Another perspective on the history of humankind
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Retired scientist, I read a lot, fiction and non-fiction, on a wide range of subjects, though science, politics, philosophy, law, science fiction and historical detective stories are favourites.
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John's books
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John wants to read The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber
The renowned activist and public intellectual David Graeber teams up with the professor of comparative …
John reviewed Democracy for Sale by Peter Geoghegan
Alarming but important reading.
4 stars
Democracy, like science and important software, needs to happen in the open for it to work. This book exposes some of the means by which some people attempt to obscure the process. I have a more complete review on my blog
John quoted The Fire Court by Andrew Taylor
You could not destroy a city merely by destroying its buildings
— The Fire Court by Andrew Taylor (32%)
This is in the context of the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666, but still applies.
John started reading The Fire Court by Andrew Taylor
John finished reading Secret asset by Stella Rimington
Gripping finale set in Oxford.
John finished reading Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan
I enjoyed this fascinating tale set in Edinburgh at the time of the visit of King George IV.
John commented on Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan
In its mixture of real Edinburgh places and characters it reminds me of the 44 Scotland Street series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith. Like many good novels it inspired me to learn more about some of the real life characters, places and events depicted in the story.
John reviewed Ticket Collector from Belarus by Mike Anderson
Overly detailed for a general reader, but some interesting resonances
4 stars
The descriptions of lives and particularly deaths of the people in the area, now Belarus, at the time of WW2 make grim reading. In some respects the events of the time have kept the people in a mediaeval existence today, while, for example the people of Poland, just across the river have moved on. The character of Andrusha Sawoniuk reminded me of the chapter "Petty Tyrants and Psychopaths" in Corruptible I did find the details of the cross examinations and legal wrangles a bit too detailed, and it could have been edited down without losing much.
John finished reading Corruptible by Brian Klass
Investigates the question: Does Power Corrupt or are Corrupt people drawn to power?.
An excellent read to explain how in some situations power is abused if it gets into the wrong hands.
John started reading Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan
Features the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh at the time of its creation.
John started reading Secret asset by Stella Rimington
Espionage fiction, with more realism than most. I have enjoyed others in the series.
John started reading Ticket Collector from Belarus by Mike Anderson
The original events took place in a part of the world which was troubled then, and still is today, while the modern narrative concerns justice and the legal process, so it should be an interesting, if disturbing, read.
John finished reading The Client by John Grisham
The Client by John Grisham
In two years since the firm first captured the imagination of America's readers, John Grisham, with three consecutive number-one bestsellers, …
John started reading The Client by John Grisham
The Client by John Grisham
In two years since the firm first captured the imagination of America's readers, John Grisham, with three consecutive number-one bestsellers, …