#1986 - Jack Carr

The Firm follows Mitch McDeere, a top Harvard Law graduate, who is aggressively recruited by Bendini, Lambert & Locke, a small but highly lucrative law firm in Memphis. The firm offers him an irresistible package of benefits, including a high salary, a new BMW, payment of his law school loans, and a luxurious lifestyle. However, Mitch soon discovers that the firm is involved in illegal activities, particularly money laundering for the Mafia. As an FBI investigation unfolds, Mitch is pressured to cooperate while navigating a treacherous moral landscape, trying to protect his family and his own life. The novel is a gripping tale of ambition, morality, and the high-stakes world of legal and criminal intrigue.

The novel tells the story of attorney Jake Brigance and his client, Carl Lee Hailey, whose ten-year-old daughter, Tonya, is raped by two white men. Carl Lee kills the rapists and is charged with capital murder. Jake Brigance, despite the dangers and racial tensions, defends Carl Lee in a trial that becomes a focal point for racial violence and community unrest. The story explores themes of inequality, intolerance, and retribution, set against the backdrop of a small town in Mississippi where ancestral racism remains strong.

Carl von Clausewitz's "On War" is a seminal work on military strategy, exploring the complex interplay of military, political, and social factors in warfare. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the nature of war as a dynamic and unpredictable phenomenon. The book delves into various aspects of military strategy, including the role of chance, the importance of morale, and the relationship between war and politics. Its enduring influence is evident in its continued relevance to military studies, international relations, and strategic thinking. It remains a cornerstone of military theory.

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

The Afghanistan Papers is a non-fiction book that exposes the U.S. government's decades-long failures in Afghanistan. Based on leaked documents and interviews, the book reveals a pattern of deception and misrepresentation regarding the war's progress and objectives. The authors detail how U.S. officials consistently downplayed the challenges and overstated their successes, leading to a prolonged and ultimately unsuccessful military campaign. The book raises serious questions about government transparency and accountability, and its impact on public trust. The Afghanistan Papers provides a critical examination of the war's history and its lasting consequences.

In this book, Peter Zeihan analyzes how the hard rules of geography are impacting American commitment to free trade, the global aging crisis affecting markets and capital supplies, and the unique advantages of the American economy, particularly its rapid approach to energy independence. The book highlights how these factors are overturning the global system and ushering in a new order. It emphasizes the strategic gambit made by the United States after World War II, the role of the U.S. Navy in enforcing a global arrangement, and how America's geography and youth population position it favorably in a de-globalizing world.

The Devil's Hand is the fourth book in Jack Carr's 'Terminal List' series. The story unfolds with a regional superpower facing sanctions from the United States and its European allies, leading the Supreme Leader to devise a plan to defeat the most powerful nation on earth. Meanwhile, a young PhD student gains access to a classified bioweapon and is assigned a mission to bring his adopted homeland to its knees. The book is known for its intense and gripping authenticity, reflecting Carr's real-world military experience.

In 'Only the Dead: The Persistence of War in the Modern Age,' Bear F. Braumoeller argues against the conventional wisdom that war is becoming less common. Using comprehensive data collection and modern statistical analysis, he demonstrates that interstate wars are as likely to break out and escalate as they have been in the past. Braumoeller emphasizes that the key to understanding trends in warfare lies in the formation of international orders, which can reduce conflict within their borders but also clash violently with other orders. The book provides a realistic assessment of humanity's efforts to abolish warfare, highlighting the successes and limitations of international institutions in preventing war.

Point of Impact is a gripping novel that follows Bob Lee Swagger, a skilled Marine sniper from Vietnam, as he is manipulated into a conspiracy involving a shadowy military organization. Framed for an assassination attempt, Swagger must use his exceptional sniper skills to evade capture and uncover the truth behind the plot. The novel explores themes of betrayal, conspiracy, and redemption, set against the backdrop of American politics.