Review: The Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America's Birds by James H. McCommons

The Feather Wars by James H. McCommons 
St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: March 17th, 2026
Hardcover. 416 pages.

About The Feather Wars:

"A definitive history of bird conservation in America.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred)

From the time the country was founded, early Americans assumed that the land’s natural resources were infinite, including its birds, which were zealously hunted for food, game, and fashion. With the rapid extinction of the passenger pigeon―a bird once so numerous that its flocks darkened the sky in flight―many realized actions needed to be taken if other birds were to be saved. What followed was both a spiritual awakening and a great crusade to save birds and their habitat. The campaign took place on many battlefields: society teas in Boston, hunt clubs on the East Coast, the mangroves in the Everglades, and in the editorial pages of newspapers and periodicals. From many corners of the country the bird protection movement was born and brought together a remarkable coalition of people and organizations to save America’s birds.

The Feather Wars is an entertaining and expansive work of American history, an incredible story about how disparate characters―progressive politicians, free-thinking society belles, nature writers and artists, bird-loving U.S. presidents, gunmakers, business titans, and brave game wardens―came together to save hundreds of species of birds. Heroes, martyrs, villains, and conflicted do-gooders―the early bird conservation movement had them all. Together they transformed how Americans thought and cared about birds, forever altering the American landscape."

The Feather Wars is incredibly well-researched and I think does an amazing job of telling readers about a long and complicated history of birds in America in a way that felt accessible and compelling. This was a bit of a random read for me and I'm so glad I decided to take a chance and pick it up. I learned so much and am now even more curious about all the populations of birds in my area. 

Growing up, I was never very much into birds. There were cool, but you know, I never really thought about them much--they were just there, and I had no idea how tumultuous their history in the United States was. However, as an adult, I've found myself more and more interested in birds and I've really grown more curious about all the birds that live in my area and how they got there. (I also regularly feed some crows in my neighborhood so they now follow me and my dog on walks and it's both really cool and a little bit weird sometimes, but I like it.)

The Feather Wars really opened my eyes to so much about the history of birds and their interactions with the human population as the United States developed. In doing so, it thoroughly explains the immense impact hunting--whether for sport, fashion, scientific study, collection, or a variety of others reasons--has had on the populations of birds and just how much humans have impacted them. And a majority of those impacts have been pretty negative, or at least they started out that way, as now there is more awareness and work being done to preserve their populations in the wild. Personally, I am not a huge fan of hunting in general, and I know that some hunting is done in ways meant to help population and all that, but I'm personally not planning to go hunting and there is plenty of hunting done just for sport, which is what is really highlighted in this book as having a huge impact on birds. Even those who hunted simply to collect the birds to study caused detrimental harm, and I appreciated how clearly this book was able to document so many of these examples while then pivoting into the different conservation efforts undertaken throughout the years. 

The Feather Wars also discusses many modern day issues, most notably common domestic cats, which have decimated and continue to cause great harm to bird populations. Cats are not natural to these environment and people don't tend to realize just how many birds their cats kill, or how this affects their population.

It was actually quite devastating to read about how birds have been treated over time, and it's made me really consider more just how important their populations are. McCommons really takes the time to dive into many specific examples of bird populations that have been harmed, as well as people throughout history who have done both positive and negative things in relation to conservation efforts, and I found these extremely compelling to learn about. There was so much that I never knew about, and it was also really interesting to learn about the founding of things I have heard of but don't know many details about, such as the Audubon society. 

Overall, I highly recommend this one for anyone interested in birds or honestly anyone who wants to learn about a fascinating topic that is still very relevant.

*I received a copy of The Feather Wars courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating or enjoyment.*

Buy the book: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Mini-Review: Native America: The Story of the First Peoples by Kenneth L. Feder

 

Native America: The Story of the First Peoples by Kenneth L. Feder

Princeton University Press
Publication Date: February 10th, 2026
Hardcover. 440 pages.

About Native America:

"An epic deep history of the Indigenous peoples of North America, covering more than 20,000 years of astonishing diversity, adaptation, resilience, and continuity

Native America presents an infinitely surprising and fascinating deep history of the continent’s Indigenous peoples. Kenneth Feder, a leading expert on Native American history and archaeology, draws on archaeological, historical, and cultural evidence to tell the ongoing story, more than 20,000 years in the making, of an incredibly resilient and diverse mixture of peoples, revealing how they have ingeniously adapted to the many changing environments of the continent, from the Arctic to the desert Southwest.

Richly illustrated, Native America introduces close to a hundred different peoples, each with their own language, economic and social system, and religious beliefs. Here, we meet the Pequot, Tunxis, Iroquois, and Huron of the Northeast; the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Apache of the Southwest; the Hidatsa, Mandan, and Lakota of the Northern Plains; the Haida, Kwakiutl, Nootka, and Salish of the Northwest Coast; the Tule River and Mohave of Southern California; the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole of the Southeast; and the Inuit and Kalaallit of the Arctic. We learn about hunters of enormous Ice Age beasts; people who raised stone toolmaking to the level of art; a Native American empire ruled by a king and queen, with a huge city at its center and colonies hundreds of miles away; a society that made the desert bloom by designing complex irrigation networks; brilliant architects who built fairy castles in sandstone cliffs; and artists who produced beautiful and moving petroglyphs and pictographs that reflect their deep thinking about history, the sacred, the land, and the sky.

Native America is not about peoples of the past, but vibrant, living ones with an epic history of genius and tenacity—a history that everyone should know."

Native America is a fantastic overview of the history of Native Americans across North America, with a particular focus on archaeological elements.

I think this would be a perfect introductory book for anyone who wants to know more about the culture and history of Native Americans, as I think the author does a great job in discussing common stereotypes, misconception, and other ideas to draw readers in who may not have much background about Native American history. I've read a number of books on Indigenous history over the years, but there's always more to learn and I really appreciated the thorough research and care that went into crafting this history. Feder also really brings this history to life in a way that lets the reader feel like they are almost being told of these topics by a friend who is sharing something they're passionate about, and as a result it makes it incredibly easy to engage with the topic and truly understand more about the history of Native America. The author is also incredibly respectful of the many topics covered in this book, and I really appreciated seeing this in the way he chose to discuss every topic in here, including ones surrounding more sensitive topics. I think it's important that he doesn't shy away from diving into those heavier themes, but instead of explores them fully and gives them the respect they deserve.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and thought it was incredibly well-done and was a joy to listen to--I definitely recommend it! I'd actually love to pick up a physical copy to see some mentioned charts and the like that weren't available in audio format. I highly recommend this one!

*I received a copy of Native America courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Recent Nonfiction Reads Mini Reviews: An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi & Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash

 An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence by Zeinab Badawi

Mariner Books
Publication: January 14th, 2025

Hardcover. 544 pages.

About An African History of Africa:

"Everyone is originally from Africa, and this book is therefore for everyone.

For too long, Africa’s history has been dominated by western narratives of slavery and colonialism, or simply ignored. Now, Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight.

In this fascinating book, Badawi guides us through Africa’s spectacular history—from the very origins of our species, through ancient civilizations and medieval empires with remarkable queens and kings, to the miseries of conquest and the elation of independence. Visiting more than thirty African countries to interview countless historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and local storytellers, she unearths buried histories from across the continent and gives Africa its rightful place in our global story.

The result is a gripping new account of Africa: an epic, sweeping history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, told through the voices of Africans themselves."

What I liked: I really loved what this book was trying to accomplish--a true history of Africa encompassing a wide swath of its history told from local African scholars and those from the regions she discusses, rather than yet another history of Africa told by outsiders. I really appreciated this goal and I think Badawi made an honest effort to achieve this. Because of the expansiveness of this topic, I think this book works wonderfully as a sort of general overall survey of African history that provides many opportunities for interested readers to pick areas of interest to dive into deeper on their own, or with Badawi's sources (I know I myself found many areas of interest that I wanted to start researching more about on my own). I also think Badawi is an excellent writer and managed to tell so much history in an engaging and accessible manner, and I think many readers will be able to learn a lot from this book. 

What I didn't: I didn't have too many negatives for this book. Due to the sheer breadth and scope of the book, I found some areas to be slightly shallower than I would've liked, and with some details sacrificed, but I hesitate to really call this a criticism given what the book was trying to accomplish. I did find some of the jumps in narrative or time periods a bit abrupt at times, and or simple cut shorter or extending longer than I anticipated in areas that felt a bit more jarring to the narrative. Additionally, as accessible as I found Badawi's writing, I also found it slightly lacking in any sort of strong voice. Now, this is perhaps a debatable opinion, but I tend to appreciate when historians insert more commentary on what they are writing about, and I felt that Badawi's journalistic background may have made this feel more 'to-the-point' with the information and relaying of accounts, rather than one that really dives into more of the complexities of various topics. That being said, it is, again, a large scope of a book, so perhaps this is not the right avenue for such deep discussion, though I would certainly appreciate it. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Batavia's Graveyard: The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History's Bloodiest Mutiny by Mike Dash

Crown
Publication: May 27th, 2003

Paperback. 512 pages.

About Batavia's Graveyard:

"In 1628 the Dutch East India Company loaded the Batavia, the flagship of its fleet, with a king’s ransom in gold, silver, and gems for her maiden voyage to Java; the ship itself was a tangible symbol of the world’s richest and most powerful monopoly.

The company also sent along a new employee to guard its treasure. He was Jeronimus Corneliszoon, a disgraced and bankrupt man with great charisma and dangerously heretical ideas. With the help of a few disgruntled sailors, he hatched a plot to seize the ship and her riches. The mutiny might have succeeded, but in the dark morning hours of June 3, 1629, the Batavia smashed through a coral reef and ran aground on a small chain of islands near Australia. The captain and skipper escaped the wreck, and in a tiny lifeboat they set sail for Java—some 1,500 miles north—to summon help. More than 250 frightened survivors waded ashore, thankful to be alive. Unfortunately, Jeronimus and the mutineers had survived too, and the nightmare was only beginning."

