The Last American Man - Elizabeth Gilbert

I've had this book on my TBR for a few years because I'd read the author's book "Eat, Pray, Love"  back in 2007 and in January this year I read her book of short stories , so this completes her writing for me.  

This is the story of Eustace Conway, a man she describes as "the last American Man".  She glorifies his self-sufficient, back to nature ethic and survivalist skills from the time he was a child up until his private acreage on Turtle Island in North Carolina where he tries to teach others to get back to Nature.  He's stubbornly independent and can't understand why he can't find the perfect mate in life, burning through numerous relationships. At the root of his story is a domineering, unforgiving, controlling father whose approval he'll never obtain.  And that's the sad ending to the tale - the last American male is broken, disheartened and unloved. 

Postscript: I looked up Eustace on the internet and found he had was on the Mountain Men TV show so he eventually made lemonade out of lemons.

Published: 2002  Read: August 2024  Genre: Biography

The Presidents Club - Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy

Sub-title: Inside the world's most exclusive fraternity

A great read to start off the New Year!  One of my book clubs chose this and there was some grumbling because of the length.  I almost put it aside and then plunged in over many evenings.

The book begins with the relationship between Truman and Hoover, then moves onto Eisenhower and follows through all the Presidents up to Barack Obama as of 2012.  One tip--make a list of the presidents in order as a crib sheet because the authors skip around events in the different president's terms and it got a bit confusing.

I found every bit of it fascinating.  As one book club member noted, these are all imperfect, flawed men who care deeply about our country, its people and its future.  They also are concerned with their individual legacy and most importantly, the continuity of the presidency.  I was surprised at the amount of support and cooperation they shared in and out of office.  I developed a greater respect for, of all people, Richard Nixon, who spent his entire life until his dying days contributing to the presidency.

I hope they do a sequel a couple of more presidents in the future.


Published:  2012  Read: January 2017  Genre: History