The iPINIONS Journal Vol XV: Commentaries on the Global Events of 2019—Volume Xv by Anthony Livingston Hall was a surprise for me. First, I’d never heard of him or his work, and second, his journal entries were not only informative but also factual and impactful. I loved the always interesting, never dull writing style. Obviously, Mr. Hall has been around a while. He’s published an annual journal of global events since 2004, so I expected some interesting insights into global politics and events covering the year 2019. I got much more. Commentary and reviews of his journals have remained consistent throughout these past fifteen years and I deeply regret not reading any of them. I intend to make up for that oversight. Above and beyond a journal of major events, Hall provides commentary and intuitive understanding of these events in a way that brought to mind a combination of a modern-day Will Rogers and a more journalistic George Carlin, both heroes of mine.

Below are a couple of examples from previous reviews:
2007: "The commentaries by Anthony Livingston Hall are quietly reflective, tasteful, articulate, intelligent, and lack the notorious left/right bias that corporate America has so carefully cultivated." - Floyd M. Orr, July 20, 2007

I agree. I think it is difficult, if not impossible, to keep one’s personal opinions and prejudices from muddying the commentary waters. Hall does so seemingly effortlessly in a way reminiscent of my above-mentioned heroes—Rogers and Carlin.

2012: For Hall, like Shakespeare, all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are players (often to be lampooned), with their entrances and their exits ("where it is truly shocking how soon we forget them"). As always, Hall tackles all of these topics and many more in his latest volume with his trademark confidence, flair, and humor. Highly recommended reading. - Caribbean News Now, May 31, 2012.

I found The iPINIONS Journal Vol XV fascinating, eye-opening and urgent in context and applicability to today's world. I was often shocked and simultaneously impressed by Anthony Livingston Hall’s ability to succinctly list an event, credit the media source, tie the event to the overall impact on world politics, economics, sports, social, etc., and include his own take on the subject in so few words. I’ve often pondered how our world, in general, got into its current malaise in regard to social aspects, politics, climate change and wars that have created tens of millions of refugees and hundreds of thousands of deaths. It’s easy to say that Trump is to blame, the globally political shift towards right extremism, the rise of religious bias and hatred, the list goes on, but there’s so much more to it than these generalizations. Mr. Hall should get a Pulitzer Prize for reporting all those bits and pieces that make up the generalizations that have led us to our (the human race) current situation of angst.

The iPINIONS Journal Vol XV: Commentaries on the Global Events of 2019—Volume Xv by Anthony Livingston Hall is a thought-provoking book that covers some of the most important moments of 2019. The author shares his thoughts and commentaries on a wide range of topics and issues, at times controversial, at times unveiling startling discoveries and details that are important enough to shift the reader’s perspective. In this volume, the author picks key topics and events from around the world and, with forensic clarity, analyzes them, inviting readers into a conversation about the effects of Trump’s art of diplomacy on Europe’s relationship with Iran, the ousting of African dictators (Mubarak of Egypt and Bashir of Sudan), the Ebola crisis, and much more on Africa.

Then there are contentious situations like the declaration by PM Netanyahu that Israel is ‘Only for the Jewish People,’ the implications of Brexit, Hurricane Dorian, and the social, cultural, and political impact it had. The author shares thoughts from unique angles on the Trump presidency, the Collusion story, and the Trump impeachment. From Africa to Europe to Asia, the author shares his views on the events that rocked the world in 2019. This is an interesting volume filled with social and political commentaries and what makes it unique is the author's invitation to readers to look past the obvious.

The iPINIONS Journal Vol XV is a fascinating read filled with a common-sense analysis of contemporary events. The effortless writing, the profusion of ideas, and the clarity of thought are distinctive elements of Anthony Livingston Hall’s work. The author invites readers into conversations over a wide range of topics and issues affecting contemporary culture, global economics, politics, and the ways we interpret current issues. He touches on a wide range of themes, including terrorism, racism, immigration, climate change, sports and entertainment, and a lot more. The writing is eclectic and readers with different tastes will definitely find something to ponder on within these pages. It is refreshing, entertaining, and a powerful invitation to embrace the one gift that is scarcely used by society these days — common sense.