What I liked: Batavia's Graveyard is meticulously researched and provides a vivid portrayal of everything that happened on board the Batavia, as well as everything that happened after she wrecked as well. Mike Dash does a great job of really weaving in the psychological elements at play, both with how people reacted to both conditions on the ship and once shipwrecked, with plenty of background and context for the time period, as well as extensive dives into the history of various figures who were a part of this event (and plenty of description of how truly deplorable conditions were on the ship, and let me just I cannot express how grateful I am that I don't have to experience it). There are also a lot of horrors to share, and I have to applaud Dash's thoroughness in relaying every last brutal deed in ways that felt both factual and encompassing of the horrors of what was happening--though at times it ended up feeling like lists of those who were murdered, which perhaps relays how it felt to those there as well. This is easily a very memorable read.

What I didn't: While I find Dash's extensive research and history to generally be a strength, I do want to note that some areas felt a little too dense and tangential and really slowed down the pace for me. At a certain point in the beginning, I found myself slogging my way through just to get to the beginning of the ship's actual journey, and it felt like a long slog. I've read a number of shipwreck and survival nonfiction stories, and I have to say that I expected this one to grip me more than it did. In fact, I found myself not feeling as compelled by this story as I have others, and I do think it was something to with Dash's denser writing that somehow took away from what was happening. Lastly, I know this book isn't necessarily centered around the women who happened to be onboard the ship, but I found myself frustrated with how the author talked about the women in this book at almost every turn. For instance, he described the "women kept for common service" on island--and I'm sorry, are we talking about the the women who were raped and kept as sex slaves? There was also barely anything about their experiences, as well as rather egregiously comparing their suffering to the men and implying that since they weren't in fear of being murdered imminently, somehow being a sex slave was much better. Perhaps I'm reacting too strongly to this aspect, but it definitely struck and kept making me wonder if I was missing something. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

 

Review: Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of a Small Island That Will Dictate Our Future by Kerry Brown

Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of a Small Island That Will Dictate Our Future by Kerry Brown

St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: January 28th, 2024

Hardcover. 272 pages.

About Why Taiwan Matters:

"Taiwan expert Kerry Brown sums up the history of Taiwan and the danger of a Chinese takeover in this succinct and authoritative book.

When the bloody Chinese Civil War concluded in 1949, two Chinas were born. Mao’s Communists won and took China’s mainland; Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists fled to Taiwan island. Since then, China and Taiwan have drifted into being separate political and cultural entities.

Taiwan is now a flourishing democracy and an economic success just one of its companies produces over 90 per cent of the semiconductors that power the world’s economy. It is a free and vibrant society. For the United States and the West, the island is a bastion of freedom against China’s assertive presence in the region. And yet China, increasingly bellicose under Xi Jinping, insists Taiwan is part of its territory and must be returned to it. Should China blockade the island and mount an invasion, it would set off a chain reaction that would pitch it against the US – escalating a regional war into a global one. Taiwan is thus a geopolitical powder keg. Why Taiwan Matters helps us understand how and why we’ve arrived at this dangerous moment in history. With unparalleled access to Taiwan’s political leaders and a deep understanding of the island’s history and culture, Professor Kerry Brown provides a new reading of Taiwan, its twenty-three million people, and how they navigate being caught in this frightening geopolitical standoff.

Why Taiwan Matters is the essential book for understanding Taiwan’s unique story told in an accessible, expert and urgent way."

Kerry Brown’s Why Taiwan Matters is a fascinating nonfiction exploration of Taiwan’s history and its current role in an ever-shifting geopolitical landscape. Going into this book,  I knew a little bit about Taiwan going into this and had a general understanding of its significance, but this book went into so much more detail and left me with a much clearer and deeper understanding of all things relating to Taiwan.

This book begins with Taiwan's origins and moves chronologically through its development, emphasizing how external influences have shaped its development. The primary focus, however, is on Taiwan's tenuous relationship with China, as well as it's relationship with the United States, particularly because of its critical role in semiconductor production–an area in which Taiwan holds global dominance. Additionally, Why Taiwan Matters explore Taiwan's embrace of democratic ideas, which further increases tensions with China, which views Taiwan as a part of the People's Republic of China, while nations like the United States recognize it differently.

As previously mentioned, prior to reading this book I was aware of some of the general issues between China and Taiwan, but Brown's detailed explanation showed why those tensions exist, the historical and present day factors that led to them, and potential consequences for the future. He clearly illustrates how volatile the situation can be and the potential threats that it may pose, as well a variety of perspectives on it. 
 
The book is largely split between a history of Taiwan and Taiwan's current political issues and statuses, which I think worked well for the shorter format. It's a concise and efficient way of understanding Taiwan's history and some key insights without every feeling overwhelming. For readers like myself with a limited knowledge and understanding of Taiwan, this is a great introduction to learning more; however, readers who are already well-versed in Taiwan's history and politics may not find anything new information-wise, though perhaps Brown's own insights could still provide value.

One thing that stood out most to me what Brown's emphasis on Taiwan's unique identity and role on the global stage. Brown highlights Taiwan's resilience and importance as a singular place, distinct from influences from both China and the West, and through this is able to create what I thought was a lot of respect for the people, history, and culture of Taiwan. Brown does an exceptional job explaining complex topics in readily accessible ways throughout the entirety of this book.. He also narrated the audiobook version of this book and does an excellent job with that as well.  

