This morning I was blogging about leadership and David Hanlonʻs “Making Micronesia: A Political Biography of Tosiwo Nakayama.” Inspired, I decided to write a “product review” on Amazon. A half hour after submission, I received an email from Amazon rejecting my review. Apparently it wasnʻt capitalistic-focused enough for their corporate culture. I guess I put too much heart into my review and they wanted a cerebral money maker. So, here it is:
Making Micronesia United for Good
As the grandson of Chief Raatior and thus related to the late President Nakayama, I may be positively biased about this book so take this review for whatever itʻs worth to you. I have wanted to have my own copy of this book to read on my time, but hadnʻt gotten around to it due to doctoral studies and its own demands on reading materials. 
At the Pacific Historical Association (PHA) conference in Guam, I was moved beyond words when Dr. Hanlon handed me a signed copy with a humble message.
A book about the first president of the FSM needed to be written with humility by the right humble author to match the humility that was / is the essence of Tos. The book needed to tell the story authentically and truthfully. Hanlon was the exactly the right author to honor my President Nakayama with his own brand of Pacific-inspired humility. His scholarship and contribution to the Pacific at CPIS and at UH have been great, but his authenticity and humility came through in this book. The written life of my late President matched our knowledge of him through the stories shared in the islands. Our elders admired his humility and kindness as a leader and that was enough for us in the islands to aspire to serve. But now reading about the real political wisdom of trying to maintain unity, his indigenous leadership strength against the mighty US, his humble yet strong leadership of a nation can now add to our knowledge of Tosiwo, the man from Onoun who became Head of State for a new nation.
Thank you, Dr. Hanlon, for treating the story of my president with care. Your book is a great contribution to the nation of the FSM that continues to be in the making…sometimes even in its unmaking due to our own selfish leaders. Personally, your book has brought a greater understanding of my hero. Those of us who bear the joy and honor of being related to Tos also have the greatest burden to continue to build his legacy through whatever gift weʻve been given by the Good Spirit. Having your book on my bookshelves serves as a continued reminder and invitation to me to continue to help Keep Micronesia United to be the great small nation of Immense Goodness and Goodwill..to bring our own indigenous values, the diversity of our cultures and languages, the strength of our characters to the world community as Tos envisioned.
