Books

2024:

  1. The Control of Nature – John McPhee – 15Sep24 – 3/5
    John McPhee pioneered creative nonfiction. I wanted to read an example. This book tells three stories about humanity’s war with nature: (1) holding the shape of the Mississippi River; (2) cooling lava in Iceland; and (3) confining massive debris flows in the mountains near Los Angeles. Bit of a slog to read. I could not follow the engineering jargon. Overall the book conferred a deep respect for nature and the people combating her, but got very bogged down with technical stuff. Really could have used some pictures or diagrams for us normies.

  2. After the Fact – Jeff Cooper – 3Aug24 – 4/5
    Surprisingly good and fast-paced legal thriller.

  3. Trust – Hernan Diaz – 27Jul24 – 5/5
    Amazing. Like the Great Gatsby meets Succession meets a mystery novel. Some of the most satisfying and beautiful writing I’ve ever read. It’s a novel made up of four interweaving stories. I don’t think it really had anything groundbreaking to say about wealth or power or whatever, but the writing was just so good. To read it felt like a luxury experience.

  4. The Partner – John Grisham – 8Jul24 – 5/5
    Spicy little legal thriller filled with shadowy figures and international intrigue.

  5. Skunk Works – Ben Rich – 27May24 – 4/5
    Fun read about Lockheed’s maverick engineering team and the mind-bending technology they produced. A little old-school for my taste. Enjoyed the military history but didn’t love the structure of the book. Bounced around a lot. Notes here.

  6. Soldiers Don’t Go Mad – Charles Glass – 19Feb24 – 4/5
    Book about British WW1 shell shock victims and their poetry. Excellent piece of historical non-fiction in that it totally captures the time, place, culture, attitudes, and events. But often a slog with way too much detail and thick British diction, e.g.: “Sassoon accepted the inequality, but he resolved with suitable noblesse oblige to succor his platoon as best he could.” (I mean, c’mon.) I also didn’t love the lack of attention paid to the paradox of one of the main characters, Siegfried Sassoon. He developed a pacifist fervor but also demanded to be sent back to the front lines, and the reader never gets a satisfying account as to why. Overall an impressive and sobering book. Shell shock is scary. Notes here.

  7. Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir – Norm Macdonald – 8Feb24 – 5/5
    Funniest and weirdest book I’ve ever read. If you’re familiar with Norm Macdonald, his schtick and his story, I highly recommend it. If not, start here.

  8. Born to Run – Christopher McDougall – 21Jan24 – 5/5
    Book about ultrarunning. Fun read. Profiles the Tarahumara, a remote and reclusive tribe of Mexican running wizards. Also explores and extols the minimalism of barefoot running and spartan nutrition. Author has a very punchy and engaging writing style. Cracked open in me the possibility that running just might be enjoyable. Notes here.

Hall of Fame: