Entries from Procrastination tagged with 'book'
The Disunited States of America
An alternate history novel about an America in which the union didn't happen and states are independent.
Farthing
A murder mystery set in an alternate history where Britain made peace with Nazi Germany and the US never entered the war, this is a good, fun novel.
Old Man's War
This first novel by John Scalzi is a gripping story of a 75 year old who joins the colonial army to help humans colonize space.
Charlie Wilson's War
The movie is fun to watch, but it's the book that's a must read.
Midnight's Children
Midnight's Children is an enjoyable, though not great, book.
When Victims Become Killers
This is an academic book looking in detail at the history of Rwanda and its neighbors and how that led to the 1994 genocide. Despite being difficult to read due to dry writing, I recommend it highly.
god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
Christopher Hitchens is a good polemicist and it shows in his book. This is not a book presenting research or theological discussion, but it does present forceful arguments against religion and the religious.
Spin
This is a book about the apocalypse, love, father-son conflict, ecology and the stars going out. Definitely one of the best science fiction novels written in recent times.
The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857
This is a great book about Bahadur Shah Zafar, Delhi and the events of 1857. It makes everything come alive. If you are interested in Indian history, it's a must read.
Dark Star
This is an interesting novel about espionage and history on the eve of World War II seen from the perspective of a Pravda journalist and spy.
Religion Explained
This is one of the best books I have read. It explains the origins of religious thought based on how our mind works. Highly recommended.
The Third Chimpanzee
This is a good, though somewhat dated, book about the rise of Homo Sapiens. While eminently readable and full of interesting information, I found the focus on nuclear or environmental holocaust to be a hindrance.
At Canaan's Edge : America in the King Years, 1965-68
This is the last book on the trilogy about Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement by Taylor Branch. The whole trilogy is a must-read.
Before the Dawn
This is a good book by Nick Wade which covers human prehistory as seen mostly from the study of genetics.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
It is a book about magic and magical it is. Quite long but fun to read, Susanna Clarke has come up with a winner for her first novel, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
The First Human
The First Human is a good and readable book about the search for the oldest hominin fossils. It describes the science, the fieldwork as well as the disputes in the field of paleoanthropology.
