Michael Taube
Articles by Michael Taube
BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Virginia Dynasty’
The rich tapestry of America's colonies is depicted with distinctive themes like liberty, freedom and democracy. Yet, the young nation's powerful heartbeat was most often heard in Virginia. Published December 27, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Hispanic Republican’
Although Hispanic-Americans primarily support Democratic candidates, there's always been a sizable proportion who vote Republican. It infuriates the larger faction. Published August 11, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Every Drop of Blood’
Edward Achorn's "Every Drop of Blood: The Momentous Second Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln" is an exemplary account of this critical moment in Lincoln's presidency. Published March 21, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Peanuts Papers’
Literary agent Andrew Blauner's "The Peanuts Papers: Writers and Cartoonists on Charlie Brown, Snoopy & the Gang, and the Meaning of Life" is a wonderful anthology that illuminates the brilliant simplicity of "Peanuts." Thirty-three writers and cartoonists explore some of the powerful messages contained within this important comic strip. Published March 9, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini’
When you think of great illusionists, Harry Houdini is at the top of the list. Few individuals in the world of magic have ever had his notoriety, built on the backs of relationships with newspapers, vaudeville acts and Hollywood studios. The mystique he exuded when he escaped from handcuffs, straitjackets and even a Chinese water torture cell created an aura of invincibility. Published February 4, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Early Rubens’
Peter Paul Rubens was one of art's great masters in the Flemish Baroque tradition. He was thoughtful, intelligent and enormously talented. He devoured his early studies in Antwerp, Belgium, in classical antiquity, and used this vast knowledge to create exquisite paintings of historical scenes. Published January 23, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Screwball!’
Comics historian Paul C. Tumey examines this fascinating period of artistic creativity in "Screwball!: The Cartoonists Who Made the Funnies Funny." Published January 16, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Brewed in the North’
The Labatt Brewing Co., founded in 1847 in London, Ontario, was once regarded as an important Canadian institution. It launched many brands of beer for the Canadian public, built parks and buildings, had majority ownership in baseball's Toronto Blue Jays and sponsored everything from sports teams to Formula 1 racing. Published December 4, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Trudeau: The Education of a Prime Minister’
Justin Trudeau, Canada's 23rd prime minister, is in the midst of a re-election bid and political scandal. Three instances of him appearing in blackface or brownface -- the last known one occurring in 2001, when he was 29 years old -- have come to light. Published October 2, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Are We There Yet?’
"If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." That's a quote from Henry Ford, the U.S. industrialist/engineer who founded the Ford Motor Co. and created the first affordable automobile for the working man. Published September 6, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Land of Hope’
In May, The Wall Street Journal published an intriguing interview between Naomi Schaefer-Riley and intellectual historian Wilfred M. McClay. Published August 12, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Pioneers’ by David McCullough
Early Americans had a true pioneering spirit. This was certainly the case with those brave individuals who travelled along the Ohio River and settled in the Northwest Territory several years after the American Revolution ended. In search of adventure, prosperity, social standing and a new way of life, they left their indelible mark on a young country -- and a legacy for others to emulate. Published June 17, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Bush Runner’ by Mark Bourrie
Pierre-Esprit Radisson, the 17th century French fur trader and explorer, is a largely forgotten historical figure. Yet, his name is tied to the founding of the Hudson's Bay Co., and a successful hotel chain is named after him. Published May 19, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Enchanted Hour’ by Meghan Cox Gurdon
To develop a true passion of reading, it's important to consume books with your inner and outer voice. The former is taught to us in our homes and schools, whereas the latter is slowly becoming a lost art. We need to reverse this trend to preserve the fond, therapeutic memories of being read a book aloud by our parents and the beauty of reading aloud to our children. Published May 2, 2019
America drives the car industry, while Canada is stuck in first gear
North America has long been one of the world's largest auto producing sectors. But it's not the economic powerhouse it used to be. Published April 30, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘They Call Me George’ by Cecil Foster
Trains have been the lifeblood of society since the days of ancient Greece. The creation of the steam, locomotive and electronic models, along with the more recent high speed rail, have been used as crucial modes of transportation for people, places and things. Published April 10, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Bluff City’ by Preston Lauterbach
Ernest Withers was one of America's first successful black photographers. He captured stunning images of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., blues musicians like B.B. King, and Negro League stars like Satchel Paige. His coverage of the Emmett Till murder trial, one of the most notorious lynchings in Mississippi's history, brought this horrible episode into the national spotlight. Published March 11, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Brief Answers to the Big Questions’ by Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking was one of the world's greatest scientists. He battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for more than 50 years, and produced groundbreaking work in physics, cosmology and popular science. His book, "A Brief History of Time" (1988), which sold more than 10 million copies in 20 years, made him a household name -- along with TV appearances on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Simpsons." Published February 4, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Erebus’ by Michael Palin
In 1841, the British explorer Sir John Franklin set a course for the Arctic with two ships, the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus. The expedition was considered lost until 2014, when the Erebus (which Franklin had sailed in) was discovered in Queen Maud Gulf in Nunavut, Canada. Published December 31, 2018
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Impressionist Treasures’ by Paul Lang
Denmark is known for its quality of life, social mobility, cuisine, outdoor sports and exceedingly high taxes. Few would likely have included one of the more impressive collections of French Impressionism on their list. Published December 20, 2018
