Non-Fiction

We Who Wrestle with God

Background

Published in 2024, We Who Wrestle with God by Jordan B. Peterson explores the psychological, literary, and theological significance of the Book of Genesis, particularly its early chapters. Drawing on his background in psychology and mythology, Peterson examines the biblical stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, and the Tower of Babel as archetypal narratives that shape human understanding of morality, identity, responsibility, and meaning. He interprets these ancient texts through a Jungian and existential lens, arguing that the struggle with God reflects humanity’s internal struggle to confront chaos, find order, and live truthfully. The book also revisits themes Peterson has addressed in his previous works, including individual transformation and the importance of tradition in modern life.

We Who Wrestle with God
We Who Wrestle with God

My Thoughts

I really enjoy Dr. Pererson’s writing. I believe he does an incredible job of linking ideas and examining things from the macro level, yet I find he can also be overly simplistic and generalize. This book uses the Old Testament as a source document, which is loaded with symbolism. Of course, any symbol can be interpreted in several ways. Dr. Peterson’s interpretation is a little too neat and tidy for me to fully accept at face value. However, any meaningful discussion would be impossible if we dived down every rabbit hole of nuance. It would just take far too long.

That said, I really enjoyed this book. So much so that I bought copies along with “12 Rules for Life” and “Beyond Order.” My son is working his way through the first book and it is making an impact.

Recommendation

Great book! These are very heavy concepts so spend some time thinking through some of the ideas.

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity

Background

Published in 2023, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, M.D., with Bill Gifford, presents a framework for living longer and healthier by shifting the focus from simply extending lifespan to improving “healthspan”—the years during which one is physically and cognitively capable. Drawing on his background in medicine and engineering, Attia critiques conventional approaches to treating chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, arguing they are often reactive and too late to be effective. Instead, he proposes a proactive strategy called “Medicine 3.0,” emphasizing early intervention, personalized diagnostics, and lifestyle interventions such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emotional well-being. The book includes scientific explanations alongside Attia’s personal experiences to illustrate how individuals can take control of their long-term health outcomes.

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity

My Thoughts

Not much of this book came as revelatory. It goes into detail about health and wellness. All the concepts were pretty well accepted but it was enjoyable to have them all put together. It reminded me of the Monty Python quote, “Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”

The book may quibble with the “avoid eating fat,” but the rest is pretty much spot on. Eating better makes you feel better, moving more makes you feel better, getting good sleep makes you feel better, and not hating life makes you feel better. Not surprisingly, feeling better means you will live longer and enjoy life more.

Recommendation

Great book

Looking Backward

Background

Published in 2002, Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy was originally published in 1888. The novel follows Julian West, a wealthy Bostonian who falls into a hypnotic sleep in 1887 and wakes up in the year 2000 to find a radically transformed society. In this future, the United States has evolved into a socialist utopia where private enterprise has been replaced by a centrally planned economy, and wealth and goods are distributed equally. Through West’s experiences and conversations with his new hosts, Bellamy critiques the social and economic inequalities of the 19th century and presents his vision for a more cooperative and equitable future.

Looking Backward
Looking Backward

My Thoughts

Honestly, I have no idea why this came up in my reading lists, but it was an interesting read. The fun part was to find the gaping holes in the logic and the rhetoric of this socialist quasi-manifesto. It was particularly interesting to see how the aliments of the late 1800s would be corrected from a naive utopian vision. I wonder how many people read this and honestly thought, “That’s a great idea!”

The economy has no meaning, and everyone eats, wears, and does pretty much the same thing. All are pressed into military service. All enter the workforce at 21 and retire at 45 where they can thereafter live a life of leisure. The US is still at odds with the rest of the world and simply uses a fairly simple IOU system to handle issues or trade imbalance other governments. Women’s roles are unequal at best and mate-selection is used as both a carrot and stick in this ideal world.

Recommendation

This book gives a good account of how a teenager may handle society government. If you enjoy that, this book is for you.

