Sandydog's 2015 journey

Ok, I got a bit side-tracked in 2014, but I read a whole lot of books and had a lotta fun! Let's see how 2015 turns out!

1. The Coldest Winter ****
A significant abridgement (not fair to review!) but I'm sure this audio version was an excellent abridgement. An incredible combination of hubris, idiocy and cowardice at the leadership and staff levels, and valor and tenacity in the trenches. A must read, although it is very disturbing. As for finishing the entire doorstop, I shall return.

2. Justinian's Flea ****

3. The Stupidest Angel ***1/2
Silly. The literary equivalent of Mad Magazine.

4. The Sixth Extinction ****1/2
Terrible. The subject, that is.

5. The Wicked Wit of Winston Churchill ***1/2
A funny guy...

6. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ***1/2
An ok coming of age story. This was printed as a"Victory Book" in 1943. I'm sure it was very popular among the troops as they reminisced about good ol' NYC.

>6 Sandydog1: I liked that one more than you did. I gave it 4 1/2 stars when I read it a couple years ago.

I guess I was a bit critical, I'm lower than the 4.34 avg. Compared to anything by Willa Cather, this was pure excitement!

7. The Autobiography of Mark Twain ***1/2
Speaking of slow spots, I listened to Volume I (all 20 CDs) and got an occasional flavor for why Twain is one of my all time favorites....

He's best when discussing US Grant, his Children, wife and other family members and relatives, work experiences, politics, and Europe.

Wow, 20 CDs just for Volume 1. How many volumes are there?? :)

Just two!

8. Man Seeks God ****
Wonderfully entertaining, NPR-esque, spiritual pablum.

9. Go tell it on the Mountain ***1/2

10. Think Like a Freak ****
Fun, easy-reading.

11. Spy the Lie ****
Very useful, fun (and creepy) reading.

12. The Modern Scholar: A History of Ancient Rome ****1/2
Great overview!

13. On Bullshit **
Dry and tedious and mercifully short. I think this was jotted down during someone's study hall.

>15 Sandydog1: I *love* that review. :)

14. Predictably Irrational ***1/2

Not as entertaining as the books of those Freakonomists, but still a very interesting and worthwhile work.

15. Lies My Teacher Told Me ****
Amazing, albeit, probably a skinch outdated.

15. The Forever War ***1/2

16. The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England ***1/2

A nice overview, but a bit overwhelming. Al the names just blend and blend and blend....

17. Argo ****

18. The Radioactive Boy Scout ****
Ok, 'not the best researched or written investigative report, but it is a fast, entertaining read and a 5-star topic. I mean really, 'building a nuclear breeder reactor by a troubled teenager, in a Detroit suburb, inspired by a merit badge?

Hmmm. Gonna have to see if I can find this one.

There are some really interesting follow-up blogs about David Hahn...

19. Mythologies

Whoah. And now, something completely different, Semiotics. Not exactly a beach-read....

20. Alphabet Juice ***

21. Seven Pillars of Wisdom ***

122 chapters of post Edwardian desert blather.

22. A Foot in Connecticut Journeys in Natural History ***
Touchstone not working; 'apparently too obscure. This is by Eric D.Lehman, 2013, Homebound Publications

23. Art of Conflict Management: Achieving Solutions for Life, Work, and Beyond ***1/2

24. Your Inner Fish ****
Pure fascination and entertainment.

25. Teaching Company World War II ****

26. Giraffes? Giraffes! ****
'Best children's natural history book, ever. '

27. Whatever You Do Don't Run ****
If even half of the content provided by this Australian kid in Botswana, true, then this book is amazing.

28. Complete Stories, Dorothy Parker ****1/2
Brilliant. Neurotics, Mars vs. Venus, Bat-shit crazy people. Parker is a bit redundant, but amazing.

29. Lawrence in Arabia ****
Remarkably dense.

30. In Defense of a Liberal Education ***1/2

31. Nutrition Made Clear ***1/2

32. Modern Scholar Ideas the Shaped Mankind ***
One long, rambling philosophical sermon. Listen to it just to hear Professor Arnesto's dramatic rants.

33. Earth: The Sequel ****

A bit dated (2008) but an excellent overview of alternative energy systems and the inventors, and investors, who support them.

34. Homage to Catalonia *****
The best book I've read this year.

35. Great American Bestsellers *****

36. Brief Candle in the Dark ****1/2
This is a 5-star memoir, but, unfortunately, I spaced a bit on the last third of the book, which more or less explains Dawkins' most significant and dense thoughts. Aw, hell, at least I'm honest. It is a wonderful overview of Dawkns' work and I can't wait to read many of his works, including its prequel.

37. Stuff Matters ***1/2