My Reading List... Updated 06-01-2026.
“I love literature deeply. I view books as sacred things,
and in writing my story, I’m going to do my best to honor the form that has
played such a huge part in shaping who I am.”
Flea
"I believe virtually everything I read, and I think
that is what makes me more of a selective human, than someone who doesn't
believe anything." David St.
Hubbins
This is going to be yet another blog post that is designed
to evolve and to be added to as I continue reading. The beauty of the blog platform is that one
can reopen a post and edit, add and subtract at will. This has become very useful, especially when
writing about things that happened 50, 60 years ago. The other day I reached out to my dear friend
from our band Synd ock Skam (translated into “Sin and Shame” a befitting name
for a little cover rock band) Bjorn S. and asked him about something that happened
in 1974. Fortunately, he still has all
his marbles, so he was able to fill in some of the blanks in my blog post about
Winter, which I pretty much immediately edited.
Even for a Luddite like me, there is room for technology!
This is a post about my love for books and reading, and my
love for libraries, library bookstores, bookstores in general, and also places
like charity thrift stores and garage sales, where I pick up second-hand
books. As a matter of fact, both my wife
and I love books so much that we even opened a bookstore back in 1988 (if you
wanna find out how that worked out, you can check out my blog post “Working for
a living Part Two: Working like crazy; a
tale of despair and redemption: January
1981 through December 1996.”) I don’t do
Kindle; instead, I love the feel of a “real” book, where you can see how far
you have read, how far you have to go, and how you can write little notes in
the margins. Speaking of libraries, when
we lived in Irvine we went to the University Park Library and the Heritage Park
Library all the time, and they are great libraries indeed. Now, we go to the San Clemente Library, which
is pretty much in downtown San Clemente, and it is absolutely wonderful. If you haven’t been to your local library in
a while, maybe it is time to pay a visit!
I think my love of reading started with my dad Leif, who was
a voracious reader of detective novels, among other books. From the time he was about seven until he was
sixteen he lived across from one of the libraries in Stockholm, and he loved
the library. When he was thirteen, he
got an adult library card, because he had already read all the children’s books
they had! One of the sad aspects of my
dad’s life was that nobody in his family identified his love for reading and
what it could have meant for possible higher learning. Instead, he got the obligatory nine years of
primary schooling, then he moved out at sixteen, and from then on he was on his
own. However, he took great pride in his
own book collection, and he would scout second-hand bookstores for
leather-bound favorites. I can still see
him in my mind’s eye, lying on his bed reading.
Until some six months before he passed away at 87, he was still reading,
getting deliveries of 20 books once a month from the local library, and he
would also get books from the thrift store.
Unfortunately, some four months before his passing, he had lost most of
his eyesight, something that really depressed him.
My reading habits over the years have definitely evolved; as
a kid I remember reading Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne, the books by Astrid
Lindgren such as the Pippi Longstocking series, Karlsson on the Roof and the
Children of Noisy Village, and also Lost Horizon by James Hilton. As a teenager I would read books like Catcher
in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Animal Farm by George Orwell, the Lord of the
Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Further Inquiry and One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. I also loved Ray Bradbury and his books;
Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, Dandelion Wine and Something Wicked
This Way Comes. And let’s not forget
about John Steinbeck: The Grapes of
Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Travels with Charley, Cannery Row and Tortilla
Flat. Then when I moved out to
California in the early 1980s, I would read cheap detective novels, with the
occasional biography thrown in, oftentimes in an attempt to enlarge my English
vocabulary. I remember reading Elvis
(1981) and The Lives of John Lennon (1988) by Albert Goldman and His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra
(1986) by Kitty Kelley, none of which were flattering, to say the least.
When our daughter was born in 1988, she loved to be read to,
and I started reading a bunch of children’s books (over and over again);
Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky, King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub, The Napping
House, Quick as a Cricket, Heckedy Peg and Elbert’s Bad Word, all by Adrey
Wood. She also loved Mirette on the High
Wire by Emily Arnold McCulley; Oh, the Places You’ll Go, The Cat in the Hat and
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. Later
we started reading Roald Dahl: James and
the Giant Peach, The Witches, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, The Twits, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, and of course our
perennial favorite, Matilda. I also read
Someone Like You, one of Roald Dahl’s collections of short stories, which is
more for adults.
Then when my daughter started reading the Harry Potter
series, I myself got totally hooked on J. K. Rowling’s mixture of fantasy and
reality. Harry and my daughter are
pretty much contemporaries, so as Harry goes from a 10-year-old (The
Philosophers Stone, 1997), through the teen-age years, to becoming a young
adult (the Deathly Hallows, 2007), my daughter would be going through the same
growing pains as the fictional Harry. I
devoured all of the seven books in the series, and I still love them! I also read and loved William Gibson’s
dystopian books Neuromancer, Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive, and also his
collaboration with Bruce Sterling which lead to The Difference Engine. I also read Gibson’s later works; Virtual
Light, Idoru and All Tomorrow’s Parties.
However, somewhere along my reading line (maybe in my late
30s), I started reading non-fiction, and since then I’ve pretty much only read
non-fiction, which the occasional novel thrown in for good measure. It seems like my reading interests have
crystalized into a couple of broad genres like history and economics, but when
I cruise the new non-fiction book section at our local libraries, I pick up
whatever looks interesting, which can be pretty much anything between the earth
and the stars. Also, my reading habit
seems to go in cycles; whenever I’ve been involved in either going to school,
or teaching school for that matter, my reading “for pleasure” was pushed aside
for obvious reasons, only to be rekindled when I had more free time. Also, when we were living in Irvine, it
seemed that I would read a lot, but when we moved down to San Clemente some
four years ago, it seemed like I stopped reading altogether, only to have my
love for reading reignited just a few months back, and now all I wanna do is
read!
So, below I’ve
assembled a little reading list of books that I’ve read over the years, and my
plan is to expand this list as I read on.
Now, this list does not include all the school text books that I’ve read
over the years (with a few exceptions), this list is just my pleasure reading
(and some of you may ask, how can non-fiction be pleasurable and entertaining,
but to each his own I say). By the way,
not all of the books below got a book review, but I’m planning to give my two
cents worth as I go along. Also, I
realize that many books that deal with current events have a “shelf-life”, and
as such, the information and conclusions may have already been refuted, but
that’s the nature of the beast!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Manias, Panics, and Crashes. A History of Financial Crises, by Charles P. Kindleberger, published in 2005.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Outrageous Fortunes: The Twelve Surprising Trends that will
Reshape the Global Economy
by Daniel Altman, published in
2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
23 Things they don’t tell you about
capitalism by Ha-Joon Chang, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See themselves and why it
Matters by B.R. Meyers, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and
Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by
Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Instant Physicist: An Illustrated Guide by
Richard A. Muller, published in 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Boltzmann’s Tomb: Travels in search of science by
Bill Green, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Little Book of Economics: How the Economy Works in the Real World by
Greg Ip, published in 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On the Origin of Tepees: The Evolution of Ideas (and Ourselves) by
J. Anthony Boeckh, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Great Reflation: How investors can Profit from the New World
of Money by J. Anthony Boeckh, published in 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bingsop’s
Fables: Little Morals for Big Business
by Stanley Bing, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Water for Elephants by
Sara Gruen, published in 2007.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Windup Girl by
Paolo Bacigalupi, published in 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Enigma of Capital, and the Crises
of Capitalism by David Harvey, published in 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pandora’s Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization by
Spencer Wells, published in 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Optimism Bias: A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain by
Tali Sharot, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Work of Nations: Preparing
Ourselves for 21st Century Capitalism
by Robert B. Reich, published in 1992.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Long Emergency: Surviving the
Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century by
James Howard Kunstler, published in 2005.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Red Alert: How China's growing prosperity Threatens the
American way of life
by Stephen Leeb and Gregory Dorsey,
published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Tell-Tale Brain: A Neuroscientist's quest for what makes us
human by V. S. Ramachandran, published in 2012.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Being Perfect by
Anna Quindlen, published in 2005.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Good Dog. Stay
by Anna Quindlen, published in 2007.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen, published in 2000.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Why America Failed. The Roots of Imperial Decline by
Morris Bergman, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Freakonomics by
Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, published in 2005.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Borderless Economics. Chinese Sea Turtles, Indian Fridges and the
New Fruits of Global Capitalism
by Robert Guest, published in
2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy by
John Julius Norwich, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Accidental Creative: How to be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice by
Todd Henry, published in 2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership by
Steven B. Sample, published in 2002.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, published in
1532.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Amusing
Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in
the Age of Show Business by Neil Postman, published in 1985.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Canterbury Tales by Geoffery Chaucer, written between 1387 and
1400.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Worldly Philosophers; the lives,
times and ideas of the great economic thinkers, 6th edition by
Robert L. Heilbroner, published in 1953.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Wealth of Nations by
Adam Smith, published in 1776.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Real Crash: America's Coming Bankruptcy - How to save
yourself and your country
by Peter D. Schiff, published in 2012.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How and Economy Grows, and Why it
Crashes by Peter D.
Schiff and Andrew J. Schiff, published in 2012.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American
Power by Robert D.
Kaplan, published in 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What to Expect When No One's
Expecting: America's Coming Demographic
Disaster by Jonathan V.
Last, published in 2013.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Geography:
Realms, Regions and Concepts, by H.J. de Blij and Peter O. Muller.
I have the 8th edition, which I picked up for free at our
library bookstore. The book is now up to
the 18th edition, so at some point I’ll probably need to buy a new one… So, why a geography book? Because in my mind, geography is to history
as algebra is to calculus…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guns,
Germs, and Steel by
Jared Diamond, published in 1997. I love
this book, even though I don’t agree with all of his notions that we are bound
by geography. Nevertheless, if one is on
a quest to understand humanity up until the 20th century, this is a
great book.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why some
are so rich and some so poor, by David S. Landes, published in 1998.
Diamond and Landes are like bookends; while Diamond blames our human
condition on Geography, Landes blames most of our ills (and progress) on
Culture. A nice juxtaposition.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Why
Nations Fail: The origins of Power,
Prosperity, and Poverty,
by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson, published in 2012. While Guns,
Germs and Steel and The Wealth and
Poverty of Nations form my bookends, Why Nations Fail falls in the
middle. The central argument in Why Nations Fail is that the presence or
absence of enduring political and other institutions determines the fate of a
nation.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Rise and Fall of the Great Nations, by Paul Kennedy. I’ve read this
book several times, and every time I find something new. This is a classic, even though Kennedy’s 1987
(the year the book was published) prediction that the United States will fall
of the face of the earth any time now has yet to be proven true. We still have 11 aircraft carriers, while
China only has one…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cannibals
and Kings: The origins of Cultures, by Marvin Harris, published in 1977. This was another free book that I picked up
at the library bookstore a few years ago, a very serendipitous find indeed,
since it has become one of my favorite books.
Harris is by no means an optimist; quite the contrary. But his scholarship around tribal life and
the origins of organized cultures is very interesting, and this book serves as
a great companion to Guns, Germs and
Steel.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
History of Money, by
Jack Weatherford, published in 1997. I
read this for the first time just a few months ago, but I was fascinated by the
subject. Bottom line; instead of saying
“In God We Trust” on our dollar bills, it should say “In the Dollar We
Trust”. It is astonishing that ten cents
worth of paper and ink can buy so much stuff, depending on the denomination…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Day the Universe Changed,
by James Burke, published in 1985. I’ve
read this one at least five times, but I keep coming back to this book. It is fascinating to read about how our
collective thinking (or lack thereof) can influence the course of history. Maybe I’ll even borrow the PBS series from
the library!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Physics
for Future Presidents: The science
behind the headlines,
by Richard A. Muller, published in 2007.
Dr. Muller is a well-renowned physicist who tells it like it is. And what does he tell us? For instance, global warming may be real, but
maybe not as bad as Al Gore have us think.
Also, Dr. Muller points out that we are a very wasteful society (which I
agree with), among other ideas. Well
worth a read.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Where Good Ideas Come
From. The Natural History of Innovation, by Steven Johnson, published in 2010. I’ve read this book twice already, but it is
well worth a third re-read. One of the
most astonishing ideas that Johnson points out is that it takes a congregation
of about 10,000 people to start to generate ideas. Ergo, the great cities…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Story of Science,
Power, Proof and Passion, by Michael J. Mosley, published in
2010. A great historical account of
where scientific thinking comes from, and the people behind the scientific and
technological breakthroughs.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This Time is
Different: Eight Centuries of Financial
Folly, by Carmen M. Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff,
published in 2009. This is a very often
sited work when I read economics books, and well worth reading. Be wary of the next big thing, and hold on to
your pocketbook…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Empire of the Summer Moon:
Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful
Indian Tribe in American History by S. C. Gwynne,
published in 2010. Gruesome…
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Unbound Prometheus:
Technological Change and Industrial Development in Western Europe from
1750 to the Present, Second Edition, by David S. Landes,
published in 2003.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Economics: The User’s Guide by Ha-Joon Chang, published in 2014.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Economics Does Not Lie: In
Defense of the Free Market in a Time of Crisis, by Guy Sorman, published in 2009.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Discoverers: A History of Man’s Seach to
Know His World and Himself, by Daniel J. Boorstin, published in
1983. This was a find from the Library
Book Store; I think I paid two bucks for this nice hardback. This is one of those books that I’ve read and
reread several times, even at 684 pages and relatively small print. Caveat Emptor; this book is completely
Eurocentric, so don’t expect much coming from the eastern empires like India
and China…
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What
Every American Needs to Know by E. D. Hirsh, JR., Joseph F. Kett and
James Trefil, published in 1988. Kinda a
tough read due to its dictionary presentation of the subject. Personally, I believe the title, even though
if this was published today, it would probably be criticized as not being
culturally inclusive…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Read
Yourself Happy: How to use books to ease
your anxiety by Daisy Buchanan, published in 2025. Daisy Buchanan writes about being afflicted
with debilitating anxiety since childhood, and her journey to overcome some of
her anxieties by reading. It is a great
little book, and I especially like it because it does not pass judgement;
instead, Ms. Buchanan encourages her readers to read whatever makes them happy,
be it trashy novels, children’s books, or classical literature, doesn’t matter
as long as reading brings joy and comfort.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers by Mark Blyth and Nicolo Fraccaroli, published in 2025. Probably one of the most thorough books discussing inflation. I especially liked their discussion on countries that have experienced (relatively) recent hyperinflation; Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Argentina and Germany in the 1920s. Also, the authors don’t shy away from a thorough discussion around price controls, something that we in the US are reflexively against. Well worth reading if you like economics and want to learn more!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Carbon: The Book of Life by Paul Hawken,
published in 2025. This book is
extremely preachy, and Paul Hawken is as misanthropic as they come. Everything that humanity (with the exception
of indigenous people and first nations) has done so far has been an unmitigated
disaster, and we are all heading straight for Dante’s Inferno. However, plants and animals are good, and
should be left alone to reclaim the planet, especially since plants can
communicate! All levity aside, in the
last two pages, he does offer some solace:
“A beginning is
near, a threshold, and so too is an end.
Without fail, meaningful change begins with one person, one idea, one
aspiration, one audacious dream.
Uniqueness is your birthright, it is the seed of community. Plant it and see what happens. Pessimism and gloom are cobwebs; brush them
aside. We seek a rapprochement with
Mother Earth, what Stephan Harding calls “the vast and mysterious primordial
intelligence that steadily gives birth to all that exists – that sustains all
that is.” We eat, drink, love, and
breathe because of the mantle of life.
Do we cherish it or lose it? You
can’t be both cautious and courageous, we must choose. Focus on what is in front of you. Give
yourself permission to fail. Leave room
for foibles, humor and giggles. Find
restorative movements you can sing and dance to, lest creation ‘plays to an
empty house.””
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Abundance
by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, published in 2025. In a nutshell, this book reads like an
explanation as to why the Democrats lost the 2024 election, and why the nation
as a whole is moving to the right. In
the introduction, the authors call themselves “liberals in the American
tradition”; however, rather than yet another book bashing Republicans, Donald
Trump and the right in general, Abundance changes the narrative. Instead of laying blame and preaching yet
another climate change apocalypse, the authors talk about what we can do to
actually have more, rather than less.
Truly a refreshing and insightful read, especially coming from two
self-proclaimed liberals. Well worth the
read!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Outliers
by Malcom Gladwell, published in 2008. A
fascinating read that was suggested to me by my wife Kathy. I was especially fascinated by the discussion
around high-context and low-context cultures, and how that impacts
language. Just so you know, according to
our friend Google, and anthropologist Edward T. Hall, “High-context cultures,
predominantly found in many Asian and African nations, rely on indirect,
nonverbal communication and emphasize relationships and social bonds. In these cultures much of the meaning is
derived for context, and interactions are often less explicit, making
understanding challenging for outsiders.
Conversely, low-context cultures,
such as those in the United States and many European countries, prioritize direct,
verbal communication where clarity is essential.” Gladwell’s discussion around Korean Air and
their poor safety record speaks directly to the high-context vs. low-context
cultures and languages. Long story
short; Korean Air hired a U.S. consultant to work on their safety, and the
first thing the U.S. consultant did was to stipulate that the language in the
cockpit should be English… Anyway, this
is a rewarding and illuminating read, well worth the time! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Revenge
of the Tipping Point, by Malcom Gladwell, published in 2024. Again, a very interesting and insightful
read, which speaks directly to his “rule of thirds”. Gladwell discusses cheetahs, teen suicide,
the spread of the Corona Virus, and the opioid crisis. Even though some critics dismissed the book,
I thought it was both thought-provoking and interesting, and I would certainly
recommend it. I was especially appalled
by the role of the management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company who was
deeply involved in the opioid crisis through its work with drug manufacturers
like Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin.
McKinsey unethically advised its clients on aggressive marketing and
sales strategies to boost (“turbocharge”) opioid profits, even after the
epidemic’s dangers were widely known.
BTW, it was announced in 2024 that McKinsey will pay some $650 million
to resolve a criminal and civil investigation into the firm’s consulting work
with Purdue Pharma, so there is at least some poetic justice. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-resolution-criminal-and-civil-investigations-mckinsey-companys
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Origins of Business, Money and Markets
by Keith Roberts, published in 2011.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The End of the European Era: 1890 to the Present by Felix Gilbert
with David Clay Large, published in 1991.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is
Your Brain on Music: The Science of a
Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin, published in 2006. An honest attempt to explain what music is,
but in the end it is inexplicable (but beautiful of course).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation,
and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet by Marian L.
Tupy and Gale L. Pooley, published in 2022.
Finally some good news! These two
contrarian authors show that instead of running out of resources, the earth we
live on will continue to supply everything we need and more, as long as we are
free to think and invent. I love this
book! Caveat; the book is pretty
technical, so you may wanna make a little cheat sheet with the definitions as
you read on…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What’s
Gotten Into You: The Story of Your
Body’s Atoms, from the Big Bang Through Last Night’s Dinner by Dan
Levitt, published in 2023. A wonderful
book that deals with our humble stardust beginnings, and how we got here, and
how we got to be who we are. No
preaching or apocalyptic forecasts, just a really fun and enlightening
read! Well recommended!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oracle
Bones: A Journey Between China’s Past and
Present by Peter Hessler, published in 2006. I’m sure I picked up this book at one of the
library book stores, and I probably paid a dollar or two. Nevertheless, I found this highly personal
story of an American expat’s experience in China truly enjoyable and well worth
the read. However, keeping in mind that
this book was published in 2006, I’m sure that China has changed tremendously
since then.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Teachings
from the Worldly Philosophy by Robert Heilbroner, published in
1996. Heilbroner is one of the most
prolific writers regarding economics, and this does not disappoint. In this book he takes us on a tour of the
history of economic thought, all the way from the Bible to John Maynard
Keynes. A must for anybody that is
interested in the history of economics!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Distant
Mirror: The Calamitous 14th
Century by Barbara W. Tuchman, published in 1978, which I picked up at
a thrift shop in San Clemente. For
anybody who is interested in the history of the Black Death, which killed an estimated
25 to 50 million people in Europe alone, this book is a must. Just imagine the miracle; every one of us
that have European roots had ancestors who actually lived through the Black
Death, and lived long enough to procreate!
We are lucky indeed! I also find
it fascinating that for the people in the mid-14th century, the
reason for the bubonic plague was God’s wrath inflicted on his sinful people,
NOT some bacterium residing in a flea, traveling on the back of rats along the
Silk Road all the way to Europe. Imagine
somebody saying to Pope Clement VI that “Father, I don’t think that God is to
blame for the plague; instead it is probably the crowded and unsanitary living
conditions in the cities that are to blame…”
Now, that heretic would probably have ended up being burnt at the stake
immediately if not sooner, pretty much like anybody who is brave enough to
question the current climate change dogma.
Now, we look back at the superstitious 14th century humans,
and think about how stupid they were, while we, who live in the fabulous 21st
century know everything and we have all the right answers! The question is; what will people think about
us in 2125? More than likely, they will
think that we were barbaric, ignorant, stupid and foolish, for reasons that we
probably can’t even imagine. Every
generation believes that they have reached the pinnacle of human development,
that the generation before was stupid and ignorant, and that the generations to
come are doomed… Caveat; this is a super
detailed, almost 600 page tome, so don’t expect a light read…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jeep; 75th
Anniversary, 1941 to 2016: The History
of America’s Greatest Vehicle, by Patrick R. Foster, published in
2014. For a crazy Jeep enthusiast like
myself, this book is a must. A coffee
table book, it is full of great illustrations, and covers the history of the
Jeep all the way from 1941 to 2016. It
follows the Jeep through its humble beginnings through Willys-Overland and
Bantam Motors, through Kaiser, American Motors Corporation, and finally as part
of Fiat-Chrysler. Let’s go wheelin!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Roma: A Traveling History by
Madeline Potter, published in 2025. Dr.
