Houston Democrats

1. Perfectly Legal, David Cay Johnson

This is a must read that covers the defects of the tax system, made very accessible for those of us who never studied accounting. Recommend this book to anyone who wasn't listening to all Gore in 2000.

2. What's the Matter with Kansas, Thomas Frank, jr

My better half just read this, and she has half of my brain, so it's almost like I've read it. How did Dubya become a populist candidate? We need to figure this out.

3. Twilight in the Desert, Matthew Simmons

Simmons is a Republican and serves as Dubya's Energy Advisor. I've already caught flack about this. It's a very good book about the prospects for Saudi oil production. Despite having Simmons as an advisor, the Bush Republicans have no energy policy.

This book isn't about energy policy. My reaction to the book is that we need an energy policy heavily weighted toward conservation and based on better urban design. What's going to happen when we're paying $10 for a head of lettuce? Warning about this book: he talks about rocks.

4. Ghost Wars, Stephen Coll
Fortunately this book is now available in a trade paperback. I will loan my well-worn hardback to HQ. This is a well researched book, but quite a committment at 500 pages+. You will learn about how our policy in Afghanistan sent dangerous arms to the Pakis for distribution to the Mujahadin during the war against the Soviets, and how the Taliban rose to power.

Most of this covert war takes place under previous administrations, but it makes wonder what was Dubya thinking with bombing missions and only 11,000 ground troops? To supplement your reading of this book, find some photos of the Hindukush Mountains.

5. Charlie Wilson's War, George Crile

This is another Ahfganistan book, with bigger than life Charlie Wilson as the main character, along with Houston socialite Joanne Herring pouring on the charm for General Zia, and a tough CIA Station Chief who provides some insight into the pathology of my favorite neo-nut, Richard Perle.

6. The Great Unraveling, Paul Krugman

Nobody can explain the folly of Dubya quite like Krugman. The NYT charges for their archives, so read this book instead.

"The Pentagon's New Map" by Thomas Barnett is also out in paperback. Michael Hirsh's "At War With Ourselves" comes out in paperback on August 1.

Either is a good complement to the aforementioned "Ghost Wars," which is well worth the read.

Oh, also neglected two cheapies that can be found at the 70% Off Bookstore near Westheimer & Gessner:

"The Second Bill of Rights: FDR'S Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More than Ever" - Cass Sunstein

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - Joe Trippi

Both are in hardback, but can be had for under $10 each.

Greg, thanks for the terrific suggestions. I had read a review of Sunstein's Second Bill of Rights: FDR's Unfinished Revolution and got Barnes and Noble to order it for me. I didn't know that it was available at the 70% Off Bookstore! Also, thanks for reminding us that Krugman's book is out in paperback.

I'm on my way out the door now to find Ghost Wars and The Pentagon's New Map!

Sorry - that should read: "Thanks Jon and Greg, for the terrific suggestions." Too much reading has ruined my eyesight!

Could that be 75% Off Bookstore? If so, that's at Westheimer & Wilcrest, in the Whole Foods strip.

If not and there's another that's 70% off, I need to track that one down, too.

Yes, Mary, you are right - - it is 75% Off, and it is at Westheimer and Wilcrest. I just had to go check it out today.

Mary,

The 75% Off Bookstore is different. The one I visited is near Little Italy coffeeshop just inside the beltway (Rocky Ridge is the intersection). I think it's called C2C Bookstore or something like that ... same concept, though, but better selection of nonfiction, current events than the Wilcrest store.

Marguerite,

Once I locate my copy of Ghost Wars, you can borrow it. I also have a copy of Perfectly Legal you can borrow.

Great info, Greg. I'll check them out this afternoon after the OPD meeting at noon, the HDGE at 3pm and DSM at 7pm. What else am I gonna do?

I agree 75% Off has less and less in their political and historical book section and the religious section is growing bigger everytime I go in, but it is a great place to find greatly reduced prices on children's books.

Wow! Another discount bookstore! Double thanks, Greg.

I did check out the bookstore Greg pointed us to. Really great selections!!

The nearby Little Italy Coffee Shop is a real gem, also. Thanks for the lead there, too. I'll be going back for more of the tasty tiramisu!

One more thing, the bookstore is C2C (as Greg thought) and as a point of reference, it is right next to Party City, kind of just behind and a little to the west of the Burger King, which is easy to spot, sitting right out at the front of the strip. The Little Italy Coffee Shop is across Rockyridge, just to the east of Burger King.

Jon, I will take you up on your offer of lending Ghost Wars if you can find your copy. I gave my husband (retired accountant) Perfectly Legal for his birthday. He just recently finished it; he said that Johnston has done a terrific job of describing how the Internal Revenue System is a disaster: unfair, unintelligible, and unenforced.

Mary and Greg, again, thanks for locating the new (to me, anyway) bookstore - - I appreciate it, although my bank account probably won't!

Little Italy is also a wifi hotspot, fwiw. I make it a point to get out there at least once a week. The staff is absolutely wonderful there.