Author Archives: billmanzi

California Forever and the “Soft Skills” Required to Build a City

Posted on October 11, 2026 by billmanzi

The Wall Street Journal has published a fascinating story about California Forever, the Silicon Valley-backed effort to build an entirely new city in Solano County, about 90 minutes from San Francisco. The company is led by Jan Sramek, a 39-year-old … Continue reading →

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Where Will the Electricity Come From?

Posted on October 10, 2026 by billmanzi

Where Is All That Electricity Going to Come From? Many years ago, when I bought a second home in Methuen, Massachusetts, the house was heated entirely by electricity. I learned fairly quickly what that meant when the heating bills started … Continue reading →

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A Look at American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn’s Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump

Posted on September 27, 2026 by billmanzi

American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn’s Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump by Kai Bird My rating: 4 of 5 stars Roy Cohn is one of those figures who repeatedly appears at the edges of major events in twentieth-century American … Continue reading →

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Sidewalk Labs and the Smart City That Never Was

Posted on September 20, 2026 by billmanzi

The recent backlash against automated municipal cameras offers a useful reminder about technology and government. The cameras may have legitimate public-safety uses, but many residents did not learn the extent of their capabilities, the information being retained, or the reach … Continue reading →

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A Look at “He Has the People: Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860” by Jonathan Earle.

Posted on September 6, 2026 by billmanzi

He Has the People: Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860 by Jonathan Earle My rating: 4 of 5 stars There are few American presidents about whom more has been written than Abraham Lincoln, which raises an obvious question whenever … Continue reading →

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A Look at Regime Change by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan

Posted on August 24, 2026 by billmanzi

Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump by Maggie Haberman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, was not a book I could resist. … Continue reading →

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A Look at “Blood and Ruins: The Great Imperial War” by Richard Overy

Posted on July 20, 2026 by billmanzi

Blood and Ruins: The Great Imperial War, 1931-1945 by Richard Overy My rating: 4 of 5 stars As I was preparing a blog post on Hitler’s decision to invade the Soviet Union (still unfinished) someone said to me why don’t … Continue reading →

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A Look at Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D’Este

Posted on June 14, 2026 by billmanzi

Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D’Este My rating: 5 of 5 stars I came across this book after seeing a recommendation in the Wall Street Journal that called it, by memory, the best book on Patton. Seemed obvious … Continue reading →

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A D-Day Remembrance

Posted on June 6, 2026 by billmanzi

D-Day: The Longest Day That Changed the World On June 6, 1944, Allied forces crossed the English Channel and launched the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation, forever known as D-Day, opened the long-awaited Western Front against Nazi … Continue reading →

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Tony Blair on the Problems of Labour: Lessons for Democrats?

Posted on June 6, 2026 by billmanzi

Tony Blair has written a sharp warning to Britain’s Labour Party, but much of it could be mailed directly to the American Democratic Party. His central point is simple: a party cannot win the future by retreating into the comfort … Continue reading →

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