Books and Ideas (28)

I read for ideas. Here are some of the ideas I have found in books.

Harry S. Truman. Margaret Truman.
Why read it? Some of the highlight events of Truman’s presidency were his sudden assumption to the presidency, negotiations with Churchill and Stalin, the dropping of the atomic bomb, the shift from a war-time to a peace-time economy, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin blockade, Palestine, the Korean War and the dismissal of MacArthur. While these facts are carefully documented in Truman's own memoirs, Margaret Truman, his daughter, shows the human side of the President, his feelings under the pressure of events during his presidency. They also provide a good summary of the events and the principal people involved in them. She shows his sense of humor, his pride in his family, and his knowledge of history that often served to guide his actions. Margaret’s biography of her father is very well written.

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. Jon Krakauer.
Why read it? A study in extremism. Mormons believe that they can have a close communication with God and that God can speak personally to them. If God says to kill someone, they are required to do it.
While this book is primarily about Mormon fundamentalists (read believers in polygamy, which mainstream Mormons do not accept today), it is also a history of Mormonism. Hard to believe that people would be credulous enough to accept Joseph Smith’s account of the Angel Moroni and the golden plates which he translated from Egyptian hieroglyphics by means of magic glasses and a magic stone. While the book suggests some reasons for the appeal of Mormonism—the close relationship with God, the expectation of the Second Coming of Christ, the clear statement of what is good and what is evil, the desire to submit to authority, thus removing the uncertainty and discomfort of having to make individual decisions—I still fail to understand why people are attracted to the religion. And they are. Along with Islam, it is one of the fastest growing world religions. Like Islam’s Koran, Mormon scripture purports to be the actual word of God.

Up the Organization: How to Stop the Corporation from Stifling People and Strangling Profits. Robert Townsend (of Avis’s “We’re number two. We try harder,” Fame).
Why read it? A common-sense (to me) book about how to help organizations succeed by treating employees as people, not “personnel.” Townsend’s theme is getting things done through organizations. The best leader is the one who, when people are successful, say “We did it” and do not know they have been led. Decisions are made by one person who is in charge, but the leadership can be transferred from one person to another, depending on the situation, the types of problems and the decisions that have to be made. The model for organizations is a round table. Stop using the organizational system of the Catholic Church and the Roman legions.

Three Cups of Tea. Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
Why read it? Do you think every Muslim is a potential terrorist? Then you need to read this book. You need to become familiar with the moderate Muslims, the Muslims who live in the mountains of Pakistan, impoverished, illiterate people who don’t have any chance for an education, except for the schools for boys, the madrassas, schools that teach terrorism. Mortenson wants to build schools for children in Pakistan, particularly for girls. He wants to teach them that there are good reasons to live rather than to die to go to Muslim heaven.
Quote: “The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die.”