6+ Favorite Books on Asian Culture and History (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Asian Culture and History…so far.
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I Am A Strange Loop by Douglas Hofstadter
I Am a Strange Loop by Douglas Hofstadter is possibly one of the best science books I’ve ever read — even though I’m not entirely sure I understood half of it.
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Human Condition by Hannah Arendt
I picked up The Human Condition because I thought Hannah Arendt might have something useful to say about living in…
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6+ Favorite Books on Self-Experimentation (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Self-Experimentation…so far.
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Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
I picked up Oedipus Rex as part of reading through the Theban trilogy. I was browsing Standard Ebooks and the collection caught my eye. I hadn’t read it since a required literature class in college, so I figured it was time to revisit and see how it held up.
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6+ Favorite Books on Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy…so far.
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The First Man by Albert Camus
The First Man is the manuscript that was found at Albert Camus’s side after his death in a car accident in 1960. It sat unpublished for decades — held back by his estate, his daughter and granddaughter — before finally being released to the public.
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6+ Favorite Books on Media Criticism (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Media Criticism…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Family Dynamics (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Family Dynamics…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Behavioral Economics (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Behavioral Economics…so far.
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Antigone by Sophocles
I read Antigone by Sophocles after finishing Oedipus Rex. Both are part of the Theban Trilogy, which I grabbed from Standard Ebooks.
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Network State by Balaji Srinavasen
The Network State by Balaji Srinivasan is a book I picked up mainly because my work is tech-adjacent, and for a while this book was everywhere among the tech elite. Even though it seemed ridiculous on the cover, I wanted to understand what my peers were paying attention to.
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Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles
I picked up Oedipus at Colonus from Standard Ebooks as part of the Theban Trilogy, along with Antigone and Oedipus Rex.
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6+ Favorite Books on Global Travel Adventures (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Global Travel Adventures…so far.
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6+ Favorite Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction…so far.
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Behave by Robert Sapolsky
I picked up Behave out of frustration. The popular discourse around brain chemistry had gotten to be too much. Dopamine…
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6+ Favorite Books on Personal Finance Strategies (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Personal Finance Strategies…so far.
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The Woman Behind The New Deal by Kirstin Downey
Perkins may have had more direct impact on the everyday lives of ordinary Americans than almost anyone else in the 20th century. The 40-hour work week. The minimum wage. Social Security. Child labor laws. Unemployment insurance. These aren’t abstractions — they are the literal architecture of how Americans work, save, retire, and survive hard times. Frances Perkins built most of that architecture.
That was a serious underestimate.
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Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
I’ve read the entire Sherlock Holmes canon. He’s my favorite mystery character, and I’ve worked my way through every story…
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6+ Favorite Books on Internet Economics (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Internet Economics…so far.
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Superbloom by Nicholas Carr
Superbloom by Nicholas Carr is the latest book from the author of The Shallows and The Glass Cage. It’s about how technologies of connection tear us apart—or more precisely, how they scale up both the best and worst of human nature to unprecedented heights.
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6+ Favorite Books on Sports Business (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Sports Business…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Real Estate and Housing (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Real Estate and Housing…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Faith Perspectives (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Faith Perspectives…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Historical Conflicts (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Historical Conflicts…so far.
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Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
A Study in Scarlet is really two completely separate stories. One takes place in Victorian London with Holmes and Watson investigating a murder. The other takes place in the American West—Utah, specifically—decades earlier.
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Ultimate Hiker’s Guide by Andrew Skurka
The Ultimate Hiker’s Guide by Andrew Skurka is the best backpacking book I’ve ever purchased. Not the most inspiring. Not the most beautiful. The best.
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6+ Favorite Books on Global Economic History (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Global Economic History…so far.
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How To Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian
How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay is a book I picked…
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6+ Favorite Books on Northern Europe and Scandinavia (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Northern Europe and Scandinavia…so far.
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American Philosophy: A Love Story by John Kaag
I picked up American Philosophy, A Love Story after reading Kaag’s earlier book Hiking with Nietzsche and coming across several of his essays in The Atlantic. John Kaag is, in my opinion, one of the most talented working writers who also happens to be an actual practicing professor of philosophy. That combination — the rigor of the academic and the accessibility of a great essayist — makes him worth following closely.
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Hiking with Nietzsche by John Kaag
I picked up Hiking with Nietzsche after reading John Kaag’s book on American philosophy. He’s a fabulous writer who uses personal anecdotes to weave deeper, more modern, and more personal connections to big philosophical ideas.
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6+ Favorite Books on Human Rights and Justice (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Human Rights and Justice…so far.
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Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell
Tobacco Road follows the desperate lives of the Lester family, poor white sharecroppers struggling to survive in Depression-era Georgia. The novel’s unflinching portrayal of poverty and moral degradation shocked readers when it was published in 1932, sparking controversy while highlighting the harsh realities of rural Southern life.
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6+ Favorite Books on Maritime and River Exploration (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Maritime and River Exploration…so far.
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Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill by John Stuart Mill
The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill is a Modern Library compendium of Mill’s most famous works—On Liberty, The Subjugation of Women, Utilitarianism, and more. I bought it years ago for a college philosophy class and ended up keeping it, not because I reference it constantly, but because rereading essays like On Liberty reminded me of something important.
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Field Guide To The Cohutta Wilderness by Javier Velazquez
A Field Guide to the Cohutta Wilderness by Javier Velazquez is a book I have wanted to exist in the world for so long that a couple years ago, I started sketching out whether I could write it myself. I am deeply grateful to the author for putting in the time and effort to create a proper field guide to the natural and environmental history of the Cohutta Mountains.
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6+ Favorite Books on Transportation (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Transportation…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Human Evolution and Psychology (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Human Evolution and Psychology…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Apocalyptic Scenarios (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Apocalyptic Scenarios…so far.
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Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke
The book argues that our brains weren’t designed for the modern world. We evolved in an environment of scarcity, where pleasure was rare and hard to come by. Now we live in what Lembke calls a “dopamine tsunami” – unlimited access to anything that feels good, all the time, right at our fingertips.
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6+ Favorite Books on Georgia History and Culture (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Georgia History and Culture…so far.
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Ultimate Companion To Meat by Anthony Puharich
I picked up this massive meat cookbook as part of a work project for a cooking website. I had no idea that the world of meat and meat cooking would be this in-depth and thorough. It was like going down a rabbit hole about a very specific culinary segment.
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6+ Favorite Books on Time Management (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Time Management…so far.
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A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz
A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz is a history travelogue that focuses on the nearly 300 years between Columbus’s discovery of America and the Declaration of Independence.
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6+ Favorite Books on Energy and Power Systems (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Energy and Power Systems…so far.
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6+ Favorite Classic Fantasy and Science Fiction Books (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Classic Fantasy and Science Fiction Books…so far.
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Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill
Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill is a 1914 book on Christian mystical practice. It’s available for free on Standard Ebooks, which is one of my favorite resources on the internet for beautifully formatted public domain books.
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6+ Favorite Books About Trees (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books About Trees…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Southeast Asian Journeys (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Southeast Asian Journeys…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Religious History and Thought (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Religious History and Thought…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Financial System Critiques (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Financial System Critiques…so far.
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6+ Favorite Literary Travel Narratives (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Literary Travel Narratives…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Financial Independence (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Financial Independence…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Southern Ecosystems (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Southern Ecosystems…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on The Art of Biography (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on The Art of Biography…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Medical Science and the Human Body (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Medical Science and the Human Body…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Dystopian Fiction (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Dystopian Fiction…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Political and Social Commentary (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Political and Social Commentary…so far.
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6+ Favorite Malcolm Gladwell’s Psychology Books (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Malcolm Gladwells Psychology Books…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Big Infrastructure Projects (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Big Infrastructure Projects…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on American Political History (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on American Political History…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Walking and Hiking Philosophy (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Walking and Hiking Philosophy…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books for Nature Photography (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books for Nature Photography Enthusiasts…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books About Urban Planning and Cities (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books About Urban Planning and Cities…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Education and Learning (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Education and Learning…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Marketing and Persuasion (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Marketing and Persuasion…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Rural America (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Rural America…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Tech Sociology (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Tech Sociology…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Personal Finance and Investing (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Personal Finance and Investing…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Modern Monasticism (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Modern Monasticism…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Cultural Criticism (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Cultural Criticism…so far.
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6+ Favorite J. Maarten Troost’s Travel Memoirs (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite J. Maarten Troosts Travel Memoirs…so far.
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6+ Favorite Derek Sivers’ Minimalist Guides (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Derek Sivers Minimalist Guides…so far.
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How X’s Algorithm Became a Dystopian Engagement Machine
I got curious about Twitter again. And then I really looked at the algorithm…
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6+ Favorite Books on Religion and Spirituality (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Religion and Spirituality…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Minimalism and Simplicity (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Minimalism and Simplicity…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Economics and Global Trade (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Economics and Global Trade…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Soccer/Football (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Soccer/Football…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Memory and Brain Science (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Memory and Brain Science…so far.
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6+ Favorite Memoirs and Autobiographies (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Memoirs and Autobiographies…so far.
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The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
I’ve been a Murakami fan for years. I’ve read most of his major works and loved the surreal, dreamlike quality…
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Atlanta Then & Now by Michael Rose
I picked up Atlanta Then and Now expecting to feel nostalgic about demolished buildings and lost architecture around Atlanta. Instead,…
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6+ Favorite Books on European History (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on European History…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Negotiation Psychology (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Negotiation Psychology…so far.
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6+ Favorite Jo Nesbo Crime Novels (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Jo Nesbo Crime Novels…so far.
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Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
I read Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich in the mid-2000s, a few years out of college. It’s one of…
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Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
I re-read the entire Sherlock Holmes canon every few years. It’s my favorite mystery genre, and I never get tired…
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6+ Favorite Books on Eastern Philosophy and Mindfulness (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Eastern Philosophy and Mindfulness…so far.
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Main Street Millionaire by Codie Sanchez
Main Street Millionaire by Cody Sanchez is one of the better business books I’ve read in the past few years….
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6+ Favorite Seth Godin’s Marketing Wisdom (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Seth Godins Marketing Wisdom…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books Set in Asia (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books Set in Asia…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on American Cities and Regions (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on American Cities and Regions…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Wilderness Skills and Survival (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Wilderness Skills and Survival…so far.
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The Soccer Book by DK
The Soccer Book provides a comprehensive breakdown of the world’s most popular sport, combining technical analysis with historical context and modern gameplay evolution.
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The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by DK
The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained goes chronologically through 2,500 years of philosophical ideas & concepts, breaking down complex concepts into digestible pieces.
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6+ Favorite Books on Copywriting and Advertising (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Copywriting and Advertising…so far.
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Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
In 2006, before his presidential run, then-Senator Barack Obama published The Audacity of Hope. It was part of a long tradition of presidential hopefuls publishing sort of a detailed personal & policy driven vision for the country. For myself, it was the only book of this genre that I’d ever read before or since. So, of course, I think it’s far and away the best.
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6+ Favorite Books on Travel in Australia and the Pacific (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Travel in Australia and the Pacific…so far.
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6+ Favorite Books on Conservation and Economics (So Far!)
A Roundup of My Favorite Books on Conservation and Economics…so far.
