Category: Books
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Review: Beard and Henderson’s Classics
Classics: A Very Short Introduction Mary Beard and John Henderson A short, but clever little book co-written by one of my favorite writers, Mary Beard. This is not really an overview of the substance of “Classics” (i.e. the works of the ancient world). Rather, it is an overview of the way we think about the…
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Review: Malcolm’s In the Freud Archives
In the Freud Archives (New York Review Books Classics) Janet Malcolm An early Janet Malcolm book on the infighting among a group of scholars associated with the Freud Archives. This is a classic example of how a great journalist can turn a subject matter I care nothing about into a gripping read by finding the…
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Review: Ayer’s The Long Race
The Longest Race: A Lifelong Runner, An Iconic Ultramarathon, and the Case for Human Endurance Ed Ayers A lifelong runner uses his training, and running, of the JFK 50 miler as a way to ruminate on the nature of running, both as an activity and as a metaphor for political action. Ayers has been running…
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Review: Fitzgerald’s Iron War
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and the Greatest Race Ever Run Matt Fitzgerald In 1989 Mark Allen and Dave Scott, two of the greatest triathletes of all time, competed in what is still the closest, and my all measures, greatest Ironman world championship. This book is the story of those men, that race, and…
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Review: Goodwin’s the Jannisary Tree
The Janissary Tree Jason GoodwinFrom all the wonderful reviews this got, I have to admit I was expecting more from this mystery set during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. Goodwin is a skillful writer, and he has an obvious love for Turkey and its culture, but the plot seemed hackneyed and the execution…
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Review: Buekes’s Broken Monsters
Broken Monsters (Reading Group Guide) Lauren Buekes Super well-done mystery novel set turned super-natural what-the-fuck. Wonderful characters including sketchy wanna-be youtube stars, troubled ex-cons, teens in over their heads, overworked cops and mentally ill artists all face unknowable something or other in post-industrial Detroit. Good fun. I picked this up not knowing what to expect…
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Review: Nabokov’s The Defense
The Defense Vladimir Nabokov This early Nabokov novel is not of the mindbending genius of later works like Pale Fire and Lolita, but it is still better than even the best work by many other writers. Nabokov is a brilliant stylist and imagines the world of his protagonist brillantly. The phrasing is sparse and compelling,…
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Review: Woodward’s Plan of Attack
Plan of Attack Bob Woodward No one can get the skinny like Woodward can get the skinny. There are few reporters who get to spend hours interviewing the president, but Woodward did for this book. Woodward gets this kind of access because he is the most important investigative reporter in America. If you don’t tell…
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Review: Goldberg’s the Goddess Pose
The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Life of Indra Devi, the Woman Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West Michelle Goldberg A biography of the fascinating Indra Devi (born Eugenia Peterson), who began life as a displaced Russian and ended it as one of the most important Western Yoga teachers. Devi’s life is incredible. Her ability…
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Review: Ignatius’s the Increment
The Increment: A Novel David Ignatius David Ignatius is a true beltway insider. He writes for the Washington Post and he is a regular guest on Sunday morning talk show. However, unlike most beltway reporters, when he turns his hand to fiction, he can write a better than average spy thriller. By far Ignatius’ best…
Milo and the Calf 