Knowledge is Power

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18) Ronnie - Laurie O'Neill.

A bio of Ronnie Kray, one of the infamous Kray Twins of East London back in the 50s/60s. Found it interesting as I know a lot of the places referred to.

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19) Chocolat - Johanne Harris.

I did not enjoy this as I'm not a big fan of magic realism.

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20) A Quantum Murder - Peter F.Hamilton.

My favourite sci-fi writer delivers again! This was written in 1994. Some of his thoughts on what the future would be like in 2005 and 2040 are interesting.

I smiled when the butler came to tell the rich mogul that there was a phone call coming through on the house phone. It is 2040. She should have a mobile hardwired in to her brain!

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21) Flashman - George MacDonald Fraser.

"Flashman" is the first in the Flashman series. About a year ago I read "Flashman in the Great Game". "Flashman" was better and a great intro to the series. Hoping to find more of these.

These books are historical novels putting Flashman, a fictional coward and bully, in various situations where he comes out looking the hero. The books are written from his point of view as a 90+ year old looking back unashamedly on what he did. He brushes shoulders with various historical figures so these can be taken as a history lesson as well as a humorous read.

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22) Notes from a big country - Bill Byrson

A collection of columns which Byrson wrote for an English paper over 3 years following his move back to the USA. He provides witty observations on everday life and much comparison between life in the UK vs the USA.

A good fun read.

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23) Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle - Tom Venuto.

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24) Cityboy - Geraint Anderson

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25) The Complete Book of Dreams - Julia & Derek Parker

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26) 50 Facts that should change the World - Jessica Williams

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So, I managed 26 books in 2009 - exactly half of what I was aiming for. Now, on to 2010.

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1) Brawn - Stuart McRobert

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2) You can run but you can't hide - Dog The Bounty Hunter (Duane Chapman).

The autobio of the man himself. Interesting read as I've seen a good few episodes of his show over recent months. He is some dude for popping out the kids!

He has 12!

Bits of it are pretty sad too.

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3) Survival of the Fittest - Mike Stroud.

Really enjoyed this --> tales of human physical achievements and endurance, along with theories of evolution behind why we are the way we are.... and why we can handle lots of stuff which we don't actually realise based upon our evolution.

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4) Quirkology - Robert Wiseman

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5) Australian Explorers - Robert Coupe

Australian Explorers covers the exploits of Australia’s most memorable land and sea explorers. After an introduction to set the scene, each chapter focuses on the achievements of individual explorers, relating the triumphs, defeats and hardships of their pioneering adventures.

Exactly what I was looking for. 10/10.

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6) Somewhere a Band is Playing - Ray Bradbury

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7) Leviathan '99 - Ray Bradbury

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8) Australians at War: Word War 1 - Robert Hillman

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9) Great Australian Stories: Gallipoli - Robert Hillman

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10) Hitting Home: The Japanese Attack on Sydney 1942 - David Jenkins

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11) Down Under - Bill Bryson

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2014 - 1) Quirkology - Robert Wiseman

I'm resurrecting this reading log after a good 3.5 years break. Aim is to read a book per week again this year. I'll update this with what I've read since the start of 2014 and then hopefully continue updating regularly. Have read a lot in the past 6 months or so. Seem to be hitting a lot of bio's/auto-bios.

I've actually read "Quirkology" above back in 2010. Re-read it whilst waiting for another decent find in the library.

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2014 - 2) Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson

Very informative. Jobs dosen't come across as the most likeable character. Inspiration nonetheless.

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2014 - 3) Pele - The auto-biography by Pele.

He comes across as pretty naieve in the first 3/4s of the book. Placed way too much trust in random people for his business dealings. The last chapter was painful. Full of self promo and he wonders why Brazil dosen't have a museum dedicated to him. He compares himself to Martin Luther King (plus someone else - who slips my mind) who in the USA have his own museums. Yeah... but they are dead dude.

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2014 - 4) It's not about the bike - Lance Armstrong

Interesting for informational purposes on his life and early career / battle with cancer. A number of times he outlines his stance AGAINST drugs in cycling... how it's a problem, etc. Lol.

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2014 - 5) Cristiano Ronaldo: The True Story of the Greatest Footballer on Earth - Tom Oldfield

This book reads as if the author, Tom Oldfield, never met Ronaldo and wrote the book purely by referencing wikipedia and the match reviews of every match Ronaldo played. Very boring. No real insight into what Ronaldo himself thinks or feels. You feel very removed from the main man when reading this. Surpised that there aren't more scathing reviews online.

The author was probably thinking: "hmmmm, what can I write about that is popular that people will buy, which requires little to no research on my behalf?"

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2014 - 6) Iggy Pop: Open Up & Bleed - Paul Trynka

Interesting. Didn't know much about him. Filled in some holes in my musical knowledge.

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2014 - 7) Hunter S.Thompson: Bio - Jay Cown

As per the Iggy Pop, interesting & filled in some gaps in my knowledge.

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2014 - 8) Time Management - Brian Tracy

Some good tips in here.

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2014 - 9) The Monk & The Hangmans Daughter - Ambrose Bierce.

Nice little folk tale of ~100 pages with a twist at the end.

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2014 - 10) Ray Bradbury stories. Vol. 2 - Ray Bradbury.

Read about 10 of the 100 in this so I'm claiming it.

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2014 - 11) The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins.

.. so I can know what all the cool kids do.

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2014 - 12) No less than victory: a novel of World War II - Jeff Shaara.

As per the title, a novel set around WW2 in Europe. This is the 3rd book in a trilogy. Enjoyed it.

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2014 - 13) The final storm: a novel of the war in the Pacific - Jeff Shaara.

As per the title, a novel set around WW2 in the Pacific. Focuses predominantly on the allied taking of Okinawa. Some good facts in here even though the characters themselves are mainly fictious.

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2019 - 1) Einstein: His Life & Universe - Walter Isaacson

The third book by Isaacson I've read. Others included Steve Jobs and Innovators. Quite enjoy his style. This Einstein book was a bit tougher going than the other two given the subject matter.

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2019 - 2) Awaken The Giant Within - Anthony Robbins.

First book I've read by Tony Robbins. Interesting that he wrote this at age 31 back in 1991. Some good seemingly obvious stuff in the book. Quite motivating.

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2019 - 3) Naked - David Sedaris.

Never heard of this author before. Quite enjoyed the collection of short witty biographical stories. Will seek out more from him going forwards.

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2019 - 4) Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami.

I've previously read at least one (Dance, Dance, Dance) if not two of Murakami's books. Enjoyed his style and didn't get around to reading him again until stumbling across this book.

First 100 pages quite enjoyable. Very descriptive and insightful observations. The middle from 101-200 (first visit to sanitarium) or so dragged before picking up somewhat towards the end. On the whole enjoyed it.

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2019 - 5) Manhattan 62 - Reggie Nandelson.

Picked this book up at random (as some light reading versus my main focus of Alexander Hamilton bio which is good but tougher going).

Set in Manhattan 1962 during Cuban Missile Crisis - a crime cop story.

Got me checking up various historical facts. The characters and plot were average enough. Appreciated the super quick story though. In one line the characters would be sitting on the sofa, whilst in the next one would be pressing accelerator as they tear down the road.

Different... but not my typical cup of tea. Wouldn't bother with this type of book again unless really stuck.

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2019 - 6) On The Map - Simon Garfield.

A witty writing on all things cartographic. Takes in both historical and present day technologies. Pretty sure I read this sometime in the past 7 or 8 years. Enjoyed the re-read.

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2019 - 7) Alexander Hamilton - Ron Chernow.

Good account of the life and times of Alexander Hamilton. His early life in the Caribbean was quite interesting. The book slowed somewhat around his involvement in the Revolutionary war. After the war it got tedious. Too much info. Potentially would have enjoyed a more quicker read of 25% the size. Nonetheless I gained some insights in him and his times. That took a few months to read in among other shorter/lighter books.

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2019 - 8) The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life - Alice Schroeder.

A simple man with a complicated life. Loves compounding. Quite an enjoyable read from both a business and personal perspective.

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2019 - 9) Fing - David Walliams.

A quick light hearted read. Purely read this to offset some of the more dense bios I've read in recent months.

Didn't realise until after finishing the book and researching the author that Walliams is actually the taller skinner guy from Little Britain.

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2019 - 10) Bad Dad - David Walliams.

Another quick & easy comical read.

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2019 - 11) 5th Set for Powerlifting: Methodology for training and competition - Cory Swede Burns.

Another easy read. Could have been formatted to be a bit more readable, particularly in the templates towards the end. Didn't enjoy it as much as the likes of 531.

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2019 - 12) Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup - John Carreyrou.

A quick & fast paced read charting the rise and fall of Theranos. Leaves you feeling dumb and exhilarated at the same time.

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2019 - 13) Unshakeable - Tony Robbins.

A Finance book that was way more concise and readable than others from the author (e.g. "Awaken the Giant Within").

Read it in less than 24 hours. The first 170 pages are the juicy content, the final 30 or so are filler advertising his business interests.

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2019 - 14) Goodnight stories for Rebel Girls - Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo

100 quick & easy to read portraits of successful females.

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2019 - 15) Goodnight stories for Rebel Girls #2 - Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo

Similar to the last entry. Another 100 profiles.

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2019 - 16) How to get rich - Dennis Felix

A self made millionaire gives tips on how be went from working class, no formal education, to filthy rich.... and now has much time to write poetry and indulge in the finer things in life.