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Books

I always wanted to have a section on the Ferrispark Records website dedicated to books. My passion for reading is as serious as my passion for music. In fact, many books that I read inspire the music I write. I’ve decided to post little reviews and sometimes my ‘two cents’ about what makes a particular book or author important. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

The following is a little blurb that I originally wrote for the “Books” page on the FPR website…

“This section of the website is devoted to acknowledging authors and their writings that I believe could be useful for broadening ones mind and creating a more introspective and excepting society.

One phenomena of being born an American is living in a very diverse and very young society created from thousands of ancient and modern cultural, religious, and philosophical ideas. One land shared by a society of millions with an infinite amount of individual and group perspective. The American people’s worldly knowledge became my best and most impressive teacher, plunging me into a sea of learning and ideologic exception.

Another, and much less impressive phenomena is that America (at this moment in time) with such diverse cultural, religious and personal ideas could be broken down into two categories, liberal democrats and conservative republicans. To restrictive I think.

Many and most of the featured writings are considered to be of a liberal and democratic nature. I can assure you that I am both and I am neither. I’ve learned to acknowledge and embrace a plethora of personal ideas and beliefs. Democratic and Republican, Capitalist and Communist, Eastern and Western, Religious and Philosophical, and so on. The following books have helped expand and broaden my thinking process.”

With that said lets start…

Catch - 22 by Joseph Heller

One of the funniest dark comedies every written. This is an antiwar book about a fictitious group of US bombers stationed on an island off the coast of Italy during WWII. The book focuses on the hypocrisy of the war machine and points out some absurdities in the rules of war and the hierarchy of commanding officers. Catch 22 even takes a stab at Capitalism through the greedy and sneeky character Milo. The book follows the main character Yossaian’s story of life, love, and death during his tour of duty. Packed with unforgettable characters, Heller tells a very funny and witty story about a very sad reality. If you like to laugh at things that shouldn’t necessarily be funny, I recommend this book.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

This book is based on the ancient Toltec teachings of southern Mexico. Its along the same lines as the Carlos Castaneda books but less magical and more straight forward. The author, Don Miguel Ruiz shares with the reader Toltec wisdom that can lead to a more fulfilling life. The book discusses how our own self-limiting beliefs can stop happiness and freedom and how a change of attitude can help fix the problem. I really liked the book due to it being filled with some good positive ideas as opposed to dogmatic drivel. If you like Castaneda, Native American philosophy, Buddhism, or other things of this nature, I recommend this book. Also if you feel negative, hate life, or constantly blame others for your unhappiness, you may want to take a look at it too.

Against Empire by Michael Parenti

Well, I read this book a very long time ago so I’ll tell you about it to the best my memory will allow. The book is about the effects of imperialism and US domination on the World. I enjoy these kinds of books due to the fact that I am always interested in an authors opinion as to what exactly these effects are. Parenti has written a large number of books closely related to this particular subject and is believed by some to be an expert on this matter. Others believe he hates America and is the son of Satan. I’ll leave that up to you to decide. If you like US politics, US history, World politics, and Satan. I recommend this book.

The African Dream by Ernesto “Che” Guevara

This book is the written journals of the infamous Argentinean revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara while in Africa. In 1965 Guevara left Fidel Castro’s Cuba in order to pursue his dream of a worldwide Communist Revolution and help guerrilla fighters in the Congo defeat Western imperialism. A very personnel look at Ernesto Guevara’s thoughts and emotions. If you like revolutions, Communism, or reading personnel information about interesting historical figures, I recommend this book.

100 Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

An amazing fantasy about the history of the small town of Macondo told through the lives of the Buendia family. The book is filled with mysterious and magical characters each one more interesting and unique then the other. Marquez paints pictures with words and touches upon the most trivial workings of the human mind and soul. This is probably the most famous of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s writings and reasonably so. All though at times the book can become slightly confusing due to many of the characters sharing the same name, it is well worth the read. If you enjoy life, love, poetic writing, and stories that capture the imagination from beginning to end, I recommend this book.

“The only difference today between Liberals and Conservatives is that the Liberals go to mass at five o’clock and the Conservatives at eight” - 100 Years of Solitude

Another Country By James Baldwin

Once again I read this book many years ago but I can tell you that I liked it a lot and I also really dig everything else I’ve ever read by Baldwin. He touches on love and desire in many interesting and thoughtful ways. The following below is a synopsis copied from Amazon. (I may have to do this from time to time…) I recommend this book if you like an author with originality and depth.

“Published in 1962, this is an emotionally intense novel of love, hatred, race and liberal America in the 1960s. Set in Greenwhich Village, Harlem and France, ANOTHER COUNTRY tells the story of the suicide of jazz-musician Rufus Scott and the friends who search for an understanding of his life and death, discovering uncomfortable truths about themselves along the way”

Ancient Evenings by Norman Mailer

This is one crazy ass book. Mailer bases his fiction story on archeological facts and modern ideas of Egyptian history, religion, and culture. The story revolves around the mighty Egyptian gods, its infamous pharaohs, historic battles and the beautiful and seductive women who reined during Egypt’s most powerful point in time. It may have taken Norman Mailer 10 years to write all 844 pages of this book but it was worth every bit of it. If you like Egyptian culture and history, amazing story telling, and stories of lust, love, religion, and power, I recommend this book.

All Things Censored by Mumia Abu Jamal

This book is the published version of short journals by Mumia Abu Jamal that were supposed to be aired on NPR’s “All Things Considered”. When some sponsors who were offended by the material threatened to stop their money donations, the show was canceled. So much for all things considered. The essays are extremely critical of Americas racial predigests and treatment of the poor. The author Mumia Abu Jamal is currently on Death Row for the murder of a police officer. Jamal claims he is innocent and was framed due to the content of his essays and spoken word.

The Assassination of Malcolm X By Breitman, Porter, and Smith

The following book explores in depth the assassination of Malcolm X. Who and why? Brought to the forefront are coverups during the police investigation and crucial evidence ignored and manipulated by the US government during the trial. Secret FBI files indicating possible government complicity in the crime. If you like government conspiracies, Malcolm X, and African American history I recommend this book.

Assata By Assata Shakur

Assata is one amazing women and this book is excellent way to have some understanding as to why I say this. As a Black Nationalist Shakur was harassed, shot, tortured, and imprisoned. Her beliefs about Black Power, Civil Rights, and even love were constantly challenged by her peers, the government and its civil servants. Through all this she fought for her right to live with dignity and freedom. Her life story is truly awing and inspiring. Rap artist Common sums it up in his tribute song to Assata from the album, Like Water for Chocolate. “I can’t imagine if that would of been me, all of this just so that we could be free”

If you dig some Black Power, inspirational individuals, and some seriously ill shit boy, check this book.

The Teachings Of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda

One of my favorite series of all time, only second to Harry Potter.

This is the first of a series that spanned many books and many years. Take a drug induced journey with Carlos Castaneda, a young Anthropologist who befriends a mysterious and wise Toltec Nagual by the name of Don Juan. Don Juan posses a great knowledge of an ancient world almost forgotten. He would like to share this knowledge with the young Castaneda if he his willing. In “The Teachings of Don Juan” everything that Carlos Castaneda has ever believed to be real, will be challenged…

reader’s note: most people quit after the first book because they do not like the ending, I encourage you to read on… I have read 14 books in the series and enjoyed everyone of them.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

