Gregor
A classic for good reason, although it probably would have had more impact had I read it at a younger age. The novel is certainly of its time, with its racial epithets and unflattering depictions of Native Americans, but it is nonetheless a charming picaresque novel and I can see why it has endured.
A great read full of useful aphorisms. Not a page is wasted, and the book is short enough that you could easily read the whole thing in one sitting if you were so inclined. Naval's points about the democratisation that modern technology brings definitely ring true for me. I also think he has the single best line for getting people into reading: "Read what you love until you love to read". All in all, an excellent book that I would happily recommend to anyone.
A moving memoir of emancipation, family, and the travails of walking a different path to the one planned out for you. The author stays very neutral on Mormonism, and in doing so makes it easier for the reader to relate, as any of a number of sects could be substituted in and have the same effect of creating en extreme us-versus-them mentality. A clear takeaway for me was that as a parent you must be willing to set your children free, to set them up in life the best way you know how and then accept that they are their own sovereign individuals. An intense, rewarding read that would be of particular value to anyone who has felt repressed by their family.
An interesting exploration into how the lines have been blurred between entertainment and information since the proliferation of television. I found it slightly disappointing that there was a lack of solid plan for how to reverse this phenomenon, which will only be harder with the existence of modern technology, but the book deserves a read if only for its prescience in calling out a dangerous trend which has only worsened since the book's publication.
A useful introduction to the ideas behind homeschooling (or "unschooling") if a little light on practical examples. The appendices at the end are a treasure trove of useful information and links, even if a lot of it is US-centric. I think this is a good starting point for people interested in learning about what homeschooling is and why people might want to consider it.
This was recommended by a colleague and I found it am extremely worthwhile read. A lot of the points the author makes are ones that I have heard before but having them gathered in one place is valuable - I took copious highlights. There were also plenty of interesting ideas that I had not come across or considered, and despite being early in my career I feel that reading the book at this time was still worthwhile as I am now aware of various concepts that I can apply as I get more senior. I think any ambitious software engineer should read this book.
A strong entry in the Poirot series with great interplay between the detective and Captain Hastings. The cast of characters is large in this one and at times it felt a little hard to stay on top of things, which would be my only real complaint. Otherwise, the London setting and the dynamic of English aristocracy versus American celebrity are enjoyable, and the big reveal is a delight, especially the last couple of pages.
This time Poirot and Hastings are down in Cornwall, investigating a murder yet to take place. This changes the dynamic as we are treated to various conversations with the would-be victim. The intrigue did not grip me as much as some other of Poirot's adventures but the ending was a highlight, especially the very last paragraph in which the final sticking point is put to rest. Definitely worth a read for anyone who has read Christie's prior works.
A really interesting dive into a domain that not enough football fans know anything about. The author is humble enough to admit that there are no easy answers when it comes to what makes a good owner, and there was a pleasing variety of ownership models and owners explored, from the social media generation to straight-up warlords. Definitely recommended to any football fan who wants to be more informed on the topic.
A real home run that sets things up beautifully for the finale. The character work is excellent here, with Lysander and Darrow's points of view dominating, and Lysander's chapters towards the end of the novel being particularly rich. As is always the case with Brown, the fight scenes are visceral and there are a suitable number of gut punches for the penultimate entry in this series. My only criticisms would be that a couple of deaths felt a little rushed and perhaps under-developed, and there was a lack of focus on a certain antagonist, although I am sure that will make sense in Red God. Those issues are not enough for me to give this book anything less than 5 stars and I cannot wait for the final entry!
A good explanation of Ross Ulbricht's story. The author's writing style of vividly setting the scene and using direct quotation helps to keep the pace up but can make chapters feel disingenuous at times. One thing that the author failed to mention is that Ulbricht was never sentenced to do with hits or alleged hits, so he was sentenced to life in prison for non-violent crimes.
This is far from the first book I have read on FIRE but I still found interesting takeaways, especially when it comes to the possibility of travelling and actually saving money whilst doing so. I also appreciated the author's honesty when describing the panic she felt experiencing her first market downturn. Overall a solid FIRE book that would serve as a good introduction to the subject.
A worthwhile read for anyone interested in learning more about how data has changed the Premier League. I knew the basics of xG going in but left with a much greater appreciation for it and the myriad other statistics that are used to analyse football matches. I also never knew that if it were not for xG, Jurgen Klopp would never have got the Liverpool job!
An excellent starting point for anyone interested in learning to manage their money. There is hardly any jargon and each chapter is short and sweet, making this an easy read for those new to books on personal finance. For my part, this served as a welcome refresher on investing concepts, even if there are a handful of US-centric chapters. Overall, an enjoyable read and sound investment advice. Simple is best!
This novelisation was my first experience of Black Coffee, having never read or seen the original play by Agatha Christie. The tone is spot on throughout, however the plot itself felt middling compared to earlier Poirot stories. A strong ending is enough to lift this whodunnit a little higher in my estimation but it is not a top-tier Poirot mystery for me.
Not the strongest Poirot adventure, but still an enjoyable read. I found there to be a few too many characters, many lacking in development to the point of being easily forgotten. Furthermore, the victim is not particularly sympathetic which makes this less of a page-turner. On a more positive note, the setting of a train is an excellent backdrop for a murder mystery and there is some intrigue around different compartments and who left the train at what time. All in all, a weak Poirot novel but still one I am glad to have read.
A change in style from previous Poirot adventures, but not a good one in my eyes. This book feels very disjointed, which is not a surprise when you discover that it was originally twelve distinct short stories that were later cobbled together to form one novel. The grander scale is an interesting change of pace, and Poirot's fallibility is appreciated, but that is not enough to warrant a high rating for a novel that even Christie herself thought was poor.
An enjoyable collection of short stories involving Poirot and Hastings. It was interesting that the author included a couple of cases where Poirot failed, in one case relying on karma to catch up to the guilty party. I particularly liked one story where Poirot plays up his belief in the supernatural, much to his companions' disbelief. The mystery and tension that builds up over the previous Poirot entries are of course absent here, considering that these are short stories, so they did not grip me in the same way as Christie's earlier offerings. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable collection and made for very easy reading.
A worthy follow-up to the first Poirot story, this book swaps England for France as the setting. The inclusion of an arrogant rival detective from Paris is a good source of comedy as Hastings is invariably impressed by his industry, only for Poirot to be the one in the right as usual. I found the romantic subplot to be a bit threadbare, although Christie does manage to weave it into the main plot at the end, albeit not a hundred percent satisfactorily. All in all another enjoyable whodunit and I look forward to reading the next.
This is the first Agatha Christie book I have read and it has left me very keen to dive into some more of her work. Poirot is full of life and there are some great moments of comedy as the narrator, Hastings, gets irritated with Poirot's nonsensical actions or thinks that he has got it right and Poirot is barking up the wrong tree. The country estate setting is classic for a murder mystery and the ensemble cast is well flashed-out. A great introduction to Agatha Christie's oeuvre.
