July 2022 – Ryan’s Book Blog

The Enemy Within

July 31, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in May of 1996, The Enemy Within is the 3rd book in the Mission Earth series. This book sees Heller renamed “The Whiz Kid” by the press and he attempts to demonstrate his new fuel in an endurance race. Too bad everyone is out to get him.

My Thoughts

Yet again Sultan Gris keeps on getting the short end of the stick and he just can’t keep up with Heller. It’s getting a little formulaic. The story is still pretty fun and moves along ok. However, there are some surprisingly brutal parts.

Recommendation

I intend to see the end of the series but I would have likely stopped here.

The Silent Patient

July 28, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in February of 2019, The Silent Patient is a thriller about a woman who is accused of killing her husband. She doesn’t speak throughout the sentencing and is assumed insane. One man thinks he can get through to her.

My Thoughts

This book was being read by my mother-in-law’s reading group which has been a mixed bag in the past. However, this was a very interesting read if not, “my cup of tea.”

The story was fairly disturbing in some ways and had quite the turn around that I didn’t see coming. I’m glad I didn’t read anything about it before hand to taint the experience.

Recommendation

If you like thrillers, this may be the one for you.

Black Genesis

July 27, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in March of 1986, Black Genesis is the 2nd book in the Mission Earth series which sees Jethro Heller and Sultan Gris making it to Earth.

My Thoughts

This book takes more than a few swings at psychology, government, and so on. It is still a lot of fun as you see things fall into place for Jethro and not so much for the good Sultan.

I find myself looking for deeper meaning in this books as the story moves along. Jethro Heller is a little overpowered but he truly is a “good guy”. He cares for everyone, even those who are trying to do him harm. Sultan Gris constantly expects the worst to happen from Heller’s acts of kindness and decency but they always work out for Heller. People end up being loyal and kind in return rather than be vengeful and cruel. Perhaps the book is just pandering to what sells but it certainly works on me.

Recommendation

A fun read but start at the beginning.

Everybody Lies

July 22, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2017, Everybody Lies is an attempt to understand people through “big data,” specifically through internet searches. The author makes the point that people lie on surveys and even to themselves. However, they don’t lie when they are searching for what they want on the net.

My Thoughts

This was a fun concept and the author did a great job with his arguments. He makes several references and jabs that show he left leaning political stance but I believe he did a fair job with the conclusions from data he presented.

Of course, you can lie with data pretty easily and I have some quibbles with some of the generalizations made through some of the datasets but there is bias in everyone.

Recommendation

I really enjoyed the book and I keep bringing it up in conversation so it must of had an impact.

The Invaders Plan

July 21, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in October of 1985 by L. Ron Hubbard, The Invaders Plan is the first book of the “Mission Earth” series. This book talks about the invasion of Earth from the alien’s point of view. They have some concerns if it is worth the effort since we are destroying our environment. It also sets up the circumstances to get Jethro Heller to Earth with Sultan Gris’s schemes following in his wake.

My Thoughts

This was another fun book from my childhood. I remember reading it several times when my brothers would finish with it. I hadn’t thought of it in years but I was asked for a recommendation from my son and the series sprung to mind.

I was surprised how quickly it went as I was reading. I was disappointed I had to reserve both the 2nd and 3rd so I will have to wait to continue…

Recommendation

Great book and a lot of fun.

Becoming Dr. Seuss

July 20, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in 2019, Becoming Dr. Seuss is the biography of Theodor Geisel who is much more widely known as Dr. Seuss. This biography takes him from birth to death and explains how he became possibly the best known children’s author.

My Thoughts

I think we all know a little about Dr. Seuss and I grew up loving “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” However, I knew next to nothing about his time at Dartmouth, in the Army, or what he was trying to accomplish as an author. I definitely didn’t know his first wife committed suicide and it was likely due to the affair he was having at the time. Other surprising notes was he made the rank of LtCol in the Army and really got his start in children’s books at the University of Utah where he was teaching a class.

Recommendation

It took me a while to get through it but enjoyed the book.

Franklin and Washington

July 8, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in February of 2020, Franklin and Washington: The Founding Partnership, is the biography and comparison and contrast of our founding fathers George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

My Thoughts

A very enjoyable read and a novel approach to subject matter that has been well documented. I really enjoyed the comparisons and the narrative of the relationship between these two men.

Recommendation

Worth the time to read. Great book.

Killing Crazy Horse

July 7, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in September of 2020, Killing Crazy Horse is the history of several notable native Americans (e.g. Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph, Cochise, Black Hawk, Red Cloud) and the Indian Wars through the 1800’s.

My Thoughts

The author has a very distinctive style of getting right to the point that I enjoy. I feel this book did a great job of staying out of the commentary and just went for the facts, as well as can be known.

This was an embarrassing time for our country. I believe most people really tried to do the right thing and there were stories of people on both sides we really tried to make a lasting peace. However, there was so much confusion and prejudice it all just kept falling apart. Hopefully, we can all learn from this tragic time.

Recommendation

Great read.

You Never Forget Your First

July 6, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in February of 2020, You Never Forget Your First is a biography of our first President, George Washington.

My Thoughts

The author seriously needs to get over herself. When she wasn’t trying to show how different she is, she made some good observations. However, so much time was spent trying to establish how different she was like this quote to the New York Times, “It’s a biography. Like a man would write.” (Congratulations! You aren’t a man. However, that’s not why I’m reading this book.) Unfortunately, this discredited the author in my eyes and I was primed to look for the usual revisionist tripe that is so trendy these days.

Yes, we know he didn’t cut down the cherry tree. Yes, we know it is impossible to throw a dollar across the Potomac. Yes, we know he had slaves and treated them like slaves. These aren’t revelations. These are cited again and again by biographers who didn’t have the need to tell us how amazing it is that someone from California and a woman would have the audacity to write a biography on a white man. (We don’t care who you are!)

Recommendation

Skip this one.

When Reagan Sent in the Marines

July 5, 2022 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Published in December of 2019, “When Reagan Sent in the Marines” by Patrick J. Sloyan is an account of the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, and the subsequent deployment of US troops as part of a multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon. The book chronicles the political and military decisions made by the Reagan administration, as well as the experiences of the troops on the ground in Beirut. Sloyan draws on his extensive reporting from the region, as well as interviews with key players involved in the events, to provide an analysis of US foreign policy. He also sheds light on the complex and often fraught relationships between the US, Israel, and various factions within Lebanon, which continue to shape the region today.

My Thoughts

I started reading this book to keep up on my professional understanding of the Marines and history in general. I found it difficult to keep myself moving through it as it wasn’t particularly gripping for me. The author didn’t pull any punches on President Reagon and how he handled the situation. It made me wonder the back story of the author and if this was a propaganda piece. Unfortunately, I don’t know much else about the tragedy in Beirut and will have to find some other histories to build up that knowledge. This book definitely gave me some things to think about.

Recommendation

It wasn’t a gripping read but made me want to learn more.