What Should You Take When You Travel Internationally? Maybe Try This Tool For Cleaning Clothes.

Walking through Europe in the summer can get quite sweaty. I’ve walked through Machu Pichu in March. I’ve had clinging clothes in China. I’ve had a lot of Swass in Spain. I know rank clothes. As I’ve gotten older, the B.O. seems to cling a little more. Anyone share the pain?

The Sonic Soak Ultrasonic Cleaner seems to be the solution. According to their web site, they’ve unlocked ultra-sonic technology to clean clothing more thoroughly than soaking with agitation (your washing machine). I’m not sure anyone is going to start sticking their clothes in the sink at home, but for international travel, this thing sounds like a huge hit.

We have NOT reviewed this yet. I’ve submitted a request to the company, and we’d appreciate comments and feedback if anyone’s used it. There are also a TON of knock offs on Amazon (here is the most popular one). Has anyone tried a knock off?

This Actually Happened: A Former President Nearly Died on an Amazonian Expedition to Map an Undiscovered River.

Theodore Roosevelt wanted to run for Presidential election. Agreeing previously to step aside to allow younger men to run, the former “Rough Rider” changed his mind and decided to seek a third term. Running as the candidate of the Progressive Party after losing the nomination to William Howard Taft in the Republican party, he felt empowered to lead the country toward woman’s suffrage and lower tariffs.

Before taking the stage for a campaign speech, Roosevelt was shot by William Schrenk. When asked why he shot the former president, Schrenk offered that any man who sought a third term as president ought to be shot. Roosevelt, who easily survived the attempt on his life, famously said, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose!” Thus, the Progressive Party became the Bull Moose party.

Having divided the Republican party, Roosevelt and Taft both lost to Woodrow Wilson. Teddy was devastated. In a deep funk and seeking a new challenge and adventure for his life, the former United States President launched an expedition to map an uncharted river in the Amazon jungle.

The expedition would take men’s lives, nearly killing all of them. The president himself repeatedly ordered the men on his expedition to leave him for dead, an order they refused to obey. This story of a former president doing something so profoundly unheard of must be read by anyone who considers himself or herself a fan of history.

You can buy The River of Doubt, by Candice Millard on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Jbht72

You can get this book for free in Audible form by signing up here! Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

Camping Survival, Solitude and the Amazing Journey of a Young Man

Luke and Sam both loved Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, a book of survival, ingenuity and solitude. A 13 year old boy survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, and begins a journey of survival and self discovery that everyone should read.

If you’d like to buy our pick for the best camping and survival hatchet, click here: https://amzn.to/2DED7Nl

To buy Hatchet, the book from Amazon, click here: https://amzn.to/2GR5etn

Interested in the anniversary pocket edition with leather-like cover like the cover photo? Click here: https://amzn.to/2vz6g85

If you’d like to have this book read to you on a family road trip or any other time, you can get it for free in Audible form by signing up! Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills

Looking for an entertaining, yet true, riveting novel? Look no further than the story of Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. During the Vietnam War, Hathcock stalked,often behind enemy lines, harassing and demoralizing the enemy on his way to 93 confirmed kills.

The legend of this amazing soldier is told quite professionally in Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills, by Charles Henderson. Once started, it will be hard to put it down. Plan accordingly.

Originally a dad dabworthy pick, Luke is a huge fan as well.

You can buy Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills, on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2VJ8ErB

You can watch episode 68 of The History Channel Specials, telling of Hathcock’s epic battle with “The Cobra,” here: https://amzn.to/2J9OxME

If you’d like an Audible version free, you can sign up for Audible here: Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

The General Who Won the War: and Kept the Country Together After

The Civil War is typically seen through the eyes of Abraham Lincoln and his frustrations with his generals in the time leading up to and including the first half of the war. It’s a long period of time, and usually the period of victory for the north is lost in the rush to close out the conflict and detail Lincoln’s impending assassination.

In Grant, by Ronald Chernow, we view the Civil War from a new vantage point. Grant is a nobody, nearly a doomed farmer who somehow, miraculously rises from nothing to lead the north to victory. It’s a long, winding, precipitous route that never becomes dull, and fascinates to the very end.

Somehow, a general who struggled with alcohol among other many other faults, becomes a role model worth emulating through this life of obstacles.

Grant is highly recommended summer reading, another dad denoted dabworthy book.

You can buy Grant on Amazon here:https://amzn.to/2LjSbpW

You can get Grant free through Audible by signing up: Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

How Do You Build a Canal Before Power Equipment?

