The Seven Years’ War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766By: Fred AndersonNarrated by: Paul WoodsonLength: 29 hrs and 4 mins As someone somewhat familiar with this period in American history, I’ll focus on the elements that were novel to me. The distances that Indian raiding parties would travel were considerable. They…
Category: Optimi Libri
11-22-63: A lifetime to save a life
By: Stephen KingNarrated by: Craig WassonLength: 30 hrs and 40 minsRelease date: 11-08-11 Stephen King, an author I never imagined I’d pick up due to his typical writing genre that gives me the creeps. When I stumbled upon his departure into historical fiction, it felt like an unexpected yet enticing invitation. Unfamiliar with King’s writing…
Cast Under an Alien Sun: Alien 1800 Century
By: Olan ThorensenNarrated by: Jonathan DavisSeries: Destiny’s Crucible, Book 1Length: 15 hrs and 44 mins Before starting this book, I was searching for a modern version of Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” After finishing “Cast Under an Alien Sun,” I can say that Thorensen wielded this plot device with gusto and…
Kill Shot: Mitch Rapp Prequel 02
By: Vince FlynnNarrated by: George GuidallSeries: A Mitch Rapp Novel, Book 2Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins Summary on the series:
American Assassin: Mitch Rapp Prequel 01
By: Vince FlynnNarrated by: George GuidallLength: 11 hrs and 44 minsRelease date: 10-12-10 Summary on the series:
Rhythm of War: Siege of the Mind and Body
Book Four of The Stormlight ArchiveBy: Brandon SandersonNarrated by: Kate Reading, Michael KramerSeries: Stormlight Archive, Book 4Length: 57 hrs and 26 mins Describing the highs and lows of this fourth epic installment in the series is no small feat. Especially without spoiling it for the future reader. While previous entries in the series introduced novel concepts, much remained veiled…
A Gentleman in Moscow: Oh, the Prose
By: Amor TowlesNarrated by: Nicholas Guy SmithLength: 17 hrs and 52 mins When I look back at beautiful books, this will be one of them. A man: a single thread weaving in and out of moments in the tapestry time, observing the destruction of a great society. Brevity, is my tribute.
War And Peace: A Lost World
When I decided to read this book I did have a slight idea of what I was stepping into. Little did I know I would be walking through a forgotten world that is lost to history. Having been to St. Petersburg and Moscow and read much on the life of European nobility of the 19th…
Hillbilly Elegy: Destiny Unbound
Hillbilly ElegyA Memoir of a Family and Culture in CrisisBy: J. D. VanceNarrated by: J. D. Vance There is so much to unpack in this autobiography. The reality of what a very dysfunctional life can be like was a wake-up call. There are times when less is more. In this situation, I’ll just say that I highly…
The Hail Mary Project: Love Conquers Cowardice
By: Andy Weir Narrated by: Ray Porter Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins The dynamics between solid research and quality engineering. The beautiful marriage of theory and application comes to the forefront in a way that few can describe. Then put in an evolving perspective to find what you believe really isn’t true. The path…
John Adams: A Man for All Seasons
By: David McCullough Narrated by: Nelson Runger Length: 29 hrs and 54 mins This is the compelling tale of a man who is dedicated to an idea embodied by a group of people that seek freedom and the pursuit of happiness. His amazing dedication describes him as a chief architect of the Declaration of Independence,…
A Time to Build: Mediating Isolated Ideologies
From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream. By: Yuval Levin Narrated by: Ford Enlow Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins This is one of those short books that makes a big impact in how I see the world. This book finishes a trilogy…