August Reading List 2021
Hi friends,
I forgot to send this out last month, so here is my reading list for August. A few days later than I had planned, but better late than never.
Here’s my review of the books I read last month.
A Brief History of Time - This is a brilliant book. Physics has always fascinated me but I’m by no means an expert. Hawking’s book has become a classic since it was published back in the 80s and it’s not hard to see why. Complex topics are explained in simple terms, with Hawking guiding you through concepts such as time travel and black holes. I felt like I had much better understanding of what we know about physics and the universe after I finished the book. It’s one of those books you wish you’d read sooner.
Going Dark - Julia Ebner’s accounts of her time researching and infiltrating extremist groups is incredible. This is a timely book that should be widely read. You have to admore her tenacity and bravery for taking on these groups. Her identity was often compromised afterwards, yet this doesn’t stop her. What she details about some of these groups is shocking and goes to show that as good as the internet is at bring people together it can also bring unsavoury characters and ideologies together too.
Who Owns England? - If you’re not English, or you don’t live in the UK, you might want to skip this book. But if you’re fascinated about just who does own England’s green and pleasant land, this is an eye-opening read. For anyone living in England, this book should be compulsory reading. The lengths Guy Shrubsole goes to piece together who owns what and how our land is divvied up is remarkable. I did enjoy reading this book, but it was uncomfortable to read at points. As far as we’ve progressed here in England, we still have a long way to go before we shake off the shackles of our feudal past.
Rollercoaster Europe 1950-2017 - Even though I’ve not yet finished this book, I’m going to include it here anyway as I’m close to the end now. It’s a big book, which is why it’s taken me so long to read. But it’s a brilliant account of Europe’smodern history. Ian Kershaw is a fabulous historian and he guides you through this period of European history expertly. As someone with a history degree, I learnt many new things and envy Kershaw’s command of the material. An exemplary and essential read if you want to understand modern European history.
I hope you get around to reading a few of these selections. Whether you read them in the next month or year, I’m not bothered. The idea of my reading lists is to encourage you, the reader, to read more.
If more of us read, and read books outside of our comfort zone, the world would be a better place. You don’t know what you don’t know. Reading is one of the best ways to fill in those gaps in your knowledge.
If you have any comments about the books, maybe you’ve read one before. Or if you have some recommendations for me, I’m all ears. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Until next time,
Tom