Summer is here and time for another of my recommended book lists. This time I have a theme for my summer reading. It is people who have done great things.

This list is admittedly a reaction to a lot of books and  other media that focus on people and issues that fall far short of greatness. Rather than go into a long description I will leave it to you to judge and evaluate what may go on your list in addition to what I place here. I simply have come to the point where I want to engage in media that feeds me for a long time. I find that the stories of people who have worked on great and enduring legacies offer a welcome antidote to the disappointment often created by many so-called modern heroes. So, here is my list of books. some old and some new, for a summer of reading. Enjoy

The Greater Journey, David McCullough 

Just out this month McCullough, America's history teacher, tells the story of Americans who traveled to Paris during the nineteenth century to study, art, medicine, politics and literature. 

They were "talented, aspiring Americans bound  for Paris". They had no political or purely personal motive for their journey. "They had other purposes–quite specific, serious pursuits in nearly every case. Their hopes were high. They were ambitious to excel in work that mattered greatly to them, and they saw time in Paris...as essential to achieving that dream..."  McCullough adapts this line from John Adams and build his book around those who responded to the former President's summons to ambition and excellence. Assembled in this book are the stories of such Americans ad James Fenimore Cooper, Oliver Wendall Holmes and Mary Cassatt. 

The story of Elihu Washburne was fascinating. The courage of America's ambassador to France during the seige of Paris in 1870-71 is a little known story in American history. He stayed at his post as the city was surrounded by German troops and helped evacuate citizens from several nations. He endured the privations along with the others and kept a detailed diary of events and his reflections. McCullough waded through Washburne's diaries to tell this story here for the first time.

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, Eric Metaxas

This is the inspiring story of one man's determined effort to eradicate slavery from the British Empire. The story was told in the movie by the same name a few years ago but as usual the book is better.

William Wilberforce underwent a religious conversion and dedicated his life in Parliament to turning back the pernicious slave trade between Africa and the West Indies. His early mentor was John Newton, author of the song "Amazing Grace". One man can make a difference with perseverance and determination. He did not change human nature but he did change laws. In a parliamentary democracy it was enough to effect some social change. Wilberforce was moved to do something with his faith and not just pay lip service. Given the sad state of religion in late eighteenth century England it is an even more amazing story of grace under pressure. 

Livingstone, Tim Jeal

I first encountered this book at the Harare, Zimbabwe airport. A fellow traveler recommended the story to me. It has taken me a few years to get set down and read it but I am thoroughly enjoying it.

David Livingstone was the nineteenth century Scottish missionary who traveled through Africa. He too, worked to overturn the pernicious slave trade and met with success. He explored the rivers and lands of this vast continent, spending years away from his homeland. Presumed lost or dead at one point, he became the focus of perhaps the most famous search in history when Henry Stanley plunged into Africa to find him.

Livingstone was revered by Victorian England. He was buried with honors in Westminster Abbey. While his life and exploits were in some cases failures, his work as a missionary bore virtually no fruit, he is a fascinating character to study and understand. People who do great things are often failures in other parts of their life. But if there is an an example of perseverance Livingstone's life offers us an opportunity to see that even in set backs there are lessons for all of us.

A Trail of Memories - The Quotations of Louis L'Amour

OK, this one is different, and I know it's a compilation of quotes from L'Amours many western novels, all fiction. But L'Amour wrote a lot of good western stories, all still in print, and that by itself is a great matter. Several years ago his daughter, Angelique, gathered her favorite quotes from her fathers works and put them into this collection. The quotes deal with life, hard work, knowledge, women, trust, money, and a several more subjects. In L'Amours westerns the good guys always won, women were noble, and justice prevailed. Along the way you learn about all these other qualities that make up a successful life.

Angelique's introduction to the book describes part of her families life and how it revolved around her fathers work and love of books. This one story she tells of the impact of his works on people make this book a must have on any families shelf: "When I first began to read my father's books I read for pure enjoyment. Later, I finally understood what some of his fan mail meant. Women who were raising children without husbands had written to him that they were raising their children on the teachings in his books. They'd told their sons that if they grew up to have the morals and values of his characters, they would be good men. Men to be proud of, men to shape the world". 

Now that is something great to aspire to. You can still find this book on Amazon.

Good reading!