Why Taiwan Matters is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Taiwan's history, it's geopolitical significance, or anyone generally interested in current events.  I really feel like I learned a lot and I would happily read more on these topics from this author! 

*I received a copy of Why Taiwan Matters in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: The Rent Collectors: Exploitation, Murder, and Redemption in Immigrant LA by Jesse Katz

  

The Rent Collectors: Exploitation, Murder, and Redemption in Immigrant LA by Jesse Katz

Astra House

Publication Date: July 16th, 2024

Hardcover. 320 pages.

About The Rent Collectors:

"Baby faced teen Giovanni Macedo is desperate to build a reputation with local LA gang, the Columbia Lil Cycos -- so desperate that he agrees to kill an undocumented Mexican street vendor. The vendor, Francisco Clemente, had been refusing to give in to the gang’s shakedown demands. But Giovanni botches the hit, accidentally killing a baby instead. The imprisoned overlords who rule their world must be placated so the gang lures Giovanni across the border and plots his disposal. But, in turn, the gang botches Giovanni's killing. And so, incredibly, Giovanni rises from the dead, determined to both seek redemption for his unforgivable crime and take down the whole gang who drove him to do it.

The Rent Collectors is filled with ruthless gang members, tattoo artists, a legendary FBI investigator, a girl who risks her life to serve as a witness, all in service to the story of the irrationally courageous immigrant whose ethical stance triggers these incredible events.

Jesse Katz has built a teeth clenching and breathless narrative that explicates the difficult and proud lives of undocumented black market workers who are being exploited both by the gangs and by the city of LA -- in other words, by two sets of rent collectors."

The Rent Collectors is a nonfiction account from acclaimed journalist Jesse Katz of Giovanni Macedo's experiences as a member of the Columbia Lil Cycos. Katz covers Giovanni's upbringing and discovery of street gangs, which leads him to doing whatever he can to join the gang, including attempting to kill someone and accidentally killing a newborn instead at nineteen years old. From there, Katz takes us on a journey following Giovanni as the gang attempts to kill him for his failed job and eventually to his arrest and life behind bars up until this point in the present day. This is a harrowing journey, but it's one that kept me absolutely glued to the pages as I was led into the history of MacArthur Park and its vibrant street vending history, to better understanding immigrant stories of those vendors, and to learning more about the ins and outs of some of the 18th Street Gang and Mexican Mafia and what their rule on the streets really means. 

This was a very wide-reaching look at a plethora of topics that center around gang activities in LA, specifically relating to the Columbia Lil Cycos, an 18th Street Gang. I appreciated Katz's focus on one main person, Giovanni Macedo, aka Rusty, which then expanded into covering an array of other people's experiences that varied quite a bit. For instance, through Giovanni we learn about his mother's experiences after coming to California from XX and the many struggles she faced trying to adapt and make a life for herself and her children while also navigating abusive relationships. We also meet Francisco–the man Giovanni was meant to kill–and learn about his experiences as a street vendor in MacArthur Park and what it meant to have the Columbia Lil Cycos demanding rent for your spot. We meet a variety of other gang members and street vendors and learn all about the different ways they've ended up in the same place in LA. 

From all of these offshoots, Katz is able to delve a bit deeper into each topic, such as the MacArthur Park and its street vending and how many different ways cops and the city have attempted to either shut it down or regulate it. By taking a closer look at MacArthur Park, Katz is able to similarly expand upon the many people who immigrate and enter California through the southern border from countries ranging from Mexico through Central America to South America and the many different reasons they make the decision to leave their home countries. There are so many more topics and interesting areas covered in this book than I've mentioned here, which is also where this book seems to wander off topic every now and then, but since everything was fascinating to learn about I never minded any topic Katz wrote about. 

Throughout this book, we as readers witness many different instances of crime and violence, arguably the most intense being the killing of a newborn by Giovanni. What I most appreciated about Katz's presentation of these events was his thoughtful neutrality, and what I mean by that is that he doesn't seem to push too hard to make the reader feel any specific way about them. He doesn't frame things as if Giovanni or any of these people are purely evil, but he also doesn't try too hard to make you feel extreme empathy for them, either. He presents them in an extremely human light, pointing our flaws, mistakes, and everything in between in order to showcase exactly what happened and how it happened. There are no excuses, just a desire to show how things like this can unfold and what the full story is behind it all, and I think Katz excelled in doing this. 

Overall, this is a nonfiction read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys true crime, gang-related history, or maybe someone who lives in Southern California/LA like me and enjoys learning a bit more about where they live. This was, at times, a brutal story, but it's one that gave me a lot to think about and for that I'm very grateful. I've given The Rent Collectors 4.5 stars!

*I received a copy of The Rent Collectors in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

 

Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

Dutton

Publication Date: March 26th, 2024

Hardcover. 400 pages.

About Nuclear War:

"There is only one scenario other than an asteroid strike that could end the world as we know it in a matter of hours: nuclear war. And one of the triggers for that war would be a nuclear missile inbound toward the United States.

Every generation, a journalist has looked deep into the heart of the nuclear military establishment: the technologies, the safeguards, the plans, and the risks. These investigations are vital to how we understand the world we really live in—where one nuclear missile will beget one in return, and where the choreography of the world’s end requires massive decisions made on seconds’ notice with information that is only as good as the intelligence we have.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario explores this ticking-clock scenario, based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, have been privy to the response plans, and have been responsible for those decisions should they have needed to be made. Nuclear War: A Scenario examines the handful of minutes after a nuclear missile launch. It is essential reading, and unlike any other book in its depth and urgency."

Nuclear War is a harrowing nonfiction book that walks readers through what a hypothetical nuclear war scenario could look like. As you might expect, it's not pretty. 

I was immediately drawn into Jacobsen's step by step, minute by minute detailing of what may happen immediately after an ICBM is launched from North Korea and targeted towards the United States. She goes in-depth into each person's role, but the president as Commander in Chief to the Secretary of Defense to those stationed at various military bases and nuclear power plants around the country. Because nuclear war is an international event, she also introduces us to the key players, namely Russia and North Korea, though others are also mentioned, and go in-depth into what we know of their own nuclear abilities, stockpiles, and diplomatic relations. She also goes into plenty of minute by minute detail of what exactly happens when a nuclear bomb is detonated and the science behind how the work, as well as how humans, infrastructure, and plant life in the initial radius are instantly destroyed, while longer term effects such as radiation poisoning continue to wreak havoc long after an initial explosion. 

This books is absolutely packed with information on every page, including an abundance of quotes and interviews with prominent figures involved in areas associated with defense, war, and diplomatic relations. Information is also presented in short chapters that discuss both the present hypothetical situation and also dive deeper into the history of nuclear weapons, the current big players involved in the development of nuclear weapons, and a huge variety of other minutiae associated with nuclear weapons including how ICBMs and SLBMs work. Within these chapters, Jacobsen even adds on small targeted history lessons on topics like the Presidential Football here and there to make sure every aspect is covered. Even if you already know a lot about nuclear weapons and war, I'm sure there's still plenty of extra information to come away with. 

The only real complaint I have for this book is Annie Jacobsen's somewhat melodramatic way of writing. I'll allow that this is a very dramatic topic so it was fitting and definitely helped hammer home the severity of what she's talking about, but it just felt overdone at times. It was almost to the point that it lost intensity though because I just wanted her to move on rather than continue to reiterate the point. An example (and this is even a smaller one): "Which leaves the boomers. The nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The handmaidens of the apocalypse. The vessels of death. Unlocatable by Russian missiles and therefore unstoppable. Nuclear-armed to the teeth." (It reminded me a bit of why V.E. Schwab's writing starts to get a bit tiresome for me, as she does something very similar with the short sentences, though of course Nuclear War is nonfiction). There's a definitely a sense that Jacobsen is trying to scare people into understanding the reality of nuclear weapons, which isn't something that I have a problem with, but that may leave you–like me–feeling a bit helpless since there's not much that we can do (at least, as an average citizen, I'm not sure what I could do). 

Nuclear War is a terrifying read, and probably the most intense horror book you'll read all year–and it's all based in reality, which makes it even worse. Of course, Jacobsen's scenario is only that, a scenario, but the potential behind it is enough to make anyone feel a bit of a shiver to imagine how easy it would actually be for our world to be destroyed by nuclear weapons in less than 24 hours. This is an anxiety-inducing read, but also a fascinating one, and I guarantee you'll come out of it with a better sense of what's at stake. Overall, I've given Nuclear War four stars!

*I received a copy of Nuclear War in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mini-Review: The Rise and Reign of the Mammals by Steve Brusatte

  

The Rise and Reign of the Mammals by Steve Brusatte

Mariner Books

Publication Date: June 7th, 2022

Hardcover. 528 pages.

About The Rise and Reign of the Mammals:

"A sweeping and revelatory new history of mammals, illuminating the lost story of the extraordinary family tree that led to us

Though humans claim to rule the Earth, we are the inheritors of a dynasty that has reigned over the planet for nearly 66 million years, through fiery cataclysm and ice ages: the mammals. Our lineage includes saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths, armadillos the size of a car, cave bears three times the weight of a grizzly, clever scurriers that outlasted Tyrannosaurus rex, and even other types of humans, like Neanderthals. Indeed humankind and many of the beloved fellow mammals we share the planet with today--lions, whales, dogs--represent only the few survivors of a sprawling and astonishing family tree that has been pruned by time and mass extinctions. How did we get here?

In his acclaimed bestseller The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, American paleontologist Steve Brusatte enchanted readers with his definitive his - tory of the dinosaurs. Now, picking up the narrative in the ashes of the extinction event that doomed T-rex and its kind, Brusatte explores the remarkable story of the family of animals that inherited the Earth--mammals-- and brilliantly reveals that their story is every bit as fascinating and complex as that of the dinosaurs.

Beginning with the earliest days of our lineage some 325 million years ago, Brusatte charts how mammals survived the asteroid that claimed the dinosaurs and made the world their own, becoming the astonishingly diverse range of animals that dominate today's Earth. Brusatte also brings alive the lost worlds mammals inhabited through time, from ice ages to volcanic catastrophes. Entwined in this story is the detective work he and other scientists have done to piece together our understanding using fossil clues and cutting-edge technology."

