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O/t, but I hope you won't mind if I tell you about a couple of the free books I read /am reading on my new Kindle. I am very much enjoying reading on it and it has been fascinating to read some of these old books. They are remarkable for being beautifully written and for providing a look at a world, not only free of PC-ness, but one remarkably unconcerned with anything but reporting things as the author saw fit.

On economics, this sounds like a drone-fest, but it was very interesting and, moreover, HIGHLY relevant to what's going on today: An Essay on Mediaeval Economic Teaching, by George O'Brien. Lots of stuff about how stupid Socialism is and, more importantly, WHY. And this was written in the early 1900's!

Also enjoyed:

A Life of General Robert E. Lee, by John Esten Cooke. Not only an interesting portrait of the man, but a contemporary look at national politics and some of the battles.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky Mountain Life. This pithy little book is full of wry observations about society and peoples. Quite humourous in it's own way, too. (Be warned there are some jibes at the Mormons -- along with most everyone else.)

It helped that I had just read The Journals of Lewis and Clark, which provides a weirdly compelling tale of life on the plains and especially of the different Indian cultures. However, at least the free version of the journals, had a lot of repetition of entries, so I can't recommend it unless you are okay with skipping through a lot (which is quite easy on the wonderful Kindle). I think the prairie sketches are a good read, regardless.

And, hey, these are all FREE. So, check 'em out if you're so inclined!