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Those familiar with Jeff Toobin's other works (The Nine and A Vast Conspiracy among others) will not be disappointed with his latest "behind the scenes" look at our most secretive, least understood, and underappreciated branch of government. Just as The Nine explored the workings of the Rehnquist Court and the tension between the conservative, moderate, and liberal justices, The Oath portrays the new dynamics of the Roberts Court and how it has already impacted our society and will do so in the future. In the process Toobin humanizes the justices so that you appreciate their personalities, their personal histories that shaped their judicial philosophies, and the factors that influence their opinions and decisions. With the potentially landmark cases coming before the Court this current term (gay marriage for example) and in future terms, this is a must read for those wanting a more in depth understanding of the people and processes behind the decisions.

This is a must read for anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of the war in Afghanistan and a greater appreciation of the US troops who are deployed there; it is a fascinating account of the lives and actions of a small band of warriors stationed in one of the most dangerous outposts in the country; Junger's ability to convey to the reader the mindset and psyche of the modern "warrior" in extremely hostile territory is fabulous - you cannot help but view the Afghanistan situation differently after reading this work - and, yes, it contains a lot of action as he describes the various "firefights" that are encountered

Bad Things Happen might be the "detective story" that Hemingway would have written had he ventured into the genre. Harry Dolan's prose in his first published novel is that succinct and that good. The opening sentence - "The shovel has to meet certain requirements." - foreshadows many wonderful lines to come and immediately grabs the reader's attention with a desire to learn more about what is going on here. While I would recommend this novel for its writing and carefully crafted paragraphs and sentences alone, it is also an excellent and enjoyable "read" with a compelling plot. The author concocts a gripping, suspenseful thriller that is filled with more twists and turns than San Francisco's famed Lombard Street. The novel's protagonist, a "man of mystery with a troubled past" trying to lead a reclusive life in Ann Arbor, Michigan, must solve a series of murders of people connected to a local literary publication while staying one step ahead of the authorities. The novel works on two levels: as the story unfolds the reader learns more about the protagonist's own dark and deadly past in the process of learning how the crimes were committed and by whom. The only "flaw" in the novel, if indeed there is one, is that certain aspects of the story are a little too coincidental or stretch reality. Because of how well it is written and the author's mastery of language, Bad Things Happen is more than a mystery or detective story, however, and should be on the reading list of anyone who enjoys a well written novel.

One word - inspirational