On the Equality of all Things by Carlo Rovelli (2026)

Because I loved The Order of Time, I decided to buy this book to see what's new in Rovelli's research. Rovelli does not perceive the current crisis in theoretical physics to be a failure.  He argues instead that we need a different set of assumptions of our foundational concepts of reality.  I have followed the catastrophic diversion of physics into string theory, where most published literature abandoned scientific method and created math they called "theory" that cannot generate any disprovable hypotheses from observation or measurement. Rovelli's prose has an elegant economy; his arguments  accumulate through image and precision rather than polemic. I really enjoy it.

Rovelli's core idea rests on a relational ontology: Systems possess properties only relative to other systems, a position he draws from relational quantum mechanics, and this claim reframes time, causation, and substance. This reframing rejects the fantasy of a platonic God's-eye view, and this rejection extends to Spinoza's proposition that gives this volume its title. A carburetor, an atom, a stone, and a thought each possess validity through its own perspective and description, without a fundamental division between culture and nature, mental and physical, living and nonliving. It is explosive because of the way it replaces the adversary of dogmatic reductionism, not with a portrait of malice, but with a portrait of innocent apparatchiks trapped in an insular system, thinkers who mistake partial description for final foundation, and this distinction preserves civil charity while sharpening critique. I appreciate this humility as a stance that prefers partial, impermanent knowledge to a theory of everything.

This book moves from relational quantum mechanics to the crumbling of universal time, then to a web of events where cause and effect serve as human carving tools, then to a Spinozian equality of descriptions where Nagarjuna and Zhuangzi enter as commenters, and this sequence culminates not in a final foundation but in an invitation to curiosity.

His conclusions are convincing because of the rigor with which Rovelli treats partial knowledge.  It is an invitation to creative attention rather than failure. I value Rovelli's precision over popular science polemic; Rovelli's books rank among my favorites in that genre.

5/5 Stars

Ice Vegas by Larry Niven and Steven Barnes 2026)

I enjoyed the opportunity to re-immerse myself in the storytelling of Larry Niven and Steven Barnes after several decades. I read Niven enthusiastically throughout the 1970s and particularly enjoyed his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes, and others during the 1980s. Ringworld was my favorite book in 1976, so returning to these authors carried considerable nostalgia. This novel combines an intriguing concept involving Fusion energy production for Europe with an Orphan X-style super-assassin thriller. The combination works reasonably well. Some of the poorly-developed characters, contrived plot developments, as well as the uplifted-animal concept did not appeal to me. I also found portions of the internal dialogue odd. The nostalgia, story and familiar writing style nevertheless made it enjoyable.

We are introduced to the main character, a genetically-engineered, elite Orphan-X style assassin.  Events lead her to befriend the Ice Vegas Security chief. They uncover a conspiracy involving a powerful family while confronting a threat capable of destroying the entire city.

I recognize that my literary tastes and critical standards have evolved considerably since the 1970s and 1980s. Having since encountered a much broader range of science fiction and literature, I approach Niven and Barnes with different expectations. The nostalgia is welcome, but it no longer carries the weight it once did.

4/5 Stars

D: Heavy Water by Neal Stephenson (2026)

I am delighted that Neal Stephenson has returned to historical fiction. His Baroque Cycle remains among my favorite book series, and the new Bomb Light series is proving equally enjoyable. Stephenson combines historical accuracy, recognizable historical figures, engrossing action, and his characteristically dense, pregnant prose. I particularly enjoyed the historical immersion: my understanding of the Spanish Civil War preceding World War II was limited, and I had little appreciation for the conflict's duration, misery, and complexity. Following the characters through that experience was eye-opening. Equally compelling is Stephenson's recreation of the period's sensibilities, values, dialogue, and social attitudes. The characters, their mannerisms, and dialog come alive; this resulting authenticity gives the book wonderful texture.

The story follows Owen Crisp-Upjohn, who moves from observing to participating in the effort to secure and protect deuterium (heavy water) from the Nazis in the race to develop an atomic bomb. Aurora, the protagonist of the first volume, returns in a major role, accompanied by an entertaining cast that includes the Earl of Suffolk.

I am particularly pleased that Stephenson made this second volume longer; the additional room gives the events, the setting and its characters space to develop. I am already looking forward to the next installment.

5/5 Stars

The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle (1957)

I found The Black Cloud compelling not only for its physics, celestial mechanics, and astronomy, but also for the combination of scientific speculation, engaging characters, and carefully constructed narrative. Hoyle's scientific background gives the central premise an intellectual credibility that remains enjoyable nearly seventy years after publication. The prose is polished, the editing crisp, and the scientific explanations are a pleasure rather than an interruption. The snooty British hatred for all things American and limitations of nascent 1950's radio technology were minor distractions, introducing some implausibility into an otherwise convincing story. Yet neither detracts much from the novel's enduring appeal. More than anything, I appreciated the contrast between the looming catastrophe and the determination of those in positions of responsibility. Against the doom and destruction, Hoyle offers a stiff-upper-lip resolve to confront successive crises, preserve civilization, and secure humanity's survival. This optimism is very refreshing, particularly now during the overwhelming majority of modern dystopian fiction, where terrible science, passive protagonists, and institutional paralysis always leave humanity resigned to its fate.

In the story, an enormous interstellar cloud approaches the solar system, threatening Earth with catastrophic consequences. Scientists race to understand its nature and discover whether humanity can communicate with it, while governments and scientific institutions struggle to respond to an existential crisis. A succession of discoveries and increasingly desperate interventions tests both scientific ingenuity and human resolve.

I enjoyed practically everything about the novel: the science, the characters, the setting, and the narrative's conviction that intelligence, cooperation, and perseverance can overcome even an apparently insurmountable threat. Hoyle delivers an optimistic golden-age science-fiction novel without sacrificing the devastating scale of its catastrophe. This book is an absolute pleasure to read.

5/5 Stars

She, Lover of Death by Boris Akunin (2020)

This eighth Erast Fandorin mystery returns to turn-of-the-century Moscow, a setting Akunin continues to relate with his immersive command of historical detail, character, dialogue, and storytelling. I continue to enjoy the series as much for its historical slice of life as for its mysteries. The dense prose, interwoven poetry, and brisk pacing sustain the reader's interest as the mystery progresses. Yet another nihilistic suicide club and its serial killer provide familiar material, but Fandorin is less infallible than usual, making mistakes before he finally solves the mystery and saves the day. I recognized many of the clues early and anticipated several revelations, which diminished the detective work’s surprises.

In Moscow, Fandorin operates undercover, unable to enlist the police or state agencies because of the events of the preceding novel. As young people die in a nihilistic suicide club, he must investigate its members, motives, and connections without exposing his identity or relying on his usual institutional resources. His inquiries gradually uncover the truth behind the deaths, testing both his deductive abilities and his capacity to recover from mistakes.

The familiar premise and predictable revelations kept this book from ranking among my favorites in the series, but its pace and period detail compensate. I look forward to the second half of the story in the next installment.

4/5 Stars

Shadows upon Time (Sun Eater book 7) by Christopher Ruccio (2025)

This 1,000-page volume brings a fun series to an unsatisfying conclusion. The sprawling narrative contains enough material for two or three books, and its spectacular events resolve some character arcs, but the length comes at the expense of closure. The shadowy force behind the galaxy’s woes remains in power, numerous loose ends are left unresolved, and Hardrian's fate remains unclear. Rather than a satisfying culmination, the ending reads like a cliffhanger.

Hadrian Marlowe prepares humanity for the Cielcin’s long-awaited return, assembling fleets and wielding the ancient war machine Demiurge against an enemy allied with the Watcher gods. Major fleet engagements devastate both sides, while the revelation that the Watchers can transport Cielcin forces without warning overturns conventional military strategy. The climactic assault on Gododdin delivers a shocking reversal: rather than merely attacking the human fleet, a Cielcin worldship deliberately collides with the planet, destroying it. Hadrian must then confront the Cielcin Prophet-King and the cosmic powers behind the war, as military catastrophe, political betrayal, and personal sacrifice converge.

I enjoyed the spectacle, the escalating stakes, and the resolution of several character arcs, but I wanted a conclusion worthy of the series. Too many conflicts remain unresolved, and Hadrian’s ultimate fate is left hanging. After seven books and nearly a thousand pages, I expected a more satisfying farewell.

3/5 Stars

Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz (2022)

I continue to enjoy the Orphan X series, and this seventh installment is as well crafted and entertaining as the earlier books. Hurwitz immerses the reader in communities suffering under cartel domination, where criminal organizations function as parallel governments, controlling commerce, infrastructure, and local populations. Although the realities of contemporary cartel power differ substantially from the novel's setting, Hurwitz creates a convincing environment for a close-combat thriller. Reading the story, I was willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the action, even with a better-informed understanding of the criminal network.

Orphan X confronts another dangerous adversary in a story that explores the human costs of cartel power. The series continues to introduce engaging plots while developing its central characters and their relationships, leaving unresolved threads that promise further adventures.

I find Dark Horse another satisfying entry in a series that has sustained its appeal through inventive plots, evolving characters, and relentless action. 5/5 Stars

Side Bar (Reality of Cartels):

• Cartels function as parallel governments in Mexico, extracting taxes from all local businesses and controlling transport infrastructure, while influencing national leaders
• In Venezuela, the Tren de Aragua gang operated as a mercenary force for the Maduro administration while controlling illegal mining territories and still has enormous power
• Ecuador hosts the transit hub for 70% of global cocaine supply, where cartels heavily infiltrate national commerce and mining areas
• The Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador) serves as the primary cocaine transit bottleneck connecting South American production to North America under Cartel international leadership
• Colombia forms the upstream economic source of the entire continental cartel and cocoa network
• Cartels have many, strong transnational crime, supply chains, and foreign influence 

Quel avenir pour la République?

