Review: The Angel of Darkness

The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed the alienist, you will like this book even more. Not only because there is more to like but because many if the weaknesses of the first book are missing in the second.

Now, it is a long slog but it is a pleasant one. While there are a few patches that drag and many of the authors foibles are on display (character after character constantly saying "I'll tell you what I've learned as soon as we get with everyone else and sit down to a fine meal." And then several pages describing the walk to the restaurant before the character tells his tale. ) the choice of voice in this book (as compared to the alienist) seems to smooth over these patches.

As usual, the author has a fine eye for per turn of the century New York but he does not let it get in the way.

All in all worthwhile.

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Review: The Habit Factor: An Innovative Method to Align Habits with Goals to Achieve Success

The Habit Factor: An Innovative Method to Align Habits with Goals to Achieve Success by Martin Grunburg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

watch the TED talk instead.

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Review: Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier

Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier by Mark Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very good book about Alaska and really nicely told travel log.

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Review: Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America

Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America by James M. Fallows
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Tedious. And I really wanted to like this book. Not sure the authors are really getting a "feel" for America by flying around the country and stopping at private airports and taking the temperature of a nearby town. Moreover, the time frame outlined in the book is way too big - some towns they visit right after the reelection of Obama and others right before the election of Trump. Anyone who has lived through it knows these are 2 very different times in America. They should have gone back to the early towns to find out what had changed.

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Review: The Outsider

The Outsider by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hard to review this book and not give it away, so I won't. Will say, it is really good book in all aspects and just when you think the crime will be solved, you will turn out to be wrong. Keeps you guessing

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Review: The Other Woman

The Other Woman by Daniel Silva
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Have been reading this series for a while now. This was one of the best in the series.

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Review: A Higher Loyalty

A Higher Loyalty by James Comey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many of the major reviews have outlined what my take is - Comey is an admirable public servant and, at the same time, complicit in putting Donald Trump in the White House by failing to follow long established DOJ and FBI guidelines (not commenting on investigations prior to an election). It is clear he felt pressured by what I gather from news accounts is an out of control NY FBI office. One revelation from this book that didn't get much play in the media is Comey making the analogy between how organized crime operates and how Donald Trump operates.

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Review: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wanted to give it four stars, but honestly, it took me a long time to finish this book, not that it wasn't interesting or well written (it was on both accounts) but after I got into it, I realized that the subject (chemistry) was hard to keep my attention. Did love the anecdotes about all the crazy things people have done with chemicals over the years

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Review: The Naturalist

The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quick read, good story about a biologist who gets caught up in a series of murders that the police write off as the work of bears.

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Review: Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1

Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1 by Mark Twain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very good. As the introduction notes, Twain had 2 goals with his autobiography - to not follow the standard historical timeline but rather to wander from event to event and, for it to be published years after his death so he could be as honest as possible. However, he had fits and starts on the autobiography and he never really finished it. The Mark Twain foundation lays out what seems the most logical structure of the autobiography and makes the case that Twain's 1906 efforts (which were dictated) constitute the bulk of what Twain intended to be the autobiography. It actually isn't until just under half of the way through this volume that these 1906 dictations start. Prior to this, some selections of Twain's prior (written) efforts are presented. Volume 1 does not actually finish the 1906 dictations (there are 2 other volumes) but, combined with the first part of this volume, the reader has a good sketch of Mark Twain's life.

My copy is the audible audiobook (unabridged) so I will just note that this is a really entertaining way to enjoy this volume. The narrator was excellent.

I listened to all 3 volumes, so I am only going to post a review here on the first. Overall, excellent as you would expect given the author. But, word of caution - it takes about 1/3 of the first volume to get going. Twain wrote his autobiography in fits and starts and the editors choose to start volume one with a portion he wrote as kind of a stand alone. Once you get past that, most of the material was written on a consistent basis, so the flow is much better. Recommend

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Review: The English and Their History

The English and Their History by Robert Tombs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A long slog and not exactly what I was expecting. This is more an overview of the history of England focusing on social and political interrelationships than a "pure" dates, events, kings and wars history. Still it's comprehensive but had I known its true nature I am not sure I would have read it. Also, a very large percentage of the book covers post 1800 history, everything before that is given what seems like cursory coverage. So, while it is pretty good, you should know going in that there might be better pure histories.

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Review: New York 2140

New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I got this thinking it was going to be about the way environmental changes affect the future. And, it is, kind of. But really it’s just a pretty boring story about a flooded New York City and the people who live in a New York high rise, most of whom are not very likeable. Not recommended

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Review: The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West

The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West by Peter Cozzens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not as detailed as I would have liked. The author states that he was trying to give an alternative to bury my heart at wounded knee, and I guess he has but it’s a fairly high level overview of the Indian wars. Would have liked a bit more context rather than the seemly endless dates and events list

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Review: Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Enlightenment

Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Enlightenment by Robert Wright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a nice overview of Buddhism and evolutionary psychology, this is your book. You will never think of powder sugar donuts the same way again. Highly recommend.

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Review: Mindfulness in Plain English

Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Straightforward. First half was very good. Got a bit repetitive afterwords

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Review: How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life

How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life by Dalai Lama XIV
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It gets a bit esoteric towards the end.

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Review: Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Follow up to sapeiens. Really mostly a repeat. Very little on the homo dues

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Review: Cosmos: A Personal Voyage

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage by Carl Sagan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Still a classic. Holds up fairly well after almost 30 years although I found myself wishing Sagan could have updated it based on the more recent work on extra solar system planets and advancements in physics and astronomy.

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Review: Origin

Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fairly typical for a Dan Brown book. Professor Langdon is one lucky guy who seems to be at the wrong place and wrong time.

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Review: The Midnight Line

The Midnight Line by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For a Jack Reacher novel this one is very light on the mayhem. Still, pretty good and the audiobook narrator is great as usual.

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