Category Archives: writing

Thrillseekers and Wanderers

Here’s another installment from my Tucson Festival of Books series. This was easily my favorite lecture of the entire festival. I could have listened to Hampton Sides and Kevin Fedarko banter for hours; it was truly a shame this conversation lasted only one hour. When Kevin Fedarko was asked to define was adventure was, he saidContinue reading “Thrillseekers and Wanderers”

 Virtual Voice Narration

I recently enrolled my books in Amazon’s virtual voice narration program, and I’m curious about people’s opinions regarding this technology. Personally, I don’t listen to audiobooks, but I do occasionally use voice playback while editing my work. So far, I’ve only sold a few audiobooks, and I haven’t received any reviews for feedback, which makesContinue reading ” Virtual Voice Narration”

Past as a Lens to the Future 

Here’s another installment from my Tucson Festival of Books series. Three historians—David Daley, Jeffrey Toobin, and Craig Unger—explored key moments in the history of the Republican Party over the past several decades. Their analysis aimed to shed light on the current direction of our country and what we might anticipate for the future. They covered topicsContinue reading “Past as a Lens to the Future “

Divided We Stand

Here’s another installment from my Tucson Festival of Books series. This lecture explored political party affiliation, ideological beliefs, and the exercise of First Amendment freedoms. Highlighting significant divisions within American society, the authors approached these topics from diverse perspectives.  This event was recorded if you’re interested in watching the panel discussion. The lecture began with JonathanContinue reading “Divided We Stand”

Our New Status Quo

Here’s another installment from my Tucson Festival of Books series. I arrived early to get a good spot in line for this talk because I feared it would fill up quickly and I would be turned away, just like I was for a previous lecture by Ryan Mac about Elon Musk. I wasn’t alone in myContinue reading “Our New Status Quo”

The Dangerous Manipulators

Here’s another installment from my Tucson Festival of Books series. This lecture was about how misinformation and disinformation are hardly new tools for American politicians. These three authors (Clay Risen, David Rohde, and Michael Tackett) shared tales about three master manipulators: Joseph McCarthy, Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. Overall, this was a very insightful discussion. InsteadContinue reading “The Dangerous Manipulators”

Arizona Stories

Here’s another installment from my Tucson Festival of Books series. This lecture focused entirely on Arizona and featured a panel of three authors. One of the panelists was the great-great-granddaughter of Sedona Schnebly, the person after whom Sedona, Arizona, is named. This connection inspired me to attend the lecture because I enjoy hiking in Sedona andContinue reading “Arizona Stories”

Tucson Festival of Books, 2025

For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing some highlights from the Tucson Festival of Books I attended on March 15-16. The first lecture I attended was titled “The Metals Powering Our World.” It featured authors Vince Beiser and Ernest Scheyder, who sat down with geologist Carmie Garzione to discuss the complexities and unintendedContinue reading “Tucson Festival of Books, 2025”

The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work

book review: The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work by Alain de Botton The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work by Alain de Botton is a unique exploration of the intricacies of various workplaces—a topic that is frequently discussed yet seldom chosen for a book. With his signature blend of philosophical insights and wit, de Botton takesContinue reading “The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work”