Welcome to a new feature of my blog where I’d list books from a certain category which you can download for free. I call this feature Tightwad Tuesday because I’m a tightwad…and it’s Tuesday. For the Kindle: The Remnant – Stories of the Jewish Resistance in WWII (Boomer Book Series) by Othniel J. Seiden After researching the transcripts of the Nuremburg Trials and interviewing ‘The Remnant’ or Jewish survivors of the holocaust, many still living in Israel; Othniel Seiden was compelled to write their startling and remarkable stories of World War II. In this stunning and compelling historical novel about the Jews who were able to remain free and fight, Seiden documents their survival, their suffering, their missions and their guerrilla warfare tactics against the Nazi occupation forces. Also, well documented, the tragedy of Kiev and now infamous ravine of Babi Yar where it is thought that nearly a million people, Jews and non-Jews alike were massacred. These brave few escaped the certain death of their co-religionists by acts of bravery and sheer determination to live. The myth that the Jewish people ‘went to their deaths like sheep to slaughter. . .’ is put to rest forever in the stories of…

About: The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by RJ Smith is a biographyof the Godfather of Soul. The title “The One” refers mainly to the artist’s emphasis on playing the right beat. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— use the form at the end of the post to enter. 464 pages Publisher: Gotham (March 15, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1592406572 My rating for The One – 5 Buy this book in paper or electronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by RJ Smith Thoughts: The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by RJ Smith is a true testament that the nickname of “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business” is not an empty gesture. While I don’t think I’d like to have worked with Mr. Brown or even would have liked him personally, I can certainly appreciate and even admire his work ethic. In this new biography, which digresses often but always stays on message, James Brown comes across as a demanding, violent, abusing and demanding man. However, this giant of music grew up in violent times; shaped by a segregated South in a rural community riddled with crime and poverty, which he never…

On 3 October, 1993 soldiers from the United States Delta Force, Army Rangers, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division,UN forces, and Navy SEALs attempted to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a Somali warlord in Mogadishu

On 17 December, 1862 Major-General Ulysses S. Grant issued his infamous General Order No. 11 expelling all Jews from his military district

About: Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of The Class by Cynthia Kocialski is a non-fiction business book in which the author talks gives some advice and observations about success. This is a short book, written in personal and informal style. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— enter at the end of the post. 112 pages Publisher: CreateSpace ISBN: 1466404787 My rating for Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success –5 Great price on this book in paper for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Cynthia Kocialski Thoughts: In Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of The Class author Cynthia Kocialski (web­site |blog) provides entertaining and useful advice to parents and their children. What I like about Ms. Kocialski’s books (I read two so far) is that she writes from experience, in a very knowledgeable, authoritative yet understandable voice. While one could consider Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success a business book, it is no written as such and the author reflects on her success at the end of each chapter. If the book has a theme…

About: Late for Tea at the Deer Palace : The Lost Dreams of My Iraqi Family by Tamara Chalabi is a book which was hard to classify. Part history, part cultural, part fictional and non-fictional family saga and all about a bygone era. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— enter at the end of the post. 448 pages Publisher: Harper (January 18, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0061240397 My rating for Late for Tea at the Deer Palace – 5 Great price on this book in paper format through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Tamara Chalabi Thoughts: I believe that Late for Tea at the Deer Palace by Tamara Chalabi is the first book I read because I have heard of the author’s father. I recognize Ahmad Chalabi’s name from years of living in the Middle East as well as his temporary high profile during The Gulf War where he was accused of many things, including being a triple agent giving faulty intelligence. However, the story of Ahmad Chalabis rise and fall is the least interesting part in this fascinating book. The first feeling that struck me while reading this book is jealousy. If ever I’d write a…

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard tells of the extraordinary expedition

The Last Gunfight: The Real Story Of The Shootout At The O.K. Corral – And How It Changed The American West by Jeff Guinn is a non-fiction book which traces the famous gunfight. The author cuts through the myth to tell the reader how wild the west really was.

About: The Wounded Giant: America’s Armed Forces in an Age of Austerity by Michael O’Hanlon is a non-fiction eBook in which the author lays out his ideas for military budget cuts. The book is available only in as an eBook by The Penguin Press. 256 pages Publisher: The Penguin Press HC ISBN: 1594205035 My rating for The Wounded Giant – 4 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: In The Wounded Giant: America’s Armed Forces in an Age of Austerity, Michael O’Hanlon argues the defense budget cuts outlined by Congress could be catastrophic. The author takes a deep breath and tries to analyze the cuts and bring forward his own solutions while still maintaining national security priorities. From nuclear missile programs, to the U.S. Navy, offshore bases and more Mr. O’Hanlon takes a sober look, without political baggage at where we should, and could, cut. To my surprise, this is a very readable book which makes some good sense out of a very cumbersome subject. The book opens up a discussion on reasoned proposals to plan for future conflicts based on hard intelligence data. Mr. O’Hanlon also makes his analysis in clear sentences which…

About: Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland by Chris Thrall is a memoir of the author’s time being a drug addict in Hong Kong. The book takes a good look at into the red light district of Hong Kong, the colorful Wan Chai district. My rating for Eating Smoke – 4 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland by Chris Thrall (website | Facebook) chronicles the author, an ex-Royal Marine, downfall into the world of drugs in Hong Kong. There are several viewpoints one could read this book as: a funny memoir, a cautionary tale, a how-not-to-succeed-in business book, a how-not-to-choose-your-friends type of story, a smart-guy-doing-stupid-things anecdote, or as a foreigner in a foreign land story. Of course, all of the above would also apply. Besides the drug addict mindset which I cannot understand or comprehend, I found Mr. thrall’s stories about Chinese culture fascinating. The stories of the jobs he got simply on the base of his pale face are funny and somewhat disturbing. The condition wasn’t only a white face…