Books Read In 2008

From 2007 to 2012, I read 263+ books. Here’s my lessons learned and short review of each.
- The book provides a sweeping yet concise history of nonviolence.
- It effectively discusses the active nature of nonviolence, highlighting its complexity.
- It raises provocative questions about war and violence, encouraging deep thought.
- Nothing - amazing read.
- Comprehensive coverage of world trade history
- Fresh insights into social, political, cultural, and economic impacts
- Accessible and well-argued writing style
- Not a whole lot - very interesting book.
- Fascinating era in medieval history.
- Insightful connections between environmental shifts and human action.
- Detail and richness in the writing.
- The book is dense and requires time to get through.
- Insightful exploration of American obsession with real estate
- Interesting perspective on motivations behind housing decisions
- Potential to save readers money and improve financial future
- Not enough people read it
- Insightful exploration of Christian pop culture
- Engaging and humorous writing style
- Friendly outsider perspective on the subject
- Nothing - it's amazing.
- Explores shopping from various cultural perspectives
- Delivers a balanced analysis without judgment
- Provides a mental toolkit for understanding desires
- Nothing - solid, useful nonfiction.
- Inspiring portrayal of Dr. Paul Farmer's life and work
- Highlights important themes like healthcare access and moral obligation
- Well-written and engaging narrative
- Not a whole lot - good read.
- The book is accessible and well-argued.
- It respects nuance in a complex topic.
- It addresses accountability in the aid sector.
- Not a whole lot - very interesting book.
- The novel powerfully exposes the brutality and corruption of Spanish rule.
- It promotes themes of nationalism and self-reflection for societal change.
- The story is engaging and resonates beyond just Filipino readers.
- The book is a bit niche and requires some background about The Philippines.
- Explores universal human themes effectively
- Delivers a powerful message about good and evil
- Well-written and engaging despite multiple characters
- Impactful and emotional narrative
- There's quite a few characters to keep up with
- The book provides a powerful account of the exploitation in the Congo.
- It highlights the courage of individuals who fought against King Leopold II's rule.
- The exploration of imperialism and mass communication is thought-provoking.
- The book is tough to read due to its harrowing content.
- Insightful exploration of the rise of private contracting in warfare
- Highlights important themes like the dangers of privatizing war and security
- Raises awareness about accountability and oversight of private contractors
- The book can be a little screed-y at times.
- Engaging and imaginative story
- Explores deep themes of spirituality and survival
- Offers valuable life lessons about kindness and forgiveness
- Not a whole lot - very solid read.
- Vivid descriptions of landscapes and cultures
- Informative and humane poetic writing style
- Rich historical context about the Silk Road
- Slow pacing may not appeal to all readers
- Content can blur together at times
- Brilliant literature from start to finish
- Depth of characters
- Intensity of the plot
- The characters' names are confusing.
- Paul Theroux is a master of observation and understanding people and regions.
- The book is funny, direct, and interesting.
- Theroux's travel experiences are richly detailed and engaging.
- Nothing - excellent read.
- Thoughtful and well-researched content
- Impeccably presented and embraces complexity
- Engaging and informative read on childbirth history
- Must-read for parents-to-be
- Nothing - A++ book.
- Concise and comprehensive overview of the WTO
- In-depth look at the history, structure, and functioning of the WTO
- Explains the impact of the WTO on individuals and world governance
- Not a whole lot to dislike.
- Concise and well-sourced content
- Engaging overview of the history of religion in America
- Covers aspects often ignored in other books, like popular culture and hybrid identities
- Nothing - VSIs are always worthwhile.
- Well-written and interesting narrative
- In-depth exploration of familiar topics
- Highlights both achievements and shortcomings of Greek culture
- Not a professional historian, which may lead to some exaggerated facts.
- Haunting narrative that leaves a lasting impression
- Explores profound themes of imperialism and morality
- Critiques the hypocrisy of colonialism effectively
- The language quirks of an old novel can be challenging to read.
- Concise and well-sourced content
- Readable and accessible writing style
- Useful for understanding postcolonialism
- Nothing - VSIs are always worthwhile.
- Excellent educational resource for parents wanting to enhance their kids' education.
- Provides a clear guide to classical education for adult readers.
- Offers detailed instructions for reading various literary genres.
- Introduces the trivium approach to reading, promoting critical thinking.
- Includes an annotated reading list of significant works from the Western tradition.
- Not a whole lot - excellent resource.
- Solid novel with a beautiful setting
- Explores important themes of adolescence and risk-taking
- Rich and atmospheric storytelling
- Nothing - good novel.
