The Real Benedict Arnold

By Jim Murphy

Published by Clarion Books

Copyright © 2007

The name Benedict Arnold in America over the last 230 years has been synonymous with the words “turncoat” and “traitor”. He turned on the men who trusted him and he turned on his country. Had the British been quick about following his suggestions his traitorous plans may have even succeeded in defeating the American Revolution. 

The question many people fail to ask though,is why? What led Benedict Arnold to turn on America, the country he had been fighting so hard to establish? Those who do ask that question might quickly reply that it was greed, but the truth of the matter isn’t that simple.

Benedict Arnold came from a highborn family that had fallen on hard times. For every step forward they would take two steps back and it was often through no fault of their own. Benedict Arnold had a strong desire to return his family name to prominent stature. He worked hard starting an import business which made him a prominent member of society in New Haven, Connecticut. He even became a member of the Freemasons. The War for Independence provided another avenue for Benedict to increase his family’s stature. Many forget that he was a hero of many revolutionary battles. Among his accomplishments were the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, victory at the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain, the battles of Danbury and Ridgefield in Connecticut, and the Battle of Saratoga. And though he did not succeed He kept the British quite busy in his invasion of Canada.

Though Benedict Arnold was a great military leader, maybe even better than George Washington, he had a heightened sense of pride which made it difficult for him to handle the slings and arrows of his opponents in the American congress and other American Military leaders. What one comes to realize in reading this book is that Benedict Arnold did not betray America out of Greed, but he betrayed it out of pride in his personal honor. Though he had done so much for the Revolution his honor and reputation were constantly being attacked, and he never received the material and military support he needed from congress and his commanding officers to do his job effectively.

“The Real Benedict Arnold” is a fascinating study in what made one of America’s greatest military leaders choose to become one of its most vilified historical figures. I could not help but ask myself while reading this book: if I was in Benedict Arnold’s place what would I have done? While his actions are considered reprehensible, one comes away with a better understanding and maybe even a little compassion for the American Traitor. While not an exhaustive text on the subject, it is a well researched and thought out. Even the adult reader with casual interest in the subject will find it enjoyable.

The Omnivores Dilemma

The Omnivores Dilemma:

The Secrets Behind What You Eat

Young Readers Edition

By Michael Pollan

Published by Dial Books

Copyright ©2009

Where does your food come from? Does it taste good as it should? Is it good for you? These are just some of the questions that Michael Pollan asks, questions that we should be asking too.

In search of the answer to these questions Michael decides to follow his food from beginning to end. He wants to know where his food is grown, what does his food eat, how is his food treated, in the case of animals how did it become food, and how does my food affect the environment?

This book pinpoints 4 distinct food chains that we all eat from: The industrial meal, the industrial organic meal, the local sustainable meal, and the do-it-yourself meal. The industrial meal is our widespread, corn fed, fast food system. The industrial organic is the growing number of formerly idealistic farms that sold out to large corporations (the food is still organic, but it is now being produced with industrial efficiency). The local sustainable meal is built on buying our foods from local environmentally conscious farms. And finally the do-it-yourself is built on extremely local products that are hunted/gathered/grown all by ourselves.

In examining these 4 eating options the Omnivore’s Dilemma aims to make us think critically about what we eat. We think of eating as such an inconsequential matter, when really it affects our current and future health, and it affects the health of our planet. It also will make you question the efficacy of eating meat. I think you will be quite surprised by the author’s choice and the sound reasoning behind his choice.

In the end the author is really encouraging you to make the best food situations you can given the circumstances that you live under. So maybe you are financially strapped and can’t afford to buy organic food, but you can make wiser choices at the supermarket such as buying less processed whole foods and learning to cook your meals from scratch rather than buy overly processed prepared goods that can be microwaved. This is a thought provoking book that I think all people should read cover to cover.

The Dangerous Book for Boys

By Conn & Hal Iggulden

Published by Harper Collins

Copyright 2007

Are you a boy between the ages of seven and thirteen? Are you a man who is still a kid at heart? (Most of us still are.) Or, are you parents who are tired of your children whining that they are bored, or who sit in front of the television all day playing video games? If you fit into any of these categories this book is a must read. I spent my formative years in rural New England, before video games were really big. My siblings, cousins, and I all spent much of our free time outside playing games, riding bikes, fishing, building forts, and scouting out the forests for Indian mounds (which were actually remnants of old stone walls). We were the last of a dying a breed, the independently stimulated. For everyone of the Play Station generation, or adults who want to relive a little of their youth (and maybe even learn something new) I recommend this book: “The Dangerous Book for Boys”.

“The Dangerous Book for Boys” does contain some dangerous activities like building a tree house, making a bow and arrow, and hunting and cooking a rabbit. Things every boy should learn, if not do. It also contains less dangerous instructions on things like making the best paper airplane, five important knots, and skipping a stone properly. There are also sections of the book which encourage exploration into Science, History, Geography, and English. For instance there are instructions and information on a simple electromagnet, famous battles of the world, the fifty states, and Shakespeare. This book even provides information on something that boys have never been able to understand and that is…Girls. While boys may never fully understand girls this book gives boys a head start on how to treat them and impress them.

This book contains many weeks worth of reading and activities that boys (and girls) of all ages will love. There is also a website set up for this book, and I think the video alone makes the case for at least a quick glance at this book. Go to http://www.dangerousbookforboys.com and click on view trailer.

Who Was First?: Discovering the Americas

By Russell Freedman
Published by Clarion Books
Copyright © 2007

We are all taught in grade school that “in fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. Columbus is given much of the credit for discovery the Americas. We still have national holiday designated for his seeming accomplishment. But did Christopher Columbus really discover America?

“Who was first?” examines that question in relative detail providing accurate summations of probable discoverers of America prior to 1492. This list includes among others the Chinese and of course the Vikings. Though the evidence seems a bit light on the side of the Chinese the case is made that it is certainly within the realm of possibility. On the other hand there seems to be much more proof to crown the Vikings as discoverers of America which pre-dates Chinese exploration and makes it a moot point.     

However no discussion of the discovery of America would be complete without taking a look at the Native Americans who were already present in the time of Columbus and the Viking’s Leif Eriksson. The question is briefly posed: where did these natives come from? The Answer that we are familiar with is that they came across Beringia (the arctic land bridge) from Asia, but there is some thought that their may be some natives of European origin as well. While some may not agree with the Radio-carbon dates provided in this portion of the book, The Native migration order, fossil finds, and routes of travel are more or less accurate if not the dates.

“Who was First?” is a great educational book for the 4^th through the 8^th grade. It is even a good book for the adult looking for clear and succinct information on the subject, as it was a quick read and it kept my attention.