Nine Books I Believe Every Well-Rounded Person Should Read

Introduction

     I am diverting from politics for a little bit to infuse some variety into my writing. I want to be well-rounded myself, not just a political geek. So, here are my nine books that I think everybody should read: (Note: These are in no specific order.)

1. A Short History of the Renaissance and Reformation Europe: Dances over Fire and Water by Jonathan Zophy

     Recounting the story of Medieval Europe in meticulous detail, this well-written book gives what I think to be some of the most thorough descriptions of what the Renaissance and Reformation were like.

2. The Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed

     The Lords of Finance, a critically acclaimed book, walks you through the stories of the four bankers who "broke the world" during the Great Depression. I found while reading this book that I could not tear my eyes away for one moment.

3. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

     One cannot just look at Napoleon and see another figure in world history; you would be blind to the fact that looking at Napoleon is looking at many people you see today. Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, and even Steve Jobs could be equated with him. They are all either successful, power-driven, or ambitious. In order to see how they think, studying Napoleon's life is an absolute necessity.

4. Dracula by Bram Stoker

     If anyone considers themselves readers -of fiction or nonfiction- you have to have read Dracula. If not, you are missing out on a cultural and classical experience that you will no doubt want to read again, and perhaps once more after that.

5. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

     An inspiring tale that will keep you immersed from cover to cover, The Hobbit has already gotten its share of attention from the movies based off the book. You will find Tolkien's clever humor in various subtle remarks throughout the book. 

6. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

     Whether you consider yourself a Christian or not, Mere Christianity is a recommended read because it contains  philosophical and academic arguments about various Christian topics that even the secularist will find interesting to read. Even if reading this is just to broaden your horizons, it will no doubt be worth your while.

7. EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey

     Dave Ramsey, a highly respected businessman, recounts his story of failure and success in EntreLeadership. He describes the initial closing of his real estate conglomerate and how he worked hard just to eat. Then he reveals how he became the financial mogul he is today and lessons we can learn from his experiences.

8. Pour Your Heart Into It by Howard Schultz

     Everyone drinks Starbucks... at least everyone who is human. Howard Schultz describes his life growing up in the Projects and how he fought to grow his once-small coffee company into the beverage empire it is today.

9. The Art of War by Sun Tzu

     Have you ever seen those movies with the mysterious Chinese guy that is all-wise living in the mountains? This is Sun Tzu, except Sun Tzu is real. The Art of War gives timeless advice on how to deal with relationships or business matters calmly and strategically.

Rex Tillerson: Who Is He and Will He Be Secretary of State?

Rex Tillerson

     Rex Tillerson is Trump's Secretary of State nominee. Scrutinized by many people on both sides of the aisle, he is commonly associated with "big oil", "climate change deniers", and the "top 1%". 

     He was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. When he was young, he became a boy scout, eventually rising to become an Eagle Scout, one of the highest ranks in the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from the University of Texas with an engineering degree, and after school, became an engineer at Exxon Mobil. 

     After becoming CEO in 2006, Exxon Mobil has become widely criticized for allegedly denying climate change. During his tenure as CEO, he has supposedly conducted business in Sudan, Syria, and Iran. 

As Trump's Nominee

     Chosen by Trump to be the Secretary of State, his politics have quickly come to the spotlight. He is pro-free trade, supporting the TPP, which is a trade agreement with eleven other Pacific nations, including Japan. In an op-ed in the New York Times, he has expressed his support for Common Core standards in our schools. 

     While questioned by many Republicans on his ethics, he has also donated to many Republican candidates, including Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and George Bush. As a traditional conservative Texan, his "conservative credentials" are undeniable. 

Conclusion

    Clearly a dividing figure, it is up in the air as to whether or not he will be Secretary of State. Liberal Democrats will certainly not want a pro-oil man in one of the most powerful positions in the United States. Conservative Republicans, on the other hand, will be completely in favor of a man who has supported them and their ideals in the past, and will no doubt continue to do so.

