Insane Mode: How Elon Musk's Tesla Sparked an Electric Revolution to End the Age of Oil by Hamish McKenzie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My kind of car--with a built-in "insane mode!" Love it. Bring it on--the need for speed. Silent, but deadly! I look forward one day to driving a Tesla--maybe an S model or one of the newer ones? I've only been in one electric car--in Norway with a dear friend--and loved it. Musk is doing amazing things--in several fields--related to energy solutions. I like his focus on reducing pollution & waste, as well as bringing positive disruption to calcified fields of engineering. I mean, Musk's companies are turning whole industries upside-down: space, automotive (including self-driving/correcting vehicles), battery power, solar power, mass transport (hyperlooping), mass production that is more efficient & clean & light/bright. A very exciting time in history when developments are making huge leaps forward; paradigm shifts whose results are making worldwide impact. Lots of parallels can be seen between Musk & Steve Jobs. Visionary, creative geniuses who won't take "no" for an answer and push the limits to get the most out of their workers/engineers--ultimately producing practical tools that exude beautiful designs & class. This was a well-written & well-researched book that kept me engaged & interested from page 1. Borrowed this from the library; read on my Kindle.


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The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life by Erwin Raphael McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

McManus' books always have a good punch--they challenge, inspire, encourage, exhort, and push one towards a deeper walk with the Lord. Interesting to learn about his business "hiatus"--not sure what that was all about or why it happened (ministry burn-out?); but, seeing as I don't really keep current on all the church news back in the US, not surprising. Loved the way McManus uses the story of Elisha the Prophet to draw out some great spiritual lessons--especially focused on the one with the king who only struck his arrows three times and gave up. No, no--keep striking until you can't anymore! Read on my iPad--this was a birthday gift from one of my kids or my Mom (thanks!).


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A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love C.S. Lewis, but it's just not as enjoyable when given the quotes/passages are taken out of context and are "bare." They were grouped by topics, but still, there wasn't the context or flow or situation to help with full & deep understanding. Oh, there were still plenty of good quotes & passages, but I have to say I like reading straight through his books, one at a time. Complicating things for me, I ended up reading this on my iPhone through the Overdrive app--as it was borrowed from the library and there was no Kindle version available. I think I had to re-borrow it at least 2x. I am very thankful for the man and the writer & thinker--he was brilliant.


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Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Piper is amazing and is always challenging & encouraging. He's a man of The Word--an always does a deep cut exegesis on God's Word. This book was a strong reminder that though the world is in a crazy mode right now as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, God is in control--and nothing, nothing, happens outside His purposes or control. Yes, these are scary, difficult days--or what Piper has called before "a bitter providence"--but God is using this event of global proportions to call people to repentance and to Himself and the deep, eternal questions of life. This ebook was free (desiringgod.org) and was well-worth the short read. Piper lays out 6 answers to the question of "Why would God allow this coronavirus?" Food for deep thought, as well as great encouragement, reminding us that the Word of God makes it clear that God is sovereign & in control--and that "there is none like Him" and there is "nothing that can thwart His plan/purposes."


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The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell by Paul Smith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Some good insights on the power of stories & story-telling, though, pretty thin on content overall. A few good ideas & quotes. Giving it 2-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. A good reminder that stories are powerful and move/inspire much better than fact-filled PowerPoint presentations....or the dreaded monologue of facts & propositional statements. Got cheap via BookBub; read on my Kindle.


