Author Archives: Harry Katz

Notes on An Insurrection

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Harry Katz

I usually post book reviews on this blog, but the books about Wednesday’s armed insurrection by a mob of violent white supremacists at the US Capitol, instigated by Donald Trump, have not yet been written. I’m not going to wait. … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Harry Katz

Reading, and writing about what I read, helped me stay sane this awful year. I’m glad to wrap up 2020 with Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Caste: The Origins of Our DiscontentsBy Isabel WilkersonRandom House, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Rewilding

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Harry Katz

What would it mean to “restore” Earth’s environment?  Scientists are warning us that climate change, deforestation, mass extinctions and a host of other environmental problems are driving the biosphere to a tipping point. How do we pull back from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A Promised Land

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Harry Katz

I don’t often read biographies, and I almost never read memoirs, but I made an exception for Barack Obama. His presidential memoir, A Promised Land, covers his early life and career through the first two years of his presidency, up … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Nonfiction November: New to My TBR

Posted on November 28, 2020 by Harry Katz

Nonfiction November 2020 wraps up with the 4th week, which I’m kind of stretching into a 5th, hosted by Katie @ Doing Dewey. And the prompt is: It’s been a month full of amazing nonfiction books! Which ones have made … Continue reading →

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A Life on Our Planet

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Harry Katz

David Attenborough has spent his entire career making documentary films about life on our planet. Series like Life on Earth, and The Blue Planet set the standards for outstanding film-making and educated hundreds of millions of people about the beauty, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Nonfiction November: Be the Expert/Ask the Expert/Become the Expert

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Harry Katz

Week 3 of Nonfiction November is hosted by Rennie @ What’s Nonfiction. And the prompt is: Three ways to join in this week! You can either share 3 or more books on a single topic that you have read and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Harry Katz

Humans are storytellers.  We tell stories to understand our place in the world and to give our lives purpose and meaning.  Shared stories help bind us together into communities, tribes, nations and civilizations.  We understand stories better than facts. 21 … Continue reading →

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Nonfiction November: Book Pairing

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Harry Katz

It’s week 2 of Nonfiction November and this week’s prompt comes from Julie @ JulzReads: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. It can be a “If you loved this book, read this!” or just two … Continue reading →

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Election Reflection:  A Narrow Escape

Posted on November 8, 2020 by Harry Katz

What a relief! Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been elected President and Vice President. Although the last few votes are still being counted in a couple of states, and there will still be some legal challenges, it’s clear they … Continue reading →

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