Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

We listened to this on the way back from Montana and enjoyed it.

Supernova Era

by Cixin Liu

Very disappointing after Ball Lightning, which I liked. Everyone on Earth over 13 dies. This premise is unbelievable, but that is fine as long as you play out the scenario realistically. Which he did not! Just as things are starting to fall apart, the kids realize a computer called Big Quantum can be used to solve all their problems – …

On Moral Fiction

by John Gardner

“Who hath forged the chains of Opinion and Custom? And must I wear them?” –Emerson

I’m interested in defending the idea that art can be objectively Good. This book gave me false hope that it would rigorously address that question. Very early, the author gave up the concept of absolute morality, so his arguments became …

To Rescue the Republic: Ulysses S. Grant, the Fragile Union, and the Crisis of 1876

by Bret Baier with Catherine Whitney

Name part 1

Grant’s parents were Jesse and Hannah Grant. Jesse worked for Owen Brown, father of John Brown, the abolitionist. In their home, “the rod was spared.” Grant did not remember ever being scolded or punished by his parents. (17) …

Zion on the Mississippi: The Settlement of the Saxon Lutherans in Missouri 1839-1841

by Walter O. Forster

This is a history of the Lutherans who came from Germany, settled in Missouri, and founded what later became the Missouri Synod. I read it to try to better understand the origins of LCMS polity. I got the book from interlibrary loan.

Basically, what they had in Germany …

All About Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business

by Mel Brooks

This was fun, and it got me on a Mel Brooks kick, which is always good. The older stuff, about his childhood, WWII, and early career was great. I skimmed some chapters to get to the ones I was interested in. He has a chapter about each of his most famous movies.

His father died of tuberculosis when he was two. …

10 Rules of Writing

by Elmore Leonard

Printed on very thick paper, roughly one sentence per page, nothing but the occasional illustration on the even pages, and 89 pages total, this is generously called a book. It is a page of writerly wisdom, but it looks like a book on your shelf. I got if from the library. The whole thing is quotable.

How to Win an Election

by Quintus Tullius Cicero

I recently discovered The Thinking Fellows podcast. In the episode Why You Should Read Old Books (from 3/22/22), they mentioned a couple of books by Quintus and Marcus Cicero, brothers who lived in the first century BC.

When Marcus was running for Roman consul in 63 BC, Quintus wrote him a long letter which is now published as …

AMORALMAN

by Derek Delgaudio

“It takes a long time to sound like yourself.” –Miles Davis

This memoir of his time learning to be a magician and card cheat is full of contradictions. The book opens with Plato’s allegory of the cave, and that seems to tie things together. For example:

At one point, he’s developed his skill with cards, but he still …

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman

by Richard P. Feynman

I’ve read this book maybe four other times, but this is the first time I’ve listened to the audiobook. Many of the stories are a lot of fun, especially in the first half of the book. All the bars and nightclubs in the latter half get a little depressing to me, although some of the stories are still …