Summer Reading
“I am looking at a witch hazel
blooming in a garden
The bright yellow flowers in the
middle of wintertime
And I tell my heart be strong like the
witch hazel flower
And you will not be injured by this
dark and troubled time.”
From the folk song “Witch Hazel” by Tom Gala. Some nice renditions are available online.
In these dark and troubled times, one refuge is reading. Escape novels can be useful, but more serious books can also provide perspective and comfort. This article talks about some recent reading I found cathartic.
Andy Borowitz is a writer, comedian and satirist. He is known for his satirical fake news stories called “The Borowitz Report.” I got his 2022 book, “Profiles in Ignorance: How America’s Politicians got Dumb and Dumber,” thinking it would be fun and provide some comic relief for our current situation. But it is not made up stories. It is a factual work of history, with footnotes and documentation. It examines how and why our national leadership has increasing been dominated by the ignorant. Despite being a serious work, “Profiles in Ignorance” is humorous and an enjoyable read.
Borowitz says, “People sometimes call our nation ‘the American experiment.’ Recently, though, we have been lab rats in another, perverse American experiment, seemingly designed to answer the question: ‘Who is the most ignorant person the United States is willing to elect?’”
Starting in 1980, Borowitz discusses how many public figures lacked basic knowledge of history, geography, science, foreign countries, and even the English language. He ends with the most ignorant of all with documentation from Trump’s first reign of error.
Borowitz identifies three stages of ignorance; ridicule, acceptance, and celebration. We have always had dumb politicians. But in the past the really dumb ones were subjects of ridicule. Over time, being ignorant was sold as being a “normal person” you could have a beer with. Smart, knowledgeable politicians were branded as elitist. Now ignorance has been normalized and has become a ”virtue rather than a liability.”
Bororwitz says only citizen involvement can change this situation. Democracy is not a spectator sport. People have to get involved in local organizing, attending local government meetings, helping with voter registration and personal outreach to others. We have to get beyond ranting on social media and preaching to the choir.
Another history I found enjoyable, and uplifting was “We all want to change the world” by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The book discusses the history of social justice movements during his lifetime. Kareem speaks from personal experience. In addition to being a famous NBA player, he has been a lifelong activist, author, a U.S. cultural ambassador and philanthropist. Published in 2025, the book includes current movements and recent protests.
What I found most interesting were his personal insights and the small details about famous protests that I never knew or had forgotten.
Did you know that bus services in the South often required Black people to pay the fare at the front of the bus but enter through a rear door? It was not uncommon for the bus to leave before a person could re-board.
Did you know that the famous Selma to Montgomery civil rights march took three attempts to happen? And all three involved the murder of a Black person?
Do you know the blindly patriotic slogan “my country right or wrong” originally had the opposite meaning? The full quote comes from U.S. Senator Carl Schurtz (1829-1906) who said, “My country right or wrong; if right to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.”
Abdul-Jabbar writes that he has received “death threats for over 55 years” (even as a basketball player at UCLA). The threats resulted from being Black, Muslim, or having supported various political or social causes. He writes, “Over the years, I’ve become an all-you-can-hate buffet…”
Has his activism changed anything? Do protests matter? Abdul-Jabbar says the important question, “…the question we all face is, ‘Have I at least tried to make this country better?’”
Bill Bryson is another humorous, but informative, author well worth reading. His 2021 book, “The Body: A guide for occupants,” is an eclectic mix of medical and scientific knowledge about the human body along with interesting trivia, some history and a big dose of his trademark dry humor. It is not a dull human physiology text.
The book has chapters on different parts of the body like the skin, brain, circulatory system and “the guts.” Some chapters, like the “Microbial You,” discuss lesser known topics. Huge numbers of other organisms – bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa – inhabit your body. Contrary to our “rugged individualism” mythology, we are a community and, Bryson says, we can not live without these tiny critters.
A nice aspect of many of Bryson’s books is you don’t have to read them all at once, or beginning to end. It is easy to skip around or read some when the mood strikes. His books are good for relieving the current situation blues.
I will end with a poem by Peggy Trojan, my friend and neighbor. Peggy grew up in tiny Brule, Wisconsin, during WWII. A retired English teacher, in 2010 at age 77, she began writing poetry. Today she is a well known, award winning poet with a number of published collections. Two of her early books are about her childhood (“Free Range Kids” and “Home Front: Childhood Memories of WWII”).
I am not a connoisseur of poetry. But Peggy’s poems are enjoyable and enriching. They are about everyday life, her experiences, thoughts, joys and sorrows and combine whimsy with seriousness. They paint pictures of what life is, and should be about, and sooth the soul. One of my favorites is “Surprise” (reprinted by permission)
“All my long life,
I have been proud
to be one hundred percent Finnish.
Even bragged about it.
When brother Jerry had our DNA done,
we discovered a scandal in the family.
Imagine my shock –
I am one percent Swedish!
One percent!
I am resigned.
Navajo women wove a mistake
into their blankets, assuring the gods
they were not perfect.”
In these dark and troubled times we need more humor, historical perspective and reminders of what is really important.