Book review by Tom Ryerson
February 18, 2012

The Pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and the Rivalry That Defined a Generation by Steven M. Gillon. Oxford University Press, 2008. 342 pp.

To anyone who has followed national politics in the United States of America for twenty years or more, Newt Gingrich is well known for being a force behind the Republican Party takeover of the U.S. Congress in 1994 after two years of Bill Clinton’s presidency. What is not as well known is the intensity of the ups and downs in the relationship of these two men over the years, especially from 1994 to 1998, and the stark similarities between them despite publicly being on entirely different ends of the political spectrum. In The Pact, author Steven M. Gillon, resident historian for the History Channel, examines the lives of both men, culminating in a secret meeting held between them in October 1997 to work out a plan to promote and implement Social Security reform. Unfortunately, the deal between them fell through when the Lewinsky scandal broke in January 1998.

The Pact is biographical in nature, highlighting the personal accomplishments and struggles of Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton. Dr. Gillon notes at the beginning the similarities of both men having strong mothers and emotionally distant stepfathers, and shadows of that carry through the book. Both men first ran for Congress in 1974 and the author describes both as being very intelligent and intellectually curious, and both are incredibly gifted in many respects with a parallel lack of self-discipline in other respects. Both value the middle road where things can get done. But while President Clinton tended toward being more emotionally intelligent and appearing soft on the outside with a stubborn inner core, Speaker Gingrich is a man who is highly combative and bombastic on the outside with a soft inner core.

Dr. Gillon brings us many reminders of the highly complex nature of American politics, as power, ideology, personality, and what is doable versus what is desired all collide. The Pact is an excellent review American politics of the 1990s viewed through the lives of two men who embodied the public discussions of the time.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
January 29, 2012

Triple Cross: Israel, the Atomic Bomb & the Man Who Spilled the Secrets by Louis Toscano. Birch Lane Press / Carol Publishing Group, 1990. 321 pp.

This current events inside scoop from 1990 was written by a veteran journalist of United Press International to tell the how and why behind the man who in 1986 leaked photographs of Israel’s nuclear weapons program. In 1985, Mordechai Vanunu had been working at the Dimona plant for eight years when he decided he could no longer stomach the state of things in Israel because of his increasingly pro-Arab views. On the way out, he took some pictures, not sure exactly what he would do with them. Months later, Mr. Vanunu permitted his photographs to be published by the Sunday Times of London along with an account of his story. He was subsequently kidnapped by Israeli intelligence and transported back to Israel for a secret trial and sentencing. Mr.Toscano notes that it was later found that the Israeli government became aware of the pictures at the highest level of government, and still permitted them to be published.

Though he did not interview Mr. Vanunu for this book, Mr. Toscano notes that he interviewed more than 120 people for the report. Triple Cross is an intriguing and compelling tale of the intersections of religious, political, and economic philosophies along with personal backgrounds, families, life struggles, and accidents of history.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
January 24, 2012

The Final Move Beyond Iraq by Mike Evans. Front Line / A Strang Company, 2006. 344 pp.

This now somewhat dated work details many of the struggles of fighting Islamic terrorism in Iraq during the time of the U.S. military occupation, and the reasons the author believes conquering Islamic terrorism there would keep a radical Iran at bay and hinder that terrorism from coming to the U.S. homeland. The Final Move Beyond Iraq also covers some aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian “peace process,” Bible prophecy, and the problems of the world powers asking Israel to pay the bill in giving land to appease the terrorists. Mike Evans is known as a Middle East expert and Christian evangelist.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
January 12, 2012

Icon of Evil: Hitler’s Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam by David G. Dalin and John F. Rothmann. Random House, 2008. 227 pp.

Haj Amin al-Husseini was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem from 1921 until 1937, an official Muslim religious position at that time appointed by the British civil authorities. Born in Jerusalem, al-Husseini received his early education in Egypt which included a strong anti-Semitism, and rose to become the most recognized leading voice of the Arab world during the Nazi era.

Icon of Evil tells of al-Husseini’s efforts in Jerusalem to organize violent demonstrations and attacks against the Jews of Palestine, and his later cooperation with the Nazi. He was essentially on the run in exile in various places from 1937 until his Berlin arrival in 1941 where he remained until the end of the war. From Berlin, Germany, al-Husseini broadcast anti-Jewish pro-Nazi radio messages to the Muslim world via German and even Japanese radio stations. After the war he continued his anti-Jewish pursuits in the Middle East.

Icon of Evil is well worth reading and contains a wealth of bibliography, though as a biographical work it is not as extensive as it could be. Readers may note a few instances of poor editing. For example, it is not until the third reference to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion that the common obligatory explanation is given that the Protocols are well-known to be a forgery. If not careful, the reader may not immediately realize an entire 10-page chapter is given to an imaginative scenario of Hitler’s victory and al-Husseini’s continued rise in fame and influence of which the authors believe al-Husseini may have dreamed.

