Reading List
Here’s where I keep track of all the books I have been reading lately. This is mostly for my own personal benefit so that I don’t forget what I have read. You can also view this list arranged alphabetically and by rating.
2019
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Apparently everything is going to kill us. There are a handful of insights among the doom and gloom, but mostly... more
Liberalism
Short overview of the basics of classical liberalism with nary a reference to praxeology.
The Wood and the Graver: The Work of Fritz Eichenberg
My copy was bought used and man-o-man does it smell musty. The odor is, at best, like a stack... more
Shirley Temple and the Screaming Specter
This is a strange old book. It’s a Nancy Drew style mystery but the main character is a teen-aged Shirley... more
A History Of Wood Engraving
The title of this one is a bit deceptive. The book is actually a history of British wood engraving. It starts... more
Presto! How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear and Other Magical Tales
Penn details his weight-loss journey and his wacky diet. It’s an interesting take on how we view food and... more
The Divine Comedy
I primarily have this book because I am interested in the spectacular Gustave Doré wood engravings. The text is... more
The Pool of Fire
The final book the The Tripods trilogy delivers a satisfying conclusion to the story. I picture the aliens looking like Sigmund... more
Anthem
Having read her other books, I felt obliged to read this novella. It’s a fairly literal take on individualism... more
2018
Swap Clubs
Published in 1964, this book presents itself as a scientific analysis of swinger culture. The opening chapters are filled... more
Mysteries of the Unknown: Ancient Wisdom and Secret Sects
The chapters on Free Masonry and The Golden Dawn were pretty informative. I think my big takeaway about these... more
The Naked Sun
A murder mystery on a sparsely populated planet where each person lives isolated from everyone else and all the... more
A Renegade History of the United States
The premise here is that the outsiders and the misfits, by rejecting puritanism and pushing the limits of what is... more
Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion
I think it’s telling that throughout this book the author in constantly having to backtrack and clarify what he... more
Mysteries of the Unknown: Witches and Witchcraft
I enjoyed this one a lot more than Phantom Encounters. The historical accounts are more fact-based rather than anecdotal and... more
In the First Circle
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn brings us more thrilling tales from the gulag! This is his fictionalized account of life in the... more
Mysteries of the Unknown: Phantom Encounters
This book is a collection of anecdotal tales of various people from the olden days being visited by spirits.... more
Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs
Outside of Helter Skelter, I have not read much true crime literature. I picked this one mainly because is was co-written... more
Caliban’s War
This the second book in The Expanse series. It felt like a bit of a retread but with less interesting characters.... more
Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life
Another rambling philosophical tome from Taleb. It expands on the idea that good policy emerges from the participants having... more
Leviathan Wakes
I’ve been watching The Expanse lately and wanted to get a taste of the novels that the show is based upon.... more
Discrimination and Disparities
Sowell is always an interesting read. However, I find that he can be a bit repetitive in his points... more
The Raft
The harrowing true life account of three airmen who are adrift in a rubber raft for thirty-four days following... more
The Gulag Archipelago (Vol. I & II)
This massive book has been sitting on my shelf taunting me for twenty-plus years. Ages ago it was recommended... more
No Holds Barred
The ridiculous plot of this pulp trash novel is as follows: disgraced big city reporter winds up in small... more
Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans
I generally like the various Ben Shapiro “Destroys” videos I come across on the webs. He is an excellent... more
Kill All Normies
This is a pretty good overview of the roots of (mostly) right-wing Internet subcultures and trolls with a little... more
The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047
Apocalyptic dystopia from a libertarian perspective. Biases confirmed! In this story it’s not war, plague or environmental catastrophe that... more
Based on a True Story
He starts off with a typical comedian’s memoir and, after about three pages, Norm gives up and go total... more
The Cosmic Computer
Pulpy science fiction about a remote planet on which the inhabitants are convinced exists a super-computer that could solve... more
2017
To Build a Castle: My Life as a Dissenter
A memoir of what living in The Soviet Union was like in the 60s and 70s. Bukovsky spent most... more
The Secret History of Twin Peaks
