Month: October 2018

How to Rig an Election by Nic Cheeseman & Brian Klaas

The authors take experiences in various countries (mostly recent 3rd-world examples) as to how elections are rigged. Some advice for reducing it. 8/10

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Read by Stephen Fry

Once again great reading by Fry and a great story. Works very well with all Holmes and Watson action and no giant backstory. 8/10

Our Oriental Heritage: Story of Civilization Series, Book 1 by Will Durant

Covers the early history of Egypt, the Middle East, India, China and Japan. In some cases up to the 20th Century. The book cover arts, religion and philosophy as well Kings and dates. This was written in the 1930s so has some stuff that has been superseded and out of date attitudes to race and religion in places. It long (50 hours) with another 11 volumes still to go but it is pretty good if you don’t mind these problems. 7/10

Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto by Alan Stern & David Grinspoon

Stern was one of the originators and principal investigator of the mission so lots of firsthand details about all stages of the project from first conception though various versions.

Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans by T. R. Fehrenbach

About 80% of the 40 hour book covers the period 1820-1880. Huge amounts of detail during then but skips over the rest quickly. Great stories though. 8/10

That’s Not English – Britishisms, Americanisms, and What Our English Says About Us by Erin Moore

A series of short chapters (usually one per word) about how the English language is used differently in England from the US. Fun light read. 7/10

The Complacent Class: The Self-Defeating Quest for the American Dream by Tyler Cowen

How American culture (and I’d extend that to countries like NZ) has stopped innovating and gone the safe route in most areas. Main thesis is that pressure is building up and things may break hard. Interesting 8/10

A History of Britain, Volume 2 : The British Wars 1603 – 1776 by Simon Schama

Covering the Civil War, Glorious Revolution and bits of the early empire and American revolution. A nice overview. 7/10

I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing: Star Wars and the Triumph of Geek Culture by A. D. Jameson

A personal account of the author’s journey though Geekdom (mainly of the Sci-Fi sort) mixed in with a bit of analysis of how the material is deeper than critics usually credit. 7/10