Book review thread

[duncs500]

The Secret World: A History of Intelligence.

I wouldn’t bother Duncs, you won’t get it…

[mikeyb]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

I've just read Concorde, by Mike Bannister. It details his early flying career as well as interesting facts about Concorde, and his take on the cause of the Air France crash near Paris. Would thoroughly recommend.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60032319

[Explosive Newt]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

Yeah this is basically my genre

Amusing personal / family stories:
Kiss Myself Goodbye (Ferdinand Mount) - FM uncovers the mysterious past of his aunt and finds she was married about 6 times (numerous bigamously), had an estranged son, etc etc. https://www.waterstones.com/book/kiss-m ... 1472991980
Special mention to the audiobook of this as the guy's voice is amazing.

The Professor and The Parson (Adam Sissman) - story of Rev Robert Peters who makes up his qualifications, takes various jobs before being found out and skipping town, marries and ditches wives (one literally left on a train), pretends to be a vicar but (probably) isn't etc etc - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Professor-Pars ... 1788162110

Biomedical Stuff
Empire of Pain (Patrick Radden Keefe) - Sackler family's rise and fall and role in the opioid crisis https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-Pain-Hi ... 529063108/

Bad Blood (John Carreyrou) - rise and fall of Theranos (company started by a Stanford drop out purporting to be able to run numerous blood tests from a single drop of blood but it was all baloney) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-Pain-Hi ... 529063108/

WWII / Cold War
Ben MacIntyre is the boss of this, see his book on Kim Philby (a Spy Amongst Friends) but I also loved The Spy and The Traitor - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-sp ... 0241972137

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Also
Say Nothing (Patrick Radden Keefe) - history of the troubles in Northern Ireland to the present day, told via personal stories of those involved, absolutely gripping and the stuff we are sadly ignorant about on the UK mainland. https://www.waterstones.com/book/say-no ... 0008159269

[Gavster]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Thanks for recommendations everyone, I'm gonna give this one a go. History is something that I've always skipped, so could be an interesting switch with this one.

[Explosive Newt]

Anyone got any recommendations for compelling non-fiction/autobiography reads?

Finding a massive lull in reading as my attention span hits rock bottom

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Thanks for recommendations everyone, I'm gonna give this one a go. History is something that I've always skipped, so could be an interesting switch with this one.

If you're after something history wise I would go for Say Nothing. I can probably lend you a copy if I can find it!

[duncs500]

The Splendid and The Vile (Erik Larson) - Churchill's home and family life and the lives of those around him in WWII. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Splendid-Vile- ... 008274983/

Thanks for recommendations everyone, I'm gonna give this one a go. History is something that I've always skipped, so could be an interesting switch with this one.

If you're after something history wise I would go for Say Nothing. I can probably lend you a copy if I can find it!

I was thinking "I'm sure someone else has recommended this book, it must be good if it's got two recommendations!".

Turns out it was just you a couple of pages ago!

[mik]

Brandon Sanderson is another writer I have on my list but never get round to. I liked what he did with the end of the wheel of time but I've never read any of his own series.

I am rather late to this party, but youngest miklet insisted I read The Way Of Kings. Only 25% through it, but - it’s good.

Forgot to come back and update this after I finished it.

Really enjoyed it. Some great characters and one in particular (who has a particular set of skills / capabilities (but isn't Liam Neeson thankfully)) who I couldn't get enough of. Unfortunately my son advises that he plays more heavily in later books in the series, so it looks like I am destined to read those too.

For sci-fi I've only read IanMBanks for years, so it was good to get into something completely different that is also very well written.

[RobYob]

Finished the nine book Expanse saga and it absolutely delivers more of the epic Sci Fi the TV series translated so well.

Very cool to read the final three books that the series didn't cover (for understandable reasons) and reach the entirely satisfying conclusion.