Tom Randall

Incredible story weaving engineering feats, machine politics, and personal tragedy. I keep thinking about the genius and precision it took to sink the caissons into the riverbed an inch at a time. My only gripe is that Emily's story isn't really told until late in the book when it's acknowledged early that she was a key player.

Some universal insights in here for non-designers, but the one I will probably remember most is: you are responsible for every piece of work you put out into the world.

Not my favorite. The colonialism theme certainly comes through strongly today, but Caliban is underdeveloped to a modern reader's eye. It's the basis for so many contemporary stories (Black Mirror's USS Callister being maybe the most recent) that it's worth reading regardless.

Great story that I wish I had read earlier. The direct confrontation with Europeans happens near the end, and I wish it had been a bigger part of the book, but maybe that's what the sequels are for.

Great characters, especially Prior Philip and Tom Builder. I won't look at a cathedral the same way after reading this.

Some excellent insights scattered throughout (mostly in the last third) but it ultimately leans too much on quotes from the interviewees.

Excellent and important. Need to remember to reread my highlights on this one periodically.

Enjoyed Clouds the most and a lot of the humor holds up, but this translation updates a lot of jokes for a 20th century British audience, so it's tough to know what I'm reading. I think I prefer a translation somewhat closer to the original text.

The agriculture practices get all of the attention, but the worst aspects to me were the rampant scams targeting the poor and immigrant communities (maybe because I recognize the same scams still being run). Didn't love the writing style and the characters were hollow, so it wasn't a great read, but obviously this isn't intended to be a character-driven story.

Really enjoyed the section on the populist movement at the turn of the 20th century, but thought the progressive era didn't have as many insights. Maybe it was too close in time to the publication to really see the progressives' place in history.

This entry doesn't introduce as many groundbreaking concepts as the first book (inevitably, since they've already been introduced), but it's a worthy successor and introduces some new themes around class that fit well. Excited to read the finale.

The premise is covered pretty well in the first third (on the movement for same-sex marriage) and the rest can be safely skimmed or skipped. The idea that citizen activists and groups lay the groundwork for SCOTUS decisions through local, state, and federal activism is intriguing and worth remembering, but ultimately this would have worked better if it were about half as long.

So good, the best near-term science fiction outside of (and maybe including) Margaret Atwood. The religion invented by the protagonist is totally plausible and fits the themes when it could have been just a throwaway.

Fun read, maybe a little too long.

Incredibly compelling presentation of a story that every American should know. The differences of opinion within the movement are the most interesting - with conservative activists regularly telling John Lewis and younger activists to slow down, and Lewis refusing.

Interesting peek into the involvement of Alex Jones and Roger Stone in the Trump campaign. Light on actual details.

More narrow in scope than the show. The narrower focus allows for a better focus on the themes of multiple parallel realities bleeding into one another. The Man in the High Castle as a foil for PKD is obvious but interesting in the context of the novel.

This series is full of mysteries that are sometimes frustratingly opaque (in a good way). This second book starts to answer some, and raises a few others, like any good second installment should do.

Must-read collection of essays for looking into the structural challenges facing cities and towns in the Midwest.

A lot of people see the same things you see in society and come to totally opposite conclusions. If that confuses or frustrates you, read this. The discussion of the 5 moral foundations underlying our reactions is the key insight here.

Some of the stories were better than others - but it holds up.

Pretty good view inside the mind of a killer, but the climax and reveal were a little weak.

Loved some, didn't love others. The American Gods short sequel made the whole thing worth reading.

Incredible space opera. Combines the wide and narrow scope of Dune, the intriguing tech of Asimov, and the challenging gender play of Octavia Butler.

Good 0verview, and not too long. Suffered a little from too broad a focus but I'm not sure how it could've been narrowed.