O the Clear Moment

Reading O The Clear Moment made me want to do three things: reread all Ed McClanahan's books; sit down and make a list of all of MY clear moments; and reaffirm my committment to the English language as an artistic medium. Msr. McClanahan is one of the few living American writers whose intoxicating use of the language is only surpassed by the potency with which he has lived his life.

This Kentucky authored book contains 9 short stories of autobiography from McClanahan's past. Raised in Bracken County in the 1940s, we get a humorous look at life in a small town. These quirky, eccentric tales are reminiscent of stories I heard from my parents and grandparents. "Hey Shoobie!" is one of my favorites because it reminds me of growing up with my best friend in a small rural subdivision. Although we never climbed the water tower, we did have some similar adventures. Other favorite story titles include: "Another Great Moment in Sports"; "Dog Loves Ellie," which reminds me of awkward high school dances; and "Fondelle or, The Whore with a Heart of Gold", which chronicles his adventures while hitchhiking one summer on college break. Coming from a small town I appreciate the rural humor McClanahan brings to his stories - his characters seem like friends because they are the same types of people I meet in my everyday life. I recommend this fun read as an insightful look into the mind of an eccentric author.

Take a while to wander through the world of Ed McClanahan. A fun read!

Son of a Gambler's Guide to Holiday Books It's a lesson to me, the ablers and the beggars and the thieves -The Grateful Dead If you read my book, Son of a Son of a Gambler, you'll know that my childhood was filled with beggars, thieves and other unusual characters. But not nearly as unusual as the characters Ed McClanahan has encountered in his life. Ed was one of the "Merry Pranksters," a group typified by author Ken Kesey and other legends of the 1960's counter-culture. Ed novel, The Natural Man, is a literary classic and, like Son of a Son of a Gambler, based in my old stomping ground of Northern Kentucky. Ed recently released O The Clear Moment, and it is a great read. It is nine autobiographical short stories from a guy who has led a really interesting life. It is funny, insightful and one you won't put down. Another book that I didn't put down was Sniper Bid, Rick Robinson's follow-up to his hit novel, The Maximum Contribution. Both of the novels are based on Rick's insights as a former Congressional aide and Congressional candidate. If you have someone who likes political thrillers, this is one to put in his stocking. There are good guys and bad guys in the world of business, and Joe Nocera writes about both. I wrote about Good Guys and Bad Guys when the book was released earlier, but the book has received wide notice lately as Joe, a business columnist for the New York Times, has been the voice of reason and common sense during the financial crisis. Joe's been on highbrow shows like Bill Moyers Journal, and less than highbrow shows, like The Colbert Report. No matter the venue, Joe has interesting things to say. I mentioned recently on Facebook that I wished Joe had been Treasury Secretary instead of our current Secretary, Hank Paulsen. Someone noted that would make him, "Joe the Treasurer." "Joe the Writer" is as good as they come. Although I read hundreds of books a year (I really do), business books are at the top of my charts. I previously reviewed the hardback version of The Success Effect by John Eckberg. The paperback edition is updated and is out in time for the holidays. John interviewed a number of business leaders, such as Donald Trump. He asked the people he interviewed what books they had on their nightstand and what music they listen to. I once used John's idea in one of my columns. I asked the question to a number of well-known Kentuckians. It told me a lot about each of them. I've been catching a lot of new business book releases recently and one I really like is The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life. There are about 50 biographies of Buffett and I have read almost all of them. This is the best. It gives a lot of detail about Warren Buffett the man, not just Warren the money-making machine. It's 976 pages, but they go by quickly. Ted Turner is another hero of mine. But I don't recommend his recently released autobiography. Ted has lived a fascinating