Review: Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time by Dava Sobel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Small little book that gives a nice concise overview of the Harrison chronometers. It suffers from a couple of obvious flaws- some pictures and/or drawings of the clocks would have been helpful.

View all my reviews

Review: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Given the current hype around this book you would think it is contains the answer to our current American crisis. It doesn't. Rather, it pretty grippingly describes it through the story of the author - who grew up poor and in a dysfunctional family and community to become a Yale law grad. If I were going to be cynical, it really is nothing more than a book length extension of what I imagine was the author's Yale law school admission essay. But that would be uncharitable to the skill and insight in which the story is told. It was an interesting read but, as an answer as to what to do about the white underclass in America and its anger in 2016, I think the author says it best - there are probably no policies that can change it - it likely requires a massive change in behavior and outlook.

View all my reviews

Review: The Water Knife

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Takes place in a future where the western United States is quickly running out of water. It was ok, not sure I buy some of the assumptions regarding what would happen in this future - for example, the federal government seems to have disappeared. It was ok.

View all my reviews

Review: Calculating God

Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know I should not have liked this but I did. Very nice twist on an alien comes to earth story.

View all my reviews

Review: Arctic Fire

Arctic Fire by Stephen W. Frey
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Uneven

nice plot good action but uneven and a bit unpolished.
with this kind of story you expect the occasional "and then luck saved them all" but not this many.

View all my reviews

Review: The Affair

The Affair by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another jack reacher story. It's junk food but fun. What else can be said?

View all my reviews

Review: Gray Justice

Gray Justice by Alan McDermott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting premise. Good action/thriller. Ending was predictable about 1/2 way through though.

Overall good enough that I am interested in reading the next volume in the grey series at some point.

View all my reviews

Review: Wired

Wired by Douglas E. Richards
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

If I could I'd give it 2.5 stars. It's a fun read but it starts off very slowly, has many clichés and the ending is obvious.

Nevertheless it's slow beginning does pick up quickly and is a fun read. The premise-that a genius has developed a way to enhance intelligence is very interesting.

So, I'd recommend it with the proviso that its not the best nor the worst if the genre.

View all my reviews

Review: The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy

The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy by David E. Hoffman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good history of Cold War from around 1980 to 2000.

Lots of little known info on nuclear command control and disarmament issues. The chem bio stuff is downright terrifying when you realize much of the stockpile either still exists or can easily be made by anyone with right materials.

Recommend

View all my reviews

Review: Die Trying

Die Trying by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bit of a let down from the first jack reacher book. Very claustrophobic in comparison.

Still a fun read.

View all my reviews

Review: Killing Floor

Killing Floor by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very exciting thriller. Plot and pacing well done and characters are great.

Highly recommend

View all my reviews

Review: Brilliance

Brilliance by Marcus Sakey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really really well done scifi thriller.

Highly recommend.

View all my reviews

Review: The Dark Monk

The Dark Monk by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyed the first book in this series so I thought I'd give it another go. This, the second book of the series brings back all the main characters and the setting but sadly, is a bit off a notch from the first book. If I had to classify it I'd say its a bit more formulaic than the first book.

Regardless, if you liked the first book you'll like this - just not as much.

View all my reviews

Review: The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth's Past Mass Extinctions

The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth's Past Mass Extinctions by Peter Brannen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Engrossing account of the 5 extinctions that have occurred in the history of the world. I always got the different epochs confused in the past, as I suspect most people do. But the author’s talent to make the unfathomably long life of the earth understandable is something worth the time to read.

While it is the history of our very very distant past, threaded throughout the book is an easy to understand lesson in climate change. And it is scary. For anyone who doesn’t understand the theories behind climate change, this is a great book to read.

Frugally, the author discusses the near and distant future of what may happen on earth. Surprisingly it is hopeful.

Recommend.

View all my reviews

Review: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have a hard time reading Isaacson after I read the hack bio he did of Steve Jobs. But, here, given a historical subject, he does a first rate job of making the most interesting man who ever lived even more interesting.

View all my reviews

Review: The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time

The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really a biography of Charles Darwin. Yes, it deals with finches, but a Darwin Bio nonetheless. Still, very good.

View all my reviews

Review: Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds

Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds by Bernd Heinrich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Really detailed book about Ravens and the author's study of them. I mean really detailed. Probably too much, which is why I only give it 3 stars.

View all my reviews

Review: The Fallen

The Fallen by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like Amos Decker, so I liked this book.

View all my reviews

Review: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk W. Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You think it is about birds, and it is kind of. You think its about a heist, and it is. But what blows you away is its about stealing feathers to make fishing flies. Very well written account of a heist. And the amazing part is that some of the loot is probably still out there.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews