Not everyone's cup of tea, but if economics/geopolitical history is an interest one may consider:
"Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present"
by Fareed Zakaria, 2024

In the first half he focuses on 3 past revolutions:
The revolution of liberalism in The Netherlands which eventually was exported to England, and it became theirs.
The French Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution, first in England, then it's second phase in the USA.

The second half is devoted to 20th century on, with most focusing on recent times which he defines as a revolutionary period.
This revolution is the 250 year old divide of Left vs Right changing to what Tony Blair referred to as "open versus closed".
" Those who celebrate markets, trade, immigration, diversity,...are on one side while those who view all these forces with some suspicion and want to close, slow, or shut them down are on the other."
That quote from the introduction sums up the narrative.

Since I personally am a proponent of globalization, international law/institutions, and the rules-based order I found myself usually in agreement with Zakaria's main themes. Only some occasional differences on specifics.
Those who favor a more closed world order, or world of autarkic countries, will probably not enjoy it as much.

Since the book covers a lot of ground it obviously is focused on concepts. (example he covers the economic phenomena of the Great Divergence in a page or two. I have a socio/economics book whose entirety is for just that specific event)
It isn't nitty-gritty detail, so it makes for a quick read. More enjoyable than a textbook because it focuses on ideas rather than graphs and statistics.

 

If there's a Stan here who got a copy of Airline without a Pilot autographed in 2006, I just bought your book online. If anyone got more DL history related books I'm all ears.

 

The Inside Line by Rob Andrews

A book by a retired racer doing the 500cc Motocross world championships in the 1980s.

He had more of a working class upbringing than most of his competitors and the book is written from that experience of being a dude with secondhand bikes and gear, working his way up to and competing at the highest level.

I've met Rob a few times at races and industry events (my wife works for a race team) and thought "this guy should write a book" and he did.

 

You ever think that when you look in the mirror?

 

No. Nobody would want to read a book on a redneck truck drivers kid who to put racing into baseball terms was a decent AA / Mediocre AAA player who went to college mainly to understand dirtbike suspension, and whose military aviation career was mostly accidental and other than a couple of exciting nights flying, was basically a **** show.

Rob was, in baseball terms good enough to be a starter on the Yankees when they won a couple World Series. Vs someone who was a starting ShortStop for the Sussex County Miners and got called up to the WooSox (Boston's AAA team) only when the starter was injured. Both technically pros, but way different levels.

 

Creative license sells a lot of books. Get a ghost (cyborg/AI) writer. It could also be a collection of short stories. You've done most of the writing already.

 

Seems today-times relevant. Read it in 2020. (written in 2018). But it's best read with the mindset of someone in 2018, looking at its philosophy as it's being applied today.

"Rise and Kill First: Targeted Assassinations" by Ronen Bergman.

This is a book hagiography, not a critique. So, "golf clap", I guess.

https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Kill-Fir.../dp/1400069718

(Readily available at most libraries. Reminds me of that line from that b-grade cheesy movie "Army of Darkness". "Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun." )

 

Delta,
Would you be willing to share what you are currently engaged in reading?

 

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)

 

First, definitely not sarcasm.
I hope to reply when have the time.
I expected an eclectic list. Was not disappointed.
(And who doesn't love to talk about a passionate interest?)