Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag-Montefiori (2011)

Simon Sebag-Montefiore writes with a broad, colorful style that makes historical figures feel entertaining. However, in areas where I have read extensively, his omissions and reliance on some unlikely rumors erode his credibility. This selective approach taints the narrative and suggests a small lack of objectivity.

The history of Jerusalem inevitably suffers from a "phone book" style, cluttered with too many names and dates. This density makes it easy to lose the big picture and forget important details. Thankfully, the author provides a fantastic epilogue that summarizes the broad sweeping population changes, including mass genocides and large immigrations.

As the author notes in the introduction, archaeological evidence in the region changes daily, often rendering established facts obsolete. Because I am interested in the region, I find the older, incorrect understanding of history presented in this 2011 volume frustrating. These outdated interpretations, combined with the significant historical facts the author omitted are frustrating. Yet, Montefiore manages an indirect objectivity by listing who murdered whom in each major massacre. This record provides a clear account of the genocides, mostly of Jews,and identifies who was responsible for each travesty. He also notes which parties rejected peace  (guess who?) without adding his own color. Despite these frustrations and my doubts about the veracity of the character sketches, the book remains enjoyable. 3/5 stars.

The Rooster Bar by John Grisham (2017)

I enjoy John Grisham's books. The Rooster Bar has a big heart: the narrative offers multifaceted characters and satisfying story arcs. I find the balance of suspense and legal drama creates a consistently engaging conflict.

The setting provides a refreshing escape into 2015-era United States government bureaucracies. Policies and actions in this period feel less politically motivated than those in more recent fiction. I appreciate the depiction of administrative incompetence and stupidity: this realism is often missing from other legal thrillers. The story successfully explores the psychological weight of crushing student debt and hopeless economic circumstances.

The protagonists face these terrible conditions with notable grit and determination. Their resilience in the face of systemic failure is heart-warming and uplifting. This specific focus on the plucky nature of the team makes the story stand out. 5/5 Stars

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (1926)

Hemingway was required reading during my high school years in the early 1970s. My teacher described his unadorned and direct language as "mud on a brick wall": the prose conveys emotional weight through the omission of detail. I have always found his writing stark and brutal. I enjoyed For Whom the Bell Tolls, yet I did not like The Sun Also Rises as much as his other works.

The immersion into the lives of inter-war expatriates was enjoyable -- I love "slice of life" immersion. I also enjoyed learning about the French, Spanish (Mediterranean) people's  attitudes toward racing, sports, and outdoor hobbies.  The deep descriptions of bullfighting and the culture surrounding it provided fascinating and delicious flavor. However, I did not find the alcoholic characters to be appealing in any way. This lack of connection to the protagonists left me unengaged with the narrative. 3/5 Stars

A treasury of Yiddish Stories by Irving Howe and Eliezer Greenberg (1954)

This collection has an interminable introduction I should have skipped. I found some of the stories to be good and others to be confusing.  They are all well-crafted. 3/5 Stars.

Gimpel the Fool by Isaac Bashevis Singer (1953)

I found an extended translation with commentary of this interesting short story online.  The story is a fascinating journey through the ethical dilemma of scapegoat treatment.  The townspeople project all of their insecurities and moral failures onto Gimpel to maintain a sense of collective superiority. They identify Gimpel as a fool to validate their own cleverness and moral superiority. Gimpel is the container for the town's malice. This dynamic mirrors the historical (and current) demonization of the Jews: the majority creates a false narrative (big lies) and punishes the minority for existing.  Gimpel decides to accept his role as a fool.  He understands the deception.  Gimpel decides it is better to be "a fool" than to be cruel. By refusing to defend his ego, he prevents the malice of the town from turning violent. Gimpel is the only character who maintains a coherent moral arc. The town and people have a fragmented reality of lies and shifting loyalties. Gimpel remains committed to truth. Gimpel bears the injustice and remains uncorrupted by the lies. 4/5 Stars.

A Quantum Murder by Peter F Hamilton (1997)

The second book in this Mandel series continues the adventures of the characters established in book one. The story frames a murder mystery within the same setting. I enjoyed the prose despite the silly paranormal elements.

The narrative introduces more, new occult tropes. Hamilton employs pseudo-science to justify the  supernatural phenomena. The explanation for the magic is weakened by the pseudo-scientific logic.

I am normally not great at solving mysteries, but I identified the culprit early. I deduced the motive and the method by a process of elimination.

The science fiction background remains intriguing. I hope these elements dominate the third book. 3/5 Stars.

Briefe in die chinesische Vergangenheit von Herbert Rosendorfer (1986)

Ich schätze die Prosa und den markanten Stil Herbert Rosendorfers. Er nutzt das Briefformat, um die antike Kultur der Song- und Liao-Dynastie zu betrachten: Er stellt diese Werte dem Bayern der 1980er Jahre gegenüber. Er zeigt diese Unterschiede auf, anstatt sie bloß zu beschreiben. Ich schätze das Eintauchen in die Bräuche und Alltagsgeschichten historischer Figuren.

Rosendorfer vermeidet grausame Details aus dem Leben chinesischer Bauern. Er konzentriert sich nur auf kulturelle Einstellungen und Erzählungen aus dem Lebensalltag. Er stilisiert deutsche Themen der 1980er Jahre: Diese Probleme umfassen Waldsterben und Umweltverschmutzung. Diese Umweltdebatten sind veraltet. Die historische Perspektive bleibt jedoch für jüngere Leser interessant. Der Kontrast zwischen dem modernen industriellen Chaos und der Bürokratie am Song-Hof ist bemerkenswert. Die Außenseiter-Perspektive wirkt zeitweise künstlich, stellt meine Glaubwürdigkeit jedoch nie auf die Probe. Ich empfehle dieses Werk Lesern, die Rosendorfers populärwissenschaftliche Geschichtsbücher mögen. 5/5 Sterne

Accidental Astronaut by J N Chaney & Rick Partlow (2025)

I did not enjoy this one. The science collapses under a modicum of scrutiny: the narrative features giant insects that cannot support their own mass. The biological premise of haploid insects is impossible. Ridiculous magical magnets and primitive steampunk humans strain any suspension of disbelief.

Space combat ignores physics and celestial mechanics.  I found only the main characters interesting but they lack credibility and depth. The antagonists are poorly written. The "universal translator bugs" are magical and not scientific.

The story feels contrived because of a ridiculous plot. I do not recommend this book. 1/5 Stars

Books Mitch Enjoyed in 2025

“A book is man’s best friend outside of a dog, and inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” – Jim Brewer (Boy’s Life , February 1954)

I read 141 books in 2025 , up from 115 last year .  For me, reading isn't just a habit—it's a profound source of joy, fulfillment, and sheer pleasure. There's nothing quite like diving into new ideas that challenge my thinking, gripping dramas that keep me up at night, or brilliant insights that reshape how I see the world. I love reading and listening to audio books. I'm extremely grateful to live in a time when so much great literature is so easily available. This year, I've expanded my highlights to four categories: German , Non-Fiction , General fiction, and Science fiction Looking back, it appears I read much more non-fiction in 2025 than I realized. Here's what stood out:

