An exploration of evil by a crime novel writer who came to Christ after seeing the vacuity of thinkers like Nietzsche and de Sade and Foucault. He explores famous murders and murderers and films and novels about them and ends with personal notes and a somewhat fanciful treatment in the form of a poetic approach to theodicy. A book more to be appreciated than enjoyed.
Saturday, October 4, 2025
A Plague Upon Our House: My Fight at the Trump White House to Stop COVID from Destroying America by Scott W. Atlas M.D.
A retelling from the inside of the early days of COVID and the first Trump administration. Basically Atlas subscribed or previewed the focused intervention view of the Barrington Declaration. Dr Birx and Fauci pushed alarm and lockdowns and deprecated natural immunity. The press was pro-Fauci and anti-Trump. The Stanford faculty was rabidly opposed to Atlas.
Deception: The Great COVID Cover-Up by Rand Paul
A long recounting of the COVID pandemic. Paul remained firm throughout. He thought the virus might have come from a lab, that natural immunity was real, that children were at extremely low risk, that masks didn't help, that Fauci was funding gain-of-function research in China. All of these ideas were ridiculed then found to be very likely true. A sad accounting by an often lone voice.
Collisions: A Physicist's Journey from Hiroshima to the Death of the Dinosaurs by Alec Nevala-Lee
A biography of Luis Alvarez, grandson of evangelical missionaries to China and Nobel Prize-winning physicist. Very varied career with many contributions. Not very well liked it seems. Worked with cyclotron, developed bubble chamber, worked on A-bomb and H-bomb. Surprisingly interesting to me even though I have read many books about these discoveries.
Hoover: An Extraordinary Life in Extraordinary Times by Kenneth Whyte
A balanced, long biography about a surprisingly interesting figure. An orphan raised in Oregon, he became a wealthy mining engineer around the world through ambition and some chicanery. His political career began with amazing compassionate administrative work in post-WWI relief in Belgium, where he probable saved hundreds of thousands of lives. He served with distinction as Secretary of Commerce in Harding's cabinet, won the presidency in a major landslide. Probably through no fault of his own the country and world economy cratered, possibly from effects of Versailles Treaty in Europe and stock market greed in U.S. Roosevelt rose to power on blaming Hoover and the nation's tiredness of prohibition and resultant lawlessness. Hoover was bitter in defeat, hoped to get back in politics, but no-one was interested. He was wealthy, ethical (in politics) and actually a very competent administrator.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
Thursday Murder Club - missing heroin and a friend's death. Fun, overdrawn characters and a clever plot twist. Lots of deaths. Enjoyable escape read.
Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything by Salvatore Basile
The history of air conditioning. An early patent by J. Gorrie #8080 was forgotten for 70 years after being ridiculed by the so-called science of the day. Also the book is remarkable for the ignorance of building ventilation and sun exposure.
God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson
Tells the story of King James setting in motion the translation of the KJV. This was a complex time in England and Scotland and in the protestant church with many factions. The Puritans and Church of England and others were all involved. Author loves the King James Bible and makes a good case for its genius.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
A young woman sees the potential of Facebook to change the world. She pitches her qualifications, and with much difficulty, is hired. She is from New Zealand and brings international insight sorely needed. Rising quickly she is effective and rewarded. She is sexually harassed by a top executive while also being disillusioned by "careless" people at the top. Her attitude betrays her and she is fired. She is interesting and well-spoken but we just see her side.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
(read aloud)
War is terrible, the Vietnam War was terrible in many ways. There were heroes and forgotten heroes. This sad, disturbing novel is about volunteer nurse soldiers who suffered all the horrors of war and served and saved lives and came home traumatized and forgotten. The hero of the book suffers and survives. The book is very good, very sad, and yet only those who were there can tell us really how true.
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
This is about Johnson & Johnson and decades of unethical, immoral, and criminal behavior in medication, medical devices, vaccines, and research. It is well-documented and thorough. It is hard to read. The author claims that thousands have died and more suffered severely because of the knowing behavior of Johnson & Johnson's leadership.
