"The Perfect Plan" by Pete Boone

   
    The Perfect Plan is a novel about what is good and evil, politically and morally as seen through the author's eyes.  Marshal Gunter, the son of a German Chancellor, is unknowingly led by Satan after he is weakened by the untimely death of his mother.  Satan guides Gunter in gaining power to achieve his goal of acquiring total control of the world.  After plenty manipulation and the coordinated assassination of the United Nations president, Gunter becomes the leader of the world.

John Morris, a typical American from Oxford, Mississippi, is led by God's archangel Michael to deliver an unsettling message from God to every human being on earth.  The message gains worldwide attention when John delivers it through the internet and television with hopes that it will turn people to God and save people from being tempted by Satan and his mortal counterpart, Marshall Gunter. This clash of men and gods makes for a strange and interesting story.

The idea that John is receiving legitimate messages from god and needs to deliver these messages to everyone on earth to save the fate of mankind seems a little silly to me, although some of you may find it compelling.  Regardless, the book is surprisingly well written and composed for being the author's first book.

I would guess that Boone's own message to readers is for them to be weary of a power like the United Nations looking to unite the world and strip each nation of it's independence.  Although I respect his thoughts and ideas, I personally don't think that uniting the nations in ways that allow them to keep most of their independence is a bad thing.  Divisions between nations and within nations tends to promote wars as seen historically around the world.

Rating - 4/5

"The Fall of The House of Zeus" by Curtis Wilke

     If you finished this book without looking at who wrote it, you would assume that it was a John Grisham novel. Curtis Wilkie writes an entertaining non fiction account about his personal friend, the powerful Mississippi trial lawyer Dickie Scruggs. In the late 20th century, Scruggs became ridiculously rich from winning class action lawsuits involving asbestos and tobacco litigation. After decades of amassing hundreds of millions, Scruggs eventually finds himself in jail for allegedly bribing a judge.

While there is no doubt that Scruggs was involved in questionable and most likely illegal activity, Wilke makes a great argument showing that the politics and justice system in Mississippi is overrun with corruption. Scruggs and his law firm appear to be unfairly singled out by the U.S. Attorney‘s office. Scrugg’s was just like many of the other lawyers in Mississippi only he had accumulated so much wealth and power that his opponents saw him as a threat that needed to be taken down.

It’s interesting that Wilkie sometimes sounds like he is discussing two separate people. One side of Scruggs wants to help give plaintiffs a voice in fighting powerful businesses, generously donates to charities and genuinely cares about other people. The other side is selfishly focused on chasing money, constantly looking to hit the big lick, deals with the dark side, becomes greedy and showers himself with the comforts of a lavish lifestyle.

This is not one of those boring biographies written carefully not to tarnish the reputation of the individual, its a rare account where Wilkie delves closer to the truth about Scrugg’s than would otherwise be expected.

Rating: 5/5