Books 7-5-6

Finished reading The Octopus by Frank Norris. A good book with decent flow and good subject matter.   Definately a nice distraction from the warm atmosphere here.
I've also read The Prince by Machiavelli.  Definately full of political theories, basically built upon the precept of the end justifies the means, and the superiority of the state and its leader over citizen. Much political theory has been built upon the foundation of the thoughts and insights of Machiavelli. How deception is ok, when it serves the purposes on the greater good.
And I've also read Born Again by Charles Colson. The autobiography of the 'Hatchet man' of the Nixon whitehouse, and his trials and travails during the watergate scandal. How Colson expereinced first hand the fallout of Machiavellian politics, and that the selfisness of man , and the supposed glory of the state was in fact not to the service of the populace, but treading the rights of those it was created to protect.  What a difference in perspective in two books, between The Prince, and Born Again.