Superforecasting

Superforecasting by Philip E. Tetlock is a fascinating look into the science of prediction. Tetlock presents several key accounts of ordinary people who were able to predict the outcomes of events. The author also backs up the case studies with scientific and statistical data and offers several solutions on how we can apply these skills to better our lives.

I found the book to be highly fascinating and enjoyable. I think that we can all benefit and learn something by applying the principles presented in this book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

In Wartime: Stories from Ukraine

Tim Judah's new book In Wartime: Stories from Ukraine is the unbiased account of the conflict in the Donbass region which is in eastern Ukraine. Judah reports from the frontlines and tells it like it is. His account of the conflict is concise yet very informative, and tells you what the news won't cover. He also documents the struggle of soldiers as well as civilians from both sides which lends the book further credibility.

Rogue Heroes

Rogue Heroes is a very entertaining account of the founding and early days of Special Air Service (SAS), Britain's elite fighting force much akin to the American Navy Seals. SAS was founded in 1941 at the height of World War II. Thus, Macintyre's book is solely about that period. He tells a masterful account of daring raids behind enemy lines in Europe as well as North Africa. The story reads almost like a military or spy thriller. His story is so vivid and full of details, it is almost as if you are there in the midst of all the action. I would very highly recommend this book to any military history buff.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Wolf Road

The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis tells the story of a girl named Elka who was adopted by a hunter named Trapper who took her in as a seven year old when she was lost in the woods. As Elka grows up, she realizes that Trapper has much more sinister intentions, and as a result goes on the run with him hot on her heels. She must use all the skills Trapper instilled in her in order to survive.

I enjoyed reading The Wolf Road. The book has a strong female protagonist who's extremely well developed. It is truly a remarkable survival thriller.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Gold Standard of Career Guides

What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles is by far the best career guide for those entering the workforce for the first time as well as experienced employees who are thinking about changing jobs. The guide, which is updated annually is written in clear and detailed language and thus very easy to understand. At more than 300 pages, the book deals with anything from how to effectively search for jobs to salary negotiations and career changes. It is filled with helpful tips as well as exercises that can be helpful in securing your dream job.

What I found about this book is that it can, and is intended to be, read in any order. For example, if your interviewing skills are lacking, you can read the chapter on interview tips. Likewise, if you need tips on how to write a resume that will get on the hiring manager's desk, you can read the corresponding chapter. If you are a looking for your dream job, this book is definitely for you.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

The Sunlight Pilgrims

The Sunlight Pilgrims a second novel by Jenni Fagan is a story set in 2020 as Britain prepares for the worst winter on record. Against this backdrop, we see a motley crew of characters each with their own problems.

Fagan's book explores a wide variety of themes such as love in the face of adversity, growing up, and gender identity as one of the characters is transgender. Character development in The Sunlight Pilgrims was particularly strong and the plot was quite interesting.

Dark Matter

Dark Matter is an extremely captivating read that combines the thriller and science fiction genre. The author, Blake Crouch keeps the reader engaged throughout the story. The plot is extremely taut and very unpredictable. The characters are very well developed, and it feels like you're in the midst of the action. What I liked about the book though, is that it makes you think. The story presents many scientific and philosophical themes, to which there are no right or wrong answers. Despite that, the writing is extremely fluid and dynamic. I certainly hope that Blake Crouch will write more thrilling novels like Dark Matter.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Entertaining and Fascinating History

Most American high school students learned about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Louisiana Purchase and Thomas Jefferson's role in it from dry boring textbooks that basically rehashed the "what, where, when, how, and why" and offered very little in terms of living history, that is most of them did not offer the perspective of the key players as well as ordinary people. Julie M. Fenster's book Jefferson's America however turns the tables. Her book is very meticulously researched with a notes page and a bibliography to direct the reader to primary as well as secondary sources. Unlike the dry history tomes, however, Fenster masterfully weaves in the perspectives of major as well as minor figures of that time. Her writing is very entertaining and even humorous at times.

I would highly recommend Jefferson's America to history buffs, high school and college students to supplement their required class reading in order to gain a better and deeper understanding of the context as well as to the general reader to expand their horizons.

