Category Archives: Books

“When My Time Comes” — Diane Rehm at Town Hall

Ed Note: Diane Rehm’s previous book and presentation at Town Hall discussed her husband’s death from voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). She continues to explore end-of-life choices. Skyline author Tom Preston was a pioneer in patient choice in the … Continue reading

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An son’s hemophilia leads to a career of research and writing

By Douglas Martin in the New York Times Robert K. Massie, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer who wrote gripping, tautly narrated and immensely popular books on giants of Russian history, died on Monday at his home in Irvington, N.Y. He was 90. The cause was complications … Continue reading

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A walk in the woods with Seattle writer David Guterson

Walking is back in the zeitgeist here. Seattle author and New York Times columnist Tim Egan has a new book, A Pilgrimage to Eternity, about hoofing it from Canterbury to Rome in search of faith. There’s The Seattle Walk Report, an Instagram-eye-view of the city … Continue reading

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Our 5th Annual Book Give-away will be on Sunday Sept.15.

From Betsy Hanson: To get in the swing of things, please start right now to screen your bookshelves for all your surplus books and DVDs.  The collection box will be out on Sept. 8th,  and you know how time flies … Continue reading

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Book Club Spotlight: The Book Club for Men from Teaneck and Other Places

Ed note: This article from Book Club Spotlight was sent in by Pam P. We also have a pretty unique book club at Skyline – the next one being tomorrow night in the Sky Club Lounge. All are welcome. The … Continue reading

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The Mueller Report – in Podcast by Lawfare

Ed note: Have you really read the Mueller Report? Or did you stay up all night at Town Hall listening to the non-stop reading? Or have you at least bought the book? Most of us including me, would sheepishly say … Continue reading

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“Georges Bank” – a good summer read

Ed note: Sally Bagshaw may be stepping down from Seattle’s City Council, and I wonder if she and her husband Bradley are planning another voyage across the Pacific.  This book was published locally by Clyde Hill Publishing founded by Microsoft … Continue reading

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The moral philosophy of David Brooks

David Brooks is quite honest in his latest book. He became a workaholic and his marriage fell apart six years ago. His Quest for a Moral Life is a message to us all about personal responsibility for our actions, and … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Essays, Philosophy | 1 Comment

Meet the surgeon Buffett, Bezos and Dimon trust to fix health care

Ed note: Atul Gawande is aware of the problems in the health care system – access, quality and cost. He has now teamed up with Buffett, Bezos and Dimon to try to bring these runaway problems under control. If anyone … Continue reading

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Why Did Soviets Invade Afghanistan? Documents Offer History Lesson for Trump

Ed Note: The article below explains how little President Trump understands about Afghanistan. Or perhaps he does understand Russia’s aspirations there and is effectively turning the “great game” back their favor. The book, The Great Game, documents the long history … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Essays, History, Military, Politics, Religion, War | 1 Comment

“Parallels in Autocratic Leadership” with Wolfgang Mack, Author

Subtitled: “Where is America Heading?” The book is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.

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Bill Gates: 5 books I loved in 2018

Ed Note: Gates’ first selection. Educated, is the February book at Skyline for 2019. Hope you all get a chance to read this fascinating memoir. Bill Gates: “My list is pretty eclectic this year. From a how-to guide about meditation … Continue reading

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Skyline Book Club for 2019

We hope you are interested in book discussions. Please check out the books selected for 2019 in the header of this blog above marked “Book Club.” Come join the monthly gatherings in the Sky Club Lounge if interested.

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E Pluribus Unum – a warning about the rise of fascism

             A warning. Where is America heading? I met Dr. Wolfgang Mack briefly in the Skyline dining room last evening and was given a copy of his most recent book. He had the traumatic experience … Continue reading

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Lance Rhoades – film historian

Last evening we were treated to an incredible talk about Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein which she wrote at age 19 – and how Frankenstein has become part of our culture. Actually the monster has no name. Frankenstein was the doctor … Continue reading

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Food, culture and the Library of Congress – October 4th

Constance Carter, the Head of the Science Reference Section at the Library of Congress will be speaking here this Thursday October 4th. We hope she discusses the Library’s food collection. In the Julia Child’s video above, the Library’s collection shows … Continue reading

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Capitol Hill’s Hugo House gets an extreme makeover and an historic designation

From Crosscut: Washington state welcomed its first official Literary Landmark last week — a surprising statistic given Seattle’s reputation as a bookstore-loving, writer-nurturing, library-card-holding, even poetry-slam-attending city. The designation comes from national group United for Libraries, which over the last 30 years has … Continue reading

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4th Annual Book Give-away Sunday the 30th from 11 AM to 2:30 PM

From Betsy Hanson Our 4th Annual Book Give-away will be on Sunday, Sept. 30 from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM in the Bistro. Residents, staff and guests are welcome to make selections at that time.  However, this is YOUR sale, … Continue reading

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Factfullness: Ten reasons we’re wrong about the world – and why things are better than you think

Ed note: Hans Rosling has written a fascinating book that Bill Gates called the most important book he’s ever read. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think. Rosling explains how and why our thinking … Continue reading

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Choosing your reading

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Understanding American for the Non-American Black: American Tribalism

At the Skyline book club last night, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was discussed. How does a non-American black begin to understand our tribal system in the USA? (By the way, if you like to read and discuss the books, please … Continue reading

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What’s on your “must read” list

Ed Note: Donald Hall, a former poet laureate of the United States who found a universe of meaning in the apples, ox carts and ordinary folk of his beloved rural New England, died on June 24th of this year. I’ve not yet read … Continue reading

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Fascism a Warning – by Madeleine Albright

Ed note; We must remember Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin and Milosevic in order to understand democracy and how it can be eroded. This book was given to me – one that I didn’t know about. It’s one though that I think … Continue reading

Posted in Books, History, Politics | 1 Comment

“What Cancer Can Do” by Michael Shirk

Michael Shirk died at age 60 from prostate cancer. The poetry he wrote during his battle with cancer was published by Make a Wish Foundation. His mother, Ardis, shared the book with me after the poem called “What Cancer Cannot Do” … Continue reading

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“Hit Refresh”

Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, is not only a peak at the future of technology, but also is a remarkably insightful road-map of how to invent our future. Hit refresh is something we do to renew a page … Continue reading

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