Book Review: Federal Pianist by John Robilette

If you ever wondered about the ridiculousness of government bureaucracy, but didn't want to read a pundit's book about it, Federal Pianist would be a good alternative.

Jason Angeletti has found himself out as faculty member of the piano department and dropped into the middle of the chaos known as the federal government when he becomes a political appointee during the Reagan administration. His task is to travel the world playing concerts and representing the United States. Not a bad gig if Harry Cone was actually liked by anyone other than the President and the project hadn't been squashed before it even started. Still, Jason winds up in Washington with no idea what he is really getting himself into.

What a fun novel! Based upon the author's own time as a political appointee where he created and directed the Artistic Ambassador Program for the United States Information Agency, this fictionalized account is made even more comical by how true to life it depicts the nonsense of government bureaucracy. Fired and rehired, people coming and going so often you might miss someone if you blinked twice, the warring factions with different agendas and more are all depicted with an entertaining wit that makes for an enjoyable story.

Dr. Robilette seems like he's led one heck of a life. How many people can say they played a recital at a president's inauguration?

If you enjoy biographical fiction or stories where government life plays a role, you'll appreciate Federal Pianist by John Robilette.

Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: Teitelbaum Bertrand Publishing; 1 edition (August 11, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1732691401
ISBN-13: 978-1732691407

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Spotlight: Control: Exposing the Truth About Guns by Glenn Beck

When our founding fathers secured the Constitutional “right of the people to keep and bear arms,” they also added the admonition that this right SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.

It is the only time this phrase appears in the Bill of Rights. So why aren’t more people listening?

History has proven that guns are essential to self-defense and liberty—but tragedy is a powerful force and has led many to believe that guns are the enemy, that the Second Amendment is outdated, and that more restrictions or outright bans on firearms will somehow solve everything.

They are wrong.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. In doing so, he takes on and debunks the common myths and outright lies that are often used to vilify guns and demean their owners:

The Second Amendment is ABOUT MUSKETS . . . GUN CONTROL WORKS in other countries . . . 40 percent of all guns are sold without BACKGROUND CHECKS . . . More GUNS MEAN more MURDER . . . Mass shootings are becoming more common . . . These awful MASSACRES ARE UNIQUE TO AMERICA . . . No CIVILIAN needs a “weapon of war” like the AR-15 . . . ARMED GUARDS in schools do nothing, just look at Columbine . . . Stop FEARMONGERING, no one is talking about TAKING YOUR GUNS AWAY.

Backed by hundreds of sources, this handbook gives everyone who cares about the Second Amendment the indisputable facts they need to reclaim the debate, defeat the fear, and take back their natural rights.


Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Threshold Editions; Original edition (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1476739870
ISBN-13: 978-1476739878


Release date: April 30, 2013, but can be pre-ordered now.