Disclaimer; I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Street of Eternal Happiness

Rob Schmitz's book Street of Eternal Happiness tells about a street that cuts through the center of Shanghai, China. Focusing on this particular street, the author tells his story through the eyes of its residents and their varied views and opinions on modern China. The author's perspective is quite unique. He uses the microscopic model (the street) to take a glimpse at the macroscopic model (China as a whole and its place on the world stage). This model allows the reader to relate to and empathize with the various characters in his book.

Reading the book was a breeze, as the author uses entertaining prose in order to bring the book to life.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review

I Am No One

Patrick Flannery's debut novel I Am No One presents a stark reality that we all face today: mass surveillance of ordinary citizens under the guise of national security. The book's protagonist, American-born Jeremy O'Keefe, who has been living in England returns to the United States after being hired by NYU as a professor of German history. However, things take a strange turn when shortly after he is settled, mysterious packages begin arriving at his doorstep containing all of his online activity. O'Keefe is being watched by Big Brother!

I Am No One shows how even the least exciting people who live very ordinary lives and have nothing to do with terrorism whatsoever can become objects of surveillance. The book also shows that surveillance is not limited to totalitarian societies, and can be freely used in Western democracies.

Granted, I found the book to be quite an interesting read. I found the writing to be a bit dry and the plot had little suspense, but these shortcomings were compensated by excellent character development in which the reader gets an introspection into the narrator's mind.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Apache Wars

Paul Andrew Hutton presents a detailed account of the longest war in American history which lasted from 1861 to 1890. The Apache Wars is an exhaustive military history of the war which was precipitated by the Apaches' kidnapping of a mixed Mexican-Irish boy named Felix Ward, who was renamed Mickey Free by the Apaches. The rest of the book deals with the various military campaigns into Indian territory in order to get him back.

The Apache Wars reads like a historical thriller. Hutton presents vivid historical details and  he definitely knows how to engage the reader. His account of the war is very well-researched and enthralling and it definitely shows throughout the book. Reading his account, the reader feels like they are right there in the middle of the action.

I would definitely recommend this book to any history and military buff.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book through Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly

Matt McCarthy writes his memoir "The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly" from his heart. McCarthy's book is a candid account into his life as a first-year resident at a major hospital. The author does a great job of succinctly conveying information that is simple enough for a non-medical professional to understand. In his memoir, McCarthy describes the arduous hardships he endured while working long shifts and tending to critically injured patients. Despite the grim setting, the book is infused with moments of humor that makes it an entertaining read.

I would highly recommend this book to anybody who is pursuing a career in the medical field as well as to those who are curious about the daily life of a young doctor who's just starting out on a rewarding career path.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Mask

The Mask is the fifth entry in the Vanessa Munroe series written by Taylor Stevens. The storyline picks up where the last book left off. In The Mask, the main character Vanessa Michael Munroe, a secret government intelligence agent travels to Japan to join her lover Miles Bradford who's on assignment as a security consultant at a high-tech facility on which other entities have designs. When he is arrested for murder, Munroe must go to great lengths to prove his innocence. Her journey is not so simple as she is being hunted by those who want Bradford put away for the rest of his life.

I enjoyed reading The Mask. Since this is book number five, I strongly suggest you read the first four books as they offer more of a glimpse of the main characters. Nevertheless, the plot of the book is just as suspenseful as that of the first four novels. Coupled with great character development and a strong female protagonist, The Mask makes a thrilling read for anyone who enjoys authors like Lee Child, Brad Taylor, and Brad Thor.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Dodgers

Dodgers is a coming-of-age book written by Bill Beverly. The plot of the book is as follows. The main character, East, who is a gang member along with his brother and two other young men, are asked by their gang leader to go to Wisconsin to kill a witness who played part in East's uncle arrest. They have never been outside of Los Angeles, so this trip will be an adventure. Along the way, the gang gets into all sorts of adventures and it is up to them to figure out how to move forward.