- Engaging and well-written narrative
- Spot-on setting and characters
- Incredible job weaving difficult themes and concepts
- Resonates with readers from conservative or fundamentalist backgrounds
- Promotes self-awareness of cultural differences
- Nothing at all.
- Interesting exploration of Camus' personal philosophy
- Strong counter to binary thinking between religion and no religion
- Provocative main points that encourage critical thinking
- Not as good as Camus' novels
- Quibbles with many of his main points
- Comprehensive history of the global economy in the twentieth century
- Brilliant in contextualizing massive economic changes
- Detailed account of key economic and political events
- Gets a bit academic at points
- Requires a good bit of background to understand arguments
- Karen Armstrong provides detailed and nuanced analysis.
- The book embraces the complexity of religion.
- Armstrong writes fascinating and engaging books.
- Some parts can get a bit academic.
- Interesting setting in late communist East Germany
- Engaging premise about betrayal and liberation
- Explores themes of female friendship and loneliness
- The book was mostly forgettable
- Read like the author was trying to impress rather than tell a story
- Not much to like overall
- Engaging characters
- Strong themes of immigration and aging
- Memorable plot and setting
- Nothing - A+ novel.
- Engaging continuation of Lyra's story
- Rich world-building with additional materials
- Themes of friendship, loyalty, and adventure
- Nothing!
- Engaging prequel to a beloved series
- Strong themes of corruption and power
- Fun addition to the original trilogy
- Nothing!
In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, we follow Lyra and Will as they confront a rigid, authoritarian regime known as the Magisterium. I love this series—it’s one of my all-time favorites alongside the Chronicles of Narnia. The characters and the imaginative world Pullman creates are just fantastic. Honestly, I can't find anything I didn't like about this book. It’s a must-read!
- The world-building is incredible.
- The characters are amazing and memorable.
- The series promotes rational thinking and questions dogma.
- Nothing!
- Explores the concept of echo chambers in society
- Highlights media manipulation and consumer biases
- Offers useful takeaways on seeking diverse perspectives
- Nothing - brilliant book.
- The book helps deepen understanding of reading.
- It effectively highlights themes and elements in fiction.
- Wood’s analysis of fiction’s mechanics is insightful.
- The book is too short and lacks examples and anecdotes.
- The writing is stark, engaging, and perfect.
- The novel leaves a lasting impression, with scenes vividly remembered after years.
- It challenges thoughts about self, family, friends, and core values.
- The book is very violent, so I can't recommend it to everyone.
- Beautifully written with vivid imagery
- Tackles complex themes of imperialism and exploitation
- Captivating tale that evokes gratitude for historical struggles
- Florid writing sometimes obstructs plot and character development
- Frequent need to google terms disrupts reading flow
- No other cons.
- The setting in New York is engaging.
- The exploration of identity is thought-provoking.
- It sparked an interest in learning cricket.
- The book did not live up to some reviews.
- It has a navel-gazing quality.
- Engaging storytelling style by Tim Harford
- Challenges standard assumptions of rationality in economics
- Illustrates rational behavior in illogical scenarios
- Not a whole lot - solid nonfiction book.
- Beautiful and haunting storytelling
- Emotional impact that evokes tears
- Strong themes of resilience and the power of music
- Nothing - brilliant novel.
- Engaging and readable writing style
- Thorough exploration of secularism's history
- Highlights important contributions of secularists
- Some thinkers are shifted around to fit the book's chronology.
- Engaging storytelling that kept me reading.
- Outstanding writing by Kingsolver.
- Strong themes of nature and connection to the land.
- The book gave off "divorced-woman-of-a-certain-age-looking-for-new-found-freedom" vibes, which may not appeal to everyone.
- Armstrong provides a detailed and nuanced exploration of Buddhism.
- The book emphasizes compassion and moral living.
- It examines the historical and cultural context of the Buddha's life.
- Armstrong's writing can be a bit academic in parts.
- Very insightful and farsighted
- Everything in this book is coming true in 2023
- Challenges conventional wisdoms that hold us back
- Not a whole lot - great read
- Gripping insight into the fate of refugees during World War II
- Highlights the hardships faced by refugees
- Engaging blend of romance and action
- Explores deep themes like identity, love, and survival
- Nothing - solid book.
- Insightful exploration of how global events impact individuals
- Engaging themes of searching for meaning in a chaotic world
- Effective use of dark comedy to balance the narrative
- Not a whole lot - great book.
- Unique approach of reading the Bible as a whole book rather than verses
- Engaging and humorous writing style
- Explores contradictions and difficult passages effectively
- Interesting perspective from a Jewish author for a Christian audience
- Wholehearted recommendation of the Bible's beauty and wisdom
- Not suitable for those who are defensive about their faith tradition