Books Read in 2024

Books are both entertaining and thought provoking.

Fiction

 "Apples Never Fall" (2021) by Liane Moriarty.  Family relations.  Later saw the series.

"James" (2024)  A re-write of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the black slave, Jim.   Read more:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/05/james-better-known-as-jim.html

"Moon of the Turning Leaves"  (2023) by Waubgeshig Rice.  A follow up to "Moon of the Crusted Snow" In the first novel the power has gone out with no explanation and no end.  Many of the readers wanted to know what happens next and the author got motivated.   There is a clash between traditional and modern.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/07/moon-of-turning-leaves-sequel.html

 

 

 

 "Sycamore Row" (2013) by John Grisham.  Well told legal case about a contested will.  Told from a lawyer's viewpoint. 

"The State Counsellor" (1999) by Boris Akunin.  A mystery set in late 19th century Russia.  Depicts government as corrupt and uncaring.

"Hotline" (2022) by Dimitri Nasrallah was a Canada Reads nomination.  An immigrant to Montreal struggles against obstacles.  Ends up as a diet consultant for a telephone program.

 

                        

 

 

The Eight Mountains" (2016) by Paolo Cognetti about a friendship to two men over thirty years.  The main setting was in the Italian Alps, but the title comes from one of the character's trips to the Himalayas.

 

 

 

"The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories" (2016) by Fredrik Backman Three short stories.  Quote:  "...do you forget you've forgotten?    I remember that I've forgotten.  That's the worst of forgetting".

 

 

 

 

"The Bleeds" (2018) by Dmitri  Nashrallah is about a fictionalized middle Eastern country that is corrupt.  He uses the device of having different people tell their story.  Arrogance predominates and justifying  abuses.  An interesting format.

"The Downloaded" (2024) Another excellent science fiction novel by Robert J. Sawyer.  As usual there is much to ponder about our present world.  Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/12/the-downloaded-science-fiction-with.html

 

 

Non-Fiction

"Animal, Vegetable, Junk" subtitled "A History of food from subsistence to Suicidal" (2021) by Mark Bittman. See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/01/food-is-driver-of-civilization.html

 

 

 "How to Know a Person" (2023) David Brooks.  Some helpful advice on learning more of even strangers and even getting their respect.  Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/01/david-brooks-helps-us-to-know-person.html

"Tired of Winning" (2023) by Jonanthan Karl.  Focusing on Donald Trump after 2020.  As disgusting as he continues to be is even more upsetting that so many followers think of him as a hero.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/02/tired-of-winning.html

"Excluded"  (2023) by Richard E. Kahlenberg   Developers are motivated and able to exclude poor people  for housing.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/02/excluded.html

 

"Network of Lies" (2023) I had always assumed Fox was evil and enjoyed tlling lies--more to it.  The basic cause is related to the desire for money.  They tried to cultivate an audience that would follow conservative policies and found the best way was to appeal to racism, homophobia, gun rights and in general against government.  It worked so well, they had to be careful not to offend their listeners.  Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/02/network-of-liars.html

 "Ben-Gurion Prophet of Fire"  (1983).  A key figure in the formation of Israel.  Also useful to better understand Israel itself.

"The Hidden History of Monopolies" (2020) by Thom Hartmann explains how the current unequal system in the U.S. developed.  The wealthy naturally try to ensure grabbing more wealth with less effort.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/05/monopolies.html

"Choosing Donald Trump" (2017).  Explains the mystery of how as an un Christian man he was able to capture the Evangelical vote that put him over the top. http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/06/conservative-christians-as-trump.html

"My Russia War or Peace?"  (2023) by Mikhail Shishkin a Russian living in Germany offers an apology and explanation for Russian (Putin) behavior.  Two quotes:  "The money that flows out of Russia is dirty money".  and addressed to Europe "Putin has made you need his oil like a drug addict". 

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (1956) by Jean-Dominique Bauby.  The author had locked in syndrome.  This book was written by blinking his left eye.  Gives a view of what it feels like.  I had seen the movie several years ago with similar movies.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/10/paralyzed-men-in-4-foreign-movies.html

 "Dark Emu" (2018) by Bruce Pascoe.  Concerned that the aboriginals of Australia do not get credit for their level of civilization as (by definition) other indigenous groups that are colonized.  "all of us must be alert to that greatest to all limitations to wisdom:  the assumption".  and "...having said we are sorry we refuse to say thanks".    see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/10/indigenous-perspective-illustrated-with.html                   

 

 

"Oath and Honor" (2023) by Liz Cheney.  Perhaps the best description of the events surrounding the January 6th insurrection.  It seems incredible that Donald Trump is not in prison and in fact is running for the 2024 presidency.  A travesty of justice is that he got elected.

 "How Basketball Can Change the World" (2023) by Dave Hollander.  Very interesting mix of politics, psychology and sociology.  Its accessibility, affordability and structure have proven useful in a lot of conflict situations.  And to top it is FUN.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/08/how-basketball-might-save-world.html

""These Truths We Hold" (2019) by Kamala Harris written before the Democratic primaries for 2020 where she was first to drop out.  Her values are well represented.  More at:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/09/kamala-harris-truths-we-hold.html

 

 

"Leading with Questions" (3rd edition 2023) by MichaelJ. Marquardt & Bob Tiede.  Aimed at business leaders, but relevant for personal relationships.  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/09/questioning-much-under-used-tool.html

"Nexus" (2024) by Yuval Noah Harari.  Deals with information evolution up to AI.     Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/10/nexus.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Intervention Earth" (2024) by Gwynne Dyer is an insightful look at climate change and how we might deal with it.  The author after interviewing over a hundred climate change  scientists concludes that we are already past stopping climate change with reducing emissions.  The solution must come from geo-engineering and the world will have to untangle global politics.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/10/intervention-earth.html

 

 

 

 

 

"Knife" (2024) by Salmon Rushdie.  At a literary event Rushdie had been viciously stabbed 15 times presumably as a fulfillment of a fatwa more than 20 years ago.  As an author initially under shock he felt he could not write another book until he dealt with this.  Much of the book is details of his recovery, but also reminisces about meeting his wife and other odds and ends.  One detail got my attention is that he too went to the Sistine Chapel and had been told no photos, but nonetheless took some as Sharon, my wife and I did not too long ago.

"War"(2024) by Bob Woodward.  Too bad more Americans hadn't read this before their recent election and they might have avoided a disaster.  Covers some of the behind the scenes decision regarding Ukraine, Palestine and other crisis points.

 

 

 

 

 

"The New Tourist" (2024) by Paige McClanahan.  Some thoughts and experiences to help make tourism more meaningful for an individual and better for the environment (and world peace).  Mark Twain, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.  Broad, wholesome charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one corner of earth all one's lifetime." 

"Zelensky A Biography" (2022) by Serhii Rudenko.  Covers mostly up to the Russian Invasion.  Critical of Zelensky, but credits him dealing with the Russians.  Putin is pictured as a very evil man

"Empty Planet" (2019) by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson.  Focus is on declining fertility rate and its repercussions.    http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/12/empty-planet.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can check my reading for 2023 here:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/12/books-read-in-2023.html