Overall, I liked the novel. The characters are extremely well-developed. Even though they are hardened criminals, there is a human side to them. Bill Beverly does a great job of ensuring that the boys' good side is shown as much as possible and he also presents all sides of human nature, from camaraderie to conflict and disagreement.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Ernest Cline Jumped the Shark

Ernest Cline's science fiction novel Armada is a sequel to Ready Player One. However, it is not as good as the first novel. The storyline is quite flat, the characters are not very developed, and the suspense is lacking. Moreover, the main character is quite dull. I did not really enjoy reading Armada. However, I have a quite different opinion of Ready Player One. Unlike, Armada, the suspense is there, the characters are quite developed, and the story line is full of twists and turns.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Ernest Cline jumped the shark with Armada. I sure hope he'll write a better novel next time.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

You Will Never Look at Rain the Same Again

Cynthia Barnett writes a fascinating story about rain and how it has played a part in nearly every culture around the world. She expertly weaves in the science, history, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and even poetry, in order to write such a compelling and enjoyable narrative.

Before, I thought that rain and rainy days were dull and bland, but after reading Barnett's book, I now have a new appreciation for rain.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of People

In today's world, more than ever, communication, particularly with the advent of social media is the key to success in the workplace. That's why Dave Kerpen, a social media marketer wrote this highly useful book entitled The Art of People. In his book, Kerpen outlines eleven broad skills that one can use to communicate in today's world. In each of these eleven skills, the author breaks things down further and focuses on one particular subset.

Kerpen's book is unique in that in each of the book's 53 short chapters, he presents a particular scenario that he, his wife, and his colleagues have encountered. He gives enough detail for the reader to make an educated guess at what he's trying to say. In the end, he summarizes the skills that apply to each scenario and presents the reader a three- or four-step action plan they can use to apply these skills to their personal and professional lives.

Overall, I found this book to be very helpful. I would recommend it to anybody living in today's society.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

War Hawk

War Hawk is the second entry in James Rollins' and Grant Blackwood's Tucker Wayne series. Just like the first Tucker Wayne novel The Kill Switch, War Hawk is an engrossing and thrilling read. The plot of the novel is as follows: Tucker Wayne's old flame and former army colleague contacts him and tells him that her colleagues were murdered and she is next on the bad guys' kill list. When Tucker investigates, he stumbles upon a great conspiracy to control the world. Now, Tucker's trusted team which includes his trusted dog Kane and Jane, an army intelligence analyst, must unmask the conspiracy and prevent it from being implemented.

War Hawk has several themes, namely the use of advanced technology, particularly drones, by the military. In addition, Alan Turing is featured prominently in War Hawk. It was very interesting to see how his code-breaking work during World War II is applied to the modern battlefield and how it paved the way for the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by the military.

In addition to all the high tech stuff and non-stop action, Rollins and Blackwood don't stop short on character development and interpersonal relationships. The characters on Tucker's team are particularly well developed, and their relationships among each other are likewise very strong. But perhaps the strongest relationship is between Tucker and his dog. The old adage that a dog is a man's best friend is particularly true in War Hawk. It is clear that both Tucker and Kane are so attached to each other that at times it felt like they were one and the same.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading War Hawk. Both James Rollins and Grant Blackwood are great story teller. Their story pulls you in from page one and keeps you in its tight vise-like grips until the last sentence. I would highly recommend War Hawk to any fan of high-octane military thrillers.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

And After Many Days

Jowhor Ile's debut novel And After Many Days takes place in Nigeria in 1995. A 17-year-old boy named Paul Utu goes missing on his way to school and his family is left with many questions. The story is framed around social and political turmoil in Nigeria during that time. The story is told in third person, but from the point of view of Paul's younger brother. As it is customary for literary fiction, character development is particularly strong with each character facing their own set of challenges and their ways of dealing with them. It was very interesting to read a novel about everyday life in the developing world and how ordinary people face challenges every day.

The Fold: A Thrilling Sci-Fi Adventure

Peter Clines' science fiction novel The Fold tells the story of an average New Englander named Mike Erikson whose friend tells him about a DARPA research project on teleportation called The Door. Intrigued, Mike dives head first into the case. However, as he digs deeper, he realizes that there is an ulterior motive behind this research project.

The novel features a good dose of suspense mixed with an equally good dose of action. We also see many characters, each of which have unique traits that make them who they are. Likewise, the main character is very well developed. Throughout the novel, Mike Erikson goes through many transformations, and by the end, he is a completely different person.

