Book Reviews — www.ddmcd.com

Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also a practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.

Donald Mallick's “THE SMELL OF KEROSENE; A TEST PILOT'S ODYSSEY”

Jul 1

Jul 1 Donald Mallick's “THE SMELL OF KEROSENE; A TEST PILOT'S ODYSSEY”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, Biography, Non Fiction

Mallick’s book is a tour of post-WWII 20th-century US aviation like none other I’ve ever read. Here’s a pilot who has flown Cessnas, early jets, helicopters, the doomed XB-70, lifting bodies, lunar landing training platforms, the B-52, and the YF12 Blackbird, all on behalf of NASA or its predecessor NACA.

Josh Barkan's BEFORE HIROSHIMA: THE CONFESSION OF MURAYAMA KAZUO (Short Story)

Jun 24

Jun 24 Josh Barkan's BEFORE HIROSHIMA: THE CONFESSION OF MURAYAMA KAZUO (Short Story)

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Pacific War, War, Japan

This short story looks at the events leading up to the bombing of Hiroshima from the perspective of a young Japanese intelligence officer who pieces together evidence of what’s coming. Unfortunately, no one’s believes him.

Richard H. Graham's “FLYING THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD; in the cockpit on a secret operational mission”

Jun 5

Jun 5 Richard H. Graham's “FLYING THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD; in the cockpit on a secret operational mission”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, Non Fiction

This book is a nuts and bolts — and almost minute to minute — description of what an SR 71 Blackbird pilot did before, during, and after secret intelligence gathering flights.

Evan Thomas' IKE'S BLUFF: PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S SECRET BATTLE TO SAVE THE WORLD

Feb 22

Feb 22 Evan Thomas' IKE'S BLUFF: PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S SECRET BATTLE TO SAVE THE WORLD

Dennis D. McDonald

Biography, History, Non Fiction, Nuclear

Thomas’ thesis is that Ike kept the world from sliding inexorably into a civilization-ending World War III through deft avoidance of direct conflicts with China and Russia.

Junot Díaz' THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

Jan 26

Jan 26 Junot Díaz' THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, History, Politics

My main impression: everyone has a story and a family history. We should take the time to listen and learn about the people we meet, especially when they come from somewhere else. Until we do that our judgments about them are incomplete.

Christopher Kemp’s FLOATING GOLD: A NATURAL (AND UNNATURAL) HISTORY OF AMBERGRIS

Jan 14

Jan 14 Christopher Kemp’s FLOATING GOLD: A NATURAL (AND UNNATURAL) HISTORY OF AMBERGRIS

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science

It’s an oddly touching book. The author bounces around modern day buyers and sellers, lone wolf secretive ambergris “prospectors,” whaling museums, and frequent trips to walk along the beach after high tide. It seems disjointed but is worth a reading if the unusual interests you.

Tiffany Shlain's BRAINPOWER: FROM NEURONS TO NETWORKS

Dec 27

Dec 27 Tiffany Shlain's BRAINPOWER: FROM NEURONS TO NETWORKS

Dennis D. McDonald

Book Reviews, Non Fiction, Science

I’ve been interested in reading about the human brain ever since a family member had successful brain surgery. Given that my consulting frequently touches on Internet related issues, combining brain- and Internet-related topics in a single book seemed like a “no-brainer” to appeal to my interests.

Oliver Sacks' HALLUCINATIONS

Dec 18

Dec 18 Oliver Sacks' HALLUCINATIONS

Dennis D. McDonald

Non Fiction, Science

The Audible download of this book became a slog after a while. I kept with it since it is very educational.

Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME

Oct 1

Oct 1 Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Stephen King

I haven’t tried to read anything by King in over 20 years. The last time I tried I found his writing to be pedestrian and uninteresting. UNDER THE DOME is different.

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

Jul 31

Jul 31 Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

Dennis D. McDonald

I bought this at my local birding store on Fern Street, One Good Tern, here in Alexandria VA. I figured if they only carried one insect guide it would be the one they thought best, and I was right. I had read all the field-guide-to-insect book reviews and had come away totally confused.

Drew Gilpin Faust's “THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING: DEATH AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR”

May 29

May 29 Drew Gilpin Faust's “THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING: DEATH AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR”

Dennis D. McDonald

Book Reviews, History, Non Fiction, War, Medicine, US Civil War

This book addresses all aspects of death from the vantage point of the U.S. War Between the States, a massive orgy of carnage that took place on U.S. soil between 1861 and 1865.

David E. Hoffman's THE DEAD HAND: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLD WAR ARMS RACE AND ITS DANGEROUS LEGACY

Apr 11

Apr 11 David E. Hoffman's THE DEAD HAND: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLD WAR ARMS RACE AND ITS DANGEROUS LEGACY

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Politics, War, Cold War, Nuclear

In the mood to read something scary? This book will make your hair stand on end.

Barrett Tillman's “WHIRLWIND: THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1942-1945”

Jan 28

Jan 28 Barrett Tillman's “WHIRLWIND: THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1942-1945”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

The author provides a very good overview of the role of aircraft in bludgeoning Japan into submission. While never minimizing the role of seapower in strangling Japan’s WWII economy, Stillman documents Allied land and sea originated aair war efforts, the centerpiece being the role of the Boeing B-29.

Max Hastings' RETRIBUTION: THE BATTLE FOR JAPAN, 1944-45

Jan 15

Jan 15 Max Hastings' RETRIBUTION: THE BATTLE FOR JAPAN, 1944-45

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

Hastings tells the story of the final year of the Pacific War from multiple perspectives, much of which will be new to people whose awareness of Chinese, British, and Russian action against the Japanese is low.

Richard Holmes' THE AGE OF WONDER: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science

Dec 13

Dec 13 Richard Holmes' THE AGE OF WONDER: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science

Dennis D. McDonald

Astronomy, Biography, Biology, History, Non Fiction, Science

This book covers the development of British science from the time of Cook’s famous voyage (which stopped at Tahiti) up to Darwin’s Beagle voyage. It concentrates on a few key luminaries (the Herschels, Davy, Mungo Park, Farady, Banks) and at the same time explores the relationship, sometimes synergistic, between art and science.

Bob Berman's THE SUN'S HEARTBEAT: And Other Stories from the Life of the Star That Powers Our Planet

Oct 3

Oct 3 Bob Berman's THE SUN'S HEARTBEAT: And Other Stories from the Life of the Star That Powers Our Planet

Dennis D. McDonald

Astronomy, Science

At a profound level this book readably demonstrates human intelligence and creativity at their best.

C. J. Box's “COLD WIND”

Sep 24

Sep 24 C. J. Box's “COLD WIND”

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Mystery, Western, Disappointing, CJ Box

This is the third or fourth Joe Pickett novel I’ve read. It’s not one of the best.

Bernard Cornwell's AZINCOURT

Jul 23

Jul 23 Bernard Cornwell's AZINCOURT

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, History, War, Historical Fiction

Nick Hook is an archer in Henry V’s army. The events in this novel go from 1413 to 1415 and follow Hook as Henry’s army invades France to assert his claim to the French throne.

Dan Simmons' ILIUM

Jul 3

Jul 3 Dan Simmons' ILIUM

Dennis D. McDonald

Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, War, Antiquity

While I would not put this in the same class as my favorites by Stephenson (e.g., Diamond Age) and Vinge (e.g., A Deepness in the Sky) it’s still pretty darn good and I look forward to the sequel.

Charles Portis' TRUE GRIT

May 11

May 11 Charles Portis' TRUE GRIT

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, Humor, Western

I’ve never seen the True Grit movies. Till I ran across this book at a yard sale I was never even aware of the novel’s existence. But when you need a Western, as I sometimes do, this appears to be just what the doctor ordered.