Potter is a Romanian Roma, who settled in the UK after the fall of communism in
Romania in the early 1990s. A deeply
personal book which intertwines Dr. Potter’s travels throughout Europe and the
US in search of her identity while also telling the history of the Roma, which
is usually one of persecution, racism and marginalization. I especially found the chapter on the Roma in
Sweden to be heartfelt, since I vividly remember Katarina Taikon, who advocated
tirelessly for the Roma in Sweden. The
Sweden I grew up in was pretty much homogeneous (as opposed to now, when the
Swedes have accepted immigrants from all corners of the earth), so the Roma
were viewed with suspicion and distrust, and stories of their supposed misdeeds
and ignorance were widespread.
If you are
interested in the Roma as told by a Roma, then this book is for you; I found
the book to be a great read, but be aware, the chapters that deal with the
1930s and 1940s in Germany and Austria will bring tears of outrage and sorrow
to your eyes…
10-20-2025: I just finished reading Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash, by Alexander Clapp, published in 2025. In Waste Wars, Mr. Clapp talks about how the Greek Roma are heavily involved in the scrap metal trade, something that I didn't know until I read Waste Wars. So, by reading a variety of books, sometimes one actually learns something new...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Capitalism
and Their Critics: A History: From the Industrial Revolution to AI by
John Cassidy, published in 2025. Being a
firm believer in capitalism myself, I thought it was time to find out how “the
other side” thinks about what Winston Churchill aptly described when he said
"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the
inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries". I also believe in reading what I call
“bookends”, books that take diametrically opposing views. Let’s face it; if we only read books that
agree with our preconceived notions, we will never learn anything! So, if one places Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation,
and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet on the right side
of your bookcase, then Capitalism and Their Critics: A History certainly
belongs on the left. Nevertheless, Capitalism
and Their Critics: A History, is well written, and for somebody who
is interested in economic thinking, this book certainly belongs in your book
collection. I may even buy it for
myself, just because!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How the
World Eats: A Global Food Philosophy
by Julian Baggini, published in 2025. I
picked this book up at the San Clemente library, thinking it was a description
of world-wide cuisine and how it is influenced by geography. Not so; How the World Eats: is more of
an indictment of big agricultural and meat producing businesses, and how our
current food production is both cruel and unsustainable. However preaching, the book identifies how
inhumane meat production is, and how there must be another way to provide the
protein we all need, even if we all turn vegetarian. The book is an eyeopener to say the least,
and well worth reading. However, the one
thing I missed was a description of how Mr. Baggini himself eats…
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A short History
of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, published in 2003.
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Common
Sense Economics: What Everyone Should
Know About Wealth and Prosperity, Third Edition by James D. Gwarney,
Richard L. Stroup, Dwight R. Lee, Tawni H. Ferrarini and Joseph P. Calhoun,
published in 2016.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, by Jared Diamond, published in 2005. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cardiac
Valve Prostheses by Dr. Edward A. Lefrak and Dr. Albert Starr,
published in 1979.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A History
of Modern Europe From 1815 to the Present, by Albert S. Lindemann, published
in 2013.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A History
of the Soviet Union From the Beginning to the End by Peter Kenez,
published in 1999.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oil on the
Brain: Adventures from the Pump to the
Pipeline by Lisa Margonelli, copyright in 2007. This is a “Bound Galley, Not for Sale” pre-published
copy that I found on the free shelves at the Heritage Library in Irvine. A great and informative little book; the chapter
on Venezuela is especially interesting.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
History
of Economic Thought, Fourth Edition by Harry Landreth and David C.
Colander, published in 2002.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Economics
in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest
Way to Understand Basic Economics by Henry Hazlitt, first published in
1946.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A History
of Christianity by Paul Johnson, published in 1976. Everything you ever wanted to know about
Christianity in 500 pages. A great
companion to any history of Europe and beyond.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A History
of the Jews by Paul Johnson, published in 1987. This is as much about world history in
general as it is about the Jews. If you
want to understand the Middle East, this is for you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Portrait
of the Soviet Union by Fitzroy Maclean, published in 1988, just two
years before the fall of the Soviet Union.
Not just about the USSR, but also a history of Russia itself.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Essentials
of Economics by James D. Gwarney, Richard Stroup and J.R. Clark, first
published in 1982.
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The World
Economy: Trade and Finance, Sixth
Edition by Beth V. Yarbrough and Robert M. Yarbrough, published in
2003. This book is dedicated to “our
student and friend, Maurita Tam, Amherst College ’01, February 18, 1979 – September
11, 2001”. A stark reminder of the September
11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which changed the world forever. For us who lived through that day, we will
never forget…
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A History
of the Modern World, Eight Edition by R. R. Palmer and Joel Colton, published
in 1995. I’m sure I got this one from a
library bookstore somewhere. At 1,065
pages, not the easiest read, but if one has the time…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grand
Pursuit: The Story of Economic Genius
by Sylvia Nasar, published in 2011. This
could be the right bookend to Capitalism and Their Critics: A History: From
the Industrial Revolution to AI, if you so desire… A great read that dives into the lives of the
great economic thinkers. Not always
flattering…
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Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy,
Fifth Edition by Thomas Sowell, published in 2015. If you are starting to learn about economics,
this could be your first book. No graphs
or equations, just simple, easy explanations as to how the economy works or don’t,
often depending on policy decisions…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and it is all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things From Taking Over Your Life by by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. published in 1997.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan, published in 2017. Finally, an easily accessible history of the East and the Silk Roads, told from the standpoint of the East itself. When most our history books are Eurocentric, The Silk Roads presents civilizations in Asia that were flourishing when western Europeans were living in caves and hovels. I've read this book a couple of times, and I usually bring it in my backpack when I travel...
