Library Book Reviewed

William Monroe Trotter, political leader and civil rights agitator was getting into heated political debates with adults when he was just 8-years-old.


Trotter graduated from Harvard University in 1895 and founded the Guardian newspaper in 1901. He met with President Woodrow Wilson on at least two occasions while Wilson was the U.S. president from 1913-1921. Trotter argued with President Wilson and accused him of catering to federal segregation. Trotter was bold on his stance for racial equality and for his time, that was extremely dangerous, but he was also highly respected.


Trotter was also not shy about criticizing the black elite which he was a part of. Black people who owned property were voting in Boston in 1780, more than 100 years before Trotter was born.

Trotter introduced generations of blacks to peacefully protest, the art of black activism, legislative wrangling, and civil disobedience. Lynching a black man a 100 years ago in the U.S. for a crime he may or may not have done without fear of the law by its perpetrators was as common as lies in todays White House.


Trotter was one of the first to advocate for the Dyer Bill in 1918. The Dryer Bill was eventually passed in 1919, which made it officially illegal to lynch someone anywhere in the U.S. Unarmed black people are now choked to death by cops.


“Black Radical; The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter,” released this year was an excellent library read. I learned some nice facts about Boston. The city of Boston for example had integrated schools as early as 1855.


Kerri K. Greenidge, historian, and director of program in American studies at Tufts University eloquently wrote the following about Trotter; ‘Trotter was an inspiration to the black working class, encouraging them to embrace blackness and all its complexities.’


In 1912, heavy weight boxing champion, Jack Johnson was prosecuted under the Mann Act for alleged white slavery. Johnson, a black man was married to a white woman, and back then, many states passed laws that would not recognize interracial marriages across state lines. This whole Trump thing and his stupid red hat; Make America Great Again? News flash, what was so great about lynching and potential jail time simply for being in love?


Trotter lobbied unsuccessfully to ban 1915s movie “Birth of A Nation” based on a KKK book, the “Clansman.” “Birth of A Nation” was a hit movie then, and many claims is rejuvenated the KKK.

Trotter accused national press of fanning the flames of white fear, which fuels more and more injustice to non-whites.


In 1910, Jack Johnson was arguable the most popular black man in the U.S. and maybe the world. Johnson was the heavy weight boxing champion from 1908-1915. On July 4, 1910, Johnson defeated James Jeffries, dubbed the great white hope in Reno, Nevada in front or 20,000 people. Former President Theodore Roosevelt called for congressional legislation to ban interstate distribution of the fight film.


Trotter was indeed a pioneer for civil rights and this book is for everyone, not just African Americans. Intriguing, and even horrible historical facts are in this book. A solid 3.5 star read.


Mark Izzy Schurr

A Modern Moron Book Review

A kaleidoscope of greed angers the deities of destruction, the wrath of Hindu goddesses, Kali and Durga, have the power to inspire their followers to carry out their vengeful judgements.  


Thrown from the heights of the of the Taj Mahal in India, and spiraling toward a certain death, before your spattered on the marbled floor of the luxurious structure.


A quarter of million dollars was serious loot in 1965, especially if it's divided only one way. James Holding’s 1960s “Career Man” is a timeless tale of a heist for the ages. The quest for a huge payday will never die out, especially in the genre of crime and suspense writing.


“Tales of Terror” was released in 1986 and contains 58 shorts stories chosen by Alfred Hitchcock, the so-called master of suspense. This book is great, because most of the stories are really good, and if you get bored, you can go onto another story that captures the imagination.


Writer, Nedra Tyre’s 1963s “Killed by Kindness” is difficult to talk about without revealing the plot. It’s very clever tale of a husband and wife who after years of marriage tire of one another and plot an odious means to end their marriage. The ending is anything but predictable.


The cobblestone roads in Whitechapel, London in the late 1880s is where the serial killer Jack the Ripper slayed ladies of the night. Annie, as she called herself, decided to take the law into her own hands. 

