Month: December 2025

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#BookReview: Your Data Will Be Used Against You by Andrew Guthrie Ferguson

If You See This Review, You Should Be Terrified. I’m a Xennial. I’ve grown up with computers. The Net first became a public thing when I was 10 yrs old, and within a decade I would complete a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I’ve known all along that privacy online was more theater than fact, no matter how careful you are – that if it has a computer chip, you’re safer to assume it is tracking you than not, and that someone you may not like will likely be able to access that data.

Even knowing this almost as long as I’ve known anything… Ferguson makes clear just how much worse it actually is, from a legal perspective. *Even in* the United States, where we “supposedly” have 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States rights limiting government searching of our data and how it can use the results of such a search.

While Ferguson doesn’t address at all how very eroded and damn near paper thin those Amendments have become over the last 250 yrs of jurisprudence, he makes it all too crystal clear that the words on the papers haven’t kept up with the actual technical capabilities, and because of this, many of the things that once kept your written words on paper safe or even your words to certain people safe no longer protect you in this digital era *at all*. Indeed, quite the opposite – many of the exceptions to those earlier forms that actively limited what government was allowed to do are instead now the rules that give government nearly unlimited abilities to search your data without even having to get a “warrant” rubber stamped.

Indeed, another of Ferguson’s large points throughout this text is just how little privacy you have *specifically* when a warrant is signed… and he even tosses a point or two in about the “qualifications” needed to be able to sign such a warrant. (There are basically none to be a Magistrate Judge in particular.)

While all of this is utterly terrifying – and Ferguson goes to great lengths to show that this *should* be terrifying no matter your own personal political bent -, Ferguson does actually offer paths forward at every level that could at least begin to alleviate many of the concerns he details. He even goes so far as to note which ones are likely more politically palatable within the current system and which ones would do more to actually alleviate privacy concerns… but which are also far larger hauls in the current political environment.

Overall this is absolutely a book every American should read, and indeed anyone globally who thinks of America as the “land of the free”. Ferguson shows here that this “freedom” is illusory at best, particularly in the current world environment.

Very much recommended.

This review of Your Data Will Be Used Against You by Andrew Guthrie Ferguson was originally written on December 22, 2025.

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#BookReview: Make It Out Alive by Allison Brennan

Less Gory Saw. I’m glad the description mentioned the “escape room” and the need to make it out or die, as it made that headline *so* much more concise, since it technically isn’t a spoiler. 😀

And yet that headline is exactly what you get here – the latest entrant in the Quinn and Costa police procedural thrillers is a version of Saw set in North Florida (the “First Coast” region of Jacksonville (where I happen to live) and St Augustine) and surrounding areas.

I’m not a fan of horror generally and specifically not a fan of gory horror, so I can’t tell a fan of the Saw franchise just how closely this aligns with that franchise – I don’t know. I do know the base ideas are similar enough that fans of that franchise will enjoy this book on at least some level, but this book is also rather deep in an ongoing series and thus will reveal at least certain things from prior books. However, most of those elements are about the team itself rather than the prior mysteries they were solving, so this may well be a decent enough place for fans of the Saw franchise who may not have read these books before to start and see what they think.

More long time fans of this series specifically or police procedurals generally will also find quite a bit here, as the narrative spends nearly equal time on “oh shit, we woke up in a dangerous situation” and “oh shit, our teammates are missing and the case we thought we had in the bag… isn’t”. Thus, there’s a solid mix of tension and investigation on two different fronts, as we see both sides play through to their inevitable meetup. But what condition will the missing teammates be found in? Who the hell could be sick enough to attempt a Saw type setup in the “real” world? Brennan does a great job really on all aspects here, including our criminals of the tale, and really allows pretty well every character – including several more minor ones – at least a few scenes to shine. Of course, she’s working with 400 pages here… so she’s got the space. 😉

And yes, even this region of the country has its moments in this book, be it in St. Augustine itself, the FBI office in Jacksonville, or the other nearby areas that also come to bear. All are done pretty damn well – well enough that it is clear that Brennan did at least some research on the areas, if not actually came out here and experienced them herself. Which is always pleasant to see as a consumer of a story that claims to be set in a place you are very familiar with. 🙂

Overall truly a well-paced thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout… and will probably keep you up well into the night reading.

