PETER FLOM'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2016

[Peter]

Donna wrote: "Peter wrote: " DECEMBER

66. by James Traub (no image)
Finish date: December 1, 2016
Genre: Biography/history
Rating: A-
Rev..."

Thanks Donna. JQA didn't do a great job as president, but as congressman he was awesome.

[Jill]

I'm sure that living in the shadow of his father was a hard thing for him,

[Peter]

Jill wrote: "I'm sure that living in the shadow of his father was a hard thing for him,"

His father wasn't an easy man to be the son of. And JQA was an even harder man to be the son of.

[Peter]

67. by Barry Eisler
Finish date: December 2, 2016
Genre: Thriller
Rating: A-
Review: The third in the John Rain series, in this one, Rain, a Japanese-American assassin, is hired to kill a middle eastern arms merchant. Things get complicated.

[Peter]

68. by Robert B. Parker
Finish date: Dec 4, 2016
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A
Review: Another in the Spenser series.

When a resident of one of Boston's worst housing project, known as the "Double Deuce" because its address is 22 Hobart Street, asks Hawk to get the gangs out of the project, he gets help from Spenser.

In this one, we get to know a lot more about the enigmatic Hawk, which is interesting.

[Peter]

69. by Anthony Gottlieb
Finish date: Dec 9, 2016
Genre: History, philosophy
Rating: A-
Review: The first of a multivolume history of philosophy (two written so far), this is a really good survey of the field from its origins to the renaissance. Gottlieb is very well read and he does an excellent job of making the thoughts of philosophers clear without dumbing them down.

I am looking forward to the second volume.

[Peter]

70. by Jonny Garrett (no image)
Finish date: December 16, 2016
Genre: Beer
Rating: B-
Review: This is a short book covering the basic aspects of beer making, storing and serving. It's kind of amusing (deliberately) and not bad, but the same information is available in lots of places, with more detail.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Great adds Peter. And some good reviews too.

[Peter]

Bentley wrote: "Great adds Peter. And some good reviews too."
Thanks! Maybe i will read 100 in 2017!

[Peter]

71. by Philipp Blom
Finish date: December 19, 2016
Genre: History, philosophy
Rating: A-
Review: The name of Baron Thiery d'Holbach probably doesn't ring bells for a lot of people. The name of Denis Diderot rings more, but mostly as an editor of the Encyclopedie. Yet these two men, and a few of their colleagues, came up with ideas that were extremely radical for th mid-18th century and that have striking relevance today.

This book is an excellent summary of their lives and thoughts and ought to give rise to more interest in the radical Enlightenment.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

That is a great goal Peter - I would like to find the time to read more too.

[Peter]

72. by Naomi Novik
Finish date: December 19, 2016
Genre: Science fiction/fantasy/history
Rating: B+
Review: Napoleon has conquered much of Europe and threatens to invade England. Nelson is the greatest admiral alive. There are battles at places like Trafalgar. So far, this all sounds like history but .... LET THERE BE DRAGONS!

Novik adds dragons to the Napoleonic era. She wisely refrains from attempting any explanation of how dragons stay in the air, spit fire, spit acid and so on. The result is a lot of fun.

[Peter]

73. by Barry Eisler
Finish date: December 25, 2016
Genre: Thriller
Rating: B
Review: Another in the John Rain series. In this one, he is hired by the Mossad to kill a terrorist, But complications ensue.