Unfortunately this book is non-fiction. If you like books with happy endings I strongly suggest that you DON’T read this one. This book made me cry more then “Old Yeller” and “Dancer in the Dark” combined. This tells the story of the demise of the indigenous people of (mostly western) North America. Whites were not nice to the indigenous people of North America. (or South America for that matter) The story ends with the murder of Sitting Bull, one of the greatest warriors and leaders known to the Lakota, and then is followed up by the murder of over 200 Lakota at Wounded Knee. Most of them women and children, almost all unarmed, and outnumbered at least two to one by soldiers from the US Cavalry and the Reservation Police. To make things even more one sided the US Cavalry lined up two Hotchkiss rapid fire guns on their outer defense and riddled women and children with bullets as they fled for safety. To top it all off eight “Medals of Honor” were handed out to the brave soldiers who murdered woman and children in cold blood. Some of the political actions by Americans and the atrocities they committed are hard for me to forgive. Imagine how the people of the once great Tribes feel.

Black Rage by Grier and Cobbs

Two Afro-American psychiatrists take a deep look into the effects that slavery, segregation, and forced inferiority have had on Blacks in the United States. This book should be required reading for all students across the US. Wether white, black, latino, etc… I think this book would help different cultures have a better understanding of what has made Afro-Americans triumph as well as suffer throughout their history in the US. This book also helps to understand what must be done by Afro-Americans as well as society in order to keep moving forward in a positive way.
I suggest this book to everyone.

Black Players by Christina & Richard Milner
Christina Milner becomes “Tiger Red” a topless dancer in order to infiltrate the underground world of “Pimps and Ho’s”. For over two years she and her husband immerse themselves in the lifestyle of Pimping in order to gain a knowledge and understanding of how this complex culture works. From their experiences and studies comes “Black Players: The Secret World of Black Pimps”

If you are interested in Pimpin or unique subculture this book is for you.

Black Mutiny by William A. Owens
The story of the mutiny aboard the slaveship Amistad. A fascinating and true story.

Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
As a life changing experiment John Griffin perms his hair and darkens his skin in order to take a journey through the Deep South of the United States. During his short travels as a black man, Griffin documents how truly different he is treated by both whites and blacks. This book is both sad and uplifting but more then anything it may make you rethink how you treat those who’s features and culture is different from your own.

Black Boy by Richard Wright
f you want to journey into the mind of another being and touch their soul, Richard Wright will take you there.
All I have to say is read anything by Richard Wright! A truly amazing writer.

Malcolm X (Autobiography)
Here is an incredible book written about an amazing man with an extraordinary life. If you are interested in Malcolm X in any way you should consider reading this book. Its one of my favorites, following the man born Malcolm Little through his childhood, his teen years, and his growth to an adult and the evolution of becoming Malcolm X to renouncing the Nation of Islam before his death. It takes a great man to tell the world about his beliefs and a greater man to admit he was wrong about them.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
The classic children’s tale about a little girl on her father’s farm surrounded by talking animals. Its a good book. I recommend it to all.

Harry Potter And The… by J.K. Rowling
Well party people it has come to an end. More then a decade I have loved the story of Harry Potter with all of my heart. For me as it stands now, the greatest series of books written. I have finished reading the seventh and final installment of the Harry potter series and yes I must admit, I am very sad. The seventh and last book was incredible once again, forcing me to read straight on. Unable to set the book down until finished, my soul was guided through an emotional roller-coaster as J.K Rowling’s truly masterful story always does. Even though the story ends here, the most important thing is that it was written. It can be reread by old fans and discovered by first timers all around the world for centuries to come.

Thank you Harry Potter for everything. I will miss you deeply, for you were truly a friend.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

The classic tale of ‘rebellious man versus oppressive society’. Great book. If you like Rebels, Revolutions, Jesus Christ, or just great characters in a good story (hence Jesus Christ), I recommend this book.

Detroit Lives by Robert H. Mast

In this book Mast compiles interviews with some of Detroit’s social activists who helped push for social rights among the working class, women, African Americans, and minorities since the 1930’s. Some inspirational stuff here, maybe human’s can make a better world for future generations. If you like Detroit, liberation, hopefulness, and human rights, I recommend this book.

W.E.B. Dubois Speaks