Dec 27

Dec 27 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.

Dec 18

Dec 18 Oliver Sacks' HALLUCINATIONS

Dennis D. McDonald

Non Fiction, Science

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

Oct 1

Oct 1 Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Stephen King

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.

Jul 31

Jul 31 Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

Dennis D. McDonald

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.

May 29

May 29 Drew Gilpin Faust's “THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING: DEATH AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR”

Dennis D. McDonald

Book Reviews, History, Non Fiction, War, Medicine, US 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.

Apr 11

Apr 11 David E. Hoffman's THE DEAD HAND: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLD WAR ARMS RACE AND ITS DANGEROUS LEGACY

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Politics, War, Cold War, Nuclear

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

Jan 28

Jan 28 Barrett Tillman's “WHIRLWIND: THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1942-1945”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

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.

Jan 15

Jan 15 Max Hastings' RETRIBUTION: THE BATTLE FOR JAPAN, 1944-45

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

Hastings tells the story of the final year of the Pacific War from multiple perspectives, much of which will be new to people whose awareness of Chinese, British, and Russian action against the Japanese is low.

Dec 13

Dec 13 Richard Holmes' THE AGE OF WONDER: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science

Dennis D. McDonald

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

This book covers the development of British science from the time of Cook’s famous voyage (which stopped at Tahiti) up to Darwin’s Beagle voyage. It concentrates on a few key luminaries (the Herschels, Davy, Mungo Park, Farady, Banks) and at the same time explores the relationship, sometimes synergistic, between art and science.

Oct 3

Oct 3 Bob Berman's THE SUN'S HEARTBEAT: And Other Stories from the Life of the Star That Powers Our Planet

Dennis D. McDonald

Astronomy, Science

At a profound level this book readably demonstrates human intelligence and creativity at their best.

Sep 24

Sep 24 C. J. Box's “COLD WIND”

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Mystery, Western, Disappointing, CJ Box

This is the third or fourth Joe Pickett novel I’ve read. It’s not one of the best.

Jul 23

Jul 23 Bernard Cornwell's AZINCOURT

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, History, War, Historical Fiction

Nick Hook is an archer in Henry V’s army. The events in this novel go from 1413 to 1415 and follow Hook as Henry’s army invades France to assert his claim to the French throne.

Jul 3

Jul 3 Dan Simmons' ILIUM

Dennis D. McDonald

Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, War, Antiquity

While I would not put this in the same class as my favorites by Stephenson (e.g., Diamond Age) and Vinge (e.g., A Deepness in the Sky) it’s still pretty darn good and I look forward to the sequel.

May 11

May 11 Charles Portis' TRUE GRIT

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Humor, Western

I’ve never seen the True Grit movies. Till I ran across this book at a yard sale I was never even aware of the novel’s existence. But when you need a Western, as I sometimes do, this appears to be just what the doctor ordered.

Nov 17

Nov 17 Patrick O'Brian's THE REVERSE OF THE MEDAL

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, O'Brian

I put off reading this book. Frankly, I’ve grown so attached to Aubrey and Maturin that I was not looking forward to the career disaster and legal troubles I knew were about to befall Jack.

Oct 14

Oct 14 Peter F. Hamilton's THE TEMPORAL VOID

Dennis D. McDonald

Book Reviews, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

I love space opera, but I’m probably not going to read Book Number Three in this series.

Sep 14

Sep 14 Peter F. Hamilton's THE DREAMING VOID

Dennis D. McDonald

Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

It’s over 1,000 years since the events described in Pandora’s Star. Investigator Paula Myo is still around and is tied into the fractious digital overmind that thinks it rules the galaxy. Unfortunately her personality is more cryptic than ever and she contributes little to the story.

Aug 23

Aug 23 Len Fisher's WEIGHING THE SOUL: THE EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC BELIEFS

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science

The theme of this book is that scientists do sometimes believe things that seem opposed to reality or common sense.

Aug 16

Aug 16 Graham Greene's OUR MAN IN HAVANA

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Humor, Politics, Satire

This is a grim but witty tale of Cold War skullduggery in pre-revolution Cuba. An expatriate British vacuum cleaner salesman whose teenage daughter has expensive tastes agrees to serve as a paid informer for the British secret service. He starts inventing agents and intelligence reports in order to pad his monthly expense reports.

Jun 25

Jun 25 Conor Cruise O’Brien's FIRST IN PEACE: HOW GEORGE WASHINGTON SET THE COURSE FOR AMERICA

Dennis D. McDonald

Biography, History, Non Fiction, Politics

This little book is organized around George Washington’s first and second terms as U.S. President. The first chapter concentrates on the relationship between Washington and his Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. The second focuses on the visit to the U.S. by Edmond-Charles Genêt, also known as “Citizen Genêt,” whose job it was to secure support from the American people for the French Revolution.