Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle by Dan Senor, Saul Singer. This is an interesting look at how the culture of Israel includes the economic drive and entrepreneurship of the country. Much of the book focuses on the impact of the country’s military and it’s creation of a network that help foster economic growth. The book raises and interesting question for the United States of whether mandatory national service would give more young people the discipline to help them in their careers after college.
Cahokia: Ancient America’s Great City on the Mississippi by Timothy R. Pauketat. The impact of Cahokia on American Indian culture around 1000 is the subject of the book. It was a book I picked up on a whim, but it’s made me interested in going to Cahokia mounds the next time I’m in St. Louis. The author shows how Cahokia was a cultural American history, doesn’t spend much time around the pre-Columbus area and this book helped me appreciate that long history before then.