Orientalism by Edward W. Said
I had heard about this book, almost all very negative, so I started being very skeptical. At first I thought he was pedantic and I sniffed out anything that was in the slightest post-modern. About a third of the way through he specifically defined Orientalism, which I should have already understood, but it helped me understand. Gradually I began to be persuaded that Orientalists were describing from their worldview and they were not "listening." In coming into contact with the "other" it is understandable to have some "unease" but it seems appropriate to avoid a "rush to judgment" without some self-reflection and self-awareness. Some of Said's examples are flagrant bigotry by well-known scholars.
This is as everyone knows an important, indeed seminal, book. The edition I read had an afterward by the author 25 years after the original edition. He deals with some of the misunderstandings of the book, which really helped my understanding. Some of these "misunderstandings" seemed badly motivated, almost intentional, which may account for my initial misgivings starting the book.
Long after this book appeared, we are faced still with Islam, colonialsim, racism, oppression. As Said tells us, these involve real people.
Abraham's Silence: The Binding of Isaac, The Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God by J. Richard Middleton
A very in-depth discussion of Abraham's offering of Isaac in light of Job, a theology of lament, and an analysis of all the Christian and rabbinic musings over the centuries. The passage is much more problematic than I realized and his discussion raises many interesting questions.
Islam: A New History from Muhammad to the Present by John Tolan
A recent book by a non-Muslim historian. Gives the entire history of Islam. My main impression is that Islam is very diverse, fragmented, and deeply influenced by geography, tribes, language and politics and war. Book is good, very involved and detailed.
Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow
A man finds out troubling things about his deceased father's WWII service.Investigating it, he finds a memoir of his father's time in the war. The book is vivid and intriguing and there is a surprise at the end but not about his father. Long book, good writing, read on Kindle.
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
A defense lawyer who is endangered by his clients because they are all the dregs of humanity. His life is basically a shambles but he actually and reluctantly does some good and lives to stumble on.
Rethinking Medications: Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take by Jerry Avorn, M.D.
A very comprehensive review of what is wrong with our development, verification, marketing, and financing of medications. Author seems ethical, informed, and fearless. Appears not to have conflicts of interest. Seems liberal but not anti-capitalist unless capitalism harms the patient. Small riff about Paul Farmer I enjoyed.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
(read aloud)
This book is long. It is very sad and full of tragedy. It is deeply Christian and at the same time skeptical and full of doubt about God. There is much medical lore and history which is to my mind accurate and reliable. It is a very good book. It is very sad.
The Technological Republic by Alexander C. Karp & Nicholas W. Zamiska
Founder of Palantir makes a case for capitalism, western culture, and almost faith communities in contrast to Silicon Valley's non-moral, dare I say, pseudo-neutrality.
Nightshade by Michael Connelly
A new lead character, a new location; Catalina Island and its police chief, a disgraced LAPD homicide cop. The island is interesting and almost exotic. Interesting mystery and a good story.
Obelisk Odyssey by Mark Ciccone
An engaging trip seeing Egyptian obelisks where they have ended up. Citing their history and each one's unique story, the author is accurate and interesting. With frequent detours and stories from his numerous travels he writes in a casual style that is delightful. Even his comments about religion (that I mostly disagree with) are given in a pleasant, plausible way.
It's Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
About a navy captain who rescued the USS Benfold from mediocrity to excellence basically by listening to his men, trusting them, and expecting great things.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
A review of the history of tuberculosis, which is helpful and nuanced. Main new thread is the complicity of drug makers in pricing new drugs out of reach of the most needy patients and countries. Pepfar is the paradigm, it seems. Vaccine is needed.
Friday, June 20, 2025
The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
A well-written mystery which travels from England to Rhodesia and back. Good characters but a bit convoluted. The ending ties together nicely with some surprises. I was a little confused in the middle.
Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age by Eric Berger
The sequel to Liftoff about Musk and reusable rockets. Very detailed and interesting, by an expert who knows all the players.
The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World's Most Coveted Microchip by Stephen Witt
A very good account of the beginnings of Nvidia as a gaming company and its transition to an AI company and its visionary leader. Good explanation of chip technology and neural nets.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Washington U rowing team won 1936 Olympic gold. Detailed story of dedication and teamwork in the shadow of Hitler.
