Monthly Archives: May 2014

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy 1886 / 62 pages (Kindle) rating 10 / Russian classic If you haven’t read this book please put it on your “to be read” list – somewhere near the top.  If you have … Continue reading →

The Idea of Israel: A Study in Power and Knowledge by Ilan Pappé 2014 / 313 pages (Kindle) rating: 9 – historiography/memoir (!) This is an amazing book!   I decided to read it as an antidote to My Promised Land and it … Continue reading →

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of IsraelAri Shavit2013 / 464 pagesrating – ?   – memoir/history Later:  Considering the title, I took this book to be a memoir, not a history or official anything. I took it to … Continue reading →

No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA and U.S. Surveillance State by Glenn Greenwald May 2014 / 288 pages rating  8 / current events The first two chapters are riveting. Chapter 3 is jam-crammed full of very specific information … Continue reading →

Troubles by J. G. Farrell 1970 / 480 pages rating 10 / hist fiction Farrell is an under-appreciated genius in my opinion, and it’s especially apparent in this sad yet humorous award-winning novel about the time of “Troubles” in Ireland circa 1919-1921 … Continue reading →

Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty 2014 / 696 pages rating 10 (yes) / non-fiction – economics So what’s up with this new and very hot-selling economics book, “Capital in the 21st Century” by Thomas Piketty? Published in … Continue reading →