Explore 500+ honest book reviews and star ratings. From literary fiction to hidden gems, find your next great read on my digital bookshelf.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
1412 Pages, Published In 1869
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Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace, translated by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsk. 1412 pages, 361 chapters. For me, 2 attempts in 3 years, over 2 months to finish. Stories of several Russian aristocratic families before, during and after the 1812 French invasion (and retreat) of Russia. A War book, a Romance book, a Philosophy and a History book. Virginia Woolf called Tolstoy “the greatest of all novelists”. Gary Saul Morson referred to the book as the greatest of all novels.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
391 Pages, Published In 2013
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Written by a professor of Biology and a member of Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the book is about the natural world: the plants & animals around us, who are our oldest teachers for us to listen and notice; Indigenous wisdom and science; Gratitude, reciprocity, and conservation of our earth. Poetic, scientific and philosophical. “I could hand you a braid of sweetgrass, as thick and shining as the plait that hung down my grandmother’s back. But it is not mine to give, nor yours to take…”
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
304 Pages, Published In 2021
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The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, by John Green. Written during the Covid pandemic, the book is a collection of 40+ essays, his reviews on 40+ human phenomena. At the end of each essay, Green rates each one on a scale of 1-5 stars. The phenomena include the song “You’ll Never Walk Along”, Air-Conditioning, Googling strangers, Indianapolis, Teddy Bear, Plague, etc. Hilarious, Factual, Thought-Provoking. While he gives Canada geese two stars, I rate the book five stars.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
110 Pages, Published In 1925
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The Great Gatsby, written ~100 years ago, is one of the greatest American novels in history. The story was about a young man, Jay Gatsby, moving from Mid West to New York, to win back his lost love from a beautiful lady, Daisy Buchanans, who was already married. Elegant writing. Intriguing plot. Unexpected ending. A quintessential portrait of Jazz Age America. Loved the closing line: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
Starting a Business 101 by Michele Cagan
272 Pages, Published In 2023
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As part of Adams 101 series, this book provides the basic knowledge and tips on starting your own business, covering all business aspects (e.g. business plan, marketing, budget, tax, etc.) in a short read. A solid primer on the subject.
Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
304 Pages, Published In 2019
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A retell of the DISC personality training I took at work. The DISC are 4 personality styles: Dominance 🟥, Influence 🟨, Steadiness 🟩, and Conscientiousness 🟦. The absurd title was inspired by a CEO who said he was surrounded by idiots. In fact, they are not idiots, just different styles. The color-coded DISC framework can help us understand the “idiots” around us and communicate with each other effectively at work and in life.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
480 Pages, Published In 2024
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A story about young women’s experiences serving as nurses in the Vietnam War and then dealing with the aftermath after returning homeland. Learned about the controversial, lost Vietnam War, the forgotten veterans, and the women most of all. As a fan of Hannah, I was a little disappointed in the first half as the war narration feels dull and contrived. The second half gets much better: unexpected plot development and twists; very emotional towards the end.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
454 Pages, Published In 2017
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Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and author’s own childhood experiences, the 2017 YA novel exposes police brutality and systemic racism through the eyes of a 16-year-old African American girl, who lives in a impoverished black neighborhood and studies in an affluent white school. The girl witnesses the fatal shooting of her best friend, an unarmed black boy, at the hands of a white police officer. Sounds too real? Read this powerful novel!
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
192 Pages, Published In 1952
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First published in 1952, Charlotte’s Web is one of the best, if not THE best, children’s books of all time. A story about a spider, Charlotte, saving the life of her friend, Wibur, the famous SOME PIG. The book teaches us about life, nature, friendship, self-love, and how to treat others. It also teaches us about loss and death as a natural part of life. A timeless classic for both children and adults alike! TERRIFIC, RADIANT, HUMBLE.
The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga
228 Pages, Published In 2013
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A Japanese analysis of the theories from Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler, through a dialogue between an unhappy young man and a wise philosopher over 5 nights. Key ideas: 1. The past doesn’t dictate the future. 2. Take responsibility for your life tasks. Let go of the need for external validation. 3. All problems are interpersonal relationships. Build horizontal relationships. 4. Contribute actively to your community to gain a sense of belonging. 5. Live earnestly in the present moment.
Go as a River by Shelley Read
320 Pages, Published In 2023
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Go as a River, a debut by Shelley Read, is a historical fiction about a young woman’s journey set in a small town of Colorado against the backdrop of Vietnam War. As the sole female in a family of reckless men, she flees from home in teens, single-handedly relocates her family’s peach farm, and endures unbearable losses and hardship, with courage, hope and resilience. It’s also about mountains, trees, and the flowing river. Beautifully written; intriguing opening; tantalizing closing.
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
332 Pages, Published In 1999
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A memoir of a journalist-mountaineer’s account of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster, in which 8 climbers were killed. The 2-month expedition to/from the 29,028 ft was led by experienced guides and sherpas. A classic battle of Man vs. Nature (extreme high altitude & low temperature, oxygen depletion, wind/snow storms, and exposure). Meticulously researched on the history of climbing. “With enough determination, any bloody idiot can get up this hill, …The trick is to get back down alive.”