “Seventeen.” Perhaps I’m a sucker for coming-of-age stories, but I found the bonding that takes place between two brothers during a peripatetic journey both funny and poignant. This movie set in a beautiful region of Spain also has two great dogs that are integral to the plot, as well as a memorable grandmother character.
Moving from Korea to Spain to Turkey, I loved “The Miracle.” This movie that can be seen on Netflix is based on a true story about a teacher who moves to a Kurdish Village to establish a school. The plot revolves around the culture and traditions of the villagers. The transformative impact that a teacher can have on the lives of people and the life-affirming power of education is beautifully told.
As for any American movies this year? Fuggedaboutit.
If you read, listen or see any of these recommendations, I’d love to know what you think (doti@chapman.edu). Meantime, keep those cards and letters coming.
Editor’s Note: Jim Doti, president emeritus of Chapman University, is one of the nation’s most prescient economists. In a Leader Board published 15 months ago, he predicted a “sharp increase” in inflation. “We shouldn’t be surprised, therefore, that when inflation begins to rear its head, the stock market bubble will burst,” Doti co-wrote along with Fadel Lawandy, director of Chapman’s Hoag Center for Real Estate and Finance. Doti, Lawandy and Raymond Sfeir, director of Chapman’s A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research, will present Chapman’s semi-annual Economic Forecast Update 2022 at the university’s Musco Center for the Arts at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 23.
