Book Reviews — www.ddmcd.com

Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.

Evelyn Fox Keller's THE CENTURY OF THE GENE

Apr 6

Apr 6 Evelyn Fox Keller's THE CENTURY OF THE GENE

Dennis D. McDonald

Biology, Non Fiction, Science, Genetics

Cloning, evolution, and the Human Genome Project are often in the news. One of my 2008 New Years’ Resolutions was to learn more about genetics and molecular biology. I had resolved to “get smarter” about DNA and its role in evolution and in generation-to-generation stability and inheritance.

Feb 24
Feb 24 Arturo Pérez-Reverte's CAPTAIN ALATRISTE

Dennis D. McDonald

“Captain” Alatriste is an ex-soldier in 17th Century Madrid who scratches out a living via odd jobs and spends part of his time gabbing and drinking at a local bar. An old “friend” tosses him a job which is initially to scare a pair of English travelers but turns out to be a contract for murder.

Lisa Jardine's INGENIOUS PURSUITS: BUILDING THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

Jan 19

Jan 19 Lisa Jardine's INGENIOUS PURSUITS: BUILDING THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

Dennis D. McDonald

Astronomy, Biography, Biology, History, Non Fiction, Science, Exceptional

Late 17th Century London and the Royal Society provide the setting for this book. It concentrates on the “great men” who created modern Western science.

Shelby Foote's “SHILOH”

Jan 19

Jan 19 Shelby Foote's “SHILOH”

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, History, War, US Civil War

This novel follows several Confederate and Union solders during the two days of the 1862 battle of Shiloh in Tennessee.

Stephen Jay Gould's ROCKS OF AGES

Dec 3

Dec 3 Stephen Jay Gould's ROCKS OF AGES

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Philosophy, Religion, Science

Scientist Gould in this short book attempts to demonstrate both (a) how Science and Religion can learn to co-exist and (b) how efforts to control Science through Religion-imposed limits are prime examples of the two “magisteria,” as he refers to Science and Religion, transgressing on each other’s territory.

Stephen Alter's FANTASIES OF A BOLLYWOOD LOVE THIEF: INSIDE THE WORLD OF INDIAN MOVIEMAKI

Sep 20

Sep 20 Stephen Alter's FANTASIES OF A BOLLYWOOD LOVE THIEF: INSIDE THE WORLD OF INDIAN MOVIEMAKI

Dennis D. McDonald

Bollywood, Movies, Non Fiction

This book is a great read if you are at all interested in the nuts and bolts of film production.

Will Eisner's THE PLOT: THE SECRET STORY OF THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION

Jun 10

Jun 10 Will Eisner's THE PLOT: THE SECRET STORY OF THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION

Dennis D. McDonald

Graphic Novel, History, Non Fiction, Antisemitism

It is common knowledge that the book The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which tells about a sinister Jewish plot to take over the world, is a 19th-century fabrication that emerged in Europe during the time of the infamous Dreyfuss affair.

Chiara Frugoni's BOOKS, BANKS, BUTTONS, AND OTHER INVENTIONS FROM THE MIDDLE AGES

May 28

May 28 Chiara Frugoni's BOOKS, BANKS, BUTTONS, AND OTHER INVENTIONS FROM THE MIDDLE AGES

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction

Beautifully translated by William McCuaig from the original Italian, this lavishly illustrated book tells the surprising story of the many important inventions that emerged from Europe during the Middle Ages.

Elie Wiesel's “NIGHT”

May 28

May 28 Elie Wiesel's “NIGHT”

Dennis D. McDonald

Autobiography, History, Non Fiction, War, Antisemitism

This short book, newly re-translated into English, is the memory of a teenage Jewish boy who is sent to a series of German concentration camps during World War II.

Michael Carlowicz and Ramon Lopez' STORMS FROM THE SUN

May 1

May 1 Michael Carlowicz and Ramon Lopez' STORMS FROM THE SUN

Dennis D. McDonald

Astronomy, Non Fiction, Science

Many years ago my dad and my brothers and I would take our telescope out to the back yard during the day and point it at the sun. Holding a white card about a foot away from the eyepiece we would watch sunspots projected on the card, the easily visible evidence of massive solar magnetic storms.

Evan Thomas' "SEA OF THUNDER"

Mar 4

Mar 4 Evan Thomas' "SEA OF THUNDER"

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

This extremely well researched and written tale of World War II tells the story behind the climactic Battle of Leyte Gulf. This was the last great sea battle fought by huge opposing forces — the Americans and the Japanese — involving both battleships and aircraft carriers.

Gene Luen Yang's AMERICAN BORN CHINESE

Feb 18

Feb 18 Gene Luen Yang's AMERICAN BORN CHINESE

Dennis D. McDonald

I’ve already written about how I came upon this book through a combination of new and old media usage. Now I’ve read it and I am very impressed with the book’s quality, humor, nostalgia, and sensitivity.

Freeman Dyson's “THE SCIENTIST AS REBEL”

Jan 8

Jan 8 Freeman Dyson's “THE SCIENTIST AS REBEL”

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science

This collection of essays and reviews by the physicist/mathematician Freeman Dyson makes for fascinating reading. The range of topics is broad and the style of writing is clear and approachable. Topics include religion, hydrogen bombs, Isaac Newton, the relative roles of technology and ideas in the advancement of science, the future of humanity in space (think: comets), and the role of amateurs in scientific research.

Gerard J. DeGroot's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Jan 1

Jan 1 Gerard J. DeGroot's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science, Space Program

As a longtime fan of the U.S. space program my current lack of interest in the International Space Station and the recently announced Lunar Colony comes as a bit of a surprise to me.

Dec 19
Dec 19 Arturo Pérez-Reverte's THE NAUTICAL CHART

Dennis D. McDonald

Oct 11
Oct 11 Conn Iggulden's EMPEROR: THE GODS OF WAR

Dennis D. McDonald

Patrick O'Brian's DESOLATION ISLAND

Aug 5

Aug 5 Patrick O'Brian's DESOLATION ISLAND

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, O'Brian, War

Patrick O'Brian's THE MAURITIUS COMMAND

May 29

May 29 Patrick O'Brian's THE MAURITIUS COMMAND

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, O'Brian, War

The book starts out with Jack, reduced to half pay while he awaits a command, surrounded by his family (and mother in law) in a shabby English country “estate” where he is proving unequivocally that he does not have the makings of a farmer. One day his friend Steven visits and announces that Jack will receive orders and a command. Jack’s assignment: assume command of a small fleet and retake two islands in the Indian Ocean from the French.

Peter F. Hamilton's JUDAS UNCHAINED

Apr 9

Apr 9 Peter F. Hamilton's JUDAS UNCHAINED

Dennis D. McDonald

Science Fiction

I’m on page 268 of this 827 page novel. I loved the author’s Pandora’s Star but this is proving to be a real slog and I’m ambivalent about proceeeding. Here’s why:

Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS

Feb 16

Feb 16 Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS

Dennis D. McDonald

Fantasy, Fiction

I finished reading Neil Gaiman’s Hugo-winning novel AMERICAN GODS in between shoveling snow and decorating for Christmas. It’s a good but long read.