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The FDA Follies: An Alarming Look at Our Food and Drugs in the 1980s by Herbert Burkholz, published in 1994. I read this as part of my research for my Masters' Degree in Quality Assurance.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Protecting America's Health: the FDA, Business and One Hundred Years of Regulation by Philip J. Hilts, published in 2003. I read this as part of my research for my Masters' Degree in Quality Assurance.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pioneers of Cardiac Surgery by William S. Stoney, published in 2008. I read this as part of my research for my Masters' Degree in Quality Assurance. If you ever want to find out how Cardiac Surgery in general and open heart surgery started and evolved, this is the book for you. I had to borrow it from the Cal State Fullerton Library, since none of the local libraries carried it...
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Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand, published in 1999.
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10/06/2025: Pseudo Science: An Amusing History of Crackpot Ideas and why We Love Them by Lydia Kang, MD and Nate Pedersen, published in 2025. A great and funny book about Pseudo Science, or stuff like Flat Earth, Perpetual Motion Machines, Crop Circles and Astrology. Most chapters list the protagonists and antagonists with a bunch of historical references, and it is a truly entertaining book. The only disappointing chapter is the one titled "Climate Change Denial" which seems to be thrown in to make sure that we know that the authors subscribe to the usual climate change dogma, and how we are all responsible for the next apocalypse... Keep in mind that in 1978-1979, as an impressionable 24-year-old, I was told by the media that the real crisis was global cooling, not global warming... Since then I've been a sceptic, especially since the media lives and dies by an endless string crisis and that the inevitable human annihilation is always just 10 years away UNLESS WE TAKE ACTION NOW!!!!!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10/06/2025: The Mesopotamian Riddle: An Archeologist, a Soldier, a Clergyman, and the Race to Decipher the World's Oldest Writing by Joshua Hammer, published in 2025. A wonderful history of how a trio of Victorians struggled and succeeded in deciphering the 5000-year-old writing of the ancient Sumerians, which had been lost for millennia. As much a history of the Victorian era as a history of the deciphering itself, this is a great book for anybody interested in how writing started, and how as humans we learned to put intelligence into chicken scratches and translate our spoken language into symbols. It still amazes me to think that just 26 weird arbitrary symbols can make up thousands upon thousands of words, and how those words can be put together in an infinite way to tell stories...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
10/11/2025: Dinner With King Tut: How Rogue Archologists are Re-Creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells and Tastes of Lost Civilizations, by Sam Kean, published in 2025. A great and funny book combining history, archeology, experimentation and historical fiction, all woven together in one package. A truly enjoyable and illuminating read, although at times the historical fiction short stories are a bit gruesome... Highly recommended!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10-19-2025: Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash, by Alexander Clapp, published in 2025. Mr. Clapp is a 30 something journalist, based in Athens, Greece. In Waste Wars, he focuses on four waste streams: Toxic waste, such as DDT; electronics waste, such as old computers, TVs, smartphones and the like; shipbreaking, which involves the dangerous dismantling of ships, from harbor tugboats to giant 16 story, 5,000 room cruise liners and finally plastics waste. The book is depressing to say the least, but it is indeed interesting and eye-opening, and I must say “I had no idea”, that so much of our waste ends up in poor countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, to be recycled (at best), buried and (at worst) torched, just so that we in the West don’t have to deal with the millions of trash that we generate on a daily basis. Nevertheless, the book is disappointing in as much as it does not offer any solutions, just an endless stream of misanthropic, anti-capitalist sentiment, which in the end gets repetitive and tedious. Just like some of the other exposés that I’ve read of late (think How the World Eats by Julian Baggini or Carbon: The Book of Life by Paul Hawken), it appears that many journalists and writers believe that exposing problems is the solution, rather than offering any tangible solutions to the problems that they lament. Makes me wanna read Winnie-the-Pooh again, so that my soul can be uplifted…
Now, without trying too hard to be facetious, maybe if Waste Wars was included in the sale of every new iphone, some people may hold on to their phones a bit longer, thereby minimizing both electronic and plastic waste...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10-31-2025: So Very Small: How Humans Discovered the Microcosmos, Defeated Germs – And May Still Lose the War Against Infectious Disease by Thomas Levenson, published in 2025. Got this from our local San Clemente library, and it was a great read. This is a really well researched account of humanity's ongoing battle with the Microcosmos, and how we (seemingly) have gotten the upper hand. All the usual germ suspects can be found in this historical record:
The Plague, Smallpox, Puerperal fever (or childbirth fever), Cholera, Gangrene, Anthrax, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Spanish Influenza, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and our own favorite Covid-19.
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, Robert Hooke, Cotton Mather, Oliver Wendel Holmes, Sr., Ignaz Semmelweis, John Snow, Florence Nightingale, Louis Pasteur, Joseph Lister, Robert Koch, Alexander Fleming and Gerhard Dmagk to name a few.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 11-10-2025: Class Matters: The Fight to Get Beyond Race Preferences, Reduce Inequality, and Build Real Diversity at America’s Colleges, by Richard D. Kahlenberg, published in 2025. I picked up this book at the wonderful San Clemente library, off the non-fiction new releases section, having no idea who Dr. Kahlenberg is. But, since of late I pick up books about a whole range of subjects, and since I’m very interested in higher education, I thought “what the heck, this looks interesting”.
