December Book Reviews

Earth Alone by Daniel Arenson
Most science fiction books that have aliens attacking the earth are set it space and involve lots of ships (think Star Wars).  This book focuses on a few young people that are drafted into an all-earth defense military, and it describes how they are impacted by basic training in a post-apocalyptic earth.  The book is pretty well written and the characters have some depth, but it isn't my favorite style -- I like stories about a hero driving a shiny ship, not kids struggle to survive each other in basic training.  Grade: B-

On Tennis by David Foster Wallace
(Note: I'm working through Bill Gates' recommended books that he read in 2016 and this book is from that list.)  A collection of 5 essays (I think most were written for Tennis Magazine) by one of the best writers ever.  Some essays were more personal, some were more historical (mostly Connors to Federer), and some were more focused on APT Tour players that were really good but relatively unknown.  All the essays were fantastic.  I enjoyed the book and it increased my appreciation of tennis.  Grade: B+

The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and our Energy Future by Gretchen Bakke
(Note: I'm working through Bill Gates' recommended books that he read in 2016 and this book is from that list.)  This comprehensive book examines the past, present, and future issues associated with the US electrical grid.  The book is extremely well researched and written.  It's interesting... at times the book paints a concerning and almost depressing picture of the future of the US electrical grid, but at other times is is somewhat optimistic.  I'm glad I read the book because most depressing thing would be to go into the future with zero knowledge.  Grade: B+

One Second After by William R. Forstchen
A book about a family living in a small town in North Carolina, and their experiences during a year following an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) pulse (resulting from an upper atmospheric nuclear explosion) that knocks out the power grid and every electric device in the US.  Basically, all transportation and communication is destroyed and almost everyone dies.  The book is incredibly depressing and sad.  My guess is that the authors goal was to scare people into being more prepared for an EMP pulse.  Personally, I resent the fear-mongering and authors trying to manipulate my emotions in a depressing way.  Grade: F

November Book Reviews

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Probably the longest book I've ever read.  It is a story of a women that travels back in time 200 years in Scotland.  The characters have depth and are very interesting, but the story is too slow with too much violence.  Grade: C-

Departure by A.G. Riddle
I don't know what it is with me and time travel books, but this story has a group of plane passengers going 200 years into the future.  The book seeks to explore issues of technology and the impact of technological developments on people.  Good but not great.  Grade: B

The Hike by Drew Magary
Probably the strangest book I've read.  It is about a man that goes for a hike and enters a surreal world.  It is a more modern and more twisted Odyssey-type story. Read if you like strange stories, but skip it if they are not your thing.  Grade: B-

October Book Reviews

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
I would describe this book as "The Hunger Games" meets "Game of Thrones."  Good but not great story, but the hero is fun to cheer for throughout.  Grade: C+

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben
Mr. Coben is a great story teller and writer, and this book was full of twists and turns that I loved.  Unfortunately, I hated the ending. Grade: B-

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A MUST READ.  Top 5 of all time.  I don't think anyone reads this blog, so I'll be direct here:  Bridger, reading this book will help you to better understand your father, grandfathers, and great grandfathers.  You come from a long line of Oves.  Grade: A++

More September Book Reviews

King of Thieves: Star Rogue Series by Evan Currie
This book and series represent a spin-off of the Odyssey One series by Evan Currie.  The book was entertaining but I found it relatively predictable -- maybe because I've read too many books by Evan Currie in the last 6 months.  The book also lacked a hero that you could really cheer for like the Odyssey One books.  If you love Mr. Currie's other books, you'll enjoy this one.  Otherwise, skip it. Grade: B-

Constitution: Book One of the Legacy Fleet Trilogy by Nice Webb
This book is very stereotypical Sci-Fi.  There is, of course, a space ship with a captain that we can love.  There is also an impossibly huge threat to Earth.  The only problem with this book, I hate cheering for really old space ships.  Grade: C

Tier One by Andrews and Wilson
An entertaining book that falls between a spy novel and a special forces novel.  The hero is a likable character and the story is reasonably entertaining.  It was a little to graphic for me, however.  Grade: C-

Teaching and Learning STEP: A Practical Guide by Felder and Brent
A book that discusses every issue associated with teaching science and engineering courses at the college level, and its written by a chemical engineer and his wife.  It contains so many suggestions and guidance that it can help everyone to teach better and improve student learning.  If you teach science or engineering at a college or university, I think this book is a must read.  Grade: A

September Book Reviews

Odyssey One: Homeworld (book 3/5) by Evan Currie
This book is really half of a story.  Basically, as the title implies, this is the book where the bad guys find and attack the earth.  I hated the ending to this book.  It really wasn't an ending.  It felt like I was 6 years old and watching the Empire Strikes Back again.  I hated that ending too.  This book really should have been combined with the next book in the series to make a single book.  Grade: F--