Before automobiles, the telephone, electricity or any large earth moving construction equipment of any kind, the United States undertook one of the greatest engineering achievements in history. They connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the country of Panama.

In the same way that setting out to put a man on the moon was a catalyst for incredible innovation in the 1960’s, the goal to create the Panama canal created revolutionary advances in technology, construction and mechanical engineering as well as the field of medicine.

The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough is a remarkably surprising and rewarding summer read. Dad recommends it as highly dabworthy.

You can buy The Path Between the Seas on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2DNzNzA

You can get this book or another free on Audible by signing up: Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

Summer Read Series: A Cyclist They Called “The Cannibal.”

In the annals of Professional Cycling, no one dominated the sport like Eddy Merckx. Before the controversies surrounding PED’s, Eddy was crushing opponents, and doing it consistently, every week…until of course his insatiable appetite for success became his undoing.

In professional baseball, Cy Young has what is considered an unbreakable record 511 career wins. Walter Johnson is second with 417. In cycling, Eddy Merckx amassed 525 victories. In comparison, the 2nd most by Henri Van Looy is 379. Merckx was totally dominant in a sport already dominated by masochists. This is why he was called “The Cannibal.”

In Half Man, Half Bike, William Fotheringham journals the the rise to prominence of the famed cyclist. It’s a wonderful summer read that dad considers dabworthy.

You can find and purchase Half Man, Half Bike on Amazon, here: https://amzn.to/2DIG2o0

You can get this book for free in Audible form with a trial subscription: Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

This Book About a Horse Deserved a Trilogy of Movies, Not Just a Single Feature.

Is it really possible that a book about a horse should warrant a Hollywood movie? Absolutely Yes! And not only that, Laura Hillenbrand’s blockbuster book deserves a trilogy.

Seabiscuit, An American Legend, by Laura Hillenbrand is a #1 New York Times Bestseller about the most popular race horse in American history. Yeah, that sounds sort of crazy, but this story is broken open and told so well, and the story itself is so deep and multi-faceted that a single movie could not do it justice.

In the same way that Unbroken should be watched before read, I suggest you watch the Seabiscuit movie before reading the book. I always prefer the books, and this one is truly dabworthy.

You can buy and watch the movie, Seabiscuit, An American Legend on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2VfTGdr

You can buy the book, Seabiscuit, An American Legend on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2LjLX9y

You can listen to the book for free by signing up for Audible! Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

Read Which First? The Book or the Movie? This Summer Read Might Settle the Debate.

There is an ongoing debate on which to do first. Should you watch the movie or read the book? I think Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand might settle the debate.

Louis Zamperini lived one of the most amazing lives you’ve never heard of. An Olympic runner noticed by Hitler himself, his athletic career is worthy of a movie of its own. In Hillenbrand’s book, it’s just the preamble of his life story.

Most book reviews detail a little too much about a story. Whatever I say can’t do it justice. I suggest you watch Angelina Jolie’s movie first. It’s available on Amazon Prime here: https://amzn.to/2Y75TxX

The movie is just a few chapters of a life that warrants at least a trilogy of movies. After watching the movie, read the entire book, and be prepared to be blown away. It’s one of just a couple books that have made dad cry.

Whether you agree or disagree with my watch the movie before the book recommendation, give me a comment!

You can buy Unbroken the book here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V7cuLA

You can get this book free along with another if you sign up for an Audible trial here: Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

The Bike is Not all PED’s and Pedaling

LeMond vs. Hinault. If you don’t know what that means, you need to read this book.

Even if you’re hardly interested in the world of cycling now, getting a behind the scenes look into one of sports’ greatest rivalries will open your eyes to the strategy and machinations of this incredible competitive sport.

Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault were pitted against one another in perhaps the greatest Tour de France in history. The two greats were ferociously fighting one another to win cycling’s largest prize..all while racing for the same team.

Professional cycling is a complicated mix of individual strength, teamwork, strategy and promotion. You’d think it was a simple as getting on the bike and going as fast as you can; when in reality it is so much more. Slaying the Badger by Richard Moore breaks open the inner workings of cycling while telling one of its greatest stories.

If you can’t tell, this is dad’s choice for your summer reading list.

You can buy the Slaying the Badger on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2VDQuHS

This was also made into an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, which you can buy (episode 21) here: https://amzn.to/2ZPVzfj

Listen for Free! Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks