My Recent Reading List

 

I do various things to expand my knowledge of what interests me, whether it be topics of the day or more general things. I read a lot, whether it be on the web or books on topics of interest. Here is a list of what I have read over the past 2 years along with a brief explanation of why I chose these books and, if relevant, thoughts on each.

2021

Jan. 13, 2021 “COVID-19 The Politics of a Pandemic Moral Panic “ by Barry Cooper, Marco Navarro-Génie

•  Since it first made the news back in December of 2019 I have been learning anything and everything I can about Covid-19, or more correctly SARS-Cov2. This was my latest acquisition. An interesting read that independently confirms much of what I have observed.

2020

Dec. 21, 2020 “Getting Fired Up (Arturo Sandus Book 3) ” by Peter Rhodan

Dec. 21, 2020 “Raising Steam (Arturo Sandus Book 2) ” by Peter Rhodan

Nov. 21, 2020 “On The Rocks (Arturo Sandus Book 1) ” by Peter Rhodan

• It was time to take time off and just read for enjoyment! These are the first 3 in a longer series of science fiction based on the premise that a military person from the future is sent back in time to Northern England during the waning stages of the Roman republic and how he tries to adapt.

Oct. 31, 2020 “The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense ” by Gad Saad

• Since early on with Covid I had become convinced that the real threat is not this virus but a disease of the mind as that was the only explanation I could come up with to justify the irrational and chaotic things being tried to “fight” Covid-19. Then I heard of this book. In short, I much better understand what I was seeing but now through the eyes of an evolutionary psychologist. Highly recommended.

Oct. 26, 2020 “COVID Operation: What Happened, Why It Happened, and What’s Next ” by Pamela Popper and Shane Prier.

•  Pam is a naturopath with a PhD and has a channel on YouTube where I have watched several of her videos. Like me she is skeptical about the actions taken to “fight” covid so I bought a copy of her book to get a better handle on her arguments. I was not disappointed!

Oct. 19, 2020 “Gardeners vs. Designers: Understanding the Great Fault Line in Canadian Politics ” by Brian Crowley.

• I think I saw this book mentioned first on The Rebel and wanting a Canadian viewpoint on politics I bought a copy. While overly simplistic at times Crowley, an economist who is the managing director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, makes some good points. Here is one quote from the book I agree with: “What makes Canada great, then, is in part that we do not care where you came from. What we care about is where we can go together.” In short, a recommended read.

Aug. 30, 2020 “Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth ” by Stuart Ritchie

•  Like many of my purchases this was an attempt to delve deeper into a topic that has bothered me and so I wanted to get a interesting view point. And Stuart does a good job of exposing more fully the signs I have observed as well will excellent documentation.

Aug. 19, 2020 “Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt ” by Arthur C. Brooks.

• This was a mistake. I should not of bought it but I was intrigued by the title and wanted to see their point of view. I did not get far. Poorly argued and highly biased such that it turned me right off after only a few pages. Maybe I will try again at a later date.

Aug. 4, 2020 “Democrat to Deplorable: Why Nine Million Obama Voters Ditched the Democrats and Embraced Donald Trump ” by Jack Murphy.

•  I was really intrigued with the viewpoint being delivered. I was a mild fan of the Democrats and once believed they were sensible people. But everything from when Trump announced he was running for president made me question myself and the fact I liked what Trump’s message was. This is a good example of demonstrating what “populism” is all about. Highly recommended!

July 25, 2020 “How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps “ by Ben Shapiro

• I have watched Ben on YouTube and some of his videos on his Daily Wire web site. I was curious as to what his arguments would be. I was not impressed. While I read it from start to finish his prose was at times illogical and poorly stated, and this for a person considered to be a particularly good debater.

May 22, 2020 “Fascism: The Career of a Concept “ by Paul Gottfried

•  Anyone who has read my blog knows that I see a lot of parallels with Fascism from the first half of the Twentieth Century. I wanted to learn more as to what Fascism really is and how it came about. This book turned out to be a waste of time. Within a few pages it was obvious that the authour just assumes everyone thinks as he does as to what Fascism is without even defining it. I do not think I even finished the first chapter. Another waste of time. Disappointed.

April 18, 2020 “Hoaxed “ by Mike Cernovich, Jon du Toit, Scooter Downey

•  A series of essays and interviews that illustrate the many examples of terrible journalism. Well worth reading!