I would recommend The Fold to any science fiction fan.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How to Have a Good Day

How to Have a Good Day is a self-help book written by Caroline Webb. In her book, Webb uses the latest research in psychology and neuroscience and applies it to the workplace. She touches on every topic appropriate in the business sector such as people skills, time management, and goal setting. Webb also does a great job making it easier for the layperson to understand difficult to grasp neuroscience concepts. How to Have a Good Day is appropriate for everybody, from high school and college students to entry level workers to managers. 

The Productivity Project Review

Are you finding yourself constantly rushing to finish that TPS report no matter how much time you dedicated on working on it? If so, then you need to take a look at The Productivity Project, a self-help guide written by Chris Bailey. Drawing on his year-long personal research project on productivity to which he dedicated all his time, the author shares his findings. His book which is about 300 pages, is filled with useful tips on how we can better manage our time and energy. Despite the chapters being very short, they are extremely informative. In the end of the chapters, Bailey presents the reader with useful takeaways that they can immediately apply to their personal as well as professional lives. Each chapter even has an estimated time it will take you to read one and extract useful information. I highly recommend The Productivity Project to anybody who is willing to improve themselves personally and professionally.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Failures of Imagination

Terrorism is among the top concerns for American people and policymakers especially in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the Boston marathon bombings. However, by and large, we are unprepared should a major attack happen on American soil again. Failures of Imagination by Congressman Michael McCaul is a call to action. In his book, McCaul presents eight different scenarios that could unfold. What makes this book different from others on terrorism, is that it looks at different types of attacks by both state actors such as China and Iran and non-state actors, such as ISIS or Al-Qaeda. Each of the eight scenarios is fictional, yet entirely plausible. There is great level of detail in each of these scenarios describing how the attack would unfold. Ultimately, the author concludes each chapter with an in-depth analysis of our shortcomings and offers possible solutions.

I would highly recommend Failures of Imagination to all who are concerned with our national security. 

Manmade

Chris Salgardo writes a very helpful men's grooming and care guide, Manmade. In this short but informative book, you will find a wealth of information on taking care of yourself and looking your best. From choosing the right shampoo, to the best way to shave, Manmade expounds on all of these topics. In addition, what I liked about Salgardo's guide, is that it covers each and every lifestyle of the modern man. So whether you're a lumberjack or a weightlifter, you will surely benefit from this guide, boost your self-confidence, and woo the ladies.

I would highly recommend Manmade to any man who wants to look and perform his best.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Super Genes

Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E. Tanzi, world-renowned scientists and authors of the best-selling book Super Brain return once again to write another equally important book Super Genes. In their book, the authors argue that our genes are changing based on our lifestyle. Whether it is diet, exercise, our emotions, or our environment, we ourselves determine what our genetic makeup will be. Super Genes is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the concept of epigenetics and how we can change our genes. Part two details specific lifestyle choices that we must all adopt in order for our genes to change for the better. Finally, in part three the authors present a new mechanism for evolution which is that we are the main drivers of evolution.

The authors pack a wealth of information into these three parts which span 317 pages. They take the latest scientific research and digest it so a layperson with little or no science background could understand the information and apply it for their personal change.

One thing I did not like however, is that the authors did not provide a bibliography of sources they used to back up their facts. Without them, it is hard to verify the accuracy of their information, Despite this shortcoming, the fact that the authors are world-renowned scientists and have publications in peer-reviewed journals lends a lot of credibility to their book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Five Days at Memorial

Sheri Fink writes a powerful story of the work at a New Orleans hospital in the immediate aftermath after Hurricane Katrina in the book entitled Five Days at Memorial. The book reads like a thriller novel. The author likewise presents controversial decisions made at Memorial Medical Center such as euthanasia and debates whether they were warranted. Ultimately, Fink leaves it up to the reader to decide the moral issues presented in her well-researched book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

A Review of Hunters in the Dark by Lawrence Osborne

Hunters in the Dark is a dark and entertaining noir novel written by Lawrence Osborne. The premise of the book is 28-year old English schoolteacher Robert Grieve dissatisfied with his life who decides to go missing on a trip to Cambodia. What follows is a chain of events that transform him in a great way.

Hunters in the Dark has a deep and intricate plot, great character development, and is chock full of metaphors. The novel is a stark portrayal of true human nature and shows how we take life for granted and don't realize the perils of going down the spiral.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.