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The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sheesh, you can't go wrong with an Erik Larson book! Excellent all-around, again. This is probably my 6th Larson book and I've enjoyed every one of them. So much to learn. Larson does such a masterful job of pulling together very detailed/specific facts, events, personalities--history just comes alive as it flows out of his pen. This focus on Winston Churchill's 1st years as Prime Minister of England--during the darkest days of WWII & Hitler's relentless & horrifying bombing Blitz of London & other key UK cities--gives one an inside scoop via Churchill's writings, minutes, speeches, as well as 360 insights from various family members' comments, diaries, writings & activities. Defiance extraordinaire! When it seemed like Britain's back was literally up against the wall of an impending & overwhelming invasion by the Nazis, who had just rolled over the mighty French defensive lines, Churchill is able to stand defiant (& alone--as the US was in isolationist mode--despite FDR's sympathies), igniting his countrymen & women to stand unitedly defiant, under withering nighttime bombing after bombing. The destruction and loss of life of civilians over this one year was staggering--and included thousands of innocent children. Hitler, Goring & his top advisors/generals were savages and used their savage & shameful tactics to try to cower the Brits into surrendering without much of a fight...which would have probably happened under the previous Prime Minister's government ("Peace in our time..."). Churchill was THE man, for such a time as that. No doubt about it--and Larson does a superb job of showing how true that is. Fascinating and satisfying book that illustrates what can happen when people will not stand for evil, but will stand up strong and do something about it, no matter what they have at their disposal.


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The Whistler by John Grisham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hadn't read a Grisham book in awhile. This one I did as an audiobook, borrowed from the library & listened to on my iPhone. Interesting locale from where I have a few friends--the Pensacola/Destin are of Florida. Plot revolves around corruption at an Indian casino with a federal judge--and a low-lying 2-bit group of criminals known--or not so well-known, actually--as the "Coast Mafia." Enjoyable read/listen that kept moving and had some good twists & turns.


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Seven Steps from Snowdon to Everest: A hill walker's journey to the top of the world by Mark Horrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I greatly enjoyed this first-person description my Mark Horrell of his long 10-year journey enabling him to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Starting out as a "hill walker" or day trekker, Horrell never initially envisioned himself standing on the pinnacle peak in all the world. But, step by step, he upped his game, tackling more & more difficult peaks, and gaining the experience, fitness, and knowledge that would allow him to climb up the North Face of Everest, from the Tibetan side. Great to read about all his various climbing adventures that took him to at least 4 continents. One can see his passion & appreciation growing over the years for the mountains and the people/culture of the mountains. This book is a great introduction to some of the historic climbs & breakthroughs in climbing--and does a great job of giving insight into all it takes to do something as incredibly difficult as summiting an 8,000+ meter mountain.


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Reversible Errors by Scott Turow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not a bad legal thriller; Turow is a good writer overall. I think there were some aspects of the story that got a little unbelievable, mainly having to do with the 2 extra-marital affairs that were being carried on. The action and plot unfolded slowly, with twists and turns, and characters were filled out fairly well. The whole story still didn't totally grab me, as there just wasn't the umpffhh to make me not want to put the book down.


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Letters to a Young Pastor by Calvin Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very insightful, pithy, creative, challenging & biblical advice for those young (or old) who are in ministry of one sort or another. Miller is such an engaging, creative writer & thinker--and his counsel comes from years & years of personal, on-the-ground, experience and endurance. He has a spiritual maturity that comes through every page and much wisdom to proffer for those seeking to influence and impact those also on a spiritual journey of growth and impact. Wise words; for him/her who has ears to hear. Borrowed from the library; read on my iPad.


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The Sabbath and The Gospel: Finding Rest in the Completed Works of Christ by Keith T. Ferguson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked Keith's book and thought it was a good exposition overall on the importance of the Sabbath in God's economy--and how it ties into the Gospel. Because a lot of people might tend to think it connects only with the Old Testament and the Law. No, it's part of God's built-in cycle of life that is there as a constant reminder that we ultimately cannot do things ourselves--without God's sovereignty and that we shouldn't try to do things on our own--without first coming from a good place of rest in God. I'm giving it a 3-1/2 in my Reading Log. I think it could have used a bit more on the practical side--examples of how one should and/or could build a regular Sabbath rest into their busy, over-productive, on-the-go constantly lives. Overall, a good book with some very important points focused on the heart of the Gospel message--we are fallen creatures and need God's grace in our lives. Read on my iPad.


