Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times by George Crile Grove Press (6 November 2007) Amazon What's it about?: How US congressman Charlie Wilson, CIA agent Gust Avrakotos, and a host of characters manipulated global politics to turn … Continue reading Charlie Wilson’s War →

Reflections: Or, Sentences and Moral Maxims by François de La Rochefoucauld Forgotten Books (19 April 2018) Amazon What's it about?: A collection of epigrammatic reflections by François de La Rochefoucauld. The author is considered a pioneer of the maxime, a French literary form of the epigram, a brief statement that expresses some truth about human … Continue reading Reflections →

Complete Works of Demosthenes by Demosthenes Delphi Classics (27 November 2015) Amazon What's it about?: A collection of the works of Athenian statesman Demosthenes, who is recognised as one of the greatest orators of Ancient Greece. This volume is complete with illustrations, introductions, and bonus material including the Roman biographer Plutarch's account. My opinion: For … Continue reading Complete Works of Demosthenes →

The Conspiracy Against Hitler in the Twilight War by Harold C. Deutsch University of Minnesota Press (20 May 1968) Amazon What's it about?: A detailed account of the German anti-Nazi plot against the Fuhrer Adolph Hitler, between September 1939 and May 1940. The German resistance movement is covered in great detail, as is the role … Continue reading The Conspiracy Against Hitler in the Twilight War →

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (translated by Robin Buss) Penguin (21 July 2003) Amazon What's it about?: A revenge novel, originally serialised between 1844 and 1846. Set during the Bourbon Restoration in France, it tells the story of Edmond Dantès, a Byronic hero of sorts, who seeks revenge after he is unjustly … Continue reading The Count of Monte Cristo →

Hedda and Louella: A Dual Biography of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons George Eells Virgin (4 December 1972) Amazon What's it about?: A dual biography of the most powerful and influential gossip queens in the history of the media. Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons originally enjoyed a symbiotic relationship of sorts, but later became bitter … Continue reading Hedda and Louella →

At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends by Dwight D. Eisenhower American Anthropological Association (1 June 1981) Amazon What's it about?: Dwight Eisenhower's first-hand account of his life, from growing up in Kansas, his time at West Point, to his years in the military during times of war and peace. He discusses the people he … Continue reading At Ease →

Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss Vermilion (7 December 2016) Amazon What's it about?: A series of interviews with more than a hundred "world-class performers." Most, if not all, have appeared on his podcast. Tim Ferriss sits down with famous actors, musicians, athletes, entrepreneurs, … Continue reading Tools of Titans →

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Scribner (30 September 2004) Amazon What's it about?: Jay Gatsby is a man who falls in love with a woman, Daisy. He cannot have her, so he becomes rich and powerful in an attempt to win her affection. He puts everything into his love for this woman, and … Continue reading The Great Gatsby →

Strategy: A History by Lawrence Freedman Oxford University Press (1 November 2013) Amazon page What's it about?: The history of the concept of strategic thinking, ranging from primate warfare, to classical myths and legends of Greece and Rome, to the works of Sun-Tzu, Machiavelli, and Clausewitz, to Marx and Che Guevara, to big names in … Continue reading Strategy →