Nevermore: David & Goliath, The Battle for Christmas, and Plantagenets

Reported by Kristin

A Nevermore reader shared David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell.  Beginning with the story of David and Goliath, this book discusses overcoming obstacles as a way to succeed.  For example, in Biblical times, “slingers” were a regular part of the military.  These smaller soldiers might have an advantage in felling a larger foe, particularly in the case of Goliath who may have had a defect that enlarged his entire body and also hindered his eyesight. Another point noted by our reader was that twelve of our United States’ presidents lost their fathers at a young age, but managed to overcome that family difficulty and become a success.  Rather than beating down the underdog, this book strives to elevate and encourage.

Jud brought the timely book The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum.  This volume explains the history of many Christmas traditions in the United States.  Christmas as we know it was born in Victorian times as the holiday was romanticized and commercialized.  Santa Claus and gift giving for children was promoted by non-Dutch New Yorkers, as children became the focus of family life for progressively well-off families.  Even the Christmas tree, a German tradition, was not initially brought to the United States by German immigrants.  Most traditions that we observe here in the United States have been cobbled together from a variety of sources.  With an eye to the historical view, Jud says that this book deepens his appreciation for Christmas.

Another reader just finished The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones.  Quite a thick book at over 500 pages, this book describes the many wars and struggles over territory and atrocities such as drawing and quartering.  The English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and French all had different ideas about who should be in charge, and these bloody kings and queens were the leaders that guided the many changes over the centuries.  Starting with Geoffrey of Anjou, the author has penned a bold narrative to illustrate this period of English history.