Snort. Probably sarcasm? That question was catnip. I’ll bite.

First: An essay about reading that’s excellent. Posted link is great, but TLDR just go to Point 12: “Reading is an endurance sport.” Like exercise, it’s a habit that needs to be approached on a regular basis for the best returns. Most books take years to write: you can get the accumulated wisdom from another person who did the hard work over several hours. It’s magic.

https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/how-i-read

Current Sept-Oct finished/almost finished reading list:

“War Business: The Hired Guns of Helmand Province” - Matthew Brunnemann (Good for GWOT first hand accounts. Enjoyed it. Probably boring for those who served there at the grunt level. Easy and short read.)

“The Virginia Dynasties” - Clifford Downey 1977. Definitely niche stuff. Do not rec unless your roots are from the old south.

“Sunburst: The Rise of the Japanese Naval Air Power 1909-1941” - Mark Peattie (also niche. Beautiful hardback. Get the 1991 hardback edition on eBay. Good enough just to skim and learn some WWII naval lore. Everyone knows about Japanese carrier fire-suppression problems; I never knew the US built carriers to store planes on the deck with folding wings = more planes and the Japanese built them to be stored below deck w/o folding wings. Very self limiting. Lots of tidbits.)

“Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of WWII” - Keith Lowe. (Don’t read if you’re easily depressed by books)