Review: How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler by Ryan North
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler by Ryan North is written as a reference guide for someone who took a time machine into the past and got stuck and now needs to rebuild civilization (as we know it).  However, this book could come in very handy in the future in case we need to rebuild civilization (as we know it) due to some major catastrophic event.  I suggest buying a hard copy and putting it in your bunker, safe room, or fire/water-proof safe.  You are not going to speed read your way through this. You also don't even need to read it in order.  You read the parts you need when you need them.  It will tell you if you need to read another section to accomplish your goal.  This is a very comprehensive distillation of just about everything.  Even without a background in engineering or basically many skills, I feel like I could take on the challenge of building a whole new world.  It is also done with humor which makes getting through the really dense parts easier.  

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Review: Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts is a little bit of memoir mixed in with a lot of information about perimenopause and menopause for those who will experience it at some point.  It is never too early to educate yourself because it can happen much younger than you think as Naomi found out.  I read a lot about this topic, so I was familiar with much of the information.  I did jot down some suggestions though, including her own company focused on products for menopausal women.  It was just nice having another source reinforcing that everything you are going through is normal.  While Naomi is not a medical professional, she packs the book with plenty of experts and good resources to get reliable, factual information.  At the same time, it is easy-to-read and gives you good topics to discuss with your doctor.  

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Review: The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London

The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recently read a book involving ravens at the Tower of London that recommended The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Raves at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife because it was used as part of that author's research.  I just happened to own a copy of this but hadn't gotten around to reading it yet.  I decided now was the time!  If you are curious about ravens or the Tower of London, this is a really good introduction.  As the title implies, Christopher Skaife was the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London.  He retired from that position in 2024.  The book has a lot of interesting information about ravens but also about becoming a Yeoman Warder and what life is like for those living at the Tower of London.  Before reading this, I didn't realize people live there.  How cool!  If birds freak you out, this book is probably not going to help with that.  Ravens are crafty.  I already thought they were cool, but this gave me whole new level of appreciation for them.  I will be sure not to confuse them with crows in the future!  This also reinforced my already firm belief that you should not piss off crows or ravens.  They remember faces and can hold a grudge!

If you are looking for an entertaining and informative book about birds, give this a read.  The writing is very accessible for those who don't know much about birds while still providing a fascinating perspective for those who do.  

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Review: Arkangel

Arkangel by James Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Arkangel is the 18th book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins.  You could read this as a standalone book although it does reference events and characters in previous books.  There is enough explanation that you don't need to have read any other books in the series, but I highly recommend you do!  

I really enjoy many of the characters in this book, but I am so glad to see Tucker, Kane, and Marco again.  They are by far my favorites.  I could also only wish that my dogs were as disciplined as Kane.  Reading through this time I realized that Sigma Force always reminds me of Thundercats.  For some reason, I always picture Monk as Panthro.  It's weird.  I know.  That's my guilty Sigma Force secret.  

It felt appropriate to be reading Arkangel in the midst of winter in Wisconsin.  Not quite Arctic temperatures, but I could feel the chill as they searched for a lost city through ice and snow.  The topic couldn't be timelier as people wonder why places like Greenland are important.  In another odd coincidence someone mentioned to me that being eaten by a plant wouldn't be so bad.  I suggested they read this book.  If that doesn't make you want to read this, I'm unsure of what will.  

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Review: Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It

Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux via NetGalley.  This book is currently available.  

The irony of promoting Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook is not lost on me.  At the same time, it is essential because if you are reading this review right now, you should be reading this book instead.  You may have already heard about enshittification.  If you stay up on tech news, some of the examples won't come as any surprise.  I stay fairly current and yet, some of the things tech companies are currently doing shocked me.  I didn't realize we were in THAT deep.  The great thing about this is Doctorow makes the concepts easy enough to understand that you don't need to know anything about technology to educate yourself.  And you should educate yourself if for no other reason than to know how your personal information is used by tech companies.  

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Review: Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind

Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind by Annalee Newitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind written by Annalee Newitz and narrated by Alexandra Cohler.  I only listened to this because that was the version that was available.  I actually think I would want to go back and read it so I can absorb more of the content and really sit with some of the examples.  

Sadly, Annalee Newitz couldn't have picked a better time to release Stories Are Weapons.  This is one of the most important books people can read right now.  Annalee digs into the history of propaganda and how it is used to mold our minds.  Annalee's writing is always engaging, and I found I wanted to keep going long after the book was over.  I want to take psy ops classes!  They have laid out a perfect case for why everyone should be critically thinking about the information we are consuming on a daily basis and ensuring we have responsible sources.  Even if you aren't a history buff, the examples were compelling, and I learned a lot about topics I thought I already knew well. If you only add one book to your to-be-read list this year, make it this one (and then read it!).

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Review: Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness

Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness by Peter Godfrey-Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness by Peter Godfrey-Smith is about the philosophy of consciousness but accessible to the novice.  The best part is you learn a lot about the octopus and how it may think and how that differs from the way humans think and why.  It does get deep (pun intended) in some places, but I still found I could follow the major concepts.  Without them actually telling us, we can still only guess at what it all means, but Godfrey-Smith lays out very good evidence for his theories.  It helps that he has first-hand experience with a number of octopodes in their natural habitat.  So even if you aren't into philosophy, come for the stories.

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Review: Tides of Fire

Tides of Fire by James Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tides of Fire is the 17th book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins.  If you have never read the books, you could pick up here.  It might not be the best entry point because there is some character backstory you would miss.  It wouldn't take away from the main action though.  

If you are claustrophobic, afraid of the ocean, or not a fan of boats, you may want to steer clear of this book.  If you are not any of those things, charge on, my friend!  This was very intense and really you do get the sense of how similar deep sea exploration is to space exploration.  You also realize just how little we do know about what lurks down deep as we continue to discover new things all the time.  At the same time, I don't think I am in any rush to go down there.  It sounds incredible but really if things go bad, you don't have many options.  

Rollins bases his story on real science, so there is always a hint of "this could actually happen" when you are reading.  This time, I really hope he is wrong because uff.  It was stressful.  Incorporating the rainbow serpent concept was very cool.  I knew a little already and ended up doing a deeper dive (pun intended) to learn more.  

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Review: The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History

The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History by A. Rae Dunlap
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History by A. Rae Dunlap from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley.  The book is available now!

The Resurrectionist: A Twisty Gothic Mystery of Dark Scottish History by A. Rae Dunlap takes you into a history of medical science that some people don't realize existed.  In order to make advancements in medicine, doctors and medical schools needed bodies.  But for religious reasons, many people were not willing to donate their body or the body of a loved one to the medical community.  This led to body snatching.  It seems like an unsavory profession, but it was a necessary evil.  This story delves into that world and the cut-throat competition for corpses.  It is also a love story.  Didn't see that coming, did you?  If you like dark history, check this out!

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Review: How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training

How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training by Annie Grossman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training by Annie Grossman from Sourcebooks via NetGalley.  It should be available to the public on September 10, 2024

How to Train Your Dog with Love + Science: A Dog Lover's Guide to Animal Behavior and Positive Reinforcement Training by Annie Grossman is a good introduction to dog training.  There are some basic exercises you can do to start a foundation for training your dog.  More than anything, this book provides a good description of positive reinforcement training and how it differs from other dog training methods. This is really great for people who might be new to dog training or might be struggling to train a dog.  Even though my dog has been through training, I picked up a few tips.

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Review: Unnatural Death

Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unnatural Death is the 27th book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.  You could pick up here, but at 27 books, there is a lot of history.  Still, even if you don't know all that history, you can enjoy this book.

It just happened that I toured the Cook County Medical Examiner's office at the same time as I was reading this.  It gave me a whole new perspective on the Kay Scarpetta series.  You never quite forget that decomposition smell.  I will think of it every time I read one of these.  This book added a new twist with a special government lab and Sasquatch???  We are also set up for another book, so get to reading!  

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Review: The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery is the account of the author's experiences meeting various octopuses and the impact they had on the people around them.  I learned a few new things about octopuses along the way, but this isn't the book to read if you just want octopus facts.  I'm far more interested in learning how other species choose to interact with the world, in particular with humans.  Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, people still choose to believe that animals don't think or feel just because we can't understand their methods of communication.  If animal consciousness interests you, you should enjoy this book.

Please be aware that some of the octopuses featured in this book were/are held in captivity.  That can raise other philosophical questions for people and may impact your enjoyment of the content.  

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Review: Perimenopause Power: Navigating your hormones on the journey to menopause

Perimenopause Power: Navigating your hormones on the journey to menopause by Maisie Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you were born with a uterus, Perimenopause Power: Navigating your hormones on the journey to menopause by Maisie Hill is a great introduction to why your body is suddenly betraying you as your approach middle age.  This book really breaks down everything aspect of the menstrual cycle, how they change, and why it is important to understanding the symptoms you may be experiencing.  It also includes a number of non-prescription methods of dealing with symptoms.  It is written in an accessible style and doesn't come across as a reference book.

A couple of caveats.  Maisie Hill is based in the United Kingdom.  She references things available there that may not be available in other countries.  She does try to mention some alternative brands that may be more universally available.  Something that might be cheap or free in the UK is not necessarily so in the US so do your research!  Also, she is a big proponent of using hormones to treat perimenopause but not necessarily through contraceptives.  She lays out her case for why it is safer than you think.  However, many doctors will still caution you about long term use, especially if you have mild symptoms.  Bottom line: find a health professional you trust and work with them based on your unique circumstances to find solutions that work for you.  

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Review: What Fresh Hell Is This?: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You

What Fresh Hell Is This?: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You by Heather Corinna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you were born with uterus or will experience menopause at some point in your life, you owe it to yourself to get educated.  What Fresh Hell is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You by Heather Corinna is great is you are pissed off (especially at the patriarchy) and/or maybe don't fit into a neat box of the type of person who would experience menopause.  I am fortunate to have found a doctor who understands perimenopause but many don't.  You might not ever realize that it is what you are going through until you've been suffering for a very long time.  The problem is many of the signs of perimenopause overlap with, well, everything else.  This book can help you start to identify what might be perimenopause or menopause versus everything else.  It is also going to offer you some basic options for dealing with the myriad of things being thrust upon you.  

