The Actor’s Life: A survival guide by Jenna Fischer
Combination of advice for making it as an actor and a memoir of her experiences. Interesting and enjoyable 8/10
One Man’s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey by Sam Keith
Based on the journals of Richard Proenneke who built a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness and lived there for 16 month (& returned in later years). Interesting & I’m a little inspired 7/10
The Interstellar Age: The Story of the NASA Men and Women Who Flew the Forty-Year Voyager Mission by Jim Bell
Pretty much what the title says. Very positive throughout and switching between the science and profiles of the people smoothly. 8/10
Richard Nixon: The Life by John A Farrell
Comprehensive but balanced biography. Doesn’t shy away from Nixon’s many many problems but also covers his accomplishments and positive side (especially early in his career). 8/10
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Book I – Arthur Conan Doyle – Read by David Timson
4 Stories unabridged. Reading is good but drop a point since the music is distracting at fast playback. 7/10
Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries by Neil deGrasse Tyson
42 Essays on mainly space-related topics. Some overlap but pretty good, 10 years old so missing a few newer developments but good introduction. 8/10
The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance by David Epstein
Good wide-ranging book on nature vs nurture in sports performance, how genes for athletic performance are not that simple & how little we know. 9/10
The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower
Gossipy account from interviewing various ex-staff ( maids, cooks, butlers). A different angle than from what I get from other accounts. 7/10
Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit by Mark Hasara
Account of the author flying & planning aerial refueling operations during the Gulf wars & elsewhere. A bit of business advice but that is unobtrusive. No actual politics 7/10
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
Account of various people who made billions shorting the mortgage market in the run up to 2008. Fun and easy for layman to follow. 8/10
Driverless: Intelligent Cars and the Road Ahead by Hod Lipson
Listening to it the week a driverless car first killed a pedestrian. Fairly good intro/history/overview although fast changing topic so will go out of date quickly. 7/10
Journeys in English by Bill Bryson
A series of radio shows. I found the music & random locations annoying. Had to slow it down due to varied voices, accents and words. Interesting despite that, 7/10
