Second Quarter Review

It was a good quarter to read some great books.

April, May, and June were really great reading months for me.

I got through a bunch of excellent books, including a few chunky ones, and wanted to share a quick roundup using a simple YES / NO / MAYBE system. I’ll break it down by month.

Quick shoutout to my absolute favorites this quarter: Challenger by Adam Higginbotham and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I can’t recommend these two enough. Seriously, read them.

April

• How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr (4.0) — YES
  This book really opened my eyes to the U.S. territories and how the people living there have been treated—both historically and today.

• The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe (4.0) — MAYBE
  If you’re into space history and the early astronaut selection process, it’s worth it. But it does get a little bogged down in details at times.

• They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer (4.0) — MAYBE
  I liked it overall, but after sitting with it, I realized a big issue: the author draws broad conclusions from a group of men in one of the most conservative regions of Germany, which doesn’t represent the whole country.

• Spice by Roger Crowley (3.5) — MAYBE
  I thought this would focus more on how spices impacted the 16th-century economy. Instead, it leaned more into Spain and Portugal’s conquest of the Spice Islands. Still informative, just not what I expected.

May

• Powers and Thrones by Dan Jones (5.0) — YES
  Dan Jones nails it again. A perfect starting point for anyone curious about medieval history—super engaging and packed with info.

• Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty (4.0) — MAYBE
  Not for everyone. It’s about death and cremation—interesting, but the subject matter itself might not appeal to all readers.

• Four Red Sweaters by Lucy Adlington (4.75) — YES
  A heartbreaking, powerful Holocaust story told through the eyes of four women who survived thanks to their knitting skills. Incredible perspective.

• A New World Begins by Jeremy Popkin (4.5) — YES
  A really well-done overview of the French Revolution. Popkin blends historical depth with storytelling, which made this one stand out.

• Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick (5.0) — YES
  Through interviews with North Korean defectors, Demick paints a vivid, heartbreaking picture of life in North Korea. Eye-opening and deeply human.

• All the President’s Men by Woodward & Bernstein (4.5) — MAYBE
  If you’re into political scandals, this is a classic. Nothing totally new if you know the Watergate story, but still very relevant today.

• The Women by Kristin Hannah (4.5) — YES
  A historical fiction take on women in the Vietnam War. It’s emotional and necessary. A great starting point to dive deeper into the history of women nurses during the war.

• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (5.0) — YES
  Probably the best book I’ve ever read. It’s beautifully written, with unforgettable characters and a vivid setting. If you like character-driven stories, read this.

June

• Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler (4.0) — YES
  Written over 25 years ago, but still eerily relevant. Butler was truly ahead of her time.

• The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel by Douglas Brunt (4.75) — YES
  Fascinating mix of mystery, history, and true crime. If you’ve ever wondered about the man behind the diesel engine, this is worth the read.

• The Wager by David Grann (4.0) — YES
  A gritty, gripping survival story on the high seas in the 1700s, based on journals and conflicting testimonies. Wild stuff.

• Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (5.0) — YES
  Even if you know what happened to the Challenger, this book brings the tragedy to life in a powerful way. It’s heartbreaking but incredibly well done.

• Old White Man Writing by Joshua Gidding (3.75) — MAYBE
  A quirky and reflective memoir on race, privilege, politics, and grief. The title is a bit jarring, but it’s a thoughtful read overall.