Very much recommended.

This review of Make It Out Alive by Allison Brennan was originally written on December 22, 2025.

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#BookReview: Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan

Tremors Meets Open Range. I truly think the best way to describe this book for an at least somewhat general audience – you still need to be familiar with these movies – really is the combination of the movies I use in the title of the review here.

In Tremors, you get an excellent use of a closed environment (in the case of the movie, a desert valley where the only road in or out has been blocked) to create a fun, intense survival type thriller where the good guys can only guess at what is going on. Brennan absolutely *nailed* that element here, using catastrophic flooding to great effect.

In Open Range, there are other issues going on between neighbors, with some neighbors being less than neighborly to their neighbors. Some might even say they were dirty, underhanded, cowardly snakes who were only looking out for themselves. Again, Brennan absolutely *nails* this element as well… while actually expanding on it in some rather interesting ways.

Ultimately, our central family truly is the heart of this tale, even as the events of the book keep them separated for so much of it. Brennan uses both environment and human quite well, and truly manages to give very nearly every character some level of weight to them such that you really want to see how this plays out for everyone… even the snakes. But especially the family cat who has run off in the storm…

Solid book that could get perhaps a touch too real for some when it is scheduled for release in the middle of the summer of 2026, this is absolutely a book fans of both family drama and survival tales are going to want to read, and it appears to be truly standalone to boot.

Very much recommended.

This review of Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan was originally written on December 19, 2025.

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#BookReview: The Oldest Rocks On Earth by Simon Lamb

Part Geologic History. Part Memoir. All Intriguing Information. This is one of those books where, like at least one other early reviewer mentioned, it is nearly as much about the author as it is his subject. So for those looking for a book more solidly focused on geology or science, where the author rarely if ever interjects himself into the narrative… know up front that this isn’t that. At all.

Instead what we get is a book where the author has spent a lifetime researching something he is clearly passionate about, one where he has several personal theories he openly admits aren’t shared by all of those in his field, yet also one who has had some very interesting experiences along the way as he was doing his research. This narrative encompasses all of the above and more. We get a lot of deeply scientific detail of how the oldest rocks on Earth formed and how scientists find and study them. We get a lot of stories of the type of “and that is how I wound up being the personal taxi for an entire region when the regional bus failed one day” or “these are the people I was partying with at a remote campsite deep in the African wilderness”. We also get several instances of “these are my personal theories based on my own research and studying the field for a lifetime, but not everyone agrees with me”.

In other words, a fascinating look at a topic that some could consider quite dry indeed, but which Lamb brings to life with both his own life and his passion for the subject. Yes, there is perhaps too much here at times for anyone who knows anything less about this subject than Lamb himself does, but for the most part he really does explain even these concepts well enough that the reader can have at least a rough understanding of them – enough to generally follow along with Lamb’s narrative and story, if not enough to pass any kind of test about them.

No, the only real thing I could find to fault here is the dearth of a bibliography. Yes, I recognize that this tale is at least part memoir, but still, there is enough geology and objective nonfiction here that just 12% bibliography still seems lacking, even if much of the objective nonfiction is based on the author’s own research. But hey, maybe I’m being a touch harsh there. Read the book for yourself and write your own review of it and let the world know either way what you think on that point. 🙂

Overall a truly fascinating book that works as much as a travel memoir as it does as a geologic tale.

Very much recommended.

This review of The Oldest Rocks On Earth by Simon Lamb was originally written on December 18, 2025.

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#BookReview: Too Close To Home by Seraphina Nova Glass

Solid Summer Escapism. You know those summer movies where you just want to be entertained, so you turn your brain off a bit and just go for the ride?

Do that here, and you’re going to have a *blast*. (Literally, in the case of this tale, as it opens with a car bomb in a small lake town.)