Putin's Rise to Power

Vladimir Putin

     Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, the world's most powerful man, is a man everyone should know about. Whether you like him or not, it's vital that we see how he rose to power and how he revived Russia to become a world power once again.

     Early Life:

     Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad on October 7, 1952, to a factory worker and a conscript in the Soviet Navy. In the Russia Putin grew up in, Eastern Orthodox Christianity was outlawed. Nonetheless, his extremely devout mother baptized him no matter how illegal it was.

     From a young age, he was interested in sports, martial arts, and he wanted to become a secret service officer. In sixth grade, he realized he needed to get good grades in order to become something big; through his persistence, he eventually did so.

     After graduating from a chemistry-centered school, Putin attended Leningrad State University, from which he graduated with a law degree. Fulfilling his childhood dream, he applied for the KGB (Russian secret service) and was one of very few people to successfully get in.

   Not very much is known about Putin's early life. He has always wanted to keep it hidden. Even his family is seen very rarely. When asked why he keeps his early and personal life in the dark, he said that many people have ruined their political careers by flaunting their past and personal selves.

Career in the KGB:

     Fresh out of training, he was assigned to the foreign service branch, which recruits foreigners to join Russian secret service. But, before he did so, he got married in the early 1980s. 

     

     He was assigned to East Germany. He was one of very few servicemen to enjoy the Germans' company and culture. He genuinely enjoyed conversing with them and grew to respect Germany as a country.

    The most striking event during Putin's assignment in East Germany was the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. Russia was being led by Mikhail Gorbachev, whom Putin grew to admire and support. During the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, there was much rioting and many demonstrations in the streets. Because of the great threat the disorganization posed, Putin burned KGB documents to prevent them from being captured by rioters.

     Eventually, he was to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was then assigned to St. Petersburg University serving as a foreign relations officer. There was an attempted coup d'etat against President Gorbachev and Putin then had to choose a side, the communist rebels or the democratically-elected Russian government. He made his choice; he immediately came to the aid of President Gorbachev which led to his becoming Deputy Prime Minister. 

     Presidency:

     Suddenly, with no warning, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as President of Russia. Putin, being the next in line, immediately took up the presidency in 2000.

Military:

     Mr. Putin's goal was to revive Russia as a world power. He immediately took steps to organize and professionalize Russia's conscript force. Russia now spends more of its GDP on its military than the U.S. does. Russia's military is now one of the largest, most organized, and most powerful in the world. 

Foreign Policy:

     As President, he has made many foreign policy moves that had polar reactions. He has shown good will to Israel by being one of the first Russian politicians to ever visit the Middle Eastern state. He has also shown good will to Bashar al-Assad of Syria and the government of Iran, which has been criticized the world over. When President Obama lashed out against Assad over use of chemical weapons on Syrian rebels, Putin came to Assad's defense, claiming that accusations of use of chemical weapons on his people were unsupported. 

     Putin has improved relations with many Asian countries like China, Iran, and Syria at the price of good relations with the European Union. While political unrest was rampant in Ukraine, Putin sent in roughly 16,000 military personnel to seize land. He has defended the action claiming that they were not invading troops.

     In 2015, Russia shocked the world by beginning strategic airstrikes in Syria. While Russia says these airstrikes are focused against ISIL, there are some who claim that some of these strikes are actually targeted against Syrian rebels.

Domestic Policy:

     To the West's dismay, Putin severely limited the rights of gay couples, completely ridding them of adoption rights and freedom of expression. Putin wants children in Russia to have Russian parents, so he passed a law saying that U.S. parents cannot adopt Russian children.

     He has increased central control over media and big corporations in Russia. He has had many reporters arrested and he was in charge of the demise of many influential Russian business leaders.

     Under his leadership, the Russian parliament passed laws extending the Russian presidency from four to six years. Yet, he retains one of the highest approval ratings by his people in the world. 

Conclusion:

     Vladimir Putin's persistence, resolve, and political brilliance makes him one of the most feared men in the world. He has no intention of backing down from power any time soon, and you can be assured that Putin will be in world news again soon.