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Journey to the Cross: Devotions for Lent by Will Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very well done Lenten Season devotional book; really was challenged, encouraged, and brought into meaningful reflection on the meaning of the cross & Jesus' sacrifice. I enjoyed the prayers of confession, as well as the scripture selections from the Psalms and the Gospel of Mark. There was a good bit to read each day--but it was usually quite meaty and worth it.


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What Good Is God?: In Search of a Faith That Matters by Philip Yancey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great Yancey book that my wife & I read together as a devotional book. This book focuses on six messages Yancey gave over several years--including one at Virginia Tech after the on-campus shooting, and another in Mumbai after the terrorist attack. I really liked the format: Yancey would spend one chapter giving background on the situation/context for the talk--then the next chapter was the full message. Many of the messages focused on grace--and how God's grace was what was so amazing & good about God, even in the midst of some pretty horrific circumstances. I love Yancey's realism, though, and his frank and honest way of dealing head-on with the various issues he spoke on/about, like alcoholism (AA) and prostitution (one message was to a rehab center for sex workers). So many good insights and quotes from these messages to be garnered. We read it on the iPad.


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Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World by Rob Sheffield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

They weren't just the band that defined the 1960s--and ruled it by a mile--they're still just about the biggest band in the world today, who outsold everyone else still into the 2000s. The Fab Four, the Moptops, the focus of Beatlemania, or just John, Paul, George, & Ringo. I can remember falling in love with their music when I was in junior high school back in the late 1960s, and I still listen to them with avid interest in 2020. They set the mold, they broke the molds, they went beyond & outside the molds, both in their relatively short official Beatle career as a group--and in their solo careers. Sheffield does a great job of telling how it all happened and how it felt as it unfolded in the public eye. He digs deep, keeps things relevant, and writes with a humor or pithiness that draws one into the great unfolding story that was The Beatles. It could almost be a dream...that's still unfolding. Borrowed from the library; read on my Kindle.


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The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacob
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Picked this up because I enjoyed Mira Jacob's graphic novel about her life/family in NYC. This one--not so much. This novel is about several generations of an Indian immigrant family who moved to the US in the 1970s--it follows them & their lives in a couple different places. The protagonist, the daughter in the family, returns home to help with her father, who seems (maybe?) to be having some health issues--and she ends up staying much longer than planned. The mother is a real character--all over the place and still adjusting to cultural differences in the US. There were some parts that caught my attention; lots of parts that were not so interesting. I did appreciate the Indian accents of the author who narrated the audiobook. But, it was overall a take-it-or-leave-it read that didn't fully engage my interest. Just not enough story/development. This was an audiobook borrowed from the library; read on my iPhone.


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The Dog by Joseph O'Neill
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

My attention was caught by this novel due to its setting--Dubai. Never heard of Joseph O'Neill before. This novel revolved around a guy who gets recruited by an old classmate from a wealthy Lebanese family to run their offices in Dubai; it's all a bit murky as to what exactly he'll be doing. Not really much of a story--though some interesting observations on the highs/lows of Dubai life, including the sparking & murkier sides of life. The protagonist heads up a small office in the swanky Financial Center, moving around huge funds for this & that, but discovers that he's not sure how legal it all is, and he's also treated almost as a servant of the wealthy family--and is kept on a fairly tight leash. Dog motif. There are also some mysterious new friends/acquaintances he makes. He does pontificate on things with regards to the status & treatment of various "classes" in the world of Dubai--and I'd say overall they're pretty accurate observations. But, the story doesn't really go anywhere and I thought fizzled out in the waning "chapters," as there are only breaks, no clear chapter headings. O'Neill's writing style is quite involved--there are some sentences with dozens of subordinate clauses that run on for a page. I'm giving it a 2-1/2 in my Reading Log, as it wasn't bad, but wasn't great either. Borrowed this from the library; read on my Kindle.


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