Annie with her wolf whistle figure and scantily clad dress walked the late-night London streets alone with a large knife in her purse. Her goal was to meet Jack the Ripper, and lure him into a cheap motel, and instead of being another one of his victims, she’d be the one to slay the nefarious Ripper.


The sound of her heels echoed sharply against the cobbles, but it didn’t matter now, it was too late to end her quest to lure in Jack the Knife. The 1976 short story by Vincent McConnor, “The Whitechapel Wantons” was one of many great reads from this novel.


Jack Ritchie’s “ Kid Cardula” was the most original vampire story I’ve ever read. The story adheres to the basic stereotypes of a vampire, they indeed feed on the blood of the living, they cannot be out in the sunlight and are extraordinarily strong. Most of the time, vampires also do not reveal what they really are to humans unless they are killing or converting them.


“Kid Cardula” is the story of a small-time boxing manager eager and desperate to be the sole manager of top prize fighter. The manager does not freak out, nor get scared when he learns Kid Cardula is a vampire. Cardula, with his great strength easily defeats his opponents in the ring to earn money for him and his manager.


Cardula, the vampire boxer is not nearly as greedy as his manager and things begin to go astray, and the ending was very fitting to the story.  


A solid three star read for “Tales of Terror.”  


Mark Izzy Schurr

Modern Moron Book Review

The evil escapades of damable debaucheries and the diabolical ecstasy of certain folks are document in “Weird Tales; 32 Unearthed Terrors.”


The slash of the grim reapers scythe is welcoming under the reading lamps of sleeping suburba. “Weird Tales” is a book with a bizarre barrage of sinister and sometimes funny tales which enlightens the imagination, and feeds upon an addiction to reading.


The holy sepulcher of the mind omits the fear of death, and ignites infinite intrigue about vampires, the occult and a limitless array of dark vapors which seeps into the minds of writers and fans of horror fiction.


This 1988 book contains 32 short stories of terror, sorcery, fantasy, comedy, devil worship and sexual perversion that would make a porn star cringe. “Weird Tales” is a deranged delight to those who enjoy reading.


Some of the 32 stories in this book, I found absolutely boring, but the ones that seized my senses made this a 4.5 star read.


1942s “Masquerade” by Henry Kuttner started out to what I thought was going to be your typical story of a newlywed couple killed by vampires.

Rain comes down in torrents as forked lightning crackles across the sky as the young honeymooners head toward what looks like a deserted lunatic asylum, Kuttner wrote on the first page of his story “Masquerade.”


“Masquerade” is a humorous view of the supernatural. Honeymooners via great writing end up spending their first night of marriage in a hotel managed by a family that is more scary then welcoming. The grandfather of this family is the first one to greet the wedding couple, Rosamond, and Charlie.


Charlie immediately begins ribbing the old man by jokingly asking him if he and his family kill and eat their guests. The old man replies, “We are not cannibals, we just kill our guests and take their possessions. Stranded in a small town rumored to have vampires, the ominous hotel, and its employees, all from the same family offer little if any comfort to Charlie and Rosamond.


“Masquerade” was both spooky and funny, and I had a vivid picture of each and every character from this story while I was reading it. While turning the pages of this story, it felt as if I was watching a movie.


“Call Not Their Names,” a 1954 fable written by Everil Worrell captured my imagination simple by referring to karmatic debts and rewards ala Hindu style. 

She feared the intrusion of her dreams and the swelling tide of her subconscious. She angered Kali, the Hindu goddess of death because she had incurred a mortal debt, and it was time to pay. 

“Weird Tales” has embedded itself into my subconscious and I’m grateful for that. Long after the sun has been swallowed by the night, an off the wall story may strike fear in your heart, yet the weirdness of unexplored thoughts may fuel your aspirations.


A child latches onto to a teddy bear, a move from total dependence from the parents to independent selfhood. Eventually the child disregards the toy unless the toy has other plans! 1948s “The Professors Teddy Bear” by Theodore Sturgeon has stood the test of time. 

Dolls and toys that come to life and wreak havoc upon their owners is still flourishing in Hollywood in case you haven’t noticed. The Childs Play movies and Annabelle films come to mind right off the top of my head.


