I can't really make this a long, detailed review, because 100% American was basically just a book of percentage statistics that were researched and written in the 1980s. It is written in the fun format beginning with 1% (for example, 1% of Americans speak Italian at home) and going all the way through the numbers to 100% (ending with "100% of Americans are, if nothing else, Americans.")
It was an amusing little book, mostly due to the time period in which it was published (1988). I had to keep remembering how the world was when I was 10 years old. A lot has changed since then, in many ways. Anyway, here are a few of the interesting statistics that I noticed:
1% of Americans are color-blind.
7% of American teenage girls own golf clubs.
14% of Americans snack all day.
26% of American husbands would agree to pay their wives a weekly salary.
33% of Americans think robots and automation will worsen the quality of life for people like themselves.
42% of American women think there will be a black president by the year 2000.
45% of American women weigh 140 pounds or more.
50% of Americans read books
73% of Americans prefer not to work around people who use foul language.
79% of American grits-eaters eat a cup or less at one sitting.
86% of Americans like mashed potatoes.I like to read fun little reference books like this one every once in a while. They don't require a lot of thought, yet they provide some conversation starters and tidbits of knowledge that are always good to have laying around in your brain.
Rating: 10 · 351 pages
My first 10 of the year, The Quotable Ronald Reagan is a fantastic compilation of some of the famous words of America's 40th President. Personally and politically, President Reagan is one of my heroes. So it's no surprise that I thoroughly adored this quotation collection. I marked 55 of my favorite pages, and it's going on my keeper shelf.
I could go on and on about why I love President Ronald Reagan, but I think I'll let his timeless, funny, poignant, and true words show you why I hold him and his ideas in such high esteem:
We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.
--Remarks commemorating the 40th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1984
Government is the people's business, and every man, woman and child becomes a shareholder with the first penny of tax paid.
A truly successful army is one that, because of its strength and ability and dedication, will not be called upon to fight, for no one will dare to provoke it.
The best view of big government is in the rear view mirror as you're driving away from it.
I told Nancy, "This is the other woman in my life."
--to Mrs. Reagan as their helicopter circled the Statue of Liberty
Labels: America, History, Nonfiction, Politics, Presidents, Quotations, Reviews
My Rating: 8 · 144 pages
It was the lifelong desire of General Stonewall Jackson's to be a kind person, a devout Christian, a gentleman and friend that compelled him to keep a notebook of sorts, his "book of maxims". He researched and reflected upon things that he felt would help him succeed in achieving his personal goals. Who knows, had he been alive in the 21st century, maybe he would have had a blog!
I don't know if it was one of General Jackson's dreams to become a military leader, but fate propelled him and his commitment to excellence steadied him along the way. A few years ago, I watched the movie Gods and Generals. The way General Jackson was portrayed in the film really impressed me. I felt that if the movie was true to history, General Jackson was quite a remarkable and admirable man. And now, after reading Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims, I learned that my feelings were fully warranted.
A couple of quick facts about General Stonewall Jackson:
- He was painfully shy, but worked diligently to overcome it.
- He organized and taught a Sunday afternoon Bible class for local slaves.
- He was very strict with himself, always avoiding overeating and did not drink alcohol.
- He lost his first wife in childbirth, and was grief-stricken for years.
- He kept his temper in check and rarely raised his voice to the soldiers under his command.
Another interesting thing about General Jackson was that he closely studied the works of Lord Chesterfield, who wrote:
"By the help of history, a young man may, in some measure, acquire the experience of old age. In reading what has been done, he is apprised of what he has to do; the more he is informed of what is past, the better he will know how to conduct himself in the future."I believe General Jackson did indeed apply his readings to his life, and reaped the benefits from doing so. This book inspired me to continue to study important things, and to also be mindful of the knowledge of those who have gone before us.
Labels: America, Biography, Civil War, Etiquette, History, Nonfiction, Reviews
