Category: Reads

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Book Review: Deep Work, by Cal Newport

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Cal Newport’s Deep Work argues for focus in a distracted world, but it did not fully land for me. As someone juggling two jobs, too many hobbies, and a brain wired for multitasking, the book’s strict rules felt mismatched to real life. I took a few lessons from it, especially about distraction and single-tasking, but overall it was a light read with limited impact. I give it 2 of 5 stars. Continue reading Book Review: Deep Work, by Cal Newport

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Book Review: Oscar Charleston: The Life and Legend of Baseball’s Greatest Forgotten Player by Jeremy Beer

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Oscar Charleston might be the best baseball player you’ve never heard of. Jeremy Beer’s meticulous biography unearths the legend of a man Bill James ranked among the greatest of all time — a forgotten superstar whose story was nearly lost to history. A must-read for baseball historians and statheads alike. Continue reading Book Review: Oscar Charleston: The Life and Legend of Baseball’s Greatest Forgotten Player by Jeremy Beer

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The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski

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Joe Posnanski’s The Soul of Baseball is more than a sports book—it’s a road trip through memory, legacy, and love for the game, told through the incomparable voice of Buck O’Neill. Posnanski spends a year traveling with Buck late in his life as the 93-year-old ambassador tours the country keeping the memory of the Negro Leagues alive. Buck is a natural-born storyteller, charming every crowd and every reader with his warmth and grace. But beneath that joy runs a quiet ache—he’s outlived nearly everyone he played alongside, and the burden of preserving their stories now rests on his shoulders alone. … Continue reading The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski

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Book Review: Armada by Ernest ClineBy Brian “Weez” Turner

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Ernest Cline’s Armada might not match the magic of Ready Player One, but it delivers the same kind of fun, fast-paced, nostalgic adventure that keeps you listening long past your daily limit. With Will Wheaton once again narrating, Armada blends gaming, sci-fi, and pop culture into a nerdy thrill ride where the geeks save the world. Continue reading Book Review: Armada by Ernest ClineBy Brian “Weez” Turner

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Comic Review: The Old Guard by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández

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Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández’s The Old Guard began as a sharp, tightly written comic series before spinning into a multimedia franchise that includes the popular Netflix films. Having come to the comics after watching the first movie—a personal favorite for both me and my wife—I found myself reading them with Charlize Theron’s Andy and the rest of the cinematic team already in mind. That context colored the experience, for better and for worse. The First Series: A Strong Start The opening series of The Old Guard delivers everything you’d hope for in an immortal-mercenary saga: gritty action, complex characters, … Continue reading Comic Review: The Old Guard by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández

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Book Review: Babylonia by Costanza Casati

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Costanza Casati’s Babylonia is a modern retelling that moves fluidly between the worlds of history and myth. At its heart lies Semiramis, the legendary Assyrian queen whose reputation has been maligned in centuries of ancient texts as the “whore queen.” Casati flips that narrative on its head, offering instead a nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of a woman whose power, cunning, and humanity resonate across the ages. Reframing a Legend One of the most compelling aspects of Babylonia is the way Casati re-frames Semiramis. Rather than leaning on the lurid accusations of antiquity, the book positions her as a figure of … Continue reading Book Review: Babylonia by Costanza Casati