The Library of the Uncommons

Ben reviewed With Malice Toward None by Stephen B. Oates

Stephen B. Oates: With Malice Toward None (Hardcover, 2002, American Political Biography Press)

Fascinating and Challenging

4 stars

I was interested in how much Lincoln vacillated and developed early on before developing his convictions later in life. Once he made up his mind, it was made, though it took him a long time to get there. The book felt comprehensive. At around 600 pages, it's a significant investment. I learned and think it was worth it.

Ben reviewed You are here by Thích Nhất Hạnh

Thích Nhất Hạnh: You are here (2009, Shambhala)

Highly Recommend

5 stars

This is the best Buddhist book I've read.

Ben reviewed Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood (2013, Orbit)

The Age of Kings is dead . . . and I have killed it.

…

Good Read

4 stars

I enjoyed it. The story picked up in the last third. Character development is not as deep as The Stormlight Archive, but the gunpowder angle is a nice twist versus most fantasy.

Ben started reading Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan

The Age of Kings is dead . . . and I have killed it.

…

My brother highly recommended this trilogy.

Ben reviewed On Writing by Stephen King

Stephen King: On Writing (2002, Pocket Books)

"Long live the King" hailed Entertainment Weekly upon the publication of Stephen King's On Writing. …

Engaging

5 stars

I couldn't put it down and learned some things. Maybe a few I'll remember.

Ben wants to read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath (Hardcover, 2014, Viking, Viking Books)

First published in 1939, Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning epic of the Great Depression chronicles the Dust …

Stephen King said it was good in On Writing.

Ben reviewed The long way to a small, angry planet by Becky Chambers (Wayfarers, #1)

Becky Chambers: The long way to a small, angry planet (Paperback, 2015, Hodder & Stoughton)

When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn't expecting much. The Wayfarer, …

Interesting Characters and Relationships

4 stars

I liked the characters and how they fit together. Character personalities were sometimes inconsistent, but real people are like that too I suppose.

Ben started reading The long way to a small, angry planet by Becky Chambers (Wayfarers, #1)

When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn't expecting much. The Wayfarer, …

This had been on my To Read list at the local library for awhile. Glad I picked it up so far!

Ben started reading Big mind, big heart by Dennis Genpo Merzel

Dennis Genpo Merzel: Big mind, big heart (Dutch language, 2008, Asoka)

No rating

Beschrijving van een methode van zelfonderzoek die is geïnspireerd op zenboeddhisme en Voice Dialogue.

I'm reading an English edition.

Ben finished reading Darth Plagueis by James Luceno

James Luceno: Darth Plagueis (2022, Random House Worlds)

Fun read. A few too many $5 words where a 5¢ word would do.

Ben reviewed Superagency by Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman, Greg Beato: Superagency (2025, Authors Equity)

Overbalanced

3 stars

Maybe a bit too optimistic, and light on how AI works.

Ben started reading Darth Plagueis by James Luceno

My first Star Wars book. Interesting two days in.

Ben finished reading Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson: Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (2023, Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC)

A man awakens in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no …

Starts slow, but a good read. And humorous, as you may have guessed from the title.

Ben finished reading Superagency by Reid Hoffman

Very positive on AI, which isn't surprising from the subtitle. Accessible writing for a beginner like me, and has some high-level info about how AI models work.

Ben reviewed The Bone Ships by RJ Barker

Dark World

4 stars

Well written and compelling lead characters. Setting is darker than my taste.