The Double Life of Fidel Castro by Juan Reinaldo Sanchez
Interesting inside look at Castro's security and the people who protected him. Outwardly somewhat austere, Castro had many homes and a private island, a yacht and several children by different women. The author claims to have been jolted from his blind hero worship when he learned of Fidel's drug trafficking. He learned that a bodyguard can't retire. When he tried, he was imprisoned and tortured. He escaped to tell his story.
Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer
(read aloud in April 2025, the 250th anniversary of the famous ride)
Extremely interesting and very well-written. Amazing collection of deeply researched facts and anecdotes. Peers deeply into the thoughts, motivations, and feelings of both sides at the outset of the American revolution. Voluminous back notes. One of the best books we've read.
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
Read again for book group. Her first novel. Enjoyed going back to beginning.
Studies on the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Simply the best Christian book I have read. Re-read for the second or third time.
A Certain Idea of America by Peggy Noonan
She is a good writer. These essays capture the best of what makes America good and admirable. Some of what she says is wise but in some areas she is naive to the evil of some of her fellow elites.
Imperium by Robert Harris
(read aloud)
Good writing. Story of Cicero and his secretary/slave, who invented shorthand. Politics haven't changed much since Rome!
Sink the Rising Sun by Jon C. Gabriel
A WWII submarine story. Good characters and exciting plot but very much like previous books of the genre. The appendectomy by the pharmacist mate has been seen before and the unreliable torpedoes as well.
The Golden Key by George MacDonald
A fanciful fairy tale, with a wholly mysterious setting and characters. Marked by goodness infusing throughout which, I take it, is a hallmark of MacDonald. Short and warm but enigmatic.
Code to Zero by Ken Follett
Not very good; writing style aims low, gratuitous sex, countdown excitement. I didn't like it.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Booker Prize 2024. A dreamy, very stream of consciousness novel of one day of orbits of the ISS. The thoughts and dreams of six multi-cultural astronauts and their loved ones on earth. A typhoon, a mother's death, and a simultaneous mission to the moon. Musings about life and the Big Bang. A very lyrical writing style; almost soporific.
The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore
(read aloud)
A very interesting historical fiction of pre-WWII U.S. involvement from the viewpoint of economics. Surprisingly interesting and even suspenseful. Keynesian economics, spying and the philosophy of money are main themes.
God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A year of devotions in the book of Proverbs by Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller
(read aloud over the course of a year)
Very good devotional. Each day ends with a question that is instructive. Highly recommended.
Korea: A New History of North and South by Victor Cha and Ramon Pardo
A good summary of the history and politics. Very factual and well-written, though in the tone of a term paper.
My Antonia by Willa Cather
A beautifully-written story of frontier Nebraska and immigration to a new country and language. A story of hardship and overcoming and flourishing despite difficulty. It depicts an innocent love that endures. A classic, and deeply evocative of the endless prairie.
Paper Money by Ken Follett
One of his earlier works. A bit racy; good plot, ending is cagey about what would transpire but interesting for that. Good characters.
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
(read aloud)
With short chapters, each one changing plot threads, this murder mystery is delightfully confusing and draws you in as you slowly learn who is who. Lots of fun characters and trips from here to there. Engaging and diverting.
Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson
The author muses about Genesis. I find her ideas convincing and her intellectual power evident throughout. She writes with the conviction of one who knows the thought terrain. Her vocabulary is vast and stimulating and more importantly always useful and effective. Her rumination about righteousness, providence, God's restraint, and about enslavement are very valuable and deserve reflection. She is in my opinion (and that of many others it seems) a leading Christian intellectual.
Last Seen in Havana by Teresa Dovalpage
(read aloud)
A surprise find at the library. A missing person mystery. Switching from Cuba under Castro and revolutionary fervor to more recent times gives a real flavor of tropical life and of communism in "street view". Good characters and a well told plot with a nicely crafted ending. Paradise under mismanagement.
The Lost Memoir by Lou Gehrig and Alan D. Goff
A series of 1927 newspaper articles by Gehrig, followed by a recap of his life story. An apparently humble, grateful, and determined gentleman and an amazing athlete. Son of German immigrants. He followed Babe Ruth in the batting order thus the title of the newspaper serial "After the Babe". Both players were legends in their own time. Gehrigs's tragic illness shortened a great career.