The novel “Weird Tales; the Magazine That Never Dies” contains more than 40 stories and makes for great reading for individuals who enjoy peculiar horror.


Out of body experiences hurl one mans soul into the paraffin flame of evil, and a morbid journey into the dark spheres of an uncharted existence. H.G. Wells 1925s “A Stolen Body” is one of many “Weird Tales” that begets a cool combination of words and has inspired me to write more.


Mark Izzy Schurr  

Government VIII

Engulfed in a midst of stammering nonsense and enshrined in the malevolent mayhem of injustice. Sedated by a barrage of babble emitting from the narcissistic nincompoop, the fat orange man. Defenders and bringers of the truth are hated by our president and many other prominent world leaders across the globe. The bone-saw of inequality has literally murdered the truth.       


Mark Izzy Schurr

Moderen Moron Triple Book Review

All facets of reality and fantasy are weaved into the core of knowledge, the quarry or our fears and the infinite realms of our imagination.


The ancient text of the Mahabharata has spurned a quest for the definitive truth and superlative justice. Swim in the oceans of your imagination and be fascinated by the mystic tales of the Hindu gods and goddesses.   


The super soul, supreme being, great spirit, all opulent one, the ultimate reality or “The One,” has countless names and has ignited a vast array of believes and intrigues. Hinduism, unlike all the other major religions does not recruit, was founded by many people, and has an enormous array of books as compared to just one manuscript. Hinduism is also the only major religion that is inclusive, the Hindu’s welcome all believes and non-believes.


Strive to be a good person and practice non-violence is a strong theme in Hinduism, while other religions preach, be a good person or else suffer the consequences of eternal torture, for offenses as minor as not bowing and praying to the quote unquote right god.


The lifetime of Brahma, Ganesha, Bumba, Muhammad, Allah, God, or any other name given the great spirit is 311.1 trillion human years Swami Achuthananda said in his easy read, “The Ascent of Vishnu and the Fall of Brahma the Galaxy of Hindu Gods Book 2” This is based on Hindu math of the gods from more than 5,000 years ago. The point I am making is that even in the days of old, the Hindu’s have admired science.


Change in the environment is nothing new. Once upon a time, the Earth was a ball of ice. The Holy Trinity of the Hindus nailed it thousands of years ago, Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. When all life is destroyed, it comes back, and the preservation begins again until another form of destruction arises, and the Holy Trinity begins again and again until end of time itself, then ultimate the judgement, look out now!    


Hindu religion and philosophy adhere to scientific fact. Once upon a time there was nothing. If you go back in time far enough, there is a beginning somewhere.


Time and the universe were here before the gods, who really knows? The gods came afterwards with the creation of the universe. Who then really knows whence it was risen? Hindu’s focus on why were here, not how. (Rig-Veda, the oldest text known to humans)  


No matter what your believes or non-believes are, Stephen King of all people has the ultimate explanation for death. When we die, there is either absolute nothingness, or there is something more, and if there is more what is it?


Indian mythology is my favorite, because the poetry from more than 5,0000 years ago is poignant and often precise.


The human mind is restless, unsteady, turbulent, wild, stubborn, and as hard to master as the wind. (Bhagavad-Gita text from 1,000s of years ago translated by Swami Prabhavananda)


I’ve read several books on Hinduism and have yet to read a single sentence or phrase that condones violence, and the books about their gods stress the importance of each god. No god is more important then the other one.


In the beginning there was one Soul, but alone it was not happy, it desired a second. So, it grew until it took the shape of a man and woman locked in embrace. And so, the One Atna (god) divided into two parts; man and woman, and from that pair came this universe. (Ancient Satapatha text from Krishna Dharma’s book “Beauty, Power & Grace the Book of Hindu Goddesses.”)


“Beauty, Power & Grace the Book of Hindu Goddesses” simply sparks my imagination.


The goddesses Saraswati is a luminous woman of splendid beauty, the epitome of perfect learning and destroys the darkness of ignorance Dharma wrote. The swift and eloquent writing of ancient and modern Hindu manuscript has imbibed my creativity.  


