Nuclear War: A Scenario, by Annie Jacobsen
A horrifying scenario of nuclear Armageddon. But is it designed to inform, or influence?
Read MoreSudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938, by R.A. Scotti
Eighty-six years after the Hurricane of 1938, learn about what it was like to experience a storm of great magnitude, with absolutely no warning.
Read MoreThe Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook, by Hampton Sides
Enjoy this story of adventure and suspense, learning about Captain James Cook, first contact of indigenous people of Hawaii with Europeans, and the age of courageous men navigating unknown seas.
Read MoreHillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance
A must read before you vote. I hope this young man stays the course, a hopeful light for the future of our republic.
Read MoreIn My Time of Dying: How I Came Face-to-Face with the Idea of an Afterlife, by Sebastian Junger
Another deeply personal, well-written exploration from Junger, about the ultimate question.
Read MoreIrreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, by Abigail Shrier
Shrier will help you gain a greater understanding of this recent psychological and social phenomenon, without the political bias.
Read MoreRecent Reads: Brief Mentions
A grab bag of my recent reads that might make for good additions to your summer reading list.
Read MoreThe Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist on a mission to save us and our children from the insidious harmful addictions of smartphones and social media. Read, then let me know what you think.
Read MoreSociopath: A Memoir, by Patric Gagne
Patric Gagne lifts the veil and helps us understand the inner world of the sociopath, in this very personal, candid memoir.
Read MoreThe Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War, by Erik Larson
Read about Larson’s latest story of the leadup to the U.S. Civil War. Also check out my review of his last nonfiction book on World War II, https://www.margueritereads.com/home/the-splendid-and-the-vile-a-saga-of-churchill-family-and-defiance-during-the-blitz-by-erik-larson?rq=erik%20larson.
Read MoreMy Name Is Barbra, by Barbra Streisand
Check out the audio version of Streisand’s memoir, but get ready for 48 hours (!) of amazing memories.
Read MoreA Memoir of My Former Self: A Life in Writing, by Hilary Mantel
A posthumously published collection of Mantel’s excellent essays on topics personal and royal. Highly recommended.
Read MoreThe Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession, by Michael Finkel
A fascinating story of skilled art thief Stephane Breitwieser, who amassed an impressive collection of antiquities and objets d’art worth two billion dollars over six years, told as a page-turning mystery.
Read MoreThe Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I, by Douglas Brunt
Did Rudolf Diesel commit suicide? Was this a contract killing by a world leader, or industrial titan? Find out why this was so important, as you learn about the ubiquitous Diesel engine that changed the world.
Read MoreGoing Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, by Michael Lewis
The cautionary tale of Sam Bankman-Fried, which should shake up any confidence you may have in the current state of cryptocurrency.
Read MoreElon Musk, by Walter Isaacson
Isaacson’s book is the most complete biography of Elon Musk to date. Musk is perhaps the most interesting and important people of our generation.
Read MoreThe Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder, by David Grann
An eighteenth century story of shipwreck, survival, and the price of poor leadership.
Read MoreWar, by Sebastian Junger
The Afghanistan War is now history. As we assess the cost, Junger’s book is an important part of understanding the human toll, the price our young men have paid for that conflict.
Read MoreThe End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization, by Peter Zeihan
Probably the most important book you’ll read this year. See if you agree with Zeihan’s trend analysis.
Read MoreAn Immense World, by Ed Yong
Gain a new outlook on the sensory world of animals. Much of what we know was only learned very recently.
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