Steve's Book Stuff

A Nasty Reputation as a Cruel Dude What really happened that night in 1958 at Hollywood star Lana Turner's house when Johnny Stompanato met his end?

The story of Lana Turner & the rise of the Hollywood mob, leading to the death of Johnny Stompanato in Turner’s home. Read it for the history Hollywood's golden age, not for any new insight into a 70-year-old scandal.

#bookreviews #bookrecommendations #truecrime #booksky

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Throw a Rope Around the Moon A life long sailor dives deep into the history of rope and explores how central it has been to human progress.

The story of rope, a microhistory on the many uses of the common everyday object written by a lifelong sailor.

#bookreviews #bookrecommendations #sciencebooks #book #nonfiction #booklovers #booksky

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Love and Language Two books this week - one explores the women in Theodore Roosevelt's life, and the other examines the impact of social media on the future of language.

Insights into how our language is changing online from the influencer also known as The Etymology Nerd. Fun to read, I learned a few things from this book.

ARC Review: Algospeak by Adam Aleksic


#bookreviews #bookrecommendations #books #nonfiction #booksky

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Love and Language Two books this week - one explores the women in Theodore Roosevelt's life, and the other examines the impact of social media on the future of language.

The story of the rise of a President, his family, and the influence of the women in his life who helped shape him. This is an engaging and well-documented biography.

#bookreviews #bookrecommendations #books #nonfiction #historybooks #booksky

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The Counterintuitive Benefits of Unlearning Question what you know, like a scientist searching for the truth

#bookreview A relatively short audiobook full of ideas. Not really a “how to” book, it’s more of a “why” book. But the book will point out techniques to learn more about, so that you can dig in and learn how to really “think again”.
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From Outer Space to Spider's Lair Two Fantasies Help Fill the Idle Hours in a Week Full of Travel

Two fantasy book reviews this week. One by James S.A. Corey, a short and satisfying read in the new The Captive's War series. The other, by Adrian Tchaikovsky, a slow to start story that ends up flipping the Hero's Quest trope completely on its head.

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Ancient World Reimagined Madeline Miller's modern classic breathed new life into the ancient Greeks

Miller’s ability to make ancient Greece come to life makes this book. But for me it read like a modern gay romance novel in ancient Greek drag. Very well done ancient Greek drag, but still.

Three & 1/2 Stars ⭐⭐⭐🌠
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Alien Invasion, Human Subjugation ...and now for something completely different from the authors who brought you The Expanse.

The Mercy of Gods - A slow build to a new series by James S.A. Corey, punctuated by a sudden brutal alien invasion. The book sets the stage for what promises to be a fascinating new series. Three & 1/2 Stars ⭐⭐⭐🌠

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Love and Marriage Jeremy Atherton Lin's new book gives us his own love story, intertwined with the story of the legal advances that made same-sex marriage possible

A moving and intimate tale told by a gifted writer to his life partner. Lin deftly weaves the broader tale of the fight for gay marriage into his personal love story. Five Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Leadership in the Social Media Age Advice for up and coming leaders from one of their own

A worthwhile companion piece for young leaders alongside the classic leadership development books, with a focus on leading in today’s changing American society. Three Stars.

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Axe Murders as Far as the Eye Can See Author Rachel McCarthy James gives us a history of axe murder from 430,000 years ago up to (almost) today.

A great beach read for the true crime buff; author Rachel McCarthy James takes us on a roller coaster ride of axe murders throughout history.
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A Murderous Education Rupert Holmes delivers a delightful twist on the murder mystery

Author Rupert Holmes takes delight in turning the murder mystery genre on its head while adding a dash of fantasy into the mix. And I took great delight in “immersion reading” this book.
Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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A well-researched Australian WWII history of Generals Blamey & MacArthur, and Prime Minister Curtin. It fails to achieve its promise. A lot of time is spent on the battles in New Guinea, but I wish there was more from the perspective of the soldiers doing the actual fighting.
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Constitutional Crises in US History A thought-provoking new book by Marcus Gadsen examines constitutional crises at the state level

A timely and thought-provoking new book takes a look at American constitutional crises that have arisen from state constitutions almost from the beginning of our nation. Four Stars.
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Asking the Big Question About Bigfoot Not whether Bigfoot exists, but why we have a need to believe...

O’Connor uses the world of Bigfoot believers as a starting off point for exploring the big question of why we humans have a need to believe in the first place. At times hilarious, the book is deeply intellectual and well written. Five Stars.

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If you're a fan of Gladwell this book is worth a read, otherwise it’s a pass. The stories here just don’t gel together into a satisfying whole — unlike his prior books this one left me with a shrug rather than the feeling of being satisfyingly enlightened. Two & 1/2 Stars

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A short autobiography of one of the nation’s most successful currently serving governors. Full of humor and compassion. An interesting read for a political biography. Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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It's the End of the World as We Know It... And I feel...like I'm hanging off a cliff

Enjoyable fantasy time-travel book set mostly in the near-future just outside of Denver Colorado. Strong characters and intricately laid plot that leads to a cliffhanger. Book 2 due in November. Three and a half stars.

Full review here: shorturl.at/IG8uj

Who were the Celts? British anthropologist Alice Roberts takes us on a journey through European pre-history in search of the enigmatic Celts

Roberts writes well and draws us into fascinating stories of ancient Europe. But there aren't enough fragments of pre-history to piece together a full understanding of “the Celts”. In the end it’s a letdown realizing how much is really unknown. Three and a half stars.

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Don't Believe Your Own Eyes A popular television host commits suicide on live televison with a million witnesses. But what if it was really murder?

A murder mystery with a unique premise. Raises questions around coerced suicides in the social media age that are still being grappled with by justice systems around the world. Three stars.

Full review here:
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The Only Thing in the World That Lasts Prolific author Simon Winchester takes us through the story of land

Comprehensive, engaging and enlightening, if not the overarching essay on “Land” that you would expect from the ambitious title and subtitle. It is though, for the most part, an engaging set of stories.

Three stars ⭐⭐⭐
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Just What the Doctor Ordered The good things that happen when health care professionals flip the script and, instead of asking "What's the matter with you?", they ask "What matters to you?"

A surprisingly good book that covers the rise of “social prescribing” and it's benefits to patients and to healthcare systems themselves.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Plants and Animals, Evolving Together Science Writer and paleontologist Riley Black takes us through a brief history of the evolution of plants and animals, and the impacts they had on each other in the world's changing environments.

Paleontologist and author Riley Black takes us through stories, across the whole history of the earth, revealing the symbiosis between plants and animals in changing environments. A thoroughly readable book.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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In The Footsteps of a Revolutionary War Hero Tadeusz Kościuszko fought in the American Revolution, and designed and oversaw the construction of West Point.

Tadeusz Kosciuszko fought in the American Revolution, led a revolt in Poland and is the namesake of the tallest peak in Australia. Inspired by his time in & around his nation’s highest peak Anthony Sharwood tells the story of the mountain’s namesake.

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The Building That Didn't Fall Down Engineering, capitalism and professional ethics in 1970s New York City

Michael Greenburg's new book lies at the intersection of capitalism, engineering and professional responsibility. The story of an engineering mistake that threatened New York’s brand-new Citicorp Center. In Greenburg’s hands its a compelling story.

Full review here: steves-book-stuff.be...

Hello Bluesky! Brand new here - this is my #firstpost. I like #books, mostly #nonfiction but also #scifi, and will happily curl up with a good #mystery. How about you?

In the picture is my latest read, a great book that I picked up on NetGalley, and that's due out in June. Review coming shortly!