Peter McWilliams (1949–2000)

I'd be more inclined to do 3 stars because it's pretty basic, but for sentimental reasons it gets a 4. This book meant so much to me when I was a teenager. And maybe it's so simplistic for a good reason - there were pieces of this book that have stuck with me through the years, lines that were so familiar it was as if I'd read it just last week, not 30 odd years ago.

It wasn't the perfect companion for helping me deal with the recent death of my dog, since it's obviously more directed at a break up. But there was still comfort to be had here, and reminders of how to cope through the devastating process of loss and grief.… (more)

I read this book fifteen years ago and it still influences my thinking about political rights. A comprehensive and exhaustive argument for removing government from medling in morality, the book is an extremely well-researched primer on the constitution, the Bible, and American history. Despite the seriousness of the subject and the arguments, the book is an enjoyable read because McWilliams has a sharp and biting sense of humor that often manifests in sarcastic and snarky footnotes, plus page after page of great and relevant quotes on the subject at hand by celebrities and politicians. If every person in America read this book, we might actually have a shot of living in a sane and compassionate country.… (more)