German

	Stefan Zweigs autobiografische Erinnerungen zeichnen ein nuanciertes Porträt der vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg blühenden europäischen Kultur im Habsburgerreich, einer Ära scheinbarer Sicherheit mit Fortschritten in Technologie, Humanismus und Aufklärungsphilosophie. Der Autor reflektiert über seine Bildung, literarische Karriere und Reisen, unterbrochen durch Begegnungen mit Figuren wie Sigmund Freud, Theodor Herzl, Rainer Maria Rilke und Richard Strauss. Das Werk lamentiert den Verfall von Humanismus, Internationalismus und kultureller Harmonie Europas, ersetzt durch Nationalismus, Kriege und Faschismus – ein Prozess, der in Zweigs Exil und dem Suizid mit seiner Frau kulminiert. Interpretativ verkörpert der Text eine Elegie von verlorenen Idealen, deren Zerbrechlichkeit durch Zweigs persönliche Desillusionierung unterstrichen wird und zeitgenössische Warnungen vor ideologischer Polarisierung impliziert. Der humanistische Schreibstil beeindruckt besonders.
	Stefan Heyms Auf Sand gebaut umfasst sieben Vignetten, die die gelebten Realitäten der Ostdeutschen in unmittelbarer Nähe des sowjetischen Zusammenbruchs und der nationalen Wiedervereinigung erfassen. Jede Erzählung fungiert als Mikrokosmos des breiteren gesellschaftlichen Umbruchs und beleuchtet die Unklarheiten, Widersprüche und Enttäuschungen, die diesen historischen Moment charakterisierten. Heyms Geschichten Vordergrund: Die Belastbarkeit und Anpassungsfähigkeit von Individuen, die durch die Erosion vertrauter Strukturen und die Entstehung neuer, oft desorientierter Paradigmen navigieren. Die Prosa von Heym ist ungewollt und präzise und meidet Nostalgie zugunsten kritischer Beobachtung. Die Stärke der Sammlung liegt in ihrer Weigerung, einfache Vorsätze zu bieten. Stattdessen stellt Heym die anhaltenden Unsicherheiten und moralischen Unklarheiten vor, die das Leben auf instabilem Boden definieren. Der dauerhafte Wert des Buches für akademische und professionelle Leser liegt in seiner differenzierten Darstellung der systemischen Transformation-ein Bericht als relevant für Historiker und Soziologen in Bezug auf diejenigen, die sich für die Psychologie der Anpassung und die Soziologie postsozialistischer Gesellschaften interessieren.
	Ich habe das Buch wirklich genossen. Die Art und Weise, wie die Welt aufgebaut ist, fand ich spannend und einzigartig. Die zentralen Themen – Macht, Autorität und die Grenzen persönlicher Einflussnahme – sind beeindruckend und regen zum Nachdenken an. Alle Charaktere sind sorgfältig ausgearbeitet und ziehen einen sofort in ihren Bann. Jede ihrer Geschichten trägt auf schlüssige Weise zum Gesamtbild bei. Das Science-Fiction-Setting sorgt für eine faszinierende Atmosphäre voller Staunen, die den Hintergrund lebendig macht, ohne jedoch für die eigentliche Handlung entscheidend zu sein.