Well, according to our friend Wikipedia, Dr. Kahlenberg “…is an American lawyer and writer who has written about a variety of education, labor and housing issues. The author or editor of 18 books, Richard D. Kahlenberg has been described as “the intellectual father of the economic integration movement” in K-12 education and “arguably the nation’s chief proponent of class-based affirmative action in higher education admissions.” He is also recognized as an authority on housing segregation, teacher’s unions, charter schools, community colleges, and labor organizing.” Nevertheless, Dr. Kahlenberg came from educational privilege, having “…graduated magna cum laude [Latin for “with great distinction”] from Harvard College in 1985 and then graduated cum laude [Latin for “with distinction”] from Harvard Law School with his Juris Doctor degree in 1989.”
Class Matters tells the very personal and arduous journey that Dr. Kahlenberg undertook to end racial affirmative action (which has become a system which predominantly benefits upper-middle class students of color) at America’s colleges and universities. Instead, Dr. Kahlenberg has championed to institute a class-based affirmative action system, wherein admissions to the top colleges and universities in America should ensure that high-achieving working-class students of all colors are actively recruited and admitted to the nation’s top schools. Having come from a working-class background myself, I applaud Dr. Kahlenberg’s efforts, and I truly hope that this Supreme Court ruling will have its intended outcome. (For you legal scholars out there, the cases were Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina). Mind you, Class Matters is not an easy read, especially for somebody that is not particularly interested in politics; however, the book offers a lot of eye-opening stories about how the Ivy League schools have essentially built an American aristocracy over the last century(s) which has overwhelmingly benefited wealthy white Americans (a list of the Ivy League schools below).
Class
Matters is focused on admissions to America’s top schools (see listings below),
and how a degree from any of the top schools (and especially the Ivy League
schools) can have a live-changing effect on a person’s life (no argument
there). One of Dr. Kahlenberg’s arguments
is that about 50% of the U.S. political and corporate leaders are selected from
the Ivy Legue schools, which is both eye-opening and disconcerting. Nevertheless, here is where I don’t
necessarily agree with Dr. Kahlenberg; instead, I would argue that graduating
from any university in America can have a life-changing effect, and even though
Class Matters focuses the Ivy League (he is a graduate of Harvard, after
all), the Ivy League is NOT the only way to have a life-changing college
experience. This is, in my opinion,
especially important for first-generation students, where the change can be the
most profound. Since both my wife and I
are first-generation college graduates, we can both attest to the importance of
a college degree (something we drilled in our kid’s heads from an early age),
and getting a solid (i.e. science-based degree), can lead to many of the good
things in life.
“The I Am First… program will equip first-generation college students with the confidence, self-awareness, and career readiness knowledge to jumpstart into a successful journey towards achieving career and leadership development. As an I Am First student you will be amongst a group of your peers who can relate to the first-generation college experience and provide a network of support even beyond the program conclusion.”
In addition, CSUF offers the Abrego Future Scholars program (which provides financial and academic support for students during their first year), and TRIO Student Support Services, to help them succeed. The TRIO SSS is a federally funded cohort program that assists undergraduate students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or students with disabilities to graduate with their bachelor’s degree. The university has been recognized as a "First-gen Forward Institution" for its commitment to these students and actively celebrates First-Generation College Student Day with events and workshops. All good stuff!
So, even though it is unlikely that somebody without a college degree will undertake a reading of Class Matters, if you do, the book does offer hope that more working-class and low income students can get into their college of choice! So don’t despair, you too can get into college! BTW, here are a few lists for your reading pleasure:
The eight Ivy
League Schools:
Brown
University, founded in 1764; Providence, Rhode Island
Columbia University,
founded in 1754; New York City
Cornell
University, founded in 1865; Ithaca, New York
Darthmouth
College, founded in 1769; Hanover, New Hampshire
Harvard
University, founded in 1636; Cambridge, Massachusetts
Princeton University,
founded 1746; Princeton, New Jersey
University of Pennsylvania,
founded in 1755; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Yale University,
founded in 1701; New Haven, Connecticut
The top 10
Medical Schools (2025, according to U.S. News and World Report):
Baylor College
of Medicine (Houston, Texas)
Case Western
Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio)
Emory
University (Atlanta, Georgia)
Hofstra
University/Northwell Health (Zucker) (Hempstead, New York)
Mayo Clinic
School of Medicine (Alix) (Rochester, Minnesota)
Ohio State
University (Columbus)
University of
California Los Angeles (Geffen)
University of
California San Diego
University of
California San Francisco
University of
North Carolina - Chapel Hill
The top 10
Engineering Schools (2025, undergraduate, according to Ivy Coach):
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
Stanford
University, Stanford, California
University of California,
Berkely
Georgia
Institute of Technology
University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of
Michigan – Ann Arbor
Carnegie Mellon
University
Purdue
University – Main Campus
Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York
The University
of Texas – Austin
The top 10
Law Schools (2025, according to U.S. News and World Report):
Stanford
University, Stanford, California
Yale University,
New Haven Connecticut
University of
Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Duke
University, Durham, North Carolina
Harvard University,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
New York
University, New York, New York
University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Columbia
University, New York, New York
The
California State Universities:
San Jose State
University, founded in 1857
California
State University, Chico, founded in 1887
San Diego State
University, founded in 1897
San Francisco
State University, founded in 1899
California
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, founded in 1901
California
State University, Fresno, founded in 1911
California
State Polytechnic University, Humbolt, founded in 1913
California
State Polytechnic University, Pomona, founded in 1938
California
State University, Los Angeles, founded in 1947
California
State University, Sacramento, founded in 1947
California
State University, Long Beach, founded in 1949
California
State University, Fullerton, founded in 1957
California State
University, Stanislaus, founded in 1957
