Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Human Errors

Posted on October 6, 2026 by smellincoffee

To err is human,  they say, but  at some point we can’t help it: we were born flawed,  a conviction shared by both biology and the good book. Nathan Lents’ Human Errors looks at the frailties of the human body … Continue reading →

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To Infinity…..and Beyond!

Posted on October 5, 2026 by smellincoffee

To Infinity and Beyond is a dramatic title for a collection of science facts organized by scale. We open with a chapter on baseballs and rockets in the atmosphere, zoom out to the solar system, where Tyson talks about how … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Fishing with Herbert and Grover

Posted on October 3, 2026 by smellincoffee

So, I ran into Fishing for Fun and to Wash Your Soul, and I kinda had to read it. I’m not much of an angler, but I enjoy reading outdoor works like those of Robert Ruark and was curious as … Continue reading →

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The Outlier

Posted on October 1, 2026 by smellincoffee

When I read the American Presidents treatment of Jimmy Carter,  I knew right away I wanted more. Not because his presidency was hugely impactful, but he struck me as such an odd personality I wanted to ponder him more.  I … Continue reading →

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1932: Franklin and Adolf

Posted on September 29, 2026 by smellincoffee

I’m afraid 1932 won’t get much of a review because frankly, it exhausted me. It’s the story of two men who were rising to national leadership on their respective sides of the pond in the same year – two men … Continue reading →

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Grandpa Harrison, President for a Month

Posted on September 22, 2026 by smellincoffee

Before I began this reading project, there was a short file in my head of presidents who governed too short a season, or who were too undistinguished, to merit thinking about. I did not know that Chester Arthur had anything … Continue reading →

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The Hoover Experience

Posted on September 21, 2026 by smellincoffee

When I opened this book, I had some faint appreciation of Herbert Hoover as an accomplished engineer and disaster-relief organizer, a man who intervened after Black Thursday far more than is generally known, and who is unfairly blamed for the … Continue reading →

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Keep Cool with Coolidge!

Posted on September 18, 2026 by smellincoffee

Calvin Coolidge has long been one of my favorite presidents; I think as a child I was drawn to his nickname of Silent Cal, with its reputation for taciturnity; later on, I respected his approach to government — keep the … Continue reading →

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Benjamin “I’m More than the Guy Between Cleveland Terms” Harrison

Posted on September 17, 2026 by smellincoffee

What do I know about Benjamin Harrison? Well, he was a core part of the Cleveland Hero Sandwich, the thin bit of meat between two enormous Cleveland halves. And his granddaddy was president for a month before dying and giving … Continue reading →

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Jimmy

Posted on September 16, 2026 by smellincoffee

What do I know about Jimmy Carter? Carter is, interestingly, the first president who ever appeared on Reading Freely. I read his Peace Not Apartheid and Our Endangered Values in the very early months of the blog, possibly following up … Continue reading →

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