I had a blast with Steven Brusatte's The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs, so when The Rise and Reign of the Mammals was announced I knew it was going to be a well-researched and fascinating read. How often to do any of really stop and think about mammals as a whole and their development and role in the world's development? I know I don't, so I was that this book proved to be a bounty of information on the subject.

What I liked: Brusatte does an excellent job of incorporating immense amounts of fascinating and useful information into a very readable and accessible-size book. 500 pages is a considerable size, but this has the information of probably a whole series of books and manages to condense it in a way that was still wholly informative and also helped me follow along easily with the timeline, since there is so much to keep track of. I think Brusatte categorizes information well and conveys it in a way that is approachable and makes sense for the average reader. I loved learning about the evolution of mammals from the beginning until now, and I think Brusatte led readers along perfectly in their timeline. He tackles everything from mammalian origins we've never thought about to saber toothed tigers and woolly mammoths (spoiler: these two species weren't even enemies and probably didn't even interact much! We can still enjoy Ice Age, though) to the gradual development of man as it is today.

What I didn't like: It feels a bit silly to complain about info-dumping in a book like this, but there were a few times throughout where I feel like Brusatte just gets a little carried away with listing off a lot of scientific names/etc. in sequence that makes it hard to maintain attention and understanding. I listened to this on audiobook and I didn't particular care for the narrator, either, but that's a purely personal opinion because he did a great job otherwise! Other than that, I have no real dislikes about this book. 

Overall, it's four stars from me! If you're at all interested in the origins of mammals, their evolutions, how things changed from dinosaurs dominating to mammals, and so on, then this is something you have to check out. 

*I received a copy of The Rise and Reign of Mammals courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Friday Face-Off: Current Read #7

   

 Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme at Books by Proxy. Join us every Friday as we pit cover against cover, and publisher against publisher, to find the best artwork in our literary universe.  You can find a list of upcoming topics at Lynn's Books.

This week's topic is:

Current Read #7

For this week's Friday Face-Off, I've chosen to feature a book that I just finished yesterday, Island of the Lost by Joan Druett! I love reading about real life survival stories and was excited to finally read this one... and unfortunately it ended up being one of my least favorite of all the ones I've read. 🤣 But that's okay! Let's still take a look at all of the different cover editions that exist for it. 

     

2007 US Hardcover | 2016 Audiobook

     

2019 US Paperback | 2007 UK 

My choice(s):

I love the classic feel of the original US hardcover edition, though I also like the dark and slightly more ominous feeling that the 2019 paperback evokes. The original one reminds me of the title scene of some older documentary or movie–does anyone else get that vibe or just me??

Mini-Review: Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy

Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk by Buddy Levy

St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: December 6th, 2022

Hardcover. 432 pages.

About Empire of Ice and Stone:

"The true, harrowing story of the ill-fated 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition and the two men who came to define it. 

In the summer of 1913, the wooden-hulled brigantine Karluk departed Canada for the Arctic Ocean. At the helm was Captain Bob Bartlett, considered the world’s greatest living ice navigator. The expedition’s visionary leader was a flamboyant impresario named Vilhjalmur Stefansson hungry for fame. 

Just six weeks after the Karluk departed, giant ice floes closed in around her. As the ship became icebound, Stefansson disembarked with five companions and struck out on what he claimed was a 10-day caribou hunting trip. Most on board would never see him again. 

Twenty-two men and an Inuit woman with two small daughters now stood on a mile-square ice floe, their ship and their original leader gone. Under Bartlett’s leadership they built make-shift shelters, surviving the freezing darkness of Polar night. Captain Bartlett now made a difficult and courageous decision. He would take one of the young Inuit hunters and attempt a 1000-mile journey to save the shipwrecked survivors. It was their only hope. 

Set against the backdrop of the Titanic disaster and World War I, filled with heroism, tragedy, and scientific discovery, Buddy Levy's Empire of Ice and Stone tells the story of two men and two distinctively different brands of leadership: one selfless, one self-serving, and how they would forever be bound by one of the most audacious and disastrous expeditions in polar history, considered the last great voyage of The Heroic Age of Discovery."

As someone who can't seem to get enough of reading about polar expeditions and stories of exploration in general (in any climate), I knew Empire of Ice and Stone would be a must-read for me as soon as I saw it. This is an incredible account of the Karluk's 1913 expedition  to the Arctic and the many trials that plagued the men on this journey, along with successes and triumphs in a variety of forms. 

What I liked: Buddy Levy's research for Empire of Ice and Stone is impeccable and he includes an incredibly thorough accounting of all components of the story, from backgrounds of prominent figures to the planning stages to the long, arduous journey itself. I thought Levy wove all of this information into a very coherent and engaging narrative that I found easy to follow along with. No matter how many polar or general exploration expeditions I read about, I will never fail to be dumbfounded by either the lack of planning or the response to the discovery of a problem as "eh, we'll be fine" that seems so common among these leaders (looking at you, Vilhjalmur Stefansson). I really enjoyed learning about Captain Bob Bartlett, and since I always love observing various leadership styles I was pleased to see that Levy highlighted this throughout the book. I also found myself fully invested in many of the people involved in these expedition because of how well Levy portrayed their personalities and actions while out on the ice, and this is part of what really made this book such a captivating story that made me feel as though I were out on the ice with them all (but not really, because that would suck, let's be honest). 