Apr. 14, 2020 “Don't Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason “ by Dave Rubin

• I really like Dave’s interviews as he does not berate his guests but allows them to talk and expound on their ideas. He has introduced me to several people who, to paraphrase Kanye West, I like how they think, whether it is Candace Owens, Larry Elder, and Thomas Sowell as just a few examples. And his book did not disappoint. Highly recommended!

Feb. 11, 2020 “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion “ by Jonathan Haidt

•  Of all the books I have read in the last few years this is the most thought provoking! So much so I have just started to read it again to better understand the incites given.  Highly recommended!

2019

Dec. 21, 2019 “The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity “ by Douglas Murray

• While a good read and well presented, out side of the title which says a lot in a few words, I can’t really put my finger on the most enlightening part of his story other than his style of prose, while readable, leaves the mind, at least mine, in a partial fog. Take for example this brief quote: “By contrast, anybody who got in the way of this direction of travel found themselves mown down with astonishing vigour. The weapons to hand (accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia and finally transphobia) were all too easy to wield and there was no price to pay for wielding them unfairly, unjustifiably or indeed frivolously. Critics of the emerging orthodoxy, including scientists, were accused of being propelled by the most base motives.” Still, if you haven’t read it I recommend that you do.

Dec. 18, 2019 “25 Myths That Are Destroying the Environment: What Many Environmentalists Believe and Why They Are Wrong “ by Daniel B. Botkin and Alfred Runte

•  An exploration on a topic I have followed for quite some time. Well worth it!

Dec. 7, 2019 “Trumponomics: Inside the America First Plan to Revive Our Economy “ by Stephen Moore and Arthur B. Laffer

• I was curious to see what a couple of economists had to say about things Trump had done by two who are highly respected in their field. One of many reasons I have come to appreciate the fact that he in no way matches the rhetoric the media have directed his way.

Dec. 2, 2019 “The Road to Mars: A Post-Modem Novel “ by Eric Idle

• It was time for a diversion! Saw mention f this novel by an alumnus of Monty Python, read it and was not disappointed! A very good read for science fiction.

Dec. 2, 2019 “Trump vs. the Media (Encounter Broadsides Book 51) “ by Mollie Ziegler Hemingway

• A real journalists’ view. Another good read as her arguments are well supported by facts, exactly what one should expect from a real journalist.

Nov. 14, 2019 “The Midnight Line - A Jack Reacher Novel Jack Reacher - 22” by Lee Child

Nov. 14, 2019 “Night School - A Jack Reacher Novel Jack Reacher - 21” by Lee Child

•  Another aside for purely entertainment purposes! I have read pretty much everything Lee Child has written as his stories are well paced and entertaining.

Oct. 13, 2019 “Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel--Why Everything You Know Is Wrong” by John Stossel

• John Stossel made his career as a consumer reporter, first with ABC. He freely admits that as he investigated the more he became skeptical of the perceived narratives of the day. So, I had to check out hist book. It is beautifully written with excellent examples and highly recommended!

May 7, 2019 “The Homelanders” by Andrew Klayvan

• Another entertainment interlude. While I have listened to Andrew Klayvan’s pod cast a few times and find him rather good at describing a situation and then peeling off the layers I noted that he is more famous for being a screenwriter and authour. So, I picked up one of his stories and, not bad!

March 2, 2019 “Enlightenment Now - The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress” by Steven Pinker.

•  A former Canadian who holds a prestigious teaching post as a cognitive psychologist at Harvard who has published quite a few books. This one was highly recommended. I started reading it and got about 2/3’s of the way through until he got to talking about climate change. There he lost me as he accepted that as being factually correct with absolutely no question or skepticism. If he is that foolish, and I have written extensively on this subject as to why I am very skeptical, how is his opinion to be trusted on any other subject? Maybe I will go back and finish. But how can I take his word on anything if he is that careless on what he believes?

March 2, 2019 “The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote” by Sharyl Attkisson

• I never really understood what was meant by being “smeared”. After reading this book I now do. Sharyl is one of those rare breed of real journalists that are out there. While few and far between they use facts to build the story. In the future I will have to revisit this book!

July 4, 2019 “Confessions of a Greenpeace Dropout: The Making of a Sensible Environmentalist “ by Patrick Moore

•  I freely admit, I detest “Greenpeace” so I had to read this biography of one of the founders who saw the light and parted company with them. In doing so I have now a great respect for Patrick as he is truly a scientist and lets the data lead him where it may. Another great read!