Two more book reviews….
Bill Bryson has always been fascinated by overlooked details, and his books are filled with fun anecdotal stories that make the reader smile. His travel books are tremendous and have always been my favorite of this genre. Unfortunately, his latest book At Home doesn’t have the same appeal. It’s classic Bryson in many ways, but ultimately it’s about topics and issues that are simply boring. He starts with a clever idea: identify things in his home that are unusual or unexplained, then do the research to figure it out. Examples of this include why there are four buttons on the sleeve of a suit coat, why do we have salt and pepper on the table but not any other common spice, the history of the lawnmower, wigs and makeup … and so on. There are parts that are hilarious and insightful, but a bunch that is simply dull. I’m glad I read this book. But I can’t recommend it to others.
Lastly, I read Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power by Robert Kaplan. I enjoyed this book, but this is not an easy read. It’s detailed, delves into the history and culture of a region of the world most of us know little about, and outlines why our lack of knowledge of that region could harm our geopolitical interests. Kaplan argues that the Indian Ocean is going to be the center of most political drama (and continued military conflict) for the foreseeable future. Wars, famine, political maneuvering, the rise of India and China, the rise of trade, and the future of democracy are all weaved through the Indian Ocean. That not only seems obvious after reading this book, but deeply concerning. The book is a must read for anybody that wants to be informed about America’s international dealings.