The aim of this blog is to provide a short, sharp picture of a book (mostly non-fiction), with the aim of helping you decide whether to buy it or not.
I have tried to set myself three rules, which I will try not to break:
- Be concise, no more than 700 words. I don’t like movie trailers that tell you the whole film, that leave nothing for the imagination. And I think the same of book reviews. The aim is to make it clear if it’s right for what you want, not to explain the whole thing.
- Be contextual, make connections. No book sits in isolation, they weave in and build on wider references and ideas and I think it’s useful to highlight these, show how a book competes with or further illuminates other reading.
- Be clear and be honest. Some books are amazing, some are not. Many are in-between. I don’t want people to waste their time and money on something they won’t enjoy. My intention is to be honest and make it clear if I would recommend a book.
There’s no particular order to the books I read, I often have a pile of five or six all competing for my attention. And I pick up the one that piques my interest at that time. The majority are around 200-300 pages, frequently non-fiction, and usually are based around a big idea. But I read many that break these conventions too.
Usually I can finish a book in four commutes, eight sets of train journeys. Which, with my job currently entailing hybrid working of two days a week in London, means I usually finish a book every fortnight. So that’s the rough timing that a new blog comes out.
These are all my own thoughts. Sometimes I muse over a book with my family and friends. But often it’s just what I think on the train. I would love to hear what you thought of the books I write about, if my opinions helped you find your next read, and of course for your own recommendations! Happy reading 😊.