I've had this on my radar for a while, since it first came out and won so much acclaim. I love a good retelling of a classic story, whether from another character's perspective (Natalie Haynes is brilliant at this) or transposed into another era (Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead is a great example). The key with these examples is... Continue Reading →
Departure(s), by Julian Barnes. Pub 2026
First off, I'm pleased to say this book did not disappoint me (like the previous one did). I was delighted to get the UK edition, and a signed copy at that (although the signature was disappointing, such a small scribble). The physical book is a delight, with substantial paper, a cloth binding that invites holding... Continue Reading →
Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn. Pub 1992. 25th anniversary edition, with foreword and afterword, pub 2017.
This book was a gift from someone who suggested I read it while or after I finished the bible. It was certainly an interesting counterpoint. While not great literature, its ideas are highly original and thought-provoking. There is not much of a story in the novel, as it consists almost entirely of a conversation between... Continue Reading →
The Bible, new standard revised version, Catholic edition, Anglicized text. Printed 1995.
My pop used to say that a hallmark of a smart person is that they've read the bible. In the spring, when going through some of his things with my sister, we found his bible - a Jerusalem bible, from 1966. I decided to take on reading it this year, but didn't want to risk... Continue Reading →
The Anomaly, by Hervé Le Tellier. Pub 2020. Translation by Adriana Hunter, Pub 2021.
I wish I could recall where I first heard about this book and from whom, as I would give them a hearty thank you. This book is in the time-bending genre, but in a different way than others read recently. We start by meeting a series of characters who share one thing: they were all... Continue Reading →
Stop Reading the News, by Rolf Dobelli. Pub 2019. Translation by Caroline Waight, pub 2020.
The title of this book spoke to me, in light of many conversations this year about the depressing imposition the news represents, and the goal of reclaiming my attention from the whirlpool of online sites. According to Dobelli, the only way is cold turkey - as the title says, stop reading the news – and... Continue Reading →
Do/Pause, by Robert Poynton
I wish I could remember where I heard about this book. I suspect it was an impulse purchase on a bookshop online store, where the lovely cover illustration and tagline appealed to me: You are not a To Do list. Part philosophy, part self-help, this manifesto advocates introducing conscious and deliberate pauses into one’s day... Continue Reading →
Useful Not True, by Derek Sivers. Pub 2024
I had read Sivers’ Anything You Want a few years ago, and found it to be a good inspiration and guide to being true to oneself when starting a business. The main takeaway from AYW is an important touchstone for me: “You can’t live someone else’s expectation of a traditional business. You have to just... Continue Reading →
The Order of Time, by Carlo Rovelli. Pub 2017. Translation by Erica Segre and Simon Carnell, 2018.
I heard about this book on a podcast sometime in the past year. While on a bus around the same time, the person sitting next to me was reading it, and when asked how it was, said, “It’s good but some parts are tough.” I agree with that assessment, but ultimately I found the push... Continue Reading →
On Confidence, by The School of Life. Book report #23 (2021)
On Confidence, by The School of Life. Pub 2017 In building up a library for an upcoming course, I found this book in one of the "if you like X, you'll also like Y" section of the bookseller's website. I've seen The School of Life books online and in shops before, and this one seemed... Continue Reading →
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