From Ben Franklin to the FBI • Charlie's Winter Reading List

He starts with The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H. W. Brands, a rich, readable biography of Franklin that follows his rise from printer’s apprentice to indispensable Founder, diplomat, inventor, and philosopher. Next is Hiking Through: One Man’s Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail by Paul Stutzman, the true story of a widower who leaves his job to hike the entire trail and finds healing, faith, and perspective along the way. Charlie also recommends Always by Andy M. Davidson, a poignant, layered novel told across time about love, aging, and memory.

For sharpening your thinking, he highlights Thinking, Fast and Slow by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, which explains how our minds use two systems — fast, intuitive thinking and slow, analytical reasoning — and how those patterns shape the decisions we make every day in politics, business, and life.

Finally, Charlie points to The Two FBIs: The Bravery and Betrayal I Saw in My Time at the Bureau by former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker, an insider account of the clash between rank‑and‑file agents committed to equal justice and political actors inside the Bureau who abused their power — and a call for reform to restore public trust.