A Woman Underground by Andrew Klavan
Good writing and some good parts but a confusing plot. A wounded protagonist in the midst of psychotherapy reassessing his past.
The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes by Raoul McLaughlin
A very interesting long detailed study of trade from East to West and West to East. The route was incredibly arduous long and dangerous. War caused plunder and chaos, trade led to peace and exchange of goods and technology. Silk was astonishing to the point of seeming magical and the technology was laborious and not easily transferred. Rome was dependent for all its commodities. Evidently the climate of the time allowed very productive wheat fields across northern Africa.
A Refiner's Fire by Donna Leon
(read aloud)
More philosophical with multiple threads, mostly coming together at the end. You think you know people well but they have stories you don't know.
Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa
The definitive Samurai novel, fiction of a real Samurai warrior. Long but very interesting with much eastern philosophy and culture. Dialogue is curiously simple, almost naive
Invisible by Stephen L. Carter
(read aloud)
This excellent book is about the author's grandmother. She is a worthy subject. She is a brilliant, gifted person who overcame barriers of race and gender to achieve amazing national and international prominence. Yet a main thread is that through no fault of her own she failed to go as far as she deserved.
The book is much more. Carefully written and deeply researched, it is an account of an era and of a part of a city, Harlem.
Carter uses the terminology of the time - 'colored, negro' - to good effect and his own coinage, 'darker nation,' is evocative and useful. There is no hyperbole, for with Carter's skillful prose calmly sketching the facts of the time, there is no need. Vague memories and impressions of those times come to life and spawn an immediacy and currency that is almost painful.
I can't imagine how this book could be better. I wish I had read this years ago. I have read most of the author's fiction (see above).
Scents and Sensibility by Spencer Quinn
Bernie and Chet at it again, 2/3 of book great, last 1/3 mediocre, confusion, extra characters.
What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley
(read aloud)
Flavia is becoming an adult and Undine is remarkably like a younger Flavia, though at this point less scientific. Very good writing but I didn't like the story.
New England White by Stephen L. Carter
This is a very good novel. The writing is excellent, the main characters are vivid and subtle. There are numerous brilliant asides. The plot is very complex and confusion is slowly resolved with even some suspense and velocity in the end. Finally there is an attempt at full resolution which is incomplete and faithful to the essence of the main characters.
The Second Sleep by Robert Harris
A well-written clever dystopian apocalyptic tale with good characters but a cryptic disappointing and vague ending.
A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
Good but unoriginal plot. About racism in the south. Not as good about race as Grisham.
Conclave by Robert Harris
(read aloud)
The story of a papal election set in the present or very near future. Intrigue, hubris, and spirituality mix to make a good story. The main character is attractive and wise. A twist at the end.
The Ghost Orchid: An Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman
Police psychologist and his buddy detective solve a crime. The story is serpentine but interesting, the police work very lucky. Characters are a little cartoonish but well drawn. Not as racy as the first few pages would indicate.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
A novel within a novel. A stolen plot, an almost Faustian choice. Clever and engaging.
Jericho's Fall by Stephen L. Carter
A spy novel with a very serpentine plot. Never knowing who is telling the truth (no one) and who is on Beck's side (there are more than two sides). Lags in the middle after a good beginning. The ending is exciting, confusing, violent and complicated.
Morning After the Revolution by Nellie Bowles
A look at the left going too far. Written by a liberal lesbian mother writer for the New York Times, cancelled for investigating the excesses of woke ideology.
Back Channel - Stephen L. Carter
(read aloud)
Very good book about the Cuban Missile Crisis from the inside. Main character is very well drawn. The first three quarters is great, then there is some gunplay that is a bit tedious but the ending is quite good. Historically accurate I think and well written.
To Fetch a Thief - Spencer Quinn
An elephant is kidnapped. Chet saves the day. A fun romp, Chet is Chet. Bernie and Chet each know things the other doesn't but alls well...
Camino Ghosts - John Grisham
(read aloud)
About former slaves living free on a Florida island, oral history, property rights, spells and curses. Also modern greed and opportunism, with book publishing and authoring thrown in.
Math Without Numbers - Milo Beckman
Accessible and well-written, this book actually follows the title. It is about topology, abstraction, proof and truth. It is fun and interesting. It is a glimpse over the precipice of very difficult math.
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