Non-Fiction

	I picked up Breakneck after reading a few excerpts online, drawn by Wang's reputation for cross-cultural analysis. The book delivers on that promise. Wang offers a deep, objective, and nuanced view of the United States and China. He explores their similarities and differences in sensibilities and cultures with clear insights. He unpacks the attitudes, values, and policies that shape each government's actions. He also explains why and how citizens in both nations behave as they do. Wang brings his own minor biases to the table—value judgments and occasional gaps in empathy for alternative viewpoints on citizen motivations. These are small flaws in an otherwise sharp work. On the positive side, his analysis of causal links between values, cultures, and resulting policies stands out. He connects the dots with precision. The core thesis—that an engineering mindset defines all Chinese leadership and drives their policies, while a lawyer mindset shapes all American leaders and their decisions—holds up well. It simplifies complex systems but supports the argument with strong evidence. Wang weaves in the enduring bureaucracies of both governments effectively, showing how they reinforce these mindsets over time. I recommend this book to anyone interested in global politics or cultural comparisons. It clarifies without oversimplifying.
	Why do groups keep up stories everyone knows are false—where each person sees the truth but pretends not to? Why do we tolerate polite hypocrisy, subtle bribes, half-hidden threats, or strategic flirtation? As someone wired for blunt honesty, I've long been baffled by these layers of social theater that seem to breed confusion and harm. Steven Pinker's new book takes this puzzle apart with his trademark clarity, drawing on research in evolution, linguistics, and game theory—from the prisoner's dilemma to "The Emperor's New Clothes." He argues that shared fictions and mutual pretense aren't just signs of human weakness; they are tools that keep social life running. Sometimes truth is too volatile, and a bit of collective make-believe prevents conflict or preserves dignity. What's most compelling is how Pinker turns apparent irrationality into evidence of strategic intelligence. The very evasions that frustrate literal-minded people serve an adaptive purpose, softening the blunt edges of honesty in complex societies. In an age flooded with misinformation, the book offers a sharp framework for seeing when concealment unites and when it corrupts. Nothing has changed how I think about communication this profoundly since Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow. This is Pinker at his best—precise, surprising, and deeply relevant..
	The book tells the story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a pioneering American cryptanalyst whose work laid much of the groundwork for modern codebreaking and national intelligence. Fagone's writing is vivid and accessible. He brings the early 20th century to life through rich scenes and authentic dialogue that reflect the social norms, speech patterns, and intellectual energy of the time. What I particularly enjoyed was how the book captures that era's mindset—its optimism, its limits, and the quiet revolutions happening in scientific thought long before most people realized it. The book does not shy away from the entrenched sexism Elizebeth and her peers faced, yet it handles those issues with balance. Fagone's tone is indignant where necessary but never heavy-handed. The result is both a tribute and a well-researched historical narrative.
	P. J. O'Rourke's Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government remains one of the sharpest satirical dissections of American politics ever written. O'Rourke, a seasoned journalist and foreign correspondent, brings both firsthand reporting and a libertarian sensibility to his critique. The result is a book that is both uproariously funny and uncomfortably accurate. O'Rourke's style is dense with humor; many sentences deliver multiple laugh-out-loud lines. Yet the comedy serves as a scalpel rather than a distraction, laying bare the inefficiency, hypocrisy, and absurdity of government. He skewers politicians across the spectrum, exposing the ways in which taxing, spending, and regulation consistently fail to produce outcomes acceptable to the very citizens they are meant to serve. Despite his relentless criticism, O'Rourke avoids despair. His libertarian perspective emphasizes not only the limits of government but also the resilience of individuals and institutions outside of politics. He notes, with characteristic irony, that American society functions far better than one would expect given the incompetence of its leaders.
	Douglas Murray's On Democracies and Death Cults (2025) is a masterful blend of incisive analysis and deeply personal reflection, delivered in his characteristically eloquent prose. Fans of The War on the West will recognize Murray's intellectual clarity as he dissects the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion of Israel. Through vivid interviews, prison encounters, and firsthand observations, he chronicles the horror, where well-trained Hamas militants perpetrated rape, torture, and massacres of 1,200 victims, followed by civilians who looted and aided in kidnapping 250 other innocents. A recurring theme is Murray's profound connection to Deuteronomy's charge: "I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life." This quote anchors his moral framework, contrasting sharply with the death-driven ideology of Hamas, that chillingly justifies atrocities like the murder of Jewish infants by labeling them "soldiers."

