The Robinson Reading Report has returned with the May edition! You might find this edition to be a little bit shorter, but that’s okay, because I’ve included some of my favorite books I read this year so far. So with that, let’s get right into it, but first, a little run-down for the new readers.
Similar to Gabe’s Reading List, the Triple R will list my favorite books I read during that month. The RRR will come out on the last day of the month, and Gabe’s will come out on the first day of the next month. That way, we have both reading lists on separate days.
The Robinson Reading Report is, for all intents and purposes, my version of Gabe’s Reading List. It will list my top picks that I read, along with the book cover and the Amazon link. And that’s about it. Just a quick head’s up, I don’t read a lot of novels or fiction, but mainly educational-related, facts/trivia, or nonfiction. Also, all books listed below were rated at least 4/5 by me, with one Six Star book at the end. With that, let’s get started with the May edition of the Robinson Reading Report!
Marketing Warfare | Al Ries & Jack Trout
Marketing is a complicated topic, both for small businesses that are just starting out and huge conglomerates at the top of the business food chain. But I find Marketing Warfare as a guide that can help out all businesspeople. The book presents marketing as, well, warfare, with different strategies for companies at the top (defensive), second or third place companies (offensive), organizations that are trying to get ahead (flanking), and newly-born businesses (guerilla). I will say, the book is very easy to understand and comprehend, even for someone like me who has no marketing experience. Along with quotes by famed military strategist Clausewitz, Marketing Warfare shows the surprisingly strong connection between marketing and warfare, all the while being easy-going and fun to read.
The Darwin Awards II | Wendy Northcutt
A lot of you probably don’t know what the Darwin Awards are, so let me explain. Basically, the Darwin Awards are awarded to people who have removed themselves from the gene pool, most commonly by dying (but in some cases losing the ability to reproduce), in the most idiotic and quite humorous fashion. Deaths are usually not funny, but it’s hard not to laugh at the man who got a “lobster vasectomy” (actually an urban legend but nonetheless still funny), or ponder at the reasoning of executioners sticking their head in a noose for a picture. The book also features “Honorable Mentions”, people who didn’t completely make the cut, “Personal Accounts” of authors and writers, and “Urban Legends”, which have been verified to be false. For all those who have never heard of the Darwin Awards, I highly recommend this book.
Egypt | Eyewitness Travel
Travelling the world is certainly very exciting, as you get to hang out in over 200 countries, if you’re that keen on really travelling the world. One of the most exciting countries is Egypt, a mostly arid but bustling country in North Africa. You’d probably want a travel guide to see all of the many attractions there, and this book by Eyewitness Travel has you covered. It has everything, from detailed descriptions of museums, restaurants, and hotels, to the best ways to explore famous Egyptian constructions, such as the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. Dividing Egypt into different regions for your reading pleasure, and with a Survival Guide in the back (which I particularly liked), this guide to Egypt is the all-inclusive guide to exploring this fascinating country.
Uncle John’s Absolutely Absorbing Bathroom Reader | Bathroom Reader’s Institute
I’ve listed a couple of other Bathroom Readers in previous Triple R’s, and for good reason, because they’re so darn fun to read! This 12th edition is no different. It includes all of the usual Bathroom Reader material, as well as some that are included in almost all Readers, such as Court Transquips, Dumb Criminals, and many more. Of course, like with every bathroom reader, I’ve learned about people, places, and things that I’ve never heard of before. Complemented with facts at the bottom of each page (for example, did you know that the highest public telephone is on the Siachen Glacier in India?), this Absolutely Absorbing Bathroom Reader truly is absolutely absorbing, and lives up to the Bathroom Reader standard.
How Few Remain | Harry Turtledove
I’ve said before that I’m a fairly big alternate history fan, and I’ve recently read two books by critically acclaimed author Harry Turtledove. One of these books is How Few Remain, a riveting tale of an alternate history where the South wins the Civil War. Set in 1881, the book follows the second war between the states, resulting from the Confederate States’ purchase of the Mexican provinces of Sonora and Chihuahua. With characters such as Confederate general Stonewall Jackson, United States army officer George Custer, a flamboyant and adventurous young Theodore Roosevelt to give us first-hand accounts of the war, assisted by journalists such as Samuel Clemens and Fredrick Douglass, How Few Remain is an amazing book that I recommend to anyone who wishes to get into alternate history.
The Guns of the South | Harry Turtledove
This is one of the two books by Harry Turtledove I received, and this one, like How Few Remain, doesn’t disappoint. The novel is set in 1864, with General Lee and his army being worn out from a massive defeat at Gettysburg, and depleting rations and manpower. But a strange man with an unplaceable accent, Andries Rhoodie, approaches Lee with an amazing offer: the best rifles Lee has ever seen, and quite possibly the best in the world at that time, and enough ammunition for his whole army. The name of the rifle? The AK-47. Rhoodie, along with his companions, are time travellers from 2013, who seek to help General Lee and his army win the Civil War with their new weapons. Detailing accounts of officers such as Nate Caudell and his men learning how to use the rifles and their devastating effect in combat, The Guns of the South is another great novel that keeps you hooked, and shows Turtledove’s exquisite literary ability.
*Six-Star Book*
Earth (The Book) | Jon Stewart
Ah, Jon Stewart, a master of comedy. His books are very funny, and this one is no different. Written as a survival guide for aliens, Earth (the book) aims to give a summary of the people, animals, customs, and culture on Earth for extraterrestrial beings, and it does so in a hilarious fashion. It covers almost every aspect of Earth you can think of, and it’s sure to keep you laughing. With little treasure hunts at the back of each neatly-divided chapter to keep the aliens entertained in a presumably-desolate planet, Earth (The Book) lives up to its author’s legacy as a very enjoyable read for all the inhabitants of our blue planet.
The Congressional Report 