What I found most helpful about this book is Heather is angry.  Were you born with a uterus and find that you suddenly have RAGE ALL THE TIME?  Did you think it is because we are living in a dumpster trash fire world?  It might be, or it might be perimenopause.  Heather gets you.  

Think you are too young to read a book about menopause?  Think again because it will creep up on you before you know it.

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Review: Livid

Livid by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Livid is the 26th book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.  I always enjoy these books, so I would recommend reading them all.  If you don't have time for that, you could start from right here.  

This book was very personal for me.  I have a friend who was a victim of Havana Syndrome.  I saw what it did to her, how she has to adapt her life to cope with the after effects, how she suffers.  Ironic that I should pick this book to read the same week another report is released saying it wasn't an attack.  Maybe it wasn't.  It's hard to know someone who went through it and not be skeptical of the official reports.  Thank you Patricia Cornwell for writing a book that gives people an idea of the real suffering someone with Havana Syndrome experiences and also offering a very plausible (and scary) explanation for it.  Someone needed to say it.  

Bonus points for not shying away from talking about COVID in a world that is eager to pretend it never happened.  

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Review: Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach is a fun, scientific look at the paranormal and the possibility of life after death.  While I love her books, I think I am mostly jealous that Mary Roach often gets to try these things out for herself or at least witness the experiments.  I want to be haunted in the name of science!  I learned quite a bit from her book that will take some of the awe out of ghost stories, but I still haven't found an explanation for how, on two separate occasions, my dog and I experienced a "ghost."   If you find the paranormal fascinating or wonder if there is life after death, give this book a read.

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Review: Kingdom of Bones

Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kingdom of Bones is the 16th book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins.  You could read this as a stand-alone, but I love these characters and like seeing how their lives develop over the course of the series.  Still, there is nothing you need to know from previous books that would prevent you from enjoying this one.  If you like your thrillers with some history and science mixed in, the Sigma Force series is always a great choice.

As with any ensemble series, we all develop our favorites.  I was glad to see Kowalski and Monk were back as well as my favorite non-Sigma pair, Tucker and Kane.  When the team is sent to the Congo to help a team of doctors who discovered a mysterious illness plaguing the area, they may finally have met their match.  No spoilers, but some lives are definitely changed forever.  I found myself ugly crying in public toward the end of the book.  We are also introduced to one new, hopefully permanent, member of the series.  

If you are still traumatized by the devastation wrought by COVID, you may want to wait before picking up this book.  It's very engrossing but will scare the living daylights out of you.  

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Review: Autopsy

Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Autopsy is the 25th book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.  You could probably start the series here.  It is a fresh start for Dr. Kay Scarpetta so it could be a fresh start for you.  That said, I've read all the books in order, and I'm glad I have.  I was surprised how the book finished.  It felt different from its predecessors.  That's not a bad thing.  It was just unexpected.  If you are going to write 25 books, you have to mix it up and evolve.

My mom introduced me to this series.  She loved it, and we enjoyed talking about the books together.  She was always looking forward to the next one.  She passed away from COVID last year, and I was very sad to read this book without her.  Patricia Cornwell incorporated COVID into this book, and I have to say I could totally relate to Lucy.  Thanks for addressing something that impacted so many people in a thoughtful way and acknowledging the pain they still deal with.  

Bonus points for including a cat.  Every book is better with an animal character!

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Review: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle written and read by Emily and Amelia Nagoski because that's what was available at my library.  It is the kind of book I would buy though so I could reference it again and again plus I would like access to the worksheets that are mentioned for the audiobook but not available through the library loan.  All of that said, whether you listen to or read it, there is valuable information for women in this book.  While other people may find the advice helpful, the Nagoskis are upfront that they wrote this for a specific audience because that was the audience the science they referenced used.  The biases of scientific research studies is a whole other book.    

I found the informal, conversational style of writing engaging and felt it makes the science feel accessible.  The examples given are simple enough that you don't have to wonder how you will try to make this work in your own life.  This book is not going to solve your problems.  Your life isn't going to be magically better for reading it but maybe it will suck just a little less for the effort.  

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Review: Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons

Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons by George Pendle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rock Scientist John Whiteside Parsons by George Pendle is a great book for people into history, rocket science, and/or sex cults.  John Parsons had a "flare" for explosives.  Without him, we might not have jets, rockets, or space travel.  It's odd now to think that the military had all but given up on rockets until Parsons and his motley crew peaked their interest again.  While his essentially self-taught knowledge of things that go boom would make for a fascinating story by itself, add in his passion for sex magick and things get weird almost as fast as one of his rockets.  He was into a whole different kind of Big Bang Theory.

Bonus points for making me want to visit Pasadena, something I never thought I would say.

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