This month’s choices:
Fiction
Old Man’s War
By John Scalzi
There are several sub-genres beneath almost every major genre in fiction. Romance authors have sweet romance, fantasy romance, historical romance, even hockey romance. Seriously.
Well, science fiction is the same way. And John Scalzi hit a home run with this bestseller that entertains fans of military science fiction.
It’s the story of John Perry, who turned 75 years old, then joined the Colonial Defense Force. The CDF is basically the military group that defends Earth and its migrating citizens from the hostile alien races that want the same real estate (planets) that we do.
Ah, so you noticed he’s 75 years old? Why would an old man join up?
I don’t want to spoil anything—but I’ll tell you that Scalzi’s vision of the future combines exactly what people have wanted for years: a way to combine youth with the wisdom of experience.
It’s a fantastic story. In fact, it was such a hit that there are now several books in the series, each as popular as this first installment.
You get terrific character development, riveting action scenes, and the right dose of humor. I’ll always be attracted to books featuring that combination. The fact that the premise alone makes you stop and think is a bonus. Highly recommended.
Non-Fiction
I think most of us hear the word “dopamine” on a regular basis, and we sorta think we know what it’s about.
Anna Lembke does a masterful job of not only explaining what it is, but she takes you on a virtual tour of how this chemical messenger inside our brain brings us both pleasure and pain.
What really makes this neurotransmitter fascinating is how it controls our decisions—often without us knowing that we’re essentially being manipulated. If you’ve ever wondered why a family member can’t kick their addiction to gambling, or why your child keeps their face buried in social media accounts on their phone, this will give you several “a-ha” moments.
Because, really, pleasure-seeking and addiction go hand-in-hand.
Can you control this component of your brain? Well, recognizing it surely helps.
This book does have moments where it gets into the weeds in terms of scientific explanations and jargon, but for the most part Lembke guides you through in a way that makes it understandable. Using several stories from her many years of treating people with addictions, she’s able to use specific examples to help the reader grasp how it all works. You could very well see yourself in some of these vignettes.
And that’s a good thing.
Last Month’s Picks
Child 44
By Tom Rob Smith
The hunt is on for a serial killer in Stalin’s Soviet Union in the 1950s. A gripping read.
The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1
By Allan Kozinn and
An in-depth examination of the life and music of legendary songwriter and musician, Paul McCartney.
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Happy reading!