General Fiction

	During his promotional tour for his first-ever novel (after 50 movies), Woody Allen commented that this book is the best book he ever read.  Intrigued, I grabbed it and added it to my reading list.  The writing is, indeed, fantastic.  The book pulled me in right away. The main character, Bud Corliss, plans his path to a millionaire's wealth through charm and cold calculation. He courts women, spins lies, and kills without a flinch. The author builds the story through three sisters' viewpoints, one per section.  The story slowly reveals Bud's well-planned grift. All of the characters, especially the three sisters, feel real and complex; Bud's steady narcissism is extremely unsettling in quiet ways. I was deeply immersed in his calculated risks and plans. The book examines ambition without limits: how one person's polish erodes trust and safety, a reminder of everyday deceptions. This book is one of my top five reads this year. It's worth your time for Levin's clean tension.
	The “dragon tattoo” trilogy concludes with undiminished tension, its narrative charged by reversals, near-deaths, and brutal confrontations that sustain relentless momentum. The plotting is mechanical at times, yet its inexorability creates suspense that feels earned rather than contrived. Larsson turns his critique toward institutions, exposing systemic corruption, entrenched secrecy, and the costs of bureaucratic complicity. The recurring emphasis on institutional misogyny underscores the novels' political charge, though its repetition risks flattening nuance in an otherwise finely-woven narrative. Central characters achieve limited but meaningful development, gaining maturity without betrayal of their sharply defined identities. The finale delivers both continuity and resolution, securing closure while preserving the series' force.
	I rarely enjoy high fantasy, and I often find Gaiman's work uneven. Nevertheless, his mastery of prose and narrative drive is undeniable. Stardust succeeds because it embraces the fairy tale form without apology. The novel employs an arbitrary but internally consistent magic system and populates it with sharply drawn, memorable characters. The horrors remain true to the tradition of fairy tales—brutal yet restrained in presentation. The result is a work that feels both timeless and deliberate, balancing whimsy with menace. A flawless execution of modern mythmaking.
	Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans (2000) probes the unreliability of memory and perception through Christopher Banks, an acclaimed detective whose myopic adherence to personal convictions blinds him to broader realities. Exquisite prose illuminates profound character depths, weaving a narrative that exposes the tragic rigidities of early twentieth-century cultural norms and colonial illusions. This masterful exploration of self-deception and loss merits Ishiguro's eventual Nobel Prize in Literature.
	I follow the Myron Bolitar series, albeit intermittently. Coben evolves the characters in the series across multiple decades. Live Wire  continues these adventures as the characters are older. The story explores family loyalty. A missing, pregnant rock star ignites the plot and intrigues the reader. This investigation forces Myron to confront his brother, Brad, with whom he has a complex relationship. The mystery reveals hidden and unexpected betrayals that add to the drama. I found this installment quite theatrical. The stakes swell because of friction between siblings. Myron’s conflicts surface as he is forced to face his past. This style heightens the drama but feels forced at times. However, as usual, Coben masters the pace. I value the interpretation of loyalty as a burden rather than a virtue and I really enjoyed this one.

Science Fiction

The "Spiral Wars" story ranks among my favorite space opera series. I enjoy the author's descriptions of the setting, technology, and military action. Shepherd balances intense close combat with complex fleet maneuvers. I typically pre-order these books immediately: Precursor slipped only recently under my radar. The discovery became a special treat. The AI machine age history arc takes a fun turn with evolving plot lines and characters. Shepherd uses golden age science fiction tropes to evoke a sense of mystery. He introduces advanced technologies, such as wormholes, that remain beyond our understanding. This background creates a feeling of awe and wonder. The adversaries are embedded in well-meaning but destructive institutions. These "bad guys" are apparatchiks trapped within a massive bureaucracy. They cannot see perspectives beyond their own insular setting. They act without malice because of their limited worldview. These characters believe they are doing the right thing. This bureaucratic nature makes them worthy enemies for the crew of the Phoenix. The book features dramatic deaths and expands the roles of background characters. These individuals now pursue their own adventures. I disliked the ending because the story opens more threads than it resolves. However, I am thrilled the author intends to continue the series. I eagerly await the next installment. 5/5 Stars.