What I didn't like: I don't really have any complaints! I thought this was really compelling, well-written and researched, and because of that I'm not sure what to say as a negative. The expedition itself is pretty long and not always the most exciting, so I could see things maybe dragging a little bit at times, but I didn't find this to be much of an issue. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Nonfiction Mini-Reviews: The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston & Ghost on the Throne by James Romm

The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: September 5th, 2017

Paperback. 326 pages.

About The Lost City of the Monkey God:

"Since the days of conquistador Hernán Cortés, rumors have circulated about a lost city of immense wealth hidden somewhere in the Honduran interior, called the White City or the Lost City of the Monkey God. Indigenous tribes speak of ancestors who fled there to escape the Spanish invaders, and they warn that anyone who enters this sacred city will fall ill and die. In 1940, swashbuckling journalist Theodore Morde returned from the rainforest with hundreds of artifacts and an electrifying story of having found the Lost City of the Monkey God-but then committed suicide without revealing its location. 

Three quarters of a century later, bestselling author Doug Preston joined a team of scientists on a groundbreaking new quest. In 2012 he climbed aboard a rickety, single-engine plane carrying the machine that would change everything: lidar, a highly advanced, classified technology that could map the terrain under the densest rainforest canopy. In an unexplored valley ringed by steep mountains, that flight revealed the unmistakable image of a sprawling metropolis, tantalizing evidence of not just an undiscovered city but an enigmatic, lost civilization. 

Venturing into this raw, treacherous, but breathtakingly beautiful wilderness to confirm the discovery, Preston and the team battled torrential rains, quickmud, disease-carrying insects, jaguars, and deadly snakes. But it wasn't until they returned that tragedy struck: Preston and others found they had contracted in the ruins a horrifying, sometimes lethal-and incurable-disease."

The Lost City of the Monkey God is a nonfiction account from author Douglas Preston about the archeological exploration of a site known as The White City in the La Mosquitia region in Honduras. Douglas Preston was part of a group of researchers and scientists chosen to journey to La Mosquitia to rediscover this “lost city” after radar mapping in 2015 showed evidence of the city somewhere in the jungle and this book is his account of that experience, including a history of the region, its inhabitants, culture, the dangers of the jungle, and much more.

What I liked: First of all, I loved Preston's respect for Honduras, its people, culture, history, and archaeology and artifacts. It means a lot to me that he was careful to include the many multi-faceted components that surround an exploration of an ancient civilization in a region often neglected by the rest of the world.  Preston also has a lot of great, vivid descriptions of the land and forest that brought everything to life and encouraged me to get online and look up more images of this region. He went into a lot of detail about the dangers of the area, from snakes, bugs, etc., and I think it’s safe to say that I should probably not plan a visit. There was also a bit of a medical issue regarding a parasite, leishmaniasis, that all of the explorers dealt with after the exploration that he went into a lot of depth about near the latter portion of the book. I found this section equally fascinating and horrifying. I appreciated his discussion about negative associations with the terms ”lost city," "discovery," etc. and how these are misleading and sometimes offensive topics to talk about when these cities have such long histories. Lastly, I really appreciated Preston's ‘can-do’ attitude and willingness to get out of his comfort zone and explore, as it really added some adventure and allowed him to get a closer look to better share with readers.

What I didn't like: I would’ve loved to explore the uncovered city site and discoveries more, as I felt the ratio of history/exploration/etc. was not equal to the amount of discussion on what was actually found. That being said, I also understand the limitations in writing about what’s there when research was still ongoing, and I wouldn’t say what was there was “lacking.” The formatting could also have been tightened up a bit and had less jumping around. I would also say that the “history” portion of the White City and previous attempts to “discover” it in the beginning half of the book leading up to Preston’s journey was rather long and, and interesting as some of this section was, could have been edited down a bit to keep the narrative flowing.

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire by James Romm

Alfred A. Knopf

Publication Date: October 11th, 2011

Hardcover. 411 pages.

About Ghost on the Throne:

"Alexander the Great, perhaps the most commanding leader in history, united his empire and his army by the titanic force of his will. His death at the age of thirty-two spelled the end of that unity. 

The story of Alexander's conquest of the Persian empire is known to many readers, but the dramatic and consequential saga of the empire's collapse remains virtually untold. It is a tale of loss that begins with the greatest loss of all, the death of the Macedonian king who had held the empire together. 

Alexander bequeathed his power, legend has it, 'to the strongest,' leaving behind a mentally damaged half brother and a posthumously born son as his only heirs. In a strange compromise, both figures, Philip III and Alexander IV, were elevated to the kingship, quickly becoming prizes, pawns, fought over by a half-dozen Macedonian generals. Each successor could confer legitimacy on whichever general controlled him. 

James Romm, brilliant classicist and storyteller, tells the galvanizing saga of the men who followed Alexander and found themselves incapable of preserving his empire. The result was the undoing of a world, formerly united in a single empire, now ripped apart into a nightmare of warring nation-states struggling for domination, the template of our own times."

