Tag Archives: Non-fiction

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How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown (review by Allison W. ’16)

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How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It ComingHow I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming Mike Brown discusses his search for new planets which ultimately led to the decision that Pluto should not be considered a planet. Although the book does discuss some astronomy, it focuses on the process of scientific discovery and what Brown did on his path to discover the dwarf planet Eris. Starting with his bet that someone would find a new planet within five years, he discusses not only his work but also his home life with an infant daughter. How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is a humorous book which should appeal to anyone who wants to know why Pluto is not a planet. -Allison W. ’16

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Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan (review by Eddie S. ’17)

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Food Rules: An Eater's ManualFood Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nowadays, deciding what and what not to eat is all about the nutrition facts, right? Well, Michael Pollan, in his book, Food Rules, makes it known that the nutritional label is actually not essential for maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle. In his 140 page book of 64 basic policies are three main concepts. Pollan drastically simplifies the process of picking the best foods to eat by stripping away indecipherable. I absolutely loved the various epigrams, proverbs, and adages scattered throughout the book. One of the most down-to-earth books I have ever read, Food Rules, is brief, brainy, and brilliant. Simply irresistible. -Eddie S. ’17

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Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander (review by Eddie S. ’17)

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Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the AfterlifeProof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Near-death experiences have been recounted for centuries. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon, describes his recent one in his bestseller, Proof of Heaven. Alexander is suddenly diagnosed with a disease called meningitis, and the chances of surviving appear slim. He fatefully slips into a coma, and his spirit mysteriously voyages to the unknown realms of the afterlife. After being comatose for an entire week he suddenly wakes up, defying all odds. Proof of Heaven is fascinating yet bizarre. Alexander does a sensational job expressing the divinity of the afterlife. From the start, he sets the tone with his childhood dream of flying and maintains the peacefulness throughout the book. Alexander provides substantial emotional depth. Nevertheless, his description of the adventure is disappointingly short, and various moments are incomprehensible and dull. I would definitely recommend this book to those willing to step outside their comfort zone and try a book completely new. Readers of all kinds will find Proof of Heaven outlandish and satisfying. – Eddie S. ‘17

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A Dirty War by Anna Politkovskaya (review by Alice W. ’16)

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A Dirty WarA Dirty War by Anna Politkovskaya
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Few people knew of Chechnya before the Boston Marathon bombing; even fewer people know of the struggles that have pervaded Chechnya’s short history, and the two Chechen Wars from 1994-6 and 1999-2000 fought on its soil. In this collection of articles, Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative journalist for the Novaya Gazeta, paints a harsh, glaring picture of the fate of the civilians, Russians and Chechens alike, who were the main victims of the early crossfire between the Russian federal forces and the Chechen fighters and later the actual targets of gross atrocities committed by both soldiers and rebels during the second war. This book may be difficult for those not particularly well-versed in international affairs, but I was able to comprehend most of the politics through both textual clues and my own inferences. Moreover, the countless inexcusable crimes and massacres chronicled in A Dirty War makes it a difficult book to go through without tearing up in grief and frustration over the injustices. Despite these obstacles, A Dirty War is a moving work of literature and anyone who does finish would agree the messages it conveys makes it well-worth the time. – Alice W. ’16

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Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden (review by Soham K. ’17)

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Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the WestEscape from Camp 14: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A heart-wrenching and terrifying book, Escape from Camp 14 traces the life of Shin, a prisoner trapped in a “complete control center” hidden in the shadowy mountains of North Korea. His sole crime? Being the grandson of a man who fled south during the disastrous Korean War. The only documented escape and defection from a control center, Shin’s story is harrowing. Certain incidents are forever etched in my mind, such as when a starving five-year old girl, found with five kernels of corn, is brutally beaten to death by her “teacher.” Or when Shin—at age 13—is tortured when his mother and brother try to escape. Or his dramatic escape and triumphant repatriation to South Korea. Powerfully rendered through his spare prose, Harden vivifies Shin’s monumental struggles and his subsequent integration into the free world. The author’s ability to open musty doors and expose the carnage committed daily in North Korea makes Escape from Camp 14 an exposé extraordinaire. Those upset by horrific, albeit true, detail may wish to stay away. For those willing to bear witness, this is a must-read. – Soham K. ‘17

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Crashing Through by Robert Kurson (review by Zina J. ’14)

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Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to SeeCrashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Crashing Through shares Paralympic winner Mike May’s journey from blindness into a world of sight, the struggles of this journey, the science behind the surgery that made Mike’s vision possible, and his ultimate destiny. The book excellently increases the reader’s understanding of blindness both on a scientific and social level. Kurson thoroughly fