Recent Reads, Volume XXVII
A brief summary of what I’m currently reading or have recently finished, why I read it, and whether I’d recommend it. Although really, it’d have to be truly terrible for me to bother writing about a book I wouldn’t recommend……
The Woman Who Smashed Codes (Jason Fagone) – Elizebeth Friedman, along with her husband William, was one of the first cryptanalysts in America. She really began her career of code-breaking during World War I, and then shifted her focus to smuggling rings, primarily on behalf of the Coast Guard, during the 20s and 30s. When World War II began, they were instrumental in the efforts to break both the German Enigma machines and also the Japanese diplomatic coding system. One of the more intriguing aspects of her work, in my opinion, is the lengths to which the FBI went to keep their work quiet even after the war.
Tolkien and the Great War (John Garth) – This is not really a biography of Tolkien’s entire life, but a focus on how Tolkien’s experience in World War I influenced his writing, particularly on Middle Earth and The Lord of the Rings. The lingering question in my mind is really about what might have been; how might his writing have developed differently had more of his close friends survived the war? Would he have been more prolific, or would he have actually published less? Portions of this book in particular were rather heavy on the development of his invented languages, but the rest of the book made it worth persevering through that.
The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin (Jonathan Phillips) – I came across both book and author for the first time thanks to the Slightly Foxed podcast (episode 17, if you care to listen). I have only a limited knowledge of the Crusades, and that from a Western perspective (which shouldn’t really be a surprise), and thought I’d even that out with a biography of the legend who reconquered Jerusalem. Although this is Phillips’ first biography, it’s not his first book, or even his first book about this time period. It comes across as balanced and thoroughly researched, and now I have a slightly less limited knowledge of the Crusades, with competing perspectives.
The Splendid and the Vile (Erik Larson) – I first came across Erik Larson when he was interviewed on Collin Hansen’s podcast Gospelbound. They were speaking about this book in particular, and I was intrigued enough to add it to my list. In another example of a biography more narrowly focused on a shorter period of time than an entire life, this focuses on Winston Churchill specifically during The Blitz of 1940 and 1941. I also found it fascinating to see how various miscellany I’ve read on leadership and emotional intelligence, particularly as it applies to the business world, are exemplified and demonstrated in Churchill’s methodology and leadership.
So there you have it: 4 books I’m reading right now or have recently finished. If you’ve read any of these (or decide to after reading this post), drop me a note and let me know what you thought of them! And let me know what you’re reading right now too.