Bill Rice

Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. Townsend: Boundaries in Marriage
An excellent book on strengthening your marriage, regardless of where it is at today, or your spouse's willingness to tackle issues. "Boundaries" gives practical advice on setting up boundaries to build a good marriage, with in-laws, children, co-workers and others. (****)

Mark Bowden: Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War
Reads better than Clancy! This and Gen. Harold Moore's book are by far my favorite accounts of a battle. Bowden did the deep research with the soldiers who fought the battle and travelled to Somali to give a most important account of true valor. The struggle of the Delta men and Army Rangers and 160th SOAR should be kept in mind when any administration goes about foreign policy in a half baked way. (*****)

Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird
While I tend to read far more fiction, Harper Lee's timeless classic of racial tension, good vs. evil and loving story of a father and his children make for a powerful read. (*****)

Carl von Clausewitz: On War
Probably the best translation of this Realist classic. Peter Paret and Michael Howard have put together the scholar's version of "On War". The Prussian military advice resonates still firmly today. (*****)

Tod E. Bolsinger: It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian: How the Community of God Transforms Lives
An extremely well research book for those interesting in promoting communal Christian living in their churches. The Exceptional Life is found in a Triune God made visable through the community of believers. (****)

Harold G. Moore & Joseph Galloway: We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: Ia Drang--The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam
A very compelling and heart-wrenching account of the soldiers who fought bravely in the Ia Drang Valley, Vietnam, in 1965. The commanding officer (Moore) and a reporter who was there (Galloway) write a moving account. (*****)

Armand M. Nicholi Jr.: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life
A balanced account of an athiest viewpoint (Freud) vs. a Christian viewpoint (Lewis). The author, who teaches a class at Harvard on the two, compares their lives and views. (****)

Dennis Ross: The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace
No other book does a better job of describing from the inside the history and failure of the Middle East peace process. Dennis Ross represented the US for 12 years of negotiations. (****)

Gary Chapman: The Five Love Languages: Five Love Languages
A great Valentine's gift! This simple book has a brillant premise: People give and receive love along 5 dominant traits: acts of service, quality time, gifts, physical touch, and words of affirmation. (****)

Samuel P. Huntington: The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
Written prior to 9/11 and based on a Foreign Affairs article, this book's thesis is "the increasing threat of violence arising from renewed conflicts between countries and cultures that base their traditions on religious faith and dogma". (****)

Barbara W. Tuchman: Guns of August
Guns of August is a Pulitzer Prize winning work about the first month of the First World War. Tuchman masterfully lays out the history of the war with describing its opening month. (*****)

Hamilton, Madison, Jay: The Federalist Papers
Federalist Papers is a great reminder of the strong principles America was founded upon. (*****)

John W. Dower: Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II
Embracing Defeat is a excellent look at post war Japan. It is extremely relevant to US occupation of Iraq. (****)

Adam B. Ulam: The Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks is a great read on the beginning of the Communist party in Russia. (****)

Henry Kissinger: Diplomacy
A good realpolitic guide to how Diplomacy is conducted. Kissenger examines three centuries of nation state involvement. (****)

John Keegan: A History of Warfare
While I don't agree with Keegan's main thesis, I believe his a History of Warfare does one of the best jobs of describing war and its effect on civilization throughout the ages. (****)

Gen. Douglas MacArthur: Reminiscences
My Dad's favorite book, and a very compelling read, Reminiscences is an autobiography of one of America's most distinguished generals. (****)