Odyssey One: Out of the Black (book 4/5) by Evan Currie
Mr. Currie has a real knack for writing inspiring speeches and uplifting paragraphs.  This is the book where the people of Earth rise 'out of the black' against the bad guys. The best book in the series.  Grade: A+

Odyssey One: Warrior King (book 5/5) by Evan Currie
This is a good but not great book relative to the rest of this series.  It didn't feel like the final book of the series, but the story line might be shifting to the Star Rogue series.  Grade: B-

Seinfeldia:How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything by Jennifer Armstrong
An interesting look into the 1990's TV show Seinfeld and its impact on society. A well written and well researched book.  I always enjoyed Seinfeld even though it wasn't my favorite show in the 1990's (I somehow enjoyed Friends more), but this book will help me to appreciate the re-runs more.  Grade: B+

Summer Book Reviews

As Good As Gone by Larry Watson
A critically acclaimed book that is set in Montana is pretty much a must read for me.  The book is set in Eastern Montana in middle of the previous century.  The characters are interesting and, in my mind, a shockingly good portrayal of people that I knew from the region and time period.  The book is well written, but also slow and uneventful.  If you like character driven novels and you like Eastern Montana, this is a must read, but for everyone else, meh.  Grade: C+

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
I put off reading this book because I didn't think I would enjoy it.  It was so successful and so well reviewed, however, that I eventually had to read it, and I'm glad I did.  It is exceptionally well written, exciting, and interesting.  I learned a lot about France in World War 2.  Definitely read this if you have the time, but it is pretty long.  Grade: B+

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Extraordinarily interesting book about the history of humans over the past 100,000 years or so.  The book focuses on the 3 major revolutions that impacted humans over that time: the cognitive revolution, the agricultural revolution, and the industrial revolution.  I learned so much reading this book and I love it.  My only warning is that the author really does not like religion.  I read this book on Bill Gate's recommendation.  Thanks, Bill!  Grade: A-

The Culture Map by Erin Meyer
I read this book after watching Erin speak at the Global Leadership Summit.  I thought her presentation was the highlight of the Summit, and this book did not disappoint.  If you work or interact with people from different countries/cultures, this book is a must read.  Incredibly interesting.  Grade: A

Into the Black: Book 1 in The Odyssey One Series by Evan Currie
Probably my all-time favorite science fiction book.  This book was incredibly exciting, interesting, and well written.  My guess is that it was inspired somewhat by Star Trek, and later books have elements of Star Wars, but it is still fantastic.  An absolute must read if you like science fiction.  Grade A

The Heart of Matter: Book 2 in The Odyssey One Series by Evan Currie
Not as good as the first book in the series, but still well written.  My guess, after reading this second book in the series, is that the series is going to address many major questions faced by humans, including when to fight and when to walk away, honor, pacifism, and racism, etc.  Grade: B+

June Book Reviews

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips

I have probably read 10 books on leadership and management, and the lessons in this book may be the most memorable out of all the books.  One quality that makes the lessons in this book easy to understand and easy to remember is that they are connected to a person and events that we have all learned about. Lincoln's honesty, his willingness to listen to people that didn't agree with him, and his commitment to always "do the right thing" are lessons for all of us.  Great book if you want to be reminded about what it means to be a leader.  Grade: B+

Darknet by Matthew Mather
My second book by Matthew Mather in the last month, and this is the one of the two that I would recommend.  The story is extremely timely and raises relevant concerns about technology in the world of finance.  I really enjoyed this book.  Grade: A-

Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach
I'm pretty sure I've read every book Mary Roach has ever written.  They have all been interesting, quirky, and unlike anything else out there.  This book was no exception.  The chapters on the military battle against pathogens was excellent, and I will forever be thankful for a relatively clean home.  The chapter on clothing was probably the weakest, and, of course, there is a chapter on penis reconstruction. Overall, the book is definitely worth reading.  Grade: B+

This is Your Brain on Parasites: How Tiny Creatures Manipulate Our Behavior and Shape Society by Kathleen McAuliffe
Fantastically interesting, extremely scary!  How did I know so little about the impact of parasites on living things, including humans.  I would call this a must read if you are a living thing.  Grade: A

Spring Book Reviews

Original: How non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
The world had pretty high expectations for this book after Grant's incredible first book: Give and Take.  This book was good, but I suppose that it did not live up to my impossible expectations.  It had lots of interesting 'nuggets' but the basic message was something that felt pretty widely known.  We need to encourage people to be creative and think outside the box because they have a huge impact.  Grade: C+

Six Years by Harlan Coben
I've been reading lots of fiction lately (as you'll see in this list), and this was one of the better stories.  It is a story that starts with a nice hook -- a guy has seen from or hear from a lost love for six years, but then the story grows into something bigger.  Grade: B+