Featuring a small yet interwoven cast and a multi-POV storytelling mechanic, this is one of those tales that uses everything it has to craft a tale that will worm its way into your brain as you’re reading it and won’t let you go… but also isn’t going to be the most memorable book out there once you dive into the next escapist book. The twists and turns and action are all solid, don’t get me wrong. They’re just also a bit plain. Which isn’t a bad thing – plain and expected is *great* for escapist fiction. Again, you don’t *want* your brain working too hard with this particular type of tale.

Overall a fun lake escape with a few thrills and chills, some great vibes, and a few solid enough hooks to keep you reading even as this may be a touch long for some readers (north of 350 pages). Still, stick with it and you will absolutely be rewarded here.

Very much recommended.

This review of Too Close To Home by Seraphina Nova Glass was originally written on December 18, 2025.

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#BookReview: The Swamps by Seraphina Nova Glass

Short Xennial Scooby-Doo Type Tale. This is one of those books that is great for an early-year release (and end of January certainly qualifies, in my mind), because it is a 200 page very quick read. Easy win to get moving on your reading goals for the year, even if those goals measure in the single digits or low double digits.

It is also a very fun tale squarely aimed at Xennials (those of us born between 1977 ish and 1984 ish) now solidly in their 40s who grew up with several great renditions of Scooby-Doo cartoons, as this is very much effectively an adult version of a Scooby-Doo mystery. Minus the van and the dog, and adding a bit more of a Scream/ I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe. Again, pretty *squarely* targeting a specific population… but this is also a fun enough book that more general audiences will likely enjoy it nearly as much, *perhaps* even more.

Now, there *is* a scene or two of jalapeno or so spiciness, so those that prefer their tales no more spicy than a warm glass of milk… you do you. That scene is only just the one scene really, and actually adds far more depth to the story overall than similar scenes in romance novels, so I thought it actually worked rather well in this particular tale.

Overall just some fun “turn your brain off and enjoy the ride” (oh, wait. maybe a little *too* meta there in the review, considering the last paragraph 😉 ) type of tale that again, is a very quick read great for jumpstarting whatever annual reading goals you may have for yourself – if you have any at all. Or maybe you just need some pure escapism generally. This tale will work perfectly in that regard too.

Very much recommended.

This review of The Swamps by Seraphina Nova Glass was originally written on December 14, 2025.

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#BookReview: The Most Awful Responsibility by Alex Wellerstein

Reasonably Well Documented Book Will Force You To Rethink All You Think You Know Of The Post-WWII Era. This is one of those rare history books that actively goes in to not just point out something most people missed about an era and/ or a person, but also goes to show the reader that a lot of what you thought you knew… may not have happened quite the way you think it did.

For example, one of the main points of the early part of the text: You think President Truman ordered the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That was what most textbooks (at least in America) teach, at least lower than say upperclassman history majors at the collegiate level. Except…. Wellerstein shows here – repeatedly – that this wasn’t exactly how that went down. Indeed, Wellerstein uses first hand sources from a few different key people – including Truman himself, where possible – to show that not only was there not one single decision to drop the bombs or where, but that Truman himself likely understood neither the weapon nor the target profile. (Which, let’s face it, both humanizes him a bit more – something Wellerstein is *great* at in this text, for what that’s worth – and should give most of us at least a touch of hope given more recent Presidents and their mental abilities.)

Then, in the period after the bombings, Truman – and the world – realize what has been done… and Truman is personally absolutely horrified. This is where and when the real struggles begin, and the “rest of the story” (as Paul Harvey famously proclaimed for so long) begins. And y’all, this part reads almost like a DC spy thriller/ court drama. High ranking people across several different realms within the US government all seeking to have their vision of the future made manifest, with Truman – and his famous “buck stops here” mantra – the focal point and the one both making decisions and seeking to establish his own preferred path.