California
State University, East Bay, founded in 1957
California
State University, Northridge, founded in 1958
California
State University, Dominguez Hills, founded in 1960
Sonoma State
University, founded in 1960
California
State University, San Bernardino, founded in 1965
California
State University, Bakersfield, founded in 1965
California
State University, San Marcos, founded in 1989
California
State University, Monterey Bay, founded in 1994
California State University, Channel Islands, founded in 2002
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++12-05-2025: Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare by Edward Fishman, published in 2025. Another book I picked up from the new books section at our lovely library in San Clemente. Even though the book is ostensibly dealing with how sanctions have worked (or not) in our economic warfare against China, Iran and Russia, it really reads as a history book of the 21st century so far, and it is not pretty. Nevertheless, this book is a tour the force in explaining how this new cold war is shaping global finance. For us that grew up during the “old” cold war between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin wall and the dissolution of the USSR signaled what we thought would be a new, safer world order, in which democracy would flourish all over the world. Well, the violent and deadly crackdown by the CCP of the 1989 Tiananmen square protests should have given us a bit of a clue as to what the CCP really is, but we were all sharing the misguided belief that China would become more democratic over time. Now, with the rise of the totalitarian government of Xi Jinping, any hope of China becoming even marginally democratic has been dashed. Iran, with its own theocratic totalitarian government, is now a complete pariah state, led by the aging Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who’s incessant “lets blame the Jews” and bombing raids on Israel finally led to Operation Midnight Hammer, in which the U.S. bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran. And finally, Russia and Vladimir Putin, who’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and invasion of the Ukraine in 2022, has shown that Russia’s imperialistic designs are alive and well, and any hope of democratic Russia has again been thwarted. Russia is an especially sad story, since my son and I had the good fortune to visit St. Petersburg in 2017 (albeit only for 36 hours), and I was struck how European it all felt. Not so much now, I’m afraid…
So, the 1990s hopes of a much freer world have been thoroughly dashed in the 21st century; instead, it has been replaced by a new axis of totalitarian and kleptocratic states, spanning much of eastern Eurasia; Russia, Iran, China and North Korea. So, how do we fight these new threats? Well, if you read “Chokepoints” you will find out how the U.S. have attempted (with the help of our key allies) to fight a new cold war, using economic warfare. At least it has kept us out of a hot war, for now…
However, if you read “What to Expect When No One’s Expecting”, maybe the threats from both China and Russia are not as bad as we may think, since both countries are experiencing death rates that are exciding their birthrates, which of course will lead to shrinking populations, and shrinking influence. However, China and Russia are not unique; birthrates are falling all over the western world, and even in India the birthrates are falling. We will wait and see… “May you live in interesting times…” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 12-23-2025: When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows… Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power and Everyday Life by Steven Pinker, published in 2025. Another book I got from the “New Books” section at our wonderful public library in San Clemente, CA. Lately, I have been trying to be as omnivorous as possible regarding my reading, and I pick up whatever catches my eye that day, and When Everyone Knows certainly falls into that category. This book deals with human thought, and how we create and use common knowledge to coordinate our activities; in fact, Professor Pinker will show you that common knowledge is the underpinning of all human societies, and that our civilizations could not have flourished without it. Now, bear in mind that this is not an easy read; instead, it sometimes reads like a mind puzzle, and you need to be on your toes, lest you get lost in thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking… Nevertheless, it is a fascinating read, and it explains how we use language to function in everyday life. Below is an excerpt from the book, which I hope will awaken your curiosity about this book:
“All these trains of thought are exercises of recursive mentalizing [a subject that you will be exposed to repeatedly, should you read the book], the cognitive talent that underlies common knowledge. The power of cognition to take its own outputs and feed them back into more cognition is a theme that has run through all my books, and it fills me with awe even after decades of pondering human intelligence. It underlies the vast expressive power of language, it ability to convey ideas form nursery rhymes to metaphysics. It explains how human intelligence, having evolved to reason about survival and reproduction, can be extended to reason about science, philosophy, and mathematics. It explains how human progress is possible, when people rethink their norms and institutions. And it implies that rationality itself is limitless; even when an application of rationality is flawed, we can step back, rationally analyze how we are deploying our rationality, and devise a higher-order rationality that subsumes it. It’s what’s most special about our kind; we not only have thoughts, but have thoughts about our thoughts, and thoughts about our thoughts about our thoughts.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++01-06-2026: Lies I Taught in Medical School; How Conventional Medicine is Making You Sicker and What You Can Do to Save Your Life; Simple, Proven Lifestyle Changes to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Dr. Robert Lufkin, published in 2025. Let’s start from the beginning; Dr. Lufkin is a Keto guy, and he believes that we should give up all carbohydrates, hands down. This is Dr. Lufkin’s grocery list (and according to the book this is how he has been eating for the last four years):
Eggs
Meat
Chicken
Fish
Vegetables
Cheese
Pretty bold,
especially since we have been told for the last two decades (at least) that everything
that contains cholesterol will indeed kill us.
Also, he believes in intermittent fasting, and he only eats once per day
(as opposed the 5-6 times we were told to eat, at least during the last decade). Nevertheless, regarding sugar, he makes some
really good arguments, and the most toxic (according to Dr. Lufkin) substance
on earth is high fructose corn syrup.
Now, for somebody like me, who has been addicted to sugar most of my
adult life, I can totally agree with Dr. Lufkin that sugar is bad, and he
presents solid proof that it is so. Not
a diet book; this is more of a lifestyle book, and if you are interested in
learning more about a no carbohydrate / high fat diet and its supposed benefits, then
this book is for you!
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