Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

The Betrayal of the American Right

Posted on January 27, 2022 by smellincoffee

The Betrayal of the American Right© 2007 Murry Rothbard231 pages When I began exploring politics and forging my own ideas, I steered leftward out of hatred for the war on terror and Bush’s burgeoning police state. I soon discovered, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Of astronomy and nuclear arms

Posted on January 22, 2022 by smellincoffee

This week has seen the fall of two TBR titles that double as my first science reads for 2022. StarTalk Radio is a podcast hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and features interviews with prominent scientists, policy makers, etc, along with … Continue reading →

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On horses, septic tanks, and roving Spainards

Posted on January 14, 2022 by smellincoffee

I began the year by returning to a favorite subject of mine: horses! The Equine Legacy is a history of not only horses in America, but donkeys and mules, from the Age of Discovery to just after the Great War. … Continue reading →

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

The Judge’s List

Posted on January 13, 2022 by smellincoffee

In 2016, John Grisham introduced readers to the fictional Board of Judicial Conduct, a political organization in Florida providing oversight for Florida’s judges, fining them for showing up to work drunk or talking about current cases at Rotary Club meetings.  … Continue reading →

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The way of men – pagan and Christian

Posted on January 10, 2022 by smellincoffee

Late last year I re-read Jack Donovan’s The Way of Men, written for identifying what it means to be a man, and what men need and want. Donovan argues that men are largely driven by the need for the respect … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion and Philosophy, Reviews, Society and Culture | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Brothers and Friends

Posted on January 6, 2022 by smellincoffee

Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of Major Warren Hamilton Lewis© 1981 Warren Lewis, ed. Clyde S. Kilby and Marjorie Mead301 pages Reading of C.S. Lewis’ life and letters, I often encounter his brother Warnie Lewis, and regard him with complete … Continue reading →

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No Domain: The John McAfee Tapes

Posted on January 4, 2022 by smellincoffee

No Domain: The John McAfee Tapes© 2021 Mark Eglinton271 pages When the talking heads begin rattling on about notable deaths of 2021, they will mention all manner of useless, uninteresting people — politicians, athletes, pop musicians. They will not mention … Continue reading →

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A southern trilogy: Rick Bragg’s folks

Posted on December 30, 2021 by smellincoffee

All Over but the Shoutin’ is perhaps Rick Bragg’s most well-known work, beginning a trilogy that, in its focus on one family in the early and mid-20th century,   takes readers into the generally ignored territory of the poor white working class of the South.   … Continue reading →

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Wide open spaces: riding with state troopers and a British lass

Posted on December 26, 2021 by smellincoffee

Goals and ambitions disappear in the glow of Christmas lights, lost in the end-year hubbub and reflection. I’ve been taking it easy by reading a couple of on-the-job memoirs, one by a Nevada state trooper and the other by a … Continue reading →

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The Speckled Beauty

Posted on December 16, 2021 by smellincoffee

The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and his People© 2021 Rick Bragg256 pages There’s no bond like that between a boy and his dog – except, maybe, that of an old man and his dog.   Rick Bragg never meant to adopt “Speck”, the mangy and … Continue reading →

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