The Phoenix Descent by Chuck Grossart
Another good fiction book that includes everything from a fungus that wipes out 99.999% of the people on earth plus a general relativity phenomena that moves blasts some space travels forward in time.  Not the very best of the science fiction genre, but really good.  Grade: B+

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli
This book is basically a collection of newspaper columns that Dr. Rovelli wrote to help the general public better understand the most important developments in Physics, mostly post-Newton.  Dr. Rovelli's a great writer, but I was hoping for more depth. Grade: C

The Kasari Nexas by Richard Phillips
Classic science-fiction book that includes good and bad aliens as well as super-hero-esque humans that interact with them.  The book is part of a much larger series that I have not read.  If you like science fiction series -- pick this book up.  If you like stand-alone books -- skip it.  Grade: B

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
I think this is Stedman's first book, and she's a greater writer.  Unfortunately, I had emotional, character driven books that have way too much incredible sadness and emotion.  Yuck.  Grade: C-

Cyber Storm by Matthew Mather
Imagine a world in which the U.S. is hit by a debilitating cyber attack that takes out the power grid, communication, and some basic infrastructure (e.g., water, natural gas) for a few weeks.  Then combine that with two massive blizzards hitting New York.  The result is bad, really bad.  I don't enjoy reading about so much pain, suffering, and death, but the book is well written and made me think.  Grade: B

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Incredible long and detailed story about fight by the human race to survive after the moon is broken apart and moon rocks make it impossible to live on earth.  A very good, very well researched story, but I wish the book had 75% less detail and 75% fewer words. Grade: B+

March Book Reviews

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
I read this book on a trip to Washington DC.  It is about the work of Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer who represents African-American individuals in jail (mostly death row) in Southern States.  The stories are extraordinarily moving and heart breaking.  The pain and damage caused by racism is immeasurable.  Grade: A

Way Station by Clifford D. Simak
A fictional story about an person that fought in the Civil War and then went on to run a 'way station' used by aliens traveling across the Milky Way galaxy.  A little slow but okay.  Grade: C+

Tom's River: A Story of Science and Salvation by Dan Fagin
A very lengthy and comprehensive account of the impact of both a Ciba-Giegy dye factory and an unconnected, illegal hazardous waste dump on the people of Tom's River, New Jersey.  As a chemical engineer, I think this book is a 'must read' for other chemical engineers.  I learned so much about the abuses of a dye plant and illegal hazardous waste disposal on people.  There is much in this book that I plan to discuss with my students.  Grade: A-

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Dr. Paul Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon that developed and died from cancer at a young age (less than 40 years old).  He was a fantastic writer and this book is about his life before and after developing cancer.  He talks about life and death in a powerful and insightful way.  Grade: A-

February Fiction Reviews

The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle
This book started off as a James Bond-esq spy novel that somehow transitioned to scify for the final 15%.  I like consistency in my literary genres so I wasn't a huge fan of this book.  Grade: B-

Terms of Use by Scott Allan Morrison
A murder-mystery set in silicon valley/facebook.  I enjoyed this one.  Grade: A-

Winter Book Reviews

Irrationally Yours by Dan Ariely
This is a collection of question and answer columns that Ariely originally wrote for the Wall Street Journal.  Like pretty much everything else that Ariely has written, I found this book to be interesting and enjoyable.  I especially enjoyed how each question and answer were a really quick read, but, on the flip-side, I missed the depth of some of his previous writing.  Grade: B+

Rise of the Robots by Martin Ford
A fascinating look at the rise of automation (machines, robots, and computers) in producing all the stuff around us and the impact it will have on our lives.  As a parent charged with advising my children, I found the book fascinating, but also scary as seemly no job or industry is completely immune from automation.  Maybe we'll all just need a 20 hour work week to keep everyone working.  Grade: A-

Micro by Michael Crichton with Richard Preston
Oh how I miss Michael Crichton.  Crichton apparently wrote but never published this book.  Preston did a good job as it felt like a Crichton book.  I found the science in this book to be a little sloppier and far-fetched than other Crichton books and I wonder if Crichton didn't publish it while he was alive because he could get the science realistic enough?  I'll never know.  Grade: B

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
An extremely interesting book on the role of mindset in being successful at what we pursue.  The book discusses the importance of believing that we can learn new things and accomplish more through grit, hard work, and persistence.  A must read for students and educators, in my mind.  Grade: A

The Short Drop by Matthew Fitzsimmons
The first book by Fitzsimmons is a story of mystery, murder, and power that includes a prolific computer hacker, the vice-president, and former CIA-ers.  Pretty good but not great.  Grade: B

Saving Capitalism for the Many, Not the Few by Robert B. Reich
An extremely interesting look at the role of rules and regulations (set by government) in maintain a fair, capitalistic economy.  Reich looks at the concentration of power in the few -- weathly individuals and corporations, and how this concentration impacts the rules and regulations that are put in place.  A must read in 2016.  Grade: A