matteo_of_eld's reviews
217 reviews

The First World War by John Keegan

informative slow-paced

3.0

Treason's Harbour by Patrick O'Brian

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Crimean War: A History by Orlando Figes

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

He Shall Thunder in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not quite as good as the previous 2 entries, but the ending does wonders to make up for it.

Curriculum of the Basic Principles of Marxism-Leninism Part 1: The Worldview and Philosophical Methodology of Marxism-Leninism by Luna Nguyen, Taimur Rahman, Vijay Prashad

challenging hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

Religion and the Rise of Capitalism by Benjamin M. Friedman

informative slow-paced

3.0

This book is extremely mid but is also valuable as a history of Protestantism and Conservativism in the US as Capitalism coalesced into the world-wide nightmare it is. My biggest beeves here are that this author, like most pro-capitalist economists, seems incapable with engaging with material reality (though to his credit i think he genuinely believes in capitalism as "good" ideology unlike the scum from the Chicago school); and he barely engages with his own thesis in even an academic way.

The Constant Gardener by John le Carré

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China's Last Golden Age by Stephen R. Platt

dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Endymion by Dan Simmons

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Gunpowder Age: China, Military Innovation, and the Rise of the West in World History by Tonio Andrade

adventurous challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0