The French Republic faces violent unrest. Rioters waving Palestinian flags:

• Ransacked, & occupied Marseille's city hall,

• Burned Limoges's town hall,

• Ransacked Bordeaux's prefect residence,

• Burned down historic Tourist Office in Lyon,

• Ransacked town hall, looted dozens of stores, attacked police in Lille,

• Looted over 100 stores, "devastated neighborhoods" in Paris,

• Ransacked city hall, looted 40 stores, banks, churches, hijacked train in Grenoble,

• Looted, ransacked, burned > 1,500 businesses in Nice, Nantes, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Avignon Pau, Montpellier, Valence, Bordeaux

In all cases the protesters waived Palestinian flags. - Over 2,400 arrests, 600 injured police officers, widespread shop damage across France.

• Over 300 School burnings all contained Palestinian flags, escalated to widespread violent riots  - Radical-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon and France Un-bowed drive "conflictualization," casting the French Republic as an adversary to unite widely disparate grievances.  Mélenchon's strategy unifies anti-establishment anger and intransigent nihilist Arab causes ahead of the upcoming presidential election to secure political positioning.

• Party figures have defended school riots, targeted school principals

• Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu criticized opposition leaders for fueling violence

• Intersectionality on the radical left conflates unrelated Arab seething and domestic causes, "Palestinian" (anti-semetic)  and local municipal disputes.

• Islamist networks exploit institutional distrust by framing national belonging as inherently hostile to Muslims

• Public servants, including mayors and teachers, face severe death threats from Islamists without state protection, exemplified by violent attacks on municipal homes.

• President Emmanuel Macron condemned the ongoing violence with empty rhetoric and no action.

• The unrest empowers Marine Le Pen's National Rally

Sources:

• https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/france/artc-manifestations-du-17-octobre-violences-a-marseille-et-lyon-des-drapeaux-palestiniens-dans-les-corteges

• https://www.fdd.org/analysis/the-french-republic-is-under-attack/

• https://www.franceinfo.fr/economie/greve/une-antenne-de-l-office-de-tourisme-de-lyon-a-ete-saccagee-et-incendiee-en-marge-de-la-mobilisation-du-17-octobre_8241787.html

• https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/on-a-eu-super-peur-paris-lyon-marseille-nice-les-commerces-des-grandes-villes-pilles-lors-des-manifestations-du-17-octobre_AN-202610170306.html

• https://www.leparisien.fr/societe/mobilisation-du-17-octobre-black-blocs-affrontements-a-paris-lyon-ou-marseille-le-point-sur-les-fortes-tensions-en-marge-des-rassemblements-17-10-2026-MEE27WC2R5EJVHHLWNJHSJ34NM.php

The Coronation by Boris Akunin (2000)

This seventh book in the Fandorin series combines historical immersion, a compelling mystery, and thriller pacing against the backdrop of Tsar Nicholas II’s 1896 coronation and the Khodynka Tragedy, where 1,400 people died in a stampede. Akunin’s increasingly powerful and resourceful adversaries are an effective escalation across the series. Hidden treachery, unexpected allies, and a motley cast of characters sustain the suspense. The first-person account of a royal majordomo was not to my taste, and reminds me why I did not enjoy Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. The technique does help with historical immersion, however.

During the imperial coronation festivities, Fandorin confronts a dangerous conspiracy involving powerful adversaries, hidden loyalties, and threats to the royal household. The plot twists, &  turns in many, unexpected ways as the mystery unfolds.

Despite my reservations about the narrator, I find the mystery, characterization, and historical setting outstanding. Akunin makes the imperial world feel inhabited rather than merely reconstructed, while the escalating contest between Fandorin and his formidable opponents gives the plot the momentum of a genuine thriller. The narrative perspective occasionally impedes my enjoyment, but the novel’s other strengths more than compensate.

4/5 Stars

Chasing Happiness

 

“Don’t pursue happiness in the way today’s culture advises. Pursue virtue, generosity, piety, integrity, and kindness. Your happiness will come from the love you give.”

Arthur Brooks closes with this advice in his essay on happiness. It echoes an argument Aristotle made more than 2,300 years ago.

In Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapters 4–5, Aristotle distinguishes eudaimonia—human flourishing through virtuous activity from lesser goods people mistake for happiness: pleasure (hēdonē), honor and esteem (timē), and wealth. Pleasure fades; honor depends on others; wealth is a means, not an end.

For Aristotle, happiness is not merely a feeling to acquire. It is a way of living: exercising our capacities well and acting virtuously over a complete life.

Charity Majors revisits this distinction in “If your team is happy, are you doing a good job?”. Her argument challenges the idea that management succeeds by keeping everyone happy. Psychological safety matters because it enables learning and high performance, not because nobody should feel uncomfortable. Growth requires accountability, difficult feedback, and the willingness to confront problems.

The parallel is instructive. A pleasant workplace is not necessarily a flourishing one, just as momentary pleasure is not a flourishing life. The goal is not to eliminate discomfort, but to build an environment where people can do meaningful work, develop their abilities, and achieve something worthwhile together.

(AI reconstruction of Aristotle)

Aristotle gives us the framework; Brooks gives us the reminder. Pursue the good, not merely the feeling.

“Don’t pursue happiness in the way today’s culture advises. Pursue virtue, generosity, piety, integrity, and kindness. Your happiness will come from the love you give.”

Further reading: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I · Arthur Brooks, on happiness · Charity Majors, on happy teams