| Title |
Author |
Rating |
Comments |
|
In Order To Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom |
Yeonmi Park |
 |
|
| Otherlands |
Thomas Halliday |
|
|
| How to Change Everything (Private) |
Naomi Klein and Rebecca Stefoff |
|
|
| Don't Be Evil: The Case Against Big Tech |
Rana Foroohar |
|
|
| Stories We Tell Ourselves: Making Meaning in a Meaningless Universe |
Richard Holloway |
|
|
| The Dispossessed |
Ursula K. le Gruin |
|
|
| Agency |
William Gibson |
|
|
| Mrs Bridge |
Evan S. Connell |
|
Heard this was good. Not impressed, though it did seem to describe like in middle class US in the 30's in a credible way from a "housewife's" perspective |
| The Places Inbetween |
Rory Stewart |
|
Very well written. Covers his foot journey through Afghanistan |
| Superintelligence |
Nick Bostrom |
|
Rambling and boring. |
| How They Broke Britain |
James O'Brien |
|
This broadcaster has his finger on the pulse of the country, hardly makes any mis-moves, though he is often very wordy. In this latest book he lists many of the major problems and their causes. Such a shame so little looks to change. |
| Reykjavik |
Ragnar Jonasson and Katrin Jakobsdottir |
|
A thriller co-written by the prime minister of Iceland. A passable yarn, at the very least a good use of lockdown time. The translation to english is quite old-fashioned and at times just cute. |
| The Entrepreneral State |
Mariana Mazzucato |
|
An excellent read showing how it would be possible to change the focus of economics away from the disaster on neoliberal capitalism, bassed on examples. There is also an excellent video of her being interviewed by Joe. |
| The Big Con |
Mariana Mazzucato and Rosie Collington |
|
A detailed analysis of the emergence of the "consulting" industry. One which is taking billions out of our economies. Another way the finance industry is wrecking us and the planet. There is a really good John Oliver video on this. |
| Zauber der Stille: Caspar David Friedrichs |
Florian Illies |
|
A new biography, very well written |
| The Courageous State: Rethinking Economics, Society and the Role of Government |
Richard Murphy |
|
This accountant, now professor of economics has a detailed analysis of how western economics needs to change after the disaster of the last 40 years. |
| The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam |
Barbara W. Tuchman |
|
An excellent book concerning mis-government. The UK was a lost cause during the empire, and it seems to have reverted to form. |
| Sceens from a Childhood |
Jon Fosse |
|
This year's Nobel Prize for Literature winner. Excellent reflections from a child's perspective. |
| How Do You Live? |
Genzaburo Yoshino |
|
A book about a boy being introduced to philosophy by his uncle. Similar to the Norwegian "Sofie's Wold" from the 90s. Now a major Ghibli film "The Boy and the Heron" from the master animator Hayao Miyazaki. Not very interesting. |
| The Subversive Simone Weil: A Life in Five Ideas |
Robert Zaretsky |
|
An interesting work about the philospohies and life of a committed woman. |
| Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament - and How to Do It |
Chris Bryant |
|
He writes extremely well on the corruption and mis-deeds in the HoC as the head of one of the key committees concerning oversight. As with so many aspects of the UK, a complete mess. |
| Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament - and How to Do It |
Chris Bryant |
|
He writes extremely well on the corruption and mis-deeds in the HoC as the head of one of the key committees concerning oversight. As with so many aspects of the UK, a complete mess. |
| Rememberings |
Sinéad O'Connor |
|
Thought I would check out her life as she died recently. An abused child suffering not just from family, but also the catholic church as so many did in Ireland. She wrote very well, her use of words is unusual and refreshing. |
| Preventable |
Devi Lalita Sridhar |
|
Advisor on health to the Scottish Government. A lonely sensible scientific voice during the Covid pandemic. A clever lady. |
| Lessons in Chemistry |
Bonnie Garmus |
½ |
Very funny. Love the sentiment that women practically always get a raw deal. How many more decades will this be the case? Highly Recommended. |
| An uneasy Inheritance: My Family and ... |
Polly Toynbee |
|
Not easy to read, I don't rate her writing. Some interesting stuff though. |
| Handstands in the Dark |
Janey Godley |
|
Autobiography of a very funny Scot. Life through hard times. |
