Dennis D. McDonald’s BOOK REVIEWS

  • Scroll down for book review summary links sorted by date.
  • A complete index of my book reviews is here.
  • My movie reviews are here.
Friday
Feb222013

Evan Thomas' IKE'S BLUFF: PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S SECRET BATTLE TO SAVE THE WORLD

Thomas’ thesis is that Ike kept the world from sliding inexorably into a civilization-ending World War III through deft avoidance of direct conflicts with China and Russia.

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Saturday
Jan262013

Junot Díaz' THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

My main impression: everyone has a story and a family history. We should take the time to listen and learn about the people we meet, especially when they come from somewhere else. Until we do that our judgments about them are incomplete.

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Monday
Jan142013

Christopher Kemp’s FLOATING GOLD: A NATURAL (AND UNNATURAL) HISTORY OF AMBERGRIS

It’s an oddly touching book. The author bounces around modern day buyers and sellers, lone wolf secretive ambergris “prospectors,” whaling museums, and frequent trips to walk along the beach after high tide. It seems disjointed but is worth a reading if the unusual interests you.

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Thursday
Dec272012

Tiffany Shlain's BRAINPOWER: FROM NEURONS TO NETWORKS

I’ve been interested in reading about the human brain ever since a family member had successful brain surgery. Given that my consulting frequently touches on Internet related issues, combining brain- and Internet-related topics in a single book seemed like a “no-brainer” to appeal to my interests.

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Tuesday
Dec182012

Oliver Sacks' HALLUCINATIONS

The Audible download of this book became a slog after a while. I kept with it since it is very educational.

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Monday
Oct012012

Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME

I haven’t tried to read anything by King in over 20 years. The last time I tried I found his writing to be pedestrian and uninteresting. UNDER THE DOME is different.

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Tuesday
Jul312012

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

I bought this at my local birding store on Fern Street, One Good Tern, here in Alexandria VA. I figured if they only carried one insect guide it would be the one they thought best, and I was right. I had read all the field-guide-to-insect book reviews and had come away totally confused.

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Tuesday
May292012

Drew Gilpin Faust's THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING: DEATH AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

This book addresses all aspects of death from the vantage point of the U.S. War Between the States, a massive orgy of carnage that took place on U.S. soil between 1861 and 1865.

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Wednesday
Apr112012

David E. Hoffman's THE DEAD HAND: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLD WAR ARMS RACE AND ITS DANGEROUS LEGACY

In the mood to read something scary? This book will make your hair stand on end.

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Saturday
Jan282012

Barrett Tillman's WHIRLWIND: THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1942-1945

The author provides a very good overview of the role of aircraft in bludgeoning Japan into submission. While never minimizing the role of seapower in strangling Japan’s WWII economy, Stillman documents Allied land and sea originated aair war efforts, the centerpiece being the role of the Boeing B-29.

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