K and I are back in the warmth, comfort, and safety of Delray Beach on the eastern shore of South Florida. Loved our 10 days in New York City. And very happy to be home.

A good part of this issue was inspired by a thought-provoking book I just read and liked so much that I’m including a good-sized excerpt for you. It’s about, among other things, the author’s view of US and European culture – a topic I’ve been thinking about for a number of years. In fact, I’ve been preparing a longish essay on it, which I will publish in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you should see what he has to say.

I’ve also included a funny and scary mini-history of 9/11, nine facts about lions and scavengers that may surprise you, a super-simple five-step solution to our broken government (that I could not argue with), and several letters I recently received that reminded me of why I write the books I write.

And finally, I’ve ended the issue with a slice of the life of a genuine “lion whisperer.”

Let’s get started with this quick history lesson about 9/11…