Human beings seek personal and spiritual fulfillment through a variety of different paths, and the Hindu religion and philosophy encourages this. Acquire wisdom and seek understanding. (The Bible, Proverbs) Hinduism encourages us to seek out many sources of information, including other religions, and to be open to new ideas, while not sacrificing our values.


A solid 4.5-star rating for these Hindu books pictured.


Mark Izzy Schurr  

Modern Moron Book Review

The witches and warlocks of Wall Street devour money from the middle class and send it upwards while as alluding justice and continue their quest to pulverize the poor.

New York Times bestselling author Matt Taibbi’s 2014 book, “Divide, American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap” suggests that simply being poor in America is a crime. Taibbi makes some valid points. He talked about the 2008 stock market crash in which huge companies, such as J.P. Morgan and many others skated away with billions of dollars in big business the thefts, while the general public got absolutely nothing in the end, no justice and not even a bake sale as Taibbi some eloquently phrased it.

Wall Street steals money daily Taibbi said, and not a single high-ranking executive from any financial institution has gone to jail since 2008 for crimes that wiped out 40 percent of the world’s wealth in less than a year. Again, this book was released in 2014, so a few high-end executives may have gone to jail since 2014, but I’d bet no on that one.   

“These business assholes,” George Carlin said on one of his HBO specials.

If a single mom in the projects commits fraud on her welfare application, the law is followed systematically and justice is swift, yet when deep pocketed businesses such as the Lehman Brothers, Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo siphon funds from peoples retirement accounts among other sources of income that is not theirs, nothing happens to their leaders. 

The book “Divide…” covers a vast array of injustices done to the general public and it’s often frightening when you really analyze the wealth gap in America that is only getting worse.

“America is in a winner take all economy right now,” Political commentator / entrepreneur Andrew Yang said.

If my math is correct, a business quarter in terms of time is three months. Simple math, there are 12 months per year, hence four quarters in a single year. 

In 2008, the Lehman Brother, before they filed for bankruptcy were borrowing up to as much as $50 billion per quarter, and on paper, those loans were documented as sales, hence, they did not have to pay anything back! I learned from this book, that the Lehman bank robbery was the greatest one you never heard of.  

For Americans who are getting rich now, beware. Even the rich can fall into a legal and financial meat grinder. An enormous collapse in one’s credit score, a robo signed foreclosure, stolen identity or a vaporized retirement account via institutional theft or fraud may happen to anyone in today’s economy governed on sheer greed.

Taibbi also mentions the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. All policemen, sheriff’s, rangers and game wardens have the authority to instantly separate children from their mothers and husbands from their wives. America has become a dragnet Taibbi said.

President Trump did not start ICE, but he has certainly done nothing to end their terrible tactics.

Companies such as J.P. Morgan, Countrywide, Bank of America, Wachovia, TD Ameritrade, Goldman Sachs, Charles Schwab and others corporations have committed $26 billion in fraud, and not a single executive was jailed, nor had to pay back a single dime for their crimes, yet more than 25,000 doors a year are literally kicked in by law enforcement for thefts in the hundreds of dollars.

A solid 3.5 star read for “Divide…” Anyone who likes to read political books, or simple wants to acquire some insight on the harsh realities that go on in the world of big business, Taibbi’s book is a great read.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Modern Moron Book Review

“It’s time for some goddamn honesty in this world,” actress / activist, Rose McGowan said.

It’s been an open secret in Hollywood and the media, and they shame me while adulating my rapist McGowan said. 

The book “Catch and Kill” was released in October of last year. The book has some potent and shocking facts and allegations about Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen, Roger Ailes, President Donald Trump, and other wealthy men of power.

Author Ronan Farrow was not assertive enough to me. He makes some great points and brought to light some of the harsh truths that go on beyond Hollywood’s closed doors, but his facts are too vague in many places.

The vagueness in “Catch and Kill” is not all to blame on Farrow, but if your going to write a book on sexually assaulted actresses and their perpetrators, hit the reader with more facts and don’t pull any punches.  

The term catch and kill is nothing new in the world of journalism. Edward Bernays used the term in his 1928 book, “Propaganda.” Usually it's very wealthy men, or large corporations that purchase the rights to various news stories and bury them, hence the real truth never reaches the masses, “Catch and Kill” is an appropriate title for this book.

In November of 2016, shortly before the presidential election, Dylan Howard, the Editor and Chief of the National Enquirer issued an unusual order to one of his staff members to empty out the safe and bring down the shredder. An employee at the National Enquirer said a disposal crew hauled away a more than customary volume of refuse. A Trump related document was among these papers that was shredded and never surfaced to the public.

Pedophilia, racism, and harassment are just some of the hideous things that big money buries. Did Woody Allen have a sexual encounter with Dylan Farrow, the sister of the author when she was a mere 7-years-old? Did President Trump gang rape a 13-year-old girl in 1994 with his then pal Jeffrey Epstein?

Dylan is a grown woman now, and the alleged sexual assault victim of Woody Allen. "Catch and Kill" leaves no clue about the details of this horrid alligation, and that baffles me. 

Farrow makes a stronger case against Trump. Trump may or may not have gang raped a 13-year-old girl with Epstein in 1994, but the simple facts remain. Trump was indeed good friends with Jeffrey Epstein in the 90s and Epstein was a convicted pedophile rapist.

“I’ve known Jeff (Epstein) for 15 years, terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with...he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it, Jeffery enjoys his social life,” Trump said to Julie K. Brown, a Miami Herald writer in 2002.

In 2016, these allegations came out about Trump. To date, there are more than 20 sexual assault charges or allegation against Trump.

“I don’t even ask, I just kiss them or grab them by the **ssy,” Trump said two decades ago. 

The grown woman who accused Trump and Epstein of raping her in 1994 when she was 13-years-old said she was offered money to attend parties hosted by Epstein. The woman known as Jane Doe said her and other minors were forced to perfume sex acts on Trump as well as Epstein. These are allegations, not hard facts, but Jane Doe’s story has vital merit to it. Jane Doe said Trump threatened her and her family if she told on him. 

Jeffrey Epstein plead guilty and was jailed for having sex parties in the 1990s with girls as young as 14-years-old. Trump did in fact party with Epstein in the 90s. In court, Epstein said these junior high school aged girls were simply at his parties to provide messages to him and his guests. Once again, more facts, Trump attended parties in the 90s where girls as young as 14-year-old were giving messages to middle aged men!

In June of last year, writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of unzipping his pants and throwing her against the wall in the mid-1990s. Trump responded to her allegations by saying; she’s not my type, it never happened. He also said he did not know the woman. Evidence proved Trump wrong when a picture of Carroll and Trump together surfaced from that era. 

Harvey Weinstein is another invidious prick who thinks he is above the law and prides himself on abusing women. Weinstein raped Rose McGowan in the early 1990s she said, and I believe it. Back then, Weinstein had her sign some legal documents he drew up and gave her a $100,000. That is a common thing rich rapist tend to do. After sexually assaulting a woman, they give them a large sum of money, and have them sigh some legal documents.

Maybe because I know nothing firsthand of real abuse in any manner which is great for me, or perhaps it’s because I’m a man. I simply do not understand these women who wait for years, if not decades to come out with their sexual assault allegations against Weinstein and various other Hollywood executives.  

After reading this book, I understand how big money shrouds the truth in far too many cases. Some of Weinstein’s accusers may be doing it simple for publicity, but the facts remain, in a nine-month investigation period, five women accused Weinstein of harassment, sexual misconduct, and two claims of rape. In at least three of these five cases, financial settlements with strict nondisclosure agreements were used to prevent criminal proceedings and public revelation. Sixteen former and current executives and assistants at Weinstein’s companies collaborated with this story.

“Catch and Kill” is a 2.5 star read, and definitely not worth full retail price, but if you see this book in a bargain bin, or in one of those Little Library’s, you know, those tiny houses for books that are scattered throughout residential areas, it’s worth reading.  