I listened to the audiobook version which features many of the original cast members reprising their roles. The book... more
Food: A Love Story
An entertaining read that pretty much says everything funny that can be said about food. I’ve read a couple... more
You’re Better Than Me
Another comic’s memoir, but this time it’s actually funny. The first half is really is much better, in which... more
Two Years Before the Mast
This is a memoir of life aboard a merchant vessel in the early 1800’s. It is also noteworthy as... more
Happy Endings
Norton is usually a very entertaining guest on whatever chat show on which he appears. However, I’ve watched his... more
Coolidge
This was a fawning look at Coolidge’s life and tenure as the 30th President. It was okay up to a... more
Snow Crash
This was my first cyberpunk novel (if you don’t count getting stuck in Neuromancer on the IIgs). I thought it was... more
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Another big book about risk from Taleb filled with math, anecdotes, history and Fat Tony. This time it’s all... more
Marxism
I got this as an audiobook, hoping to get a decent overview of what Marxism is without having to... more
Eccentric Orbits: The Iridium Story
Eccentric Orbits is the history of the rise, fall, and eventual rebirth of the world’s first (and only) global satellite... more
Connecticut Privateer Samuel Smedley
A short book about a lesser known hero of the American revolution. As the captain of a Connecticut privateer vessel,... more
The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture
Mamet’s political coming out book doesn’t offer much new insight into conservatism. Instead it cribs a lot from Thomas... more
Black Rednecks & White Liberals
A collection of six lengthy essays on race, history and misconceptions. The “Black Rednecks” essay is probably the most... more
The Seven Deadly Virtues
A compilation of humorous essays by eighteen conservative authors in which each tackles the merits and faults or various... more
2016
Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future
Johan Norberg wrote one of the clearest accounts of the 2007 financial meltdown and, after that dismal tale, he’s back with... more
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion
Required reading for anyone who is sick of the political name calling and soft bigotry that permeates every single... more
Bad Penny
I enjoyed his fantasy series, so I thought I’d try out Brown’s crime thriller series. This is the story of... more
The Wave
This short novel tries to show how it was possible for normal German’s to just sit back and let... more
The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
Billed as a travelogue, this book covers the culture, politics and history of the Nordic countries from the perspective... more
2015
Heart of Darkness
I read this mostly because I am an admirer of Apocalypse Now. It sorta lost me by the end so... more
The Big Sleep
Gritty crime fiction. Basically the blueprint for the entire genre. The writing and language are a tier above most... more
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
I want to eventually read Huckleberry Finn, so I figured I should read this one first. It’s pretty entertaining, but... more
Raveler: The Dark God Book 3
The most recent book in this series builds up to a grand conclusion, an last-stand battle of epic proportions,... more
Curse: The Dark God Book 2
Despite an exciting opening, the second book in this series is not as good as the first. The stakes... more
Servant: The Dark God Book 1
This is a fantasy novel I picked up based strictly on the reviews and auto-recommendations online. I enjoyed it... more
Falling Up the Stairs
I know Lileks mostly as a humorous conservative commentator and a connoisseur of cheesy 50’s pop culture. I wasn’t... more
The Three Languages of Politics
Essential reading for understanding that people who might disagree with politically are not evil or stupid, they are just... more
Something in the Shadows
I really do like Vin Packer’s pulp thrillers. This book continues her knack for creating conflicted and dark characters... more
2014
The Slow Regard of Silent Things
Well, this isn’t the next Kingkiller book, but, fortunately, I wasn’t expecting that. The author himself goes to great... more
How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness
In this book Roberts (of EconTalk fame) takes Adam Smith’s other major work, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, and makes it understandable in a... more
The Golden Spiders
Nero Wolfe is a dick. It’s a wonder that this mostly unlikable character spawned such a successful series of... more
Weekend
A fairly blah read from Vixen Press. This one is pretty short on plot and lacks the hardboiled edge... more
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
This book started off okay enough and was pretty interesting for the first hundred pages or so. The premise... more
Warm Voices Rearranged
The subtitle of the book is “Anagram Record Reviews” and that pretty much sums it up. Take a record... more
Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning
The thesis here is that, despite the constant cries of “fascism” when talking about right-wing policies, the real heirs... more
The Da Vinci Code
Amazon recently gave this ebook away for free as a promotion for the sequel Inferno. It was my beach read... more
How to Piss in Public: From Teenage Rebellion to the Hangover of Adulthood
When I started this book I was apprehensive. As much as I love Gavin’s current incarnation as a wild... more
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
Admittedly, I didn’t finish this book. There’s a point about halfway through when he tells the casual reader that... more
Not Cool: The Hipster Elite and Their War on You
Another enjoyable read from Red Eye host Greg Gutfeld. The thesis as I see it is that liberals own... more
Dear Reader: The Unauthorized Autobiography of Kim Jong Il
I have read quite a few books that give an account of what it is like to live under the... more
The Power of Glamour: Longing and the Art of Visual Persuasion
Virginia Postrel is a great, thoughtful writer and, although I am not terribly interested in the topic of glamour,... more
2013
Baby Shark’s Grass Widow Legacy
Another thoroughly enjoyable book in this series. This time Kristen is told to take some time off from all... more
Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets
I’ve heard a few interviews with Taleb and he can be very interesting so I tried to give one... more
Let’s Tell a Story Together
I’m a regular reader of Jimmy Maher’s blog The Digital Antiquarian which documents the history of the early days of home... more
Venus in Furs
After seeing Jess Franco’s movie of the same name, I noticed that this ebook was available for free at... more
The Thrill Kids
Another yarn about corrupted youth from Vin Packer. This time it’s four disenfranchised teenage boys who become a vigilante... more
The Galaxy Primes
I don’t think I really like science fiction. Sure there have been a few stories I liked, Dune, The Ender... more
Baby Shark’s Showdown at Chigger Flats
Another enjoyable story filled with shooting, kicking and revenge. This story is much more straightforward than others in the... more
Unfaithful Wives
Another quality pulp novel from Prologue Books. This one is filled with at least half a dozen cheating spouses... more
The Lone Wolf #1: Night Raider
This is essentially a Death Wish style vigilante story about a cop who really, really doesn’t like the drug trade. There is absolutely... more
Baby Shark’s Jugglers at the Border
Although I don’t think it’s hardly the best book in this series, I burned through this one in just... more
Baby Shark’s High Plains Redemption
I love these Baby Shark books. They are just great, action packed reads. I burned through this book in a few... more
The Silent Wall
This is the story of an American GI who returns to Sicily years after the war to find the... more
The Screwball King Murder
A pretty straightforward detective mystery which, despite the cover of the book, has very little to do with baseball.... more
2012
Baby Shark’s Beaumont Blue’s
The second Baby Shark story is just as brutal and action packed as the first with great characters and writing.
The Joy of Hate: How to Triumph over Whiners in the Age of Phony Outrage
Gutfeld’s latest is a bit more focused than his last book. The primary theme of the book is that people... more
The Evil Friendship
I started reading this book without knowing anything about it. I had previously read and very much enjoyed Vin... more
Wyrd Sisters
Another solid Discworld novel with lots of vivid characters and humorous situations.
The Tyranny of Clichés: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas
The main thesis of Tyranny of Clichés begins with the notion that conservative and libertarian arguments tend to get rebutted, not... more
Silvertip
This is the first Western I’ve ever read. Written in 1933, Silvertip is the story of a gray-templed gunslinger who likes... more
Baby Shark
I really liked this noir-ish crime novel set in the dingy pool halls of rural Texas. Lots of great... more
The Captain Must Die
Another solid pulp novel from Prologue Books. This time the story follows a group of ex-soldiers out for revenge... more
Theft of Swords (Riyria Revelations)
This was a fairly by-the-numbers fantasy story with the usual characters: a wizard, a prince, a dwarf, a thief... more
The Substance of Style
Does look and feel matter? That’s one of the questions posed in this book about the ever increasing emphasis... more
The Twisted Ones
The Twisted Ones was another 1950’s pulp novel reprinted as an eBook by Prologue Books and available for free download.... more
Don’t Cry For Me
I recently discovered Prologue Books—a publisher devoted to re-releasing old pulp novels in ebook form. This is a company that... more
Foundation
I was bored silly by this classic sci-fi book. I wanted to like it. It’s voted as the greatest... more
No, They Can’t: Why Government Fails-But Individuals Succeed
John Stossel is awesome. I’ve been a fan ever since I was in the seventh grade and watched him... more