Author Archives: J D Jung

A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory -Dr. Jagadish Shukla

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Meteorologist and climate scientist Dr. Jagadish Shukla was a climate-change skeptic for years. What led him to change his mind? He recalls this and his life in his autobiography, A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate … Continue reading

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: From Savagery – Alejandra Banca, Katie Brown (Translator)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Being a migrant means feeding yourself on loss, on what could have been, the infinite possible nuances of that history which will forever remain hidden but present.” Seven million Venezuelan’s left their country since the mid-2010s … Continue reading

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Black as Hell, Strong as Death, and Sweet as Love: A Coffee Travel Guide – Steven P. Unger (Author), Ruth St. Steven (Photographer)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) For those who consider coffee more than just a morning ritual, Black as Hell, Strong as Death, and Sweet as Love is a rich and aromatic journey through time, culture, and continents. Blending travel writing with … Continue reading

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Earth Angel – Madeline Cash

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’m still trying to figure out why I enjoyed Earth Angel so much, and I suspect that might be part of my fascination with this offbeat collection. Seventeen weird, dark stories that seem to pull you … Continue reading

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Your Pasta Sucks: A “Cookbook” – Matteo Lane

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…my romance with pasta has been my longest and best relationship.” What can you expect from a cookbook written by a gay Italian, Irish and Mexican American stand up comedienne from Chicago? Plenty! Matteo Lane writes … Continue reading

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A Carnival of Atrocities – by Natalia García Freire, Translated from the Spanish by Victor Meadowcroft

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   Cocuán, a small town in Ecuador is doomed by a curse. Upon the death of Mildred Capa’s mother and the subsequent abandonment by her father, Mildred was intent on maintaining and working the farm. However, … Continue reading

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The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine – Alexander Vindman

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Without Ukraine, Russia is a country; with Ukraine, it’s an empire.” Without an independent Ukraine we will see an acceleration of authoritarianism. This war is a fight between authoritarianism and democracy. So how did we get … Continue reading

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Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly – Hannah Selinger

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Hannah Selinger graduated from Columbia University but found herself working as a server at a hometown dive. She eventually moved back to New York and found employment at some of the most trendy, high-end restaurants. First … Continue reading

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An UnderratedRead Revisited: The Wishing Pool and Other Stories – Tananarive Due

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   You’ll keep looking over your shoulder as you read these eerie stories of horror, with a little science fiction sprinkled in, in The Wishing Pool and Other Stories. The title piece, “The Wishing Pool” features … Continue reading

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An UnderratedRead Revisited:Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World – Anne Applebaum

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The autocracies want to create a global system that benefits thieves, criminals, dictators, and the perpetrators of mass murder. We can stop them.” Historian and journalist Anne Applebaum, suggests what democracies can do to save their … Continue reading

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