Food Rules an Eater’s Manual

Background

Published in 2009, Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan presents a set of straightforward guidelines aimed at helping people make better food choices in a modern environment filled with processed foods and conflicting dietary advice. Drawing on both traditional wisdom and contemporary nutrition science, Pollan organizes the book into three main principles: “Eat food,” “Mostly plants,” and “Not too much.” He distills these concepts into 64 concise rules, such as “Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food” and “Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in the pantry.” The book is designed to be easy to reference and implement, promoting mindful and intentional eating without complex restrictions or calorie counting.

Food Rules an Eater's Manual
Food Rules an Eater’s Manual

My Thoughts

A relatively quick and appropriate read on eating. Micheal Pollan has written several decent books on the subject, but this one is meant to be pithy and stick with the reader. It was personally inspiring and had me slowing down to enjoy my food. (At least for a while.)

Recommendation

A good read with some good reminders.

101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think

Background

Published in 2016, 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest is a collection of short essays that explore themes related to self-awareness, emotional intelligence, personal growth, and mental habits. Drawing on psychological insights and philosophical ideas, the essays encourage readers to examine their thought patterns, confront uncomfortable truths, and reframe how they approach challenges and relationships. The book compiles content originally written for various online platforms and is organized in a non-linear way, allowing readers to engage with the material in any order.

101 Essays that will Change the way You Think
101 Essays that will Change the way You Think

My Thoughts

This collection of essays varied in quality, but overall I enjoyed and agreed with the majority of what was said. I liked it so much that I listened to it twice.

Recommendation

Somewhat sporadic but worth the time.

Can I Say That?: How Unsafe Questions Lead Us to the Real Good

Background

Published in 2023, Can I Say That?: How Unsafe Questions Lead Us to the Real Good by Brenna Blain explores the role of doubt, difficult questions, and personal struggles in the context of Christian faith. Drawing from her own experiences with mental illness, same-sex attraction, and spiritual uncertainty, Blain encourages readers to bring their most challenging and uncomfortable questions into their relationship with God rather than hiding them. She emphasizes that faith does not require the absence of doubt but can coexist with it, suggesting that growth often comes through wrestling with what feels unsafe to ask.

Can I Say That
Can I Say That

My Thoughts

I really struggled with this book. Blain shares very raw and largely unfiltered thoughts about her life, which were very hard to relate to. I believe her intent was the exact opposite by trying to show her weaknesses to become approachable. However, she came off as entitled, ungrateful, and she just plain misses the point.

Much of what she says is good and works with my belief system. Christ does love us, and God is indeed good. However, Christ is not “madly in love with us,” nor is He “broken with us.” Perhaps the limitations of the English word “love” led to some confusion, but there were several points she didn’t quite get right. My main concern with her perspective is how she repeatedly blames God for her struggles. God isn’t a snowplow or helicopter parent whose role is to remove all hardship from our lives. This mortal experience is meant for learning and growth, which can’t happen if we are treated like spoiled children. We are commanded to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Blain’s version of God is one who makes no demands, but I believe God loves us too much to expect so little from us.

She made a good attempt to pull it all together at the end, but it was only the last few paragraphs. I honestly hope she does a better job reaching people in her ministry.

Recommendation

Skip this one.

How to Let Things Go

Background

Published on November 12, 2024, How to Let Things Go: 99 Tips from a Zen Buddhist Monk to Relinquish Control and Free Yourself Up for What Matters by Shunmyo Masuno offers readers practical guidance on achieving a calmer, more focused life. Drawing from Zen Buddhist principles, the book presents 99 concise lessons that address modern challenges such as information overload and social media distractions. Masuno emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, embracing imperfection in relationships, and accepting that not everything is within our control. By adopting these practices, individuals can cultivate mental clarity and emotional well-being.

How to Let Things Go
How to Let Things Go

My Thoughts

This book was literally so good I had to go through it again. It was a short but highly applicable set of mantras and good ideas from someone who has thought about them for more than the usual 5-10 seconds. My favorites are “Be humble, be humble, be humble” and “stop with all the bragging”. There were a few that I can accept as good ideas, but I’m not quite ready to get rid of all my unused clothing. (Sometimes it gets cold and I need to match…)

Recommendation

Great read.

