I mentioned The Rest Is History previously (being responsible to my ever-growing TBR list, where A Natural History of Ghosts and An Instance of the Fingerpost have made it to reviews here). Considering all the hours I’ve spent listening to the podcast, and now finally getting to the book, I figured it’s time for a […]
Non Fiction
Book Review: How They Get You, by Chris Kohler
Something a bit different than the usual topics of this blog, but I feel it’s an important read for everyday people. Kohler is a well-respected Aussie journo (=journalist here in Australia), usually covering economics. This books is about the myriad ways businesses rig life so yopu end up paying more than you should – often […]
Just how bad AI is – two book reviews
Since I deal with Responsible AI as part of my day job — the kind of technology that is meant to improve human lives, and not do harm — I also read about the instances of when it goes wrong. Most of the dangers aren’t “the Singularity” type of thing, it’s not the Rise of […]
Book Review: A Natural History of Ghosts, by Roger Clarke
I came across this on The Rest Is History podcast, where the author featured as a guest and reviewed some of the history of ghosts in the UK. What to Expect An attempt to examine if England truly is the most haunted nation, whether it’s the isles’ weather or just the people. After setting the […]
Book Review: Great Australian Ghost Stories, by Richard Davis
I’m reading up on Australian ghost stories and mysteries as I’m working on a new urban fantasy series, and this looked like an amazing resources. What to Expect A collection of ghosts, spooks, poltergeists, and other hauntings from around Australia, arranged by themes. The ghosts themselves date from the 19th century to almost present day, […]
Book Review: Ancient Magic: A Practical Guide to Spells, Potions, and Power, by Philip Matyszak
I love Matyszak’s way of non-fiction story-telling, making antiquity highly accessible. The subject of this particular work is also very dear to me, and I can’t believe I missed it. Come to think about it, looking at the publication date, I can’t help but wonder if he wrote it specifically for me after an online […]
Book Review: Invisible Romans, by Robert C. Knapp
As someone who writes fiction inspired by Ancient Rome, I am always fascinating by the lives of the ordinary people. I find the adventures of the ones comprising 99.5% of the population much more fascinating than the movers and shakers. What to Expect Expect a review of non-elite (as much as possible) sources, where Knapp […]
Book Review: Architecture 101: From Frank Gehry to Ziggurats, an Essential Guide to Building Styles and Materials, by Nicole Bridge
Architecture has been on my mind lately, so what’s better than a book with a review of the development of architecture throughout the ages? While this is a bit if the expansion of the usual remit of the Roman history side of this blog, I know many of you appreciate related topics like food history […]
Book Review: A Year in the Life of Ancient Greece, by Philip Matyszak
I adore Matyszak’s works for bringing daily life in antiquity to the modern reader. Our perceptions of life in the classical era are influenced so much by contemporary writers that were from and concerned with the 1% plus Hollywood’s misappropriation and misrepresentation, that Matyszak’s works are a breath of fresh air. What to Expect The […]
Book Review: A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome, by Emma Southon
A book about murders in Ancient Rome? Gimme! This is a non-fiction work, covering not just the notable murders — but the Roman people’s attitudes towards killing. A great piece to understanding both the ancient world and ourselves, as we take our modern viewpoints to evaluate historical accounts. What to expect Southon does a credible […]
FELIX THE FOX MYSTERIES 