Mary Lethert Wingerd
University of Minnesota
978-0-8166-4868-9
$34.95

This book, all 365 pages is an excellent read and provides an unbiased, historical overview of how the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes were swindled out of their land by unscrupulous Indian agents and white politicians. The author also helps the reader to clearly see the cultural clashes that arose during the early 1800’s and she gives us a bird’s eye view of behind the scenes treaty making strategies. Finally, the author helps the reader to recognize how disadvantaged First Nations people were with respect to the white man’s politics. The book is well written and accompanied by many historical photographs. This is the absolutely best book I have read on the topic of historical treaty making and white settlement.

Michael E. Gerber
Harper  Collins Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 0-88730-728-0
$24.50  

This is an updated version of an earlier best seller on the trials and tribulations of starting and growing your own business. Famous for the concept of working “on the business” instead of “in the business”, Gerber uses dialogue with a client and her business to help readers understand the concepts he is teaching. While in most cases this is a good approach, I found that the lessons were sometimes long in coming. I would rather they have been more brief and to the point. However, the book does have value for entrepreneurs and will certainly make you sit up and pay attention to where you are going.

John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
Harper  Collins Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-06-173363-5
$32.99

Ride along with these journalist authors and enjoy the ringside seats on the last presidential election. The book is definitely an eye-opener not only for those not fully aware of the complexity of the U.S. electoral process, but also for those who will be shocked at the extent of underhanded game playing that seems the norm in these elections. Another surprise and perhaps a disappointment was to learn the amount of foul language and eruptions of personal tirades and abuse against political volunteers and staff that apparently occurred. Hillary Clinton is not that sweet lady we once thought she was.  While the book helps us to see how tense and taxing a presidential election is, the authors certainly reaffirm the unflattering opinion that people have of politicians. An excellent, readable book but keep your dictionary handy, the authors tend to throw out 26 syllable words like they were candy.

Sharon L. Lechter, Greg S. Reid
Sterling Publishing with The Napoleon Hill Foundation
ISBN: 978-1-4027-6764-7
$20.95

Author Greg Reid weaves the personal story of a young man’s struggle for self esteem and success as an author. As part of this journey, he seeks the help of the Napoleon Hill Foundation and their philosophies. As a result, he documents numerous interviews with successful entrepreneurs gathering wisdom and advice as he goes. The book is an easy read and makes on feel you are sitting at the knee of a great elder and philosopher. The book consists of simple themes, simple truths and simple messages for every reader.  This is a book that should be read again and again.

Michael Ignatieff
Penguin Books
$30.00

I’m not certain why Ignatieff wrote this book but it is a cleverly disguised means to help create his own political identity. At the same time, he tells a very interesting story and as a result, he raises some very interesting questions …..just what kind of Canada do we want? He also helps the reader to see how unique Canada truly is. Ignatieff gives his own opinion on what politicians should be doing to maintain and build a strong Canada. I am sure we will see some of these thoughts  in the next election.