Life After Power

Background

Published in February 2024, “Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House” by Jared Cohen examines the post-presidential lives of seven U.S. presidents: Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Grover Cleveland, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Carter, and George W. Bush. The book explores how each navigated life after leaving the Oval Office, highlighting endeavors such as Jefferson’s founding of the University of Virginia and Carter’s humanitarian work with The Carter Center. Cohen delves into their personal reinventions and the impact of their post-presidential activities on their legacies.

My Thoughts

I learned a great deal from this book as it knit together whole swaths of American history through the lives of the Presidents. Or more correctly, after the Presidency.

I love to delve into history and learn about the problems of the day. It puts so much in context and shows the human experience really doesn’t change that much. They had their problems just like we have ours today, which felt just as pressing and world shaking. Yet, most issues from years ago are simply forgotten. It reminds me of the week before Sept 11th 2001 and that the big headline that week was how Anne Heche thought she was God. Now my kids quite rightly say, “Ann who?”

Here are a few takeaways from the book.

  • Thomas Jefferson wanted to make a University and considered that his lasting legacy.
  • John Quincy Adams became much more influential in congress where he tirelessly fought for the end of slavery.
  • Grover Cleveland was known for his honesty and was re-elected during a time of corruption.
  • William Howard Taft never wanted to be president but wanted to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (He got his wish after a long wait.) He was also the beloved governor of the Philippines for a time.
  • Herbert Hoover was known as the great humanitarian and was beloved in Europe.
  • Jimmy Carter was surprisingly partisan. I knew about his humanitarian work, but didn’t know how bitter he and his wife were about being put out of the Whitehouse.
  • George W. Bush took office and all the Ws were removed from the keyboards from the Clinton administration. That struck me wrong. However, Bush became a painter and now expresses himself in paint without selling and donating his paintings.

Recommendation

Great book and I really enjoyed it.

Carson the Magnificent

Background

Published in 2024, “Carson the Magnificent” is a biography that delves into the life and career of Johnny Carson, the iconic host of “The Tonight Show” from 1962 to 1992. The book explores Carson’s journey to becoming a television legend, his influence on late-night entertainment, and his complex personal life, including his struggles with alcohol and multiple marriages. Drawing from extensive research and interviews, the biography offers an in-depth look at the man behind the public persona, highlighting both his professional achievements and personal challenges.​

Carson the Magnificent
Carson the Magnificent

My Thoughts

Like nearly every person of my generation, Johnny Carson was on the TV every weeknight. This is where I first saw so many comics and really start to understand who was who in Hollywood. My knowledge of Ed McMahon was his booming laugh and signature, “Heeeeeer’s Johnny!” which was always followed by the ever affable King of Late Night.

I didn’t know much about his growing up, his Navy career, his children, his troubles with drinking, and how alone he was in general. I did know about his divorces (mostly through other comedians like Eddie Murphy and the like). I also knew he considered himself a magician though I didn’t know to what level.

To me, Carson was a dependable easy smile after a long day. He has been missed.

Recommendation

Great book and I’m glad I read it.

Forging Wargamers

Background

​Published in 2022, “Forging Wargamers: A Framework for Professional Military Education,” edited by Sebastian J. Bae, is a compilation of essays addressing the development and enhancement of wargaming education within military contexts.The book examines the lack of standardized pathways for training wargame designers and participants, highlighting the challenges posed by an informal system of knowledge transfer. Contributors discuss integrating wargaming into pre-commissioning education, establishing competency models, and incorporating social science methodologies. The volume emphasizes the need for structured educational frameworks to cultivate proficient wargamers, aiming to ensure the discipline’s effectiveness as both an educational and analytical tool.

Forging Wargamers
Forging Wargamers

My Thoughts

I’ve been working on this book for about 4 months now. It isn’t what I’d call a page turner, but I was glad I finished it.

The book was published by Marine Corps University Press so I’ve met several of the contributors and knew of their work. It was written before the rise of AI and much of how we think of wargaming may be changing in the next few years. Wargaming will continue to be a great tool for education and may take on more emphasis as we struggle to integrate AI tools into learning opportunities.

Recommendation

A good snapshot of the time, but it may already be obsolete.