	I enjoyed this story mostly for its characters and dialogue, which immerse the reader in a genuine slice of 1951 America. The values and attitudes on display exemplify the rock-solid humanism of the Greatest Generation—men and women who had survived the Second World War, built immense wealth, and launched unprecedented advances in medicine, aeronautics, rocketry, nuclear science, weapons technology, birth control, and even the design of interstellar space probes. Their optimism was inseparable from their accomplishments, and Piper captures that atmosphere with remarkable clarity. The story itself works because it builds steadily from everyday realism into a problem of enormous consequence, handled with restraint and credibility. The dialogue and pacing create a slow tightening of tension, so when the ending arrives, it feels both inevitable and startling. The resolution strikes with force precisely because it remains true to the world and characters Piper so carefully established.
	In Ruins, the second installment of Orson Scott Card's Pathfinder trilogy, Rigg's odyssey propels him through the multifaceted "Folds" of the planet Garden, culminating in encounters with the shipboard AIs that seeded human life. This narrative, dense with speculative world-building, probes temporal and spatial manipulation, resonating with engineers and scientists intrigued by systems theory and artificial intelligence. Card's integration of Lit-RPG elements—character progression via experience and magical artifacts—infuses a gamified structure that, despite my skepticism toward fantasy, captivates through its rigorous internal logic, appealing to analytical readers. The character arcs, particularly Rigg's, evolve with psychological depth, navigating trust and agency within a deterministic universe, a theme historians and biologists in my audience may find compelling for its parallels to evolutionary and societal dynamics. The novel's brisk pacing and intricate plotting sustain momentum, setting an anticipatory stage for the trilogy's conclusion. Card's continued productivity enriches contemporary speculative fiction, delivering a work that merits top marks for its intellectual rigor and narrative drive.
	John Scalzi's The Android's Dream is a hilarious, fast-paced, and heartfelt novel that brims with vibrant characters. The relentless, madcap action, delightfully melodramatic villains, cunning antagonists, and clever plot twists create an irresistible page-turner that's difficult to set down. I thoroughly enjoyed this zany, fun-filled story.
	When I pulled A Fire Upon the Deep off my shelf, I was convinced I'd read it 25 years ago, back when it swept the 1993 Hugo, Campbell, and Prometheus Awards, narrowly missing the Nebula and Locus. To my surprise, I hadn't! This novel, penned by the late Vernor Vinge, who passed in 2024, represents the sci-fi master at his peak. The intricate world-building, vibrant characters, and tightly woven subplots showcase why Vinge was a titan of the genre, earning accolades with nearly every release. The story's inventive magic system—rooted in the unique physics of its galaxy-spanning setting—left me spellbound, while the complex character arcs kept me turning pages late into the night. From interstellar civilizations to alien minds, Vinge's creativity dazzles, blending hard science fiction with gripping human (and nonhuman) drama.
	After slogging through three lackluster books, I was thrilled to dive into The Man Who Saw Seconds by Alexander Boldizar, a standout among the 2025 Locus Awards Top 10 Finalists (announced this month by Locus Magazine). This novel is a gem. Boldizar's prose sparkles with clarity and wit, pulling me into a vividly crafted world. The characters leap off the page—vibrant, complex, and utterly compelling. The story weaves sharp social commentary, nuanced politics, and thought-provoking philosophy into a tapestry of ideas that linger long after the final page. Its magic system, centered on a five-second prescience ability, is both inventive and gripping, adding a fresh twist to the narrative. The plot surges with unexpected turns, driven by tightly paced editing. The antagonists are chillingly well-motivated, their actions grounded in believable conviction, while the protagonists charm with their humor and larger-than-life personalities.
	I appreciate Ken MacLeod’s narrative style. The Scottish influence adds flavor to his characters. I find these cultural details refreshing. Despite the time-travel paradox, I was willing to suspend disbelief.  And I liked the AI characters. The mystery of the "crystal intelligences" sparks awe. I admire the vastness of MacLeod's universe. The plot succeeds because of these enigmatic beings. The discovery of the alien world provides a sense of wonder. I enjoyed the golden age style of cosmic mystery.

Precursor by Joel Shepherd (2025)

The "Spiral Wars" story ranks among my favorite space opera series. I enjoy the author's descriptions of the setting, technology, and military action. Shepherd balances intense close combat with complex fleet maneuvers. I typically pre-order these books immediately: Precursor slipped only recently under my radar. The discovery became a special treat.

The AI machine age history arc takes a fun turn with evolving plot lines and characters. Shepherd uses golden age science fiction tropes to evoke a sense of mystery. He introduces advanced technologies, such as wormholes, that remain beyond our understanding. This background creates a feeling of awe and wonder.

The adversaries are embedded in well-meaning but destructive institutions. These "bad guys" are apparatchiks trapped within a massive bureaucracy. They cannot see perspectives beyond their own insular setting. They act without malice because of their limited worldview. These characters believe they are doing the right thing. This bureaucratic nature makes them worthy enemies for the crew of the Phoenix.

The book features dramatic deaths and expands the roles of background characters. These individuals now pursue their own adventures. I disliked the ending because the story opens more threads than it resolves. However, I am thrilled the author intends to continue the series. I eagerly await the next installment. 5/5 Stars