Ghost on the Throne is a nonfiction history book about the tumultuous period of time that occurred directly after Alexander the Great’s death when much of the future of the region what still up in the air. Many history books tend to focus on Alexander the Great’s reign and impact after death, but many fail to really dive deeply into the fight for power and supremacy in the years after his death when succession was not easily determined.

What I liked: First and foremost, I have to say how much I appreciated reading a book that covered this period of history in such detail and with such care, because the author is right in that most more readily available resources do not spend much time in this period. I’ve studied quite a bit over my years studying Classics, as he was one of those figures that particularly intrigued me, and I appreciated seeing this post-death situation in depth, including how his relationships with people impacted the conflict and how much his rule and influence had spread. I really liked how Romm formatted this book, focusing on key players as they fit into the narrative and influenced events after Alexander’s death. There was plenty of nuance available in analyzing these figures and the potential motivations or relationships at play that would impact actions. This was a particularly dramatic period of time–I mean, Ptolemy I literally stole Alexander’s funerary cart (with his body) on its way back to Macedonia and rerouted it to Egypt where Ptolemy decided to have him buried in Memphis for his own benefit–and it only gets crazier. This is a great book for concrete source material for research or educational purpose, but it also reads really easily and I think would be a very accessible read for anyone not in the Classics field.

What I didn't like: I don’t have too many complaints about this book, but I do think it was slightly repetitious at times. I’ve found it’s fairly common for historical nonfiction books to really hammer home certain points, but I still found it a bit repetitive to hear repeated comments about certain historical figures. There was also a lot of information given constantly, and I could see it being a little overmuch at times. There are a lot of moving parts at play to keep track of, so it was sometimes a little difficult to follow and keep track of things, but I have to give Romm credit for attempting to organize it as best as possible. Despite this being in the “didn’t like” section of this review, I still think it’s very accessible for everything that has to be covered!

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Square³ by Mira Grant & The Bright Ages by Matthew Gabriele & David M. Perry

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

 

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

Square³ by Mira Grant
Publication: December 31st, 2021

Hardcover. 144 pages.

Pre-order: Subterranean Press

From Goodreads:

"We think we understand the laws of physics. We think reality is an immutable monolith, consistent from one end of the universe to the next. We think the square/cube law has actual relevance. 

We think a lot of things. It was perhaps inevitable that some of them would turn out to be wrong. 

When the great incursion occurred, no one was prepared. How could they have been? Of all the things physicists had predicted, “the fabric of reality might rip open and giant monsters could come pouring through” had not made the list. But somehow, on a fine morning in May, that was precisely what happened. 

For sisters Susan and Katharine Black, the day of the incursion was the day they lost everything. Their home, their parents, their sense of normalcy…and each other, because when the rift opened, Susan was on one side and Katharine was on the other, and each sister was stranded in a separate form of reality. For Susan, it was science and study and the struggle to solve the mystery of the altered physics inside the zones transformed by the incursion. For Katharine, it was monsters and mayhem and the fight to stay alive in a world unlike the world of her birth. 

The world has changed. The laws of physics have changed. The girls have changed. And the one universal truth of all states of changed matter is that nothing can be completely restored to what it was originally, no matter how much you might wish it could be. 

Nothing goes back."

Mira Grant's books are always some interesting adventures, and this sounds like no exception to that. I'm not sure what to expect from this (although I feel like I rarely am with her work!), but I'd be curious to find out.

and...

The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabriele & David M. Perry

Publication: December 7th, 2021

Harper

Hardcover. 320 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"A lively and magisterial popular history that refutes common misperceptions of the European Middle Ages, showing the beauty and communion that flourished alongside the dark brutality—a brilliant reflection of humanity itself. 

The word “medieval” conjures images of the “Dark Ages”—centuries of ignorance, superstition, stasis, savagery, and poor hygiene. But the myth of darkness obscures the truth; this was a remarkable period in human history. The Bright Ages recasts the European Middle Ages for what it was, capturing this 1,000-year era in all its complexity and fundamental humanity, bringing to light both its beauty and its horrors. 

The Bright Ages takes us through ten centuries and crisscrosses Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia and Africa, revisiting familiar people and events with new light cast upon them. We look with fresh eyes on the Fall of Rome, Charlemagne, the Vikings, the Crusades, and the Black Death, but also to the multi-religious experience of Iberia, the rise of Byzantium, and the genius of Hildegard and the power of queens. We begin under a blanket of golden stars constructed by an empress with Germanic, Roman, Spanish, Byzantine, and Christian bloodlines and end nearly 1,000 years later with the poet Dante—inspired by that same twinkling celestial canopy—writing an epic saga of heaven and hell that endures as a masterpiece of literature today. 

The Bright Ages reminds us just how permeable our manmade borders have always been and of what possible worlds the past has always made available to us. The Middle Ages may have been a world “lit only by fire” but it was one whose torches illuminated the magnificent rose windows of cathedrals, even as they stoked the pyres of accused heretics."

I really love the premise of this nonfiction dive into the history of the commonly known "medieval ages" of Europe, and I appreciate that it sounds lie it's going to include a wider expanse of areas outside of Europe as well! I'd love to have a chance to check this one out. 

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?