Patriot by Ted Bell

Ted Bell has written yet another thriller masterpiece, this time more closely resembling current events. In Patriot, we follow the story's protagonist, a MI6 agent Alex Hawke as he investigates the deaths of CIA agents in different parts of the world. Being a smart operative, he links these deaths to a rogue CIA operative who fell out with the Agency and is now on a path of blood. Not only that, but Putin's Russia has set its sights on world domination.

Ted Bell is a master storyteller. Reading this book, I could not help but imagine myself being a part of the story. I could feel the bullets whizzing by, I could feel the wind in my hair during chase scenes, and I could sense the villain's knife slicing into my flesh. Bell's Patriot is what you would expect from a spy thriller novel with loyalty, betrayal, and love all being key elements of the book. I don't think I can compare Alex Hawke to any one hero from other novels, indeed, Patriot has elements of James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, Bob Swagger, and Gabriel Allon combined to form one superspy that we see in Alex Hawke.

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

End of Discussion

End of Discussion is a timely book written by conservative bloggers Mary Katharine Ham and Guy Benson. It describes how America has become less free due to the policies of the left. There is a common misconception that conservatives are most commonly found among older people, but as Ham and Benson demonstrate, conservative ideals can appeal to the younger population.

Ham and Benson do a brilliant job of describing how the liberal policies have undermined American freedoms and ideals. For example, we cannot make a certain comment without the left coming at us full force because it deems that comment offensive. Indeed, in the age of social media, speaking the truth can get your life ruined because of the ridiculous non-sequitur beliefs and convictions held by liberals.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Ham and Benson tell the story with bits of humor, while not losing the seriousness of the topic. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is tired of the left's manipulation of American freedoms to suit their agenda, and who truly believes in the America like our Founding Fathers had envisioned.

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

Objectively Researched

Objective Troy by Scott Shane is the story of the philosophy and morality of current war on terror told through the prism of Anwar al-Awlaki. The author chose al-Awlaki as his subject because to the terrorists, he was extremely influential. He had an uncanny ability to connect through social media with the modern Muslim youth who found the twisted idea of jihad appealing. This is not only a biography of al-Awlaki (who was killed by an American drone strike), but a story of morality and war ethics as well. Should the US conduct a targeted strike against its own citizen, even though he betrayed all what America stands for and joined the dark side?

Shane leaves no stone unturned. The book is meticulously researched, yet very straightforward and easy to read. I highly recommend it for anybody who is interested in war ethics and how they apply to the war on terror.

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

Quantum Biology in Plain English

Life on the Edge is a book about quantum biology. Quantum biology is a relatively new field that uses quantum physics and mechanics to explain biological processes. The authors of the book are established researchers at a world-renowned university (University of Surrey), so they are extremely qualified in writing the book.

Each chapter of the book opens with a specific biological puzzle, such as migration and the copying of genes. The authors then explain difficult-to-grasp mechanisms that govern these processes in a language that is understandable to the layperson. They then explain how quantum mechanics play a role in each of these processes.

Life on the Edge is an excellent book for anybody who is curious about how the world works, who asked questions such as "how do the birds know where to go for the winter?" or "how our mind works?" The book answers those questions plus many more. 

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

The Best Job Search Manual

What Color Is You Parachute? by Richard Bolles is by far the best job-search guide for those entering the workforce for the first time as well as experienced employees who are thinking about changing jobs. It 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.

A Review of Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice

Our criminal justice system is imperfect. Oftentimes, we put blame on the actors of the system such as police officers, prosecutors, judges, etc. However, very often this is not the case. The new book by Adam Benforado sheds light on this problem. Benforado rightfully argues that humans are very judgmental. For example, we tend to cross the street when they see a person of African-American descent walking towards them because we associate this race with higher crime rates. 

This book is not about the criminal justice system itself, per se, but about the psychology of it. 

There are three parts to the book, each dedicated to a specific process in the criminal justice system from investigation to punishment and reform. Moreover, each chapter in those parts to a particular player of the criminal justice system, starting from the victim and ending with the prisoner. Most chapters start with an account of a specific case study, where the author provides the reader with all the details. Later on, he delves into deep analysis using neuroscience and psychology. Lastly, the final chapter is where the author makes conclusions and offers ways to reform our criminal justice system.

Overall, I found the author's writing to be rather clear and concise. Benforado does a great job weaving together the stories and the science. Hopefully, this book will give us new perspectives in reforming our criminal justice system. 

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

A Spy Among Friends

A Spy Among Friends written by Ben Macintyre tells the story of one of Britain's most famous spies, Kim Philby, who sold intelligence secrets to the Soviet Union and was ultimately granted asylum there and buried with full honor. In Macintyre's book, Philby is presented through the prism of his friends and acquaintances, such as Nicholas Elliott who worked together with Philby in the MI6. Therefore, Macintyre not only presents Philby's biography but that of his friends as well, each of whom were very loyal to him and stood by him until the very end.

I found the book to be very thoughtful and engaging. Macintyre does a great job of covering almost every aspect of Philby and his circle of friends' lives. He is very methodical in telling his story from all angles and leaves no stone unturned. While this book is entertaining, the storyline really makes you think. I really recommend this book if you like reading spy novels.

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