Authors Dalin and Rothmann accomplish a very needed work in Icon of Evil, reminding a forgetful American audience of previous generations of Islamic terrorism and the connections to our day. The anti-Jewish Arab terrorists of today do not stand alone but have clearly walked in the footsteps of their forefathers.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
November 21, 2011

Hitler’s Holy Relics: A True Story of Nazi Plunder and the Race to Recover the Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire by Sidney D. Kirkpatrick. Simon & Schuster, 2010. 316 pp.

When Adolf Hitler invaded Austria, one of his great accomplishments was to take the long venerated crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire from Vienna and bring them to Nuremburg where for a time they were celebrated and kept on public display. By the end of the war however, they had been moved to a secret bunker, and at the last minute the most prized items essential for the coronation of a Holy Roman Emperor were removed.

Best-selling author and filmmaker Sidney D. Kirkpatrick brings the reader a true crime story that reads like a thriller novel, and in the process educates us concerning the historical significance of the crown jewels as well as some of the mystical and occult beliefs and obsessions of the Nazi German leadership in their quest for world domination. Hitler’s Holy Relics follows the true story of German born and educated U.C. Berkley art history professor Lieutenant Walter Horn (1908-1995) as he serves with U.S. Army intelligence and is assigned to locate and recover the missing crown jewels.

Through Lt. Horn’s investigation, we learn of the importance of the Nuremberg Castle and the Kings Chapel, overlooking the church where the crown jewels had been kept centuries before and where Holy Roman Emperors had attended services. Lt. Horn discovered that the famed Nazi party parade grounds in Nuremberg had been designed in the shape of a spear point, precisely aligned with the Kings Chapel about two miles distant. The spear of significance was the Spear of Destiny, or Holy Lance, venerated by the Catholic Church and Roman Emperors for centuries as the spear which pierced the side of Jesus Christ, and believed to convey great power to the possessor.

These and many other details are brought to light by Mr. Kirkpatrick through Lt. Horn’s investigation. Many dismiss Hitler as simply insane, but this work lets us in on some of the beliefs that took him there. It is a very worthwhile work providing much insight into Nazi Germany, European history, and the broader story of the quest for empire.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
November 15, 2011

God’s Greatest Passion: Every Christian, Everywhere, Sharing Jesus by H.L. Hussmann. PBL Productions, 2006. 388 pp.

Far too many Christians in America are content to be go-to-church Christians, giving little thought or effort to sharing their faith. For those who want to do something, far too many feel fearful and ill-equipped. In God’s Greatest Passion, a formerly fearful Christian-turned-evangelism instructor puts to rest nearly every excuse most Christians have for not proclaiming the Gospel, showing us how we can and why we should share Jesus everywhere.

In God’s Greatest Passion, author H.L. Hussmann reviews the elementary basics in most every topic area, including the connection between evangelism and prayer, the essence of the Gospel, the reality of the devil and hell, basic apologetics, the myth of the “gift” of evangelism, the importance of taking risks, and much more. For those not accustomed to reading, this nearly 400-page book might appear intimidating, but the author has neatly broken down the material into thirty-one bite-size chapters and anyone should be able to complete the book in one month.

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” If you are a believer in Jesus as the Savior of the world, Jesus has sent you, and this book will give you all the basic reminders necessary to go and do something for Jesus. Mr. Hussmann is a graduate of Murray State University in Kentucky, and is experienced as a campus minister, conference speaker, and a proclaimer of the Gospel in all kinds of settings. More information is available at www.GodsGreatestPassion.com.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
October 12, 2011

Fathered by God: Learning What Your Dad Could Never Teach You by John Eldredge. Thomas Nelson, 2009. 223 pp.

“Our Father, who art in heaven…” It’s such a simple truth and so easy to forget. Multiple times Scripture reminds us that God is a father for the fatherless. Best-selling author John Eldredge has written Fathered by God to remind us that God wants to be your Father, and He knows how to guide boys and men through the phases and stages of life. In Fathered by God, Mr. Eldredge lays out the journey of manhood in six stages he calls boyhood, cowboy, warrior, lover, king, and sage. For each phase he describes its attributes and ways each aspect of manhood can be wounded.

Fathered by God is casual reading and should be easily understood by men who are not accustomed to reading. John Eldredge encourages men to seek God and hear from Him in everything, and lets us know that God is already with us, desiring to lead and teach us in everything. He points to examples of biblical characters and the way God led each of them in life, and the author mentions a number of examples from popular movies to illustrate his points. Readers should remember that the six stages of manhood outlined are Mr. Eldredge’s ideas, and in addition should remember not to form a complete theology of God from these ideas. Fathered by God could be very helpful for many men who are lost and confused in life and need to know that God is there.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
September 25, 2011

Constitutional Chaos: What Happens When the Government Breaks Its Own Laws by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano. Nelson Current / Thomas Nelson, 2004. 234 pp.

