My Review | Digital Minimalism
The author telling you how to improve your life through using social media and all digital technology less has never had a social media account. That’s like someone who has never had a Laughing Lab telling you how bad beer is. Continue reading
My Review | Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
This book is about an architectural feat of biblical proportions. I always wonder, “how the hell did they do that amazing thing (fill in the blank) way back then.” This book is all about that. Back then during the Renaissance, the city officials made decisions sort of backasswards. They started with a ‘vision’ of how the church dome would go. They wanted something impressive, a real conversation starter, and that conversation would be how Florence was the greatest city on the flat Earth. Continue reading
My Review | Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You
This book is aimed at 15-year-olds, who traditionally have been fed a whites-only version of our history in the American school system, but everyone could benefit. History as fable or propaganda is not history. We all need all of the facts and this book tells us a fuller history of America and the many racist ideas the country has supported and pursued. Continue reading
My Review | Gentlemen of the Road
I’ve been a fan of Michael Chabon for years. With “Gentlemen of the Road” I liked the characters, but Chabon used a lot of words and names that I did not recognize, like shatranj (chess), pogrom (riot), bek (general), Arsiyah (Muslim mercenaries), Radanite and mahout (elephant rider). That made it difficult for me to follow. Continue reading
My Review | The Moth Presents Occasional Magic
The title says it all. These stories are unbelievable, but true-life stories, told by real people on stage in front of an audience at live storytelling events from The Moth. I loved this compilation of true and inspirational stories that remind you that everyone has a backstory, everyone is dealing with something and most people are more than meets the eye. Continue reading
My Review | The Dharma Bums
This is the story of a bunch of guys without jobs, drinking, hiking and writing poetry. The characters embrace a simpler and more spiritually-meaningful lifestyle and I’m certainly down with that. Set in the mid-1950s, the lead character, Ray Smith is on the road to Buddhist enlightenment with his good friend Japhy Ryder. Continue reading
Snyder’s of the Old Pueblo in the Wild West
I thought Charlie wasn’t writing a letter this year. Continue reading





