Tag Archives: biography

The Life of Elizabeth I

Posted on July 18, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Life of Elizabeth I© 1998, 2003 Alison Weir542 pages “She certainly is a great queen […]. Just look how well she governs! She is only a woman, only mistress of half an island, and yet she makes herself feared by Spain, … Continue reading →

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The Lady Elizabeth

Posted on May 15, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Lady Elizabeth© 2008 Alison Weir480 pages “Can you do what you like when you are king? [Elizabeth] asked, a whole new vista of freedom opening up in her mind. “Of course I can,” her father replied. “People have to … Continue reading →

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Nehru: the Invention of India

Posted on April 13, 2010 by smellincoffee

Nehru: the Invention of India© 2003 Shashi Tharoor282 pages  The movie Gandhi introduced me to many of the key figures in India’s independence movement and early political leadership, and beyond Gandhi no man interested me more than the Mahatma’s right … Continue reading →

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Joan of Arc: the Legend and the Reality

Posted on March 16, 2010 by smellincoffee

Joan of Arc: the Legend and the Reality© 1959 Frances Gies306 pages Few historical characters, and no women, are more famous than Joan of Arc. Her name and story are known throughout the world. In the Middle Ages there were … Continue reading →

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American Infidel

Posted on February 28, 2010 by smellincoffee

American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll© Orvin Larson 1962 / republished 1993 by FFRF Inc316 pages Robert Green Ingersoll has long been a personal hero of mine, so when during the course of a class on the Gilded Age I was … Continue reading →

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Into the Wild

Posted on January 21, 2010 by smellincoffee

Into the Wild© 1997 Jon Krakauer207 pages Well over a year ago, perhaps closer to two, a friend of mine asked me if I had heard the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who left society to live off … Continue reading →

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Cicero

Posted on December 9, 2009 by smellincoffee

Cicero: the Life and Times of Rome’s Greatest Politician© 2001 Anthony Everitt359 pages I’ve been intending to read this for a few months now, but other books have always gotten in the way. As I plan on continuing in Robert … Continue reading →

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Robert Ingersoll

Posted on November 12, 2009 by smellincoffee

Robert Ingersoll© 1972 David Anderson141 pages You may have never heard of Robert Ingersoll before, but you’ve probably seen him: I use a portrait of him as my “user picture” here on blogger. As you may be able to guess, … Continue reading →

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Blue Like Jazz

Posted on June 23, 2009 by smellincoffee

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality © 2003 Donald Miller 243 pages In addition to my comparative religion and philosophy studies, I’m also trying to get a handle on why one religion in specific — Christianity — matters … Continue reading →

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Black Holes and Baby Universes

Posted on June 23, 2009 by smellincoffee

Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays © 1993 Stephen Hawking 182 pages Well, this is one book that recquires very little explaination. It’s a book of essays written by Stephen Hawking, most of them being on scientific topics. … Continue reading →

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