Swift | Silent | Deadly


Book Reviews


James Bond Night School Reading List

Since childhood I (and probably you) have fantasized about being a “competent man.” A competent man is good at everything – a Jason Bourne, MacGyver, Jack Reacher, or James Bond. He can seduce a woman, talk his way into anywhere, pick a lock, and operate any firearm at a high level. The competent man is in shape, can drive fast, speak foreign languages, and survive in the woods. Sadly, not all of us can be a secret agent. Most of us can find the time to read a book here and there. I give you the “James Bond Night School” reading list.

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Hate Inc.: A Pretty Important Book

This week I finished Hate, Inc.: Why Today’s Media Makes us Despise One Another by Matt Taibbi. This is probably one of the most important books I’ve read in a long time. It explains how the media has divided us into two groups that are easy marks for advertisers. This is how media companies get rich reporting the “news.” It also explains the terrible cost of this wealth-building strategy.

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My Favorite Books: Drugs Edition

I have been reading like crazy this year…at least compared to the last five or so years. Recently I have been reading about a lot of illicit substances. There are some fascinating books out there about these compounds and today I’m going to recommend a few of them. This is another updated post, but I have added a LOT to it. I continue to read about drugs and drug prohibition, and continue to be surprised. I strongly encourage you to read a few of these books.

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My Favorite Books, Part I

At the time of writing we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope many of you are using your newfound time to read some books. If you’re looking for something to read, I am going to offer some of my favorite books, and I’ll keep this series going, hopefully well into the future.

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Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez

Earlier this year Greg Ellifritz posted his Best Reading of 2019. If a person who reads 10-15 books a month likes a book enough to put it in an annual “best of” list, it’s probably worth my time to check out. I’ve been making my way through that list, along with other stuff that catches my eye. Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez is one of the best fiction books I’ve read in a very long time and it will probably appeal to a lot of you.

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