A quick run through Ancient Greece. “The Greek Histories” edited by Lefkowitz and Romm is a good way to get a brief taste of each of the early Greek historians.

Solid beach read.

While completing my final presentation on the Nicene Creed for my Certificate in Catholic Doctrine, there were 3 books that were instrumental. “The Nicene Creed” by Jared Ortiz & Keating / “The Creed” by Scott Hahn / and “Faith that Transforms Us” by Cardinal Wuerl

GREAT NEWS! My bills to support gateway communities, fix issues facing our national parks, improve access to public lands & address housing needs in rural MT passed the U.S. Senate.   Looking forward to the President signing my bills into law that help support outdoor rec in MT!

2024: A Year in Books. Finally read the Lord of the Rings, lots of Montana pre-history, a bit of science, my first ‘beach read’, multiple books on the Nicene Creed, and a few other fun history reads.

Lafayette by Harlow Giles Unger is a detailed biography of the ‘hero of two worlds’. It is easy to forget the outsized role the Marquis played in both the American and French revolutions. Well worth the read.

“Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood” by Anthony Kaldellis is a good read for those hoping to learn more about Rome/Constantinople at the turn of the first century.

Continuing on with my historical journey and picking up at the end of the last book on Constantinople. Just finished Dan Jones Crusaders. A very good read. Next will be his new book Henry V. Which happens to be right about where this book ends.

Going back further in time. Read ‘The Storm Before the Storm’ by Mike Duncan. Fun read as an overview of what led to the fall of the Roman Republic.

This was fun. “Tombstone” by Tom Clavin tells the real story of the historic event that inspired the amazing film.

Continuing on my tour through the predecessors and successors of the Roman Empire. Finished “The Ottomans” by Marc David Baer. Great read. You forget how and how recent the Ottoman empire reigned.

That was fun. Got to get some fiction in here every once in a while. “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman is definitely a fun read for those that like a classic whodunit.

THANK YOU Secretary Doug Burgum for supporting MT’s Bull MTns Coal Mine in Roundup- this is a huge win for the Treasure State.

Two science books to add. “Animal Weapons” by Dr. Emlen from UofMT was a very fun & interesting read. I have a new appreciation for beatles. And “When the Earth was Green” by Dr. Black dives into the plants that grew alongside & interacted with paleo-animals we usually focus on.

Another one in my tour of European Middle Ages. “The Empires of the Normans” by Levi Roach was a quick and fun read about the Normans and their conquests.

Glad to see my bill to support hydropower projects and protect MT jobs & energy pass the Senate with unanimous consent today!

Very good read. “Montana Battlefields” by Barbara Fifer outlines the major battles in Montana including during the Great Sioux War and the Nez Perce war. Highly recommended.

“Telling the Story of Jesus” brings together 3 addresses from Cardinal Tagle about the story of Jesus and how to spread that story in Asia and around the world.

Pope Francis’s final encyclical “Dilexit Nos” contemplates a love and heart of Jesus and the need for us to bring that love to the world.