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
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Friday, September 16, 2016
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+
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+
Saturday, August 27, 2016
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+
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+
Friday, July 1, 2016
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
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
Sunday, June 5, 2016
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+
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+
Saturday, March 26, 2016
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-
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-
Friday, February 12, 2016
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-
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-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)