Popular Fox News Channel commentator Judge Napolitano wrote this his first book to show Americans example after example of government lying and lawbreaking all done for the supposed purpose of enforcing the law. He relates experiences from his years as a judge in New Jersey, and tells of his change from being a law-and-order conservative to a “rugged individualist” with a strong belief in constitutional protections and the need for the courts to keep a check on the government. Judge Napolitano gives the readers many examples of government attacks on individual rights and he highlights very serious problems with work of attorneys general Janet Reno and John Ashcroft. This book would be a useful wake-up call for anyone who naively believes that the government is a friend and only wants to protect us, and it will introduce the average person to some key concepts in constitutional liberties.

Video review by Tom Ryerson
September 12, 2011

A Brief History of the World, Parts 1, 2, and 3 by Professor Peter N. Stearns. The Teaching Company, 2007. Video total running time 18 hours. Course guidebook included.

In this lecture series by a preeminent historian, the viewer is invited to take in a broad scope of time concerning human history on planet earth. Professor Stearns takes the civilizational approach, defining civilizations, exploring comparisons and contrasts among them, as well as contacts and influences between civilizations. The course begins with brief references to the eons past and quickly moves to around 3500 B.C., outlining the basics of the Sumerians, Egyptians, and others.

This series would be valuable for anyone wanting a better grasp of world history, but it must be noted that the concepts and terminology explored are sometimes abstract, and require a measure of prerequisite understanding as Professor Stearns explains various civilizations’ class structure, political, religious, and economic systems. Emphasis is on themes and concepts rather than on specifics, though many specific examples are given to illustrate the concepts. The video includes many helpful maps and graphics. The course divides time into the pre-classical (3500 B.C. – 1000 B.C.), classical (1000 B.C. – A.D. 500), post-classical (500-1450), early modern (1450-1750), long 19^th century (1750-1914), and contemporary (1914-present). A.D. 1450 falls at the halfway point of the 18 hours of lecture.

Professor Stearns explains that the teaching of world history as a separate field is only about 20 years old, and there is much still to be settled as to how world history should be taught to an American audience accustomed to studying only western civilization. The experience of his forty years in the field of history and as editor of the Journal of Social History comes through as he takes pains to elucidate difficult aspects of the academic field in light of competing ideas. Overall, the world history material as presented is handled in an even-handed, dispassionate manner palatable to the widest American audience possible.

Religion does not receive excess attention by any means, but appears to be handled in as reasonable a manner as one would expect from an honest secular historian attempting to give a balanced treatment of cultural influences across the centuries. Professor Stearns several times notes the cultures that have been primarily polytheistic and those which have been monotheistic, and while the Jewish people receive almost no attention in this teaching of world history, the professor comments that it was the Jews who first gave the world the idea of monotheism.

A Brief History of the World would be well worth the time and effort for many, including homeschoolers, college students, and life-long learners in any stage of life. Courses from The Teaching Company are designed to be college-level material without the assignments and without the credit. A course guidebook includes a somewhat condensed version of the lectures in a readable outline format. More information is available at www.TheGreatCourses.com.

Book review by Tom Ryerson
September 6, 2011

The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised as Freedom by David Kupelian. WND Books / Cumberland House Publishing, 2005. 256 pp.

In the Garden of Eden, a deceiver successfully caused bad fruit to appear good, and since that time there has never been an end to those who seek to call wrong right and say that evil is good. In The Marketing of Evil, the managing editor of World Net Daily examines issues such as abortion, the homosexual agenda, government education, and religious freedom to give us the inside scoop on the campaigns to make evil look like the best thing since sliced bread.

A veteran journalist, David Kupelian carefully critiques the methods by which sound reasoning is turned upside down to confuse those not grounded in truth and God’s Word. Mr. Kupelian has very insightful comments on the U.S. Constitution, for example, when he teaches clearly that a truly “living” document, a truly “living” contract, is one that has integrity in words. A document that can be twisted to mean anything is a dead document. He exposes the history of efforts to make government education a place for churning out mindless followers of the system, and of the expert marketing, persuasion, and propaganda strategies applied by the homosexual special interest groups since the early 1980s to push a minority view on the population.

The Marketing of Evil challenges the reader to think about how those who are corrupted seek to silence those who are uncorrupted, since even the mere presence of the innocent brings to light the nature of evil, and uncovers the loud voice of each man’s God-given conscience. This book is recommended for any concerned American wanting to know more about how things got to be the way they are.