Category Archives: Non-fiction

The Illegals: Russia’s Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West: Shaun Walker

(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) Plenty of people love to read crime novels. Others are fans of true crime. Some tastes tend toward the spy thriller genre. But what about a true spy story? The Illegals, by Journalist Shaun Walker, … Continue reading

Posted in History, Non-fiction, Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lonely Planet Women Travel Solo: 30 Inspiring Stories of Adventure, Curiosity and the Power of Self-Discovery – Lonely Planet

(Reviewed by JD Jung) From traveling solo on a container ship, walking the Camino de Santiago, hiking Mt. Etna, biking from Paris to Geneva, blackwater diving, and so much more, these women relate their experiences traveling alone. Unfortunately, many read … Continue reading

Posted in Non-fiction, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction, World Issues | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory -Dr. Jagadish Shukla

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

Posted in Culture, Food & Cooking, History, Our Best, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black as Hell, Strong as Death, and Sweet as Love: A Coffee Travel Guide – Steven P. Unger (Author), Ruth St. Steven (Photographer)

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

Posted in Culture, Food & Cooking, Humor & Satire, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Your Pasta Sucks: A “Cookbook” – Matteo Lane

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

Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Our Best, Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine – Alexander Vindman

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

Posted in Non-fiction | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly – Hannah Selinger

My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift – Harold Phifer

(Reviewed by JD Jung)     Hal endured a tumultuous upbringing under the cruel hand of his Aunt Kathy. While his mother suffered from severe mental illness, it was Aunt Kathy who had to step in to raise him and … Continue reading

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift – Harold Phifer

Ugliness – Moshtari Hilal, Translated from the German by Elisabeth Lauffer

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   In this deeply personal book, author Moshtari Hilal interweaves memoir, history, and sociology to explore the painful realities of feeling “ugly” in a world that prioritizes symmetry and Eurocentric beauty standards. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan … Continue reading

Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ugliness – Moshtari Hilal, Translated from the German by Elisabeth Lauffer

Dying For Gold: The True Story of the Giant Mine Murders – Lee Selleck & Francis Thompson

(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) This is an exhaustive book…but it needs to be to properly tell the story of one of the worst labor disputes in Canadian history. In the early 1990s, the remote town of Yellowknife, in Canada’s … Continue reading

Posted in History, Non-fiction | Tagged , | Comments Off on Dying For Gold: The True Story of the Giant Mine Murders – Lee Selleck & Francis Thompson