Alex

This book uses the ‘first contact' genre (one of my favorites) with a totally opaque alien phenomenon to explore the themes of how opaque we are to ourselves and to others – and the price we pay as a result (other favorite themes of mine). There are downsides: it's dark, and features some bullshit sociobiology. Overall, though, I loved it.

This book follows the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski and his students from 1924 to 1974. It describes their brand of ‘social anthropology' and demonstrates how it interacted with British debates debates about colonialism, marriage and the family, and urban life. It's especially interesting because it gives attention to less-well known anthropologists.  A clearly (sometimes elegantly) written, closely researched book with an ambitious scope. The fact that the book is oriented to historians of Britain gives it a fresh approach that will appeal to historians of anthropology. Highly recommended for subject specialists.

“Something and Tonic” features light history, intelligent recipes, and a passion for highballs. The best parts are the least planned ones: rare passages where the author's philosophy of life and bartending come through. Caveat emptor: there are no tonic recipes in the book, since they contain quinine and the author doesn't want to get sued for poisoning anyone.

Giblin and Doctorow's book is clearly written, unabashedly partisan, and convincingly argued. A great overview of the state of the field in 2022, the book features lucid prose, a wicked sense of humor, and a profoundly moral call for an economy which values creators and communities over corporations. That said, you have to come to the volume hungry for details: No amount of clear writing will make the political economy of the creative industries interesting unless you care about the topic. That said, if you really want to understand the problem – and be part of the solution – there's no better place to start than this volume.