Now, with all this lesser known history and with the entire point of the book showing a side of Truman most often ignored by history and historians, some may argue that this necessistates application of the Sagan Standard -that these are extraordinary claims that thus require extraordinary evidence. From my reading here and my understanding of both this text and the relevant histories as I know them, I don’t think this is true. This is a bit of a bombshell, yes, but is also fits pretty squarely in with known histories, it simply illuminates lesser known corners of those histories more properly. Thus, for me, the roughly 20% bibliography here sufficiently establishes a reasonable amount of documentation, and the frequent citations of the diaries and memoirs of those directly involved show the depth of research Wellerstein was able to bring to the table here.

Overall a very well written text that will completely rewrite your understanding of the post-WWII period as it relates to the use and control of atomic weapons – which seems to be Wellerstein’s very point, meaning he executed that point to near perfection.

Very much recommended.

This review of The Most Awful Responsibility by Alex Wellerstein was originally written on December 14, 2025.

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#BlogTour: The Library Of Fates by Margot Harrison

For this blog tour, we’re looking at a strong magical realism/ romance/ mystery combo that leaves off a discussion that could have taken this book from solid to transcendental. For this blog tour, we’re looking at The Library Of Fates by Margot Harrison.

First, the review I posted to the book sites (BookBub.com / BookHype.com / Goodreads.com / PageBound.co / TheStoryGraph.com) and YouTube:

Strong Magical Realism/ Romance/ Mystery Combo. This book had a lot of things for a lot of readers, but curiously, it only had a single line or two about a real world version of itself. But more on that in a moment.

The mysteries here are solid. There’s a dual timeline going on, mostly set in the world just before the collapse in 2020, with the “current” timeline being set in late 2019 and the “then” timeline being back in the 1990s. When the two different mysteries converge… things get quite interesting indeed, setting up one hell of a climax that will take your breath away. As in, if you go into that section just before bed… just plan to stay up a bit later than normal. Once you get there in particular, you’re not going to want to put this book down.

The romance plays out across both timelines as well, with some interesting complications due to the events of the mystery sides of the tale, and is reasonably paced throughout. Nothing overly spicy here, perhaps somewhere between a warm glass of milk and a jalapeno. Maybe somewhere around a Banana or Poblano pepper? Enough that the warm glass of milk crowd may get a little antsy, but also so little that the crowd that barely thinks a habanero is anything at all may not even think there is any spice to be had here at all. I mean, these are college students brought together in an unusual and magical circumstance. Yes, things are going to happen.

But the one thing that hangs over this entire book is the one thing that Harrison only devotes a line or two to – the fact that the very thing that is supposed to be magical about this book, tech in 2025 can already damn near do – and likely will be fully capable of within the next five years or so. While it may not be an *exact* analogue to the magical bit of this book – in that it won’t be a singular book for everyone – AI is largely already to the point that for many readers, particularly those who only read a few books a year or even a few books a decade, AI can already give them a book tailored specifically to their own interests that is largely compelling enough for those exact types of readers. And yes, this is going to be a problem for authors going forward. What happens when the tech gets good enough to satisfy even those of us who read hundreds of books per year? Harrison could have used even her magical version here to perhaps explore this possibility more in a “pre-AI” magical world, but instead uses this part of the magic as more of a macguffin or even an end game set piece than really exploring this idea in any real depth. Which, to this reader, is perhaps a lost opportunity to take a solid mystery/ romance and have it get that much deeper and more timeless.

Still, for what this story actually is and what it actually does, it actually does – *ahem* – all things – *ahem* – quite well within its world, and this is absolutely a book that a lot of different types of readers will be able to enjoy quite a bit.

Very much recommended.

After the jump, an excerpt from the book followed by the “publisher details” – book info, description, author bio, social links, and buy links.
Continue reading “#BlogTour: The Library Of Fates by Margot Harrison”

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#BookReview: Placeless by Patrick Markee

For The First Time In My Life, I Feel Actively Stupider For Having Read A Book. Yes, y’all, this book is *that* bad. This isn’t even “I disagree with this guy’s politics and he is hyper preachy throughout the text” level, though there is that too. This is “this dude cites things that have been repeatedly and conclusively not only actively disproven, but actually shown to be the exact opposite of what he claims” level bad. Truly literally everything this guy says promoting rent control? Actual economics conclusively proves that he is not only 100% wrong, but that indeed reality is exactly the opposite of what he claims in this text.

