Churchill's. I think he wrote 2, one earlier and one later.

Harry Potter is great, because the first 3 real kid volumes take like a couple hours to read. The latter ones are much darker and deal with real emotion and adult themes.

Anyone expecting precise logic from a fantasy series gets what they deserve.

Currently reading Jade Dragon Mtn, a terrific realistic fantasy/mystery set in 18th century outskirts of China.

Up next The Holy Thief and Red Plenty which I hear great things about.

A Quiet Place is another fantastic Japanese murder mystery by Matsumoto.

Having read only one Vonnegut novel (The Sirens of Titan), and that a long long time ago, I decided to read Cat's Cradle.

I think I'm now much too old for Vonnegut. Too clever-brittle, too coy-cute.

He gives many examples of things that should have been done differently. He gives some ideas throughout (mostly near the end) on what can be done to stop him.

The gist is to stop doing things that legitimize him. Such as calling to congratulate on winning an election when it's pretty clear the election was corrupt. Not taking pictures with him in the Olympics. Calling him out on lies. Kasparov makes a good argument on why those things have a serious impact on the opposition movement. Things like the Magnitsky Act are steps in the right direction.

Kasparov also suggests more support to Ukraine.

I actually read Phantoms a couple years ago. I like it a little more than the Sacks book, even. Ramachandran's book is more focused and compassionate, but both are more than worth the time.

Another big-name nonfiction book I just read is Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. And it delivers, too. It's funny and succinct, and its trans-disciplinary "view-of-everything" approach covers a ton of science digestably. If you're starting off on a scientific journey of world discovery, this is probably the best place to start.

I was expecting a sort of nut-n-bolts, boots-on-the-ground approach to war when I picked up Karl Marlantes' What It Is Like To Go To War. And there is some of that, but it's a lot more about mental aspects and philosophy of warfare, with a special emphasis on psychological training and how it might be reformed. Which all turns out to be well-reasoned, intelligent, and only sometimes political.

And the more Hemingway I read, the more I like him. I don't particularly know why. But I think if I shat out a string of cornsilk, he'd probably be able to polish it up and convince me to floss with it. Oh, the book: A Moveable Feast.

Hemingway's strongest work by far are his short stories...The Sun Also Rises is more novella than novel. The story A Clean Well-Lighted Place possess' amazing insight for a young man.

Haven't read any of his short stories since college. Also haven't read Old Man or Bell Tolls or Farewell, so I've got a good few things to read of his.

Finished Chester Nez's memoir Code Talker. It takes a simple, humble approach to answering questions like why the hell would a guy who has had so much taken by the US Government volunteer to fight alongside them. It's not as visceral as some of the other war books I've read, but it's down-to-earth and discreet. A cool and different perspective of WWII.

I'm very glad I gave Ursula LeGuin another whirl. How The Dispossessed isn't mentioned in the same breath as Brave New World or 1984, I don't know. Intellectual scifi at its best. It takes on a ton of lofty themes like capitalism vs. communism, anarchy vs. order, individual vs. society and does it in a relatable, balanced way. Blown away by this one.

Recently finished Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Awesome book about the psychological differences between the model humans used by economics and actual humans, especially when it comes to decision making. I think it would be well appreciated by 2p2ers.

I am currently reading I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong - about the microbial world.

I try to always have at least one fiction and one non-fiction going. For fiction I'm currently reading The Once and Future King by T.H. White. Highly recommended if you like ASOIAF.

And I was drunk reading Tom Sawyer on the train home last night. Mark Twain possibly GOAT.

Try Lavinia - it's less intellectual, but it's an incredibly rich imagining of iirc the aneiad.

Sounds up my alley, Lavinia. Added to my list, right next to Left Hand.

Paul, Once & Future King is awesome! Enjoy it.

I think that book should be assigned to every student entering college or university.

^this

My money would be on him being gay himself and, for whatever reason (childhood stuff?), not being psychologically equipped to accept that.

A Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmer is good if you are interested in the viruses that are nearly everywhere as well as the ones that cause us disease.

Humans Need Not Apply by Jerry Kaplan describes the rapid progress in AI and the possible economic/social consequences.

I also read Hillbilly Elegy and couldn't put it down. I am not sure how I feel about it in retrospect.

Going through a reread of The Punisher, the Max series written by Garth Ennis with multiple artists. The storylines are very violent, but it's really good stuff. There are 10 story lines and I've reread the first four. The best one is the seventh one, so I'm looking forward to getting there sometime next week.

I also went to the library book sale today. I got Different Seasons after the multiple recommendations by ChaseNutley and I got Playing for Keeps by David Halberstam since I love sports books. I also got a couple of books about Marseille and France since I'll be there for a couple of months next year during my sabbatical.

Heh, I already got yelled at once by Baltimore for obnoxiously spamming my recommendation of this book. Do I repeat myself? Very well then I repeat myself. I am large, I contain multitudinous redundancies.

I just finished Martin Seay's debut novel The Mirror Thief, which I picked up because of the very enthusiastic review it received from The New York Times (comparing it to Stone Junction among other books). The complexities and reach of the book has led to Seay being compared to Pynchon and Eco, but Neal Stephenson meets DeLillo in the shadow of David Mitchell would be my attempt to get at the feel of this fascinating display of story telling.

The book has three, braided, narratives: the first a compulsively readable tough-guy noir set in Las Vegas (particularly at the Venetian), during the run-up to the second Gulf War; the second, also noirish, set in the beat community of Venice Beach, Calif., in the late 1950s; and the third in 15th century Venice where alchemy is being practiced and the art of mirror-making perfected. Hints of fantasy-magic creep in. Lots to think about, and a somewhat murky conclusion that left me unsure of what I'd sorted out and what I needed to go back to. (Seay has explained some of it on The Millions.)

It's long and the way it divides up responses on Goodreads and Amazons shows it's not for everybody -- but it's definitely worth reading.

Has anyone read City on Fire? Thoughts?

I thought it's about time I read Waugh and Koestler. Anyone have thoughts on A Handful Of Dust or Darkness At Noon, and which would be the better read for a long haul flight?

I didn't mean it as a bad thing. I think you recommended it twice. Once after I finished reading "Long Walk" and another later (I don't remember the reason).

In any case, I got a nice copy of the book for $1. I look forward to reading it.

City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg

Finished it tonight and according to goodreads it took me a month. While long (903 pages) it was quite enjoyable. I was told that if you're into '70s punk and the scene in New York then check it out. I like those things so I checked it out. Cool story with lots of side plots that interweave.

Hmmm I don't think so? Different Seasons is good.

Haha, nah I think it was something along the lines of you gently reminding me that I'd already recommended it a couple times rather than disrecommending Different Seasons. See, now I've gone and built it up so much that it's bound to disappoint! (It doesn't disappoint.) And that's a helluva deal for $1.