PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

I got four books for Christmas, which we celebrated early yesterday. Well, actually, it was three, with a fourth in the mail from Amazon.

Here’s the list:

• “Thanks, Obama,” a book by Obama speechwriter David Litt, which is an easy read because – no surprise here – Mr. Litt is a good writer who knows how to weave in humor with his reflections on what he calls, “My Hopey, Changey White House Years.
• “Capital Gaines,” a book by Chip Gaines, one of the two stars of the HGTV program, Fixer Upper. Based on his conduct on the program, Gaines is two things – a solid carpenter, plus someone who, from to time, goes nuts.
• “The Rooster Bar,” another book by one of my favorite authors, John Grisham. Will be good to get back into a Grisham legal thriller.
• “The First Major,” another chronicle by one of my favorite golf writers, John Feinstein. This time, he writes about the 2016 Ryder Cub, which I watched when it was on TV and when the U.S. won.  [And, Steve Koller, you can read this book after I finish it.]

An eclectic list, you say.

Yes, I respond.

But at least one characteristic carries from book-to-book. The writers are good at their craft – using the best and right words to convey important messages.

It’s a skill to admire. And, as I read all of these books in the next weeks, I will.