Ironically, even as I am entering a new period in my life, my goal is to go back and read the old books languishing on my bookshelf. There are some fascinating titles there that I cannot wait to get into, and mostly, cannot wait to review. As most of my titles are historical books, this review will be mostly books on history, but a few more genres as well.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)The Diary of a Young Girl
Anne Frank
Rating: 8/10
Image credit: Adeline Yang
I can see why Anne Frank's voice far outlived her body- a diary so honest, yet relatable, it struck me that although Anne was a different religion, culture, and lived in a different time period than me, her feelings of insecurity in her early teenage years were the same as I. Many readers can find solace and humor in her passionate opinions on everything from the people in her life to her school subjects. As funny and honest as she was, Anne was a very insightful girl, and I think she recognized that for herself as a result of undergoing extreme anxiety and pressure from a young age.
Although not riveting, as it is a day-to-day account of a young girl, her charm and unique circumstances keep you reading. It broke my heart that she did not survive the war, despite all her efforts.
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The Lincoln Conspiracy
Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
Rating: 10/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
Who knew that there were attempts on Abraham Lincoln's life outside of the well-known case of John Wilkes Booth? In an extremely well researched work of non-fiction, Meltzer and Mensch dive into another relatively unknown plot on Lincoln's life. The slow unraveling story mirrors the process of the Pinkerton detective agency peeling back the layers of the plot, keeping the reader flipping the pages. I highly recommend this book!
After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations
Eric H. Cline
Rating: 7/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
I bought this book because I was drawn by the majestic look of the cover. The rising of the sun reveals the central topic of the book: as a new era emerges after the not well understood collapse of many Mediterranean civilizations, groups of people either succeed or fail at rebuilding their culture. A book meant for history buffs, Cline analyzes the success of Mediterranean civilizations at this time including the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Phoenicians.
Most of all, I enjoyed the last chapter of the book, which generalized the experiences of these civilizations through the explanation of the adaptive cycle. The adaptive cycle emphasizes that the break of a system–whether individual, or part of a social or ecological system–is necessary for survival. Drawn as a graph, the adaptive cycle takes the form of an infinity sign, and is divided into four stages: growth, conservation, collapse, and re-organization. I thought this was a captivating theory, especially as it can be applied to individual lives as well as the grand scale of an entire civilization.
The 1619 Project
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Rating: 5/10
Image Credit: Adeline Yang
I ended up getting only halfway through this book. I had high expectations, as this book was recommended to me by some of my friends and classmates. However, I ended up being disappointed.
Although it is true that atrocities have happened to African-Americans as a result of slavery and racist policies in America, I did not agree with the denouncement of the white man as an entire unit. I wish there was acknowledgment that white people as a whole are not racist monsters, but are capable of compassion as well. Although I appreciate the talent of the poets and writers, I found this book to be too offensive and radical for my taste.
Who Moved My Cheese?
Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Rating: 10/10
I got through this book in just 30 minutes! A self-help book, I found this book to be extremely useful, as I am going through radical changes in my life, not just as a freshman in college trying to adjust to university life, but also on a personal side. I highly recommend that everyone read this, whether going through struggles or not!
At some point, the advice in this book will become applicable for everyone. Ultimately, this book talks about being adaptable to change. Rather than overthinking the situation, or getting human emotions involved, whenever a bad thing happens in your life, or an unexpected change that shakes your foundation, simply look a new solution. Do not insist on your old ways that no longer work, and do not wallow in self-pity. Rather, expect this change to happen because life is unpredictable, and the sooner you look for your "new cheese," the happier you'll be!
Conclusion
I hope you found inspiration from these book recommendations as always! I'm keeping reading as a main focus for my college career, as I feel like it expands my compassion, imagination, and comprehension of reading materials in my classes as well.
Leave a comment of a book I should read, I am always looking for recommendations!