Mark Izzy Schurr 

Modern Moron Book Review

The supreme manipulation of government leaders and their lies feed the frenzy of unwarranted wars, and the demonic implications of propaganda continue to blind the masses, while big business continues to flourish amid all the ballyhoo.

The lords of industry reap the profits of poison, via cigarettes, wars, insurance scandals and countless other atrocities. Sigmund Freud’s nephew, Edward Bernays book “Propaganda” was published in 1928 and has more then withstood the ultimate test, that which is time. More then 90 years ago, Bernays was advocating against the cigarette companies and illustrating the toxic effects of smoking.   

Think, say, or believe anything you want about smoking cigarettes, but the simple facts remain, more then 8 million people die each year because they smoked, and more then 1.2 non-smokers die each year from secondhand smoke. (The World Health Organization, July 2019.)  

Some smokers defend their habit with the same old talk; we are going to die anyway, my great granddaddy or my friends 99-year-old mother smokes 12 packs a day, and her lungs are perfect, meanwhile, 20-year-olds who never smoked a cigarette a day in their lives, die of lung cancer. Yes, statements like these are sometimes true, but older people who smoke and have no smoke related illnesses are the exception and not the rule. Half of the population that smokes cigarettes on a regular basis will die because of their habit.

Personally, I honestly do not care whether or not people smoke, I’m only glad I never acquired such a costly habit. The point I am making is that even as I’m typing this very second, there are lots of people and organizations advocating for a smoke free world and are livid how the tobacco industry’s target’s the youth.

Let’s face it, most people who start smoking start long before they finish high school. If your 20-years-old or older and you haven’t started smoking, chances are, you won’t ever start, so naturally, the smoking industry has to target the youth. Bernays futilely fought the big business of tabaco several decades before it was trendy, I found that interesting.

The 1928 book “Propaganda” would be a required read in my class if I was an English teacher. It’s short, to the point and relates to all the politics and propaganda going on today, as I’m sure it did more than 90-years-ago.

When I was still in high school in the early 1980s, Russia was the evil empire, now it’s North Korea, or so our government dictates to us. World leaders across the globe juke the youth into wars while making insane profits by sending other people’s children to die. In World War I, America was the light of the world, and were nothing but good, while the Germans were an evil race of demonic souls eager to destroy all that is holy and pure, or so the American government said, as I’m sure Germany told their youth the same about Americans.

America always tells the truth, Germany always lies, was the message the U.S. government propagated (Bernays wrote) in the 1920s and of course before World War I, which ended in 1918.  

J.P. Morgan has been involved in a lot of unethical and even illegal stock market practices Bernays said in this book. To this day, J.P. Morgan continues to make headlines because of shady business practices to say the least.

African Americans are still being lynched in the U.S. and they continue to suffer grave injustices Bernays said. Sound familiar? “Propaganda” is a vital piece in the literature puzzle.

In 1928, Bernays wrote how the media hypes things too quickly and sometimes without the facts. In case you don’t remember or have heard, the main source of news in the 1920s was from the news papers or the radio.   

The political sphere is still a viable source and necessary to the media, yet its evils are difficult to overlook. While I myself perceive the government as an evil entity, I am learning that government is also positive and needed in society. I learned this from Bernays wisdom of 1928.

As Bernays said, we all need to eat, crave amusement, long for beauty and respond to leadership. Without media propaganda, the good and necessary words and products would not reach a lot of the population.

Our minds are molded, and ideas are suggested by people we have never heard of.

“Propaganda will never die out. Intelligent people must realize that propaganda is the modern instrument by which they can fight for productive ends, and help to bring order out of chaos,” Bernays said.   

Mark Izzy Schurr

Government VII

The trends of terror have siphoned the sanity out of the White House. Ghouls guide the goons in Washington as the rivers of ruin flow into the chaotic cesspool of government. 

Tantrumus tweets fuel the folly of a wretched reality. Justice; nothing more than an idle word dissolving into the depths of despair.

Mark Izzy Schurr