Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics, by Jonathan Wilson

Fascinating, enriching exploration of the history of football formations & the resulting tactical effect on results. It starts with the inception & codification of the game in England but diverges into the history of other countries' developments & innovations (guided by British coaches, some alienated by the buffoonish FA) that soon apparently left England behind. During these explorations some of the author's possible preferences for Latin America & Continental Europe over Britain seep through, with chapters on Sir Alf Ramsey's success, English clubs' 1980s European dominance & Graham Taylor being somewhat lightweight or esoteric in comparison. The chapters on other nations are excellent, with Sacchi's Milan being my favourite, especially as Sacchi had not been a pro player, adding depth to my memories of watching them as a youngster. The less appealing parts of the game, the 'dark arts' aka cheating, are also openly discussed illuminating their historical context. What especially resonated for me were comments from the game's inception 100+ years ago on the merits of passing the ball (Scotland) versus running more directly with it (England), a debate that continues today with complaints about Guardiola & system players, even though the positive results are quite clear, as they were then! 4/5. Completed 19 August, 2024.

Children of Time, By Adrian Tchaikovsky

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this space opera romp. It contrasts the destruction and survival of the remnants of the human race with the rise of a new civilisation, and this intriguing premise kept me fascinated throughout; I finished the book quite quickly as a consequence. I also enjoyed how the vast passages of time of were related, and how time itself almost became a character in the book. A good twist at the end too.

Completed December, 2020.

The Song of the Dodo, By David Quammen

The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions by David Quammen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant, detailed but accessible; a description, analysis and travel journal of the complex factors around island biogeography and how they effect species and their extinctions. It's a complicated subject but Quammen is masterful in making the subject fascinating and compelling, even when dealing with complex topics.
I found the urgency of the descriptions and situations of the species he details, and in some cases, encounters, and the human advocates he also meets, particularly gripping and thought-provoking. I also found the ending of this book notably perfect.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4, by Sue Townsend

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable 80s classic - a re-read treat from my adolescence. Amusing phrases and descriptions of life and times from back then had me chortling away.

Read from June 15 to 25, 2016

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Those Damned Rebels, by Michael Pearson

Those Damned Rebels by Michael Pearson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To the victors the spoils, to the losers, a rather good book! As well as telling an exciting tale well, the correspondence of the British commanders and establishment has been tapped by the author to provide some fascinating insights into how the British waged the Revolutionary War. This viewpoint pretty much describes how the British snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, after winning battle after battle, but there are key elements within the narrative and particularly from the response back in Britain, that indicate that it was an un-winnable war, as many commented at the time.
Even though the genius of Washington is understandably muted in this book, it nevertheless shines through as the book progresses, as does the gradual but decisive growth of the Continental Army and the crucial support of France. By way of contrast, the glaring errors that the British military chiefs undoubtedly made are clearly illuminated and dissected; even without hindsight some of the mistakes were pretty amateurish.
Well worth a read for anyone who likes history, essential for those keen on the US Revolution.

Read from May 02 to June 13, 2016

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Men at Work, by George F. Will

Men at Work by George F. Will
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting if sometimes verbose with reams of stats. And it's not just the stats, most of the book requires quite a lot of baseball knowledge to understand it. Fortunately the internet was there to help me, but if I had read this in the 1980s when it was written, I would have been lost without web-help! It has given me a greater appreciation of the skills and application that go into each and every game though.

Read from March 03 to May 02, 2016

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Status Anxiety, by Alain de Botton

Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

de Botton is the master! Another dissection of modern life through the lens of history's philosophers. With their work as a canvas, de Botton paints a new picture for today, and it's fascinating to see that today's philosophical problems are nothing new. Highly recommended, along with all his other works.

Read from February 09 to March 03, 2016

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American Canopy, by Eric Rutkow

American Canopy: Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation by Eric Rutkow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting topic covered by various vignettes down the ages of America from European settlement onwards. The stories were excellent with fascinating insights to the national parks and forestry service. However I would have liked a more detailed overview of today's situation and the damage wrought. The loss of the primeval tree giants and millions of acres of virgin forest is a loss that didn't seem particularly profoundly expressed, mainly just expressed as board feet.

Read from October 22, 2015 to February 16, 2016

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Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition, by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Brief, but not an easy read, though it contains fascinating observations that make it worth the effort. A lot of the vagueness obviously comes from the challenge of writing about things never written about before, but even the details of the Spaniards' expedition itself were sometimes difficult to follow. However, the glimpses of the land seen hundreds of years before today's countries came into being made it worthwhile.

Read from October 12 to 21, 2015

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The Conquest of New Spain, by Bernal Diaz del Castillo

The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Díaz del Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little repetitive to start but then the enormity of the events described benefits from the dry way in which Diaz describes them. It ends up as a stunning first person narrative on epochal events.

Read from August 28 to October 12, 2015

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Strengths Based Leadership, by Tom Rath

Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Tom Rath
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gallup's leadership personality test explained; interesting and illuminating but may not have as many of the answers as implied.

Read on September 14, 2015

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The Children of Hurin, by J.R.R Tolkien

The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grim tale well told by characters well met; back in Tolkien's world, as rich and absorbing as ever.

Read from August 11 to September 01, 2015

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The Peregrine, by J.A. Baker

The Peregrine by J.A. Baker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wilderness articulated through observations of falcons.

Read from June 06 to August 27, 2015

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Watching Baseball Smarter, by Zack Hample

Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pretty good, some good background and nuggets of info, in an enjoyable prose style. But I found myself having to flip back and forth between the glossary - not easy in an eBook - in order to understand the main text. I also had to drop into Wikipedia for tagging up and sac flies, for example, which sort of defeated the point of a book like this, especially for such a key part of the game.
Talking of online resources, there are probably better, free ones available that can teach you the game, which is a shame for this book, however I would just about recommend it.

Read from May 01 to June 06, 2015

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Grovel!, by David Tossell

Grovel!: The Story & Legacy of the Summer of 1976 by David Tossell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read of a series nearly 40 years old now! Mixes nostalgia, humor and the nitty gritty of test cricket in an easy to read style. The descriptions of the games are excellent, but even better are the side stories of the people involved.

Read from March 05 to May 01, 2015

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The Civil Wars, by Appian

The Civil Wars by Appian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The brutality of 'civilisation' and progress, then as now, laid bare through epic struggles 2000 years ago. The people, the politicking, the armies, wars and slaughter, all detailed as Rome sets itself as master of the known world and becomes the foundation of today's Western world. Forget all those other 'must reads', this, and similar original sources, truly are.

Read from January 16 to March 05, 2015

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The Twelve Caesars, by Suetonius

The great men and deranged lunatics that created and did their best to destroy the Roman Empire, from Ceasar to Domitian. Brutal, barbaric and the basis for current civilization over 2000 years later.
End-Dec 2014.
4/5.

Agricola and The Germania (Penguin Classics), by Tacitus

Classical comments on Britain and Germany.
Mid-November 2014.
3/5.

The Art of Travel, by Alan deBotton

Enjoyable, considered, erudite - the usual superlatives I use for the masterful de Botton! Describes a few aspects of travel and skillfully ties it in with his own experiences, plus the work and experiences of various philosophers or artists down the ages. Makes you think, makes you realise.
Late October 2014.
4/5.

Women: A Novel, by Charles Bukowski

A litany of women are described in intimate detail during what the author describes as 'research'. Shocking at that level, but there is some depth that occasionally comes through. The book is consistent with the author's cynical and self-critical views on the other aspects of his life, although it can be glimpsed in this book that he enjoys his fame and the trappings it brings.
September 2014.
3/5.