In "Climbing Parnassus", Tracy Lee Simmons does an excellent job of chronicling the demise of classical education and actually demonstrates how 'classical education' is a redundant term. Not only is our Western civilization indebted to the Greeks and Romans for our rich heritage, but our future depends on the knowledge they bequeathed. "Climbing Parnassus" is a must read for anyone concerned about the pseudo-intellectualism rampant in our culture as our education degrades into mere training. This book stands as an indictment on the politicization of education.

"Who Killed Homer?" is another highly recommended read for much the same reasons.

I'm reading "A War Like No Other" by Victor Davis Hanson right now. It's a book like no other on the Peloponnesian War. He's made it far more interesting than other works which are often dry accounts of the machinations of the war and exclude the politics and personal accounts of people's lives. And my copy is autographed. neener-neener

"pucker puss" (lee lee) is reading "See Jane Run" by Keith Olbie.

And my copy is autographed.

I am envious. I can't seem to read enough of Victor Davis Hanson. Anything by him is well worth the time to read, and the Peloponnesian War a very worthwhile subject. I see many parallels with America's present WOT.

I am looking forward to reading VDH's "Mexifornia" also.

The 2 best books I've read this year:

(1) Micheal Crichton's State of Fear.
Realistic fiction, present day action thriller about Eco-terrorism and the "global warming" industry. So well researched, documented, and referenced its practically nonfiction.

(2) Ann McCaffrey's Damia.
Science fiction. Excellent story and the first in a series (I haven't read the rest yet but will soon.)

For any science fiction lovers I also recommend anything by Orson Scott Card except the "Homecoming" series, which I thought was kinda weak. The "Ender" series and the "Alvin Maker" series are by far the best in my opinion.

And finally for nonfiction fans, I think the best I've ever read are Thoedore Dalrymple's Life at the Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass and Our Culture, What's Left of It: The Mandarins and the Masses. I've worked in social services most of my adult life and when I read these it was like reading about my own experiences and reading my own thoughts and conclustion. They are excellent books.

(Why do the html tags for underling not work on this site? I had to use italics for the book titles, but that is gramatically incorrect...)