Review: The Last Emperor of Mexico: The Dramatic Story of the Habsburg Archduke Who Created a Kingdom in the New World

The Last Emperor of Mexico: The Dramatic Story of the Habsburg Archduke Who Created a Kingdom in the New World by Edward Shawcross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Most history books tend to be firmly ensconced in their own time and place. A history book about George Washington will mention Europe a lot, but only with regards to how it affects the US, and vice versa.

This book, however, seems to amalgamate different eras (from Habsburg families to shoot 'em ups) and places (Europe to the Americas and back several times over).

Throughout it all is Maxmillian and his wife Charlotte, the Spanish, the French and Mexicans and Americans and more.

I'm not sure how much will stick with me, since it is full of facts and interesting tidbits, but it is definitely an interesting read.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant

The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant by Tae Kim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An intriguing peek into Jensen Huang's life and career in Nvidia. As a first book into this man, this is quite thorough (at least thus far). I may have to re-read this just to glean the business lessons that can be learned from him.

Living in Taiwan, I see him idolized quite often, so I wanted to get to know the man, flaws and all, but I have to say I admire even his "flaws", if you want to call them that.

All in all a great informative read.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine

Enzo Ferrari: The Man and the Machine by Brock Yates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very in-depth look into Ferrari's life and his work, sometimes literally race by race. Enthralling to learn about the "dark" side of Enzo, and how little anything outside of racing really mattered to him (although ultimately it seems like all of this was as a means to boost his own status). Regardless, while I got lost at points in the myriad races and engineering aspects and old racers, I found it very informative.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor

Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor by Donald J. Robertson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was at once remarkable for those of us who read Meditations, and infuriating for those of us who read Memoirs of Hadrian. I was actually quite surprised to find out what a bad emperor Hadrian was, at least in the latter part of his life.

I do wish it had gone a bit more in depth, but one gets the feeling that the author did not have much material to work with, delving into much of the surrounding history as well.

Still, I'm sure there is more information available that could turn this into a full-fledged biography. As it is, it's a great primer.


3.5 stars


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/



View all my reviews

Review: Buddha

Buddha by Karen Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A reconstruction of a man's life who, as the author states at the beginning, has almost nothing verifiable written about his life. Who, in fact, made it a point of stating that his life was not a special one and deserved no special recognition.

Given that, it is impressive what she can tell us about his life.

Some quite unexpected points, such as the alleged misogyny and how he may have been murdered, but at the same time this book made him much more relatable and human.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: Lives Like Loaded Guns: Emily Dickinson and Her Family's Feuds

Lives Like Loaded Guns: Emily Dickinson and Her Family's Feuds by Lyndall Gordon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emily Dickinson could probably never have imagined the century-long drama her poetry would spark. 

This book has it all: adultery, inheritance, multi-generational family feuds, ultra-religiosity, editing of original documents, 'canceling', etc. 

Fair warning: this book also has more 'Dickinson' than 'Emily'. While the first half is a biography of the poet's life, and covers her reclusiveness, possible epilepsy, relations with her family (including Sue), the second half is where the book really seems to get going.

View all my reviews

Review: The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932 by William Manchester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's amazing how much information we have about Churchill. Much of this biography is day-by-day and even minute-by-minute details of conversations, decisions, etc. Regardless, a very interesting book. I look forward to reading the other two. 

And honestly my favorite part may have been reading about his retorts and one-liners. 

View all my reviews

Review: The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel

The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel by Kati Marton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm extremely glad this book was written. 

First of all, I should mention that the author seems to be quite pro-Merkel, and every now and then she slips into 1st person asides (usally in the footnotes, but not always, although I pretty much always found them informative). 

However, there is no denying she is an extraordinary person and that, without her, not only Germany, but all of Europe (and perhaps the world) would be in a very different state. She has been the voice of moderation, while demagoguery has been popping up left and right (literally, as in with Russia, China, and the US). 

This book takes us from her East German upbringing and formation as a scientist, through her political career, and the author obviously has had plenty of access to Merkel and her inner circle (at least, as much as can be said for someone as private as Merkel is). 

Now I just need someone to write a similar book about Tsai Ying-Wen...

View all my reviews

Review: Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe

Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite a good book about a momentous voyage and an interesting man. I mean, more than anything he seems to be in the right place at the right time. He was obviously quite a good sailor (the method in which the 4 other boats were going to mutiny against his boat, and he was able to turn it around in his favor was very impressive). However, as a human he seems pretty terrible. Between capturing the natives in South America, being completely back-handed with them all over, and finally letting everything going to his head at the very end, you can't help concluding he sort of deserved the end he got (ambushed and kills by locals in the Philippines, and possibly betrayed by his own men). 

However, the voyage itself was quite momentous, and it is interesting to see how ill-fated pretty much all of its crew were. 

View all my reviews