I mean, y’all, I’m absolutely flabbergasted by this book. I *wanted* it to be good. I *wanted* an expose of homelessness in America that I could shout from the rooftops proclaiming its brilliance and showing how far America has fallen – because we admittedly have. And yet while we have fallen, we’ve also raised the standard of living *even for our homeless* to levels never before seen in the history of humanity – and that is a level of hope that is sorely missing in Markee’s text here.

Instead, in this text, everyone who opposes outright pure Marxist economic theory is a racist Nazi monster who can’t possibly have a single redeeming quality. And yes, Markee actively and specifically calls someone he disagrees with a Nazi in this text, without providing any actual evidence at all that they had ever supported the actual Nazis. Further, Markee openly admits to stealing from a former employer in Austin, TX in this text *while never thinking he did anything wrong*.

My dear reader of my review, for literally years I have thought that a “gold mine” was my worst possible rating. It means that there is a speck of something redeemable in the text, but you have to shift through literal tons of detritus to find it.

I. Was. Wrong.

I need a new term for my worst possible rating, because this book officially goes well beyond any book that has ever earned my “gold mine” rating. I was not joking in the title here, I actively feel stupider for having read this book.

To the level that I can’t even recommend it even if you agree 100% with Markee’s politics, which he is extremely preachy on throughout this narrative. Because he is so easily proven wrong on so very many points, he will actively make you a worse debater and *less* actually informed on this topic from being so wrongly misinformed. Indeed, recommending this book in 2025 would be akin to recommending a book about germ theory from say the 13th century in 2025 – it would be so wrong it would actually harm you and potentially cause you to actively harm others due to how misinformed you would be from reading the book.

Not recommended. It should never have been written to begin with. And I truly hate to say that about any book – and never have before this one.

This review of Placeless by Patrick Markee was originally written on December 4, 2025.

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#BookReview: The History Of Money by David McWilliams

Solid Enough Primer. This is one of those “history of humanity” type books that attempts to take literally thousands of years of human history (including pre-history) and condense it into a sub-400 page narrative. (With 12% of its 403 Kindle pages being bibliography, which we’ll get to in a moment.) Human history being as complex as it actually is, none of these types of tales are going to be 100% correct in all details, as details are more often than not incredibly nuanced. But as an overall narrative, this one is at least interesting and provides a lot of solid jumping off points of “hey, did this particular bit of history *actually* happen the way McWilliams claims?”. Sometimes that answer will be “mostly”. Others, it will be “somewhat”, and still others will be “barely”. Different specialists will have different opinions at different points, and I know my friends trained more in the Austrian school of Economics (Milton Friedman, Ludwig Von Mises, Frederick Hayek, etc) will likely take quite a bit of umbrage with McWilliams’ 20th and 21st century histories in particular. Including the fact that McWilliams is obviously quite the fan of one John Maynard Keynes – the singular “economist” who has done more harm to the global economy than very likely any other in the history of humanity.

Still, like I said, as an overall primer on the history of money… this is at least entertaining and mostly informative… if you’re willing to do more research.

No, the actual star deduction isn’t for McWilliams’ adoration of Keynes or his at times gross over simplifications. Those can at least somewhat be excused as not 100% objective criticisms – even if they *are* educated criticisms. The actual star deduction here comes from the aforementioned 12% bibliography. Quite simply, a book with this much history should be cited *far* more than this, and indeed I’ve personally read books over the years covering a far more limited historical scope that had multiples of this level of documentation.

So read this book to begin to get a rough idea of the topic – and, as I’ve already pointed out to one friend and fellow book blogger since reading this, it *can* be enough to refute a few monetary policy memes/ stories floating around online. Then do even more research on the actual events portrayed here and see how accurate McWilliams truly was. Or was not.

Very much recommended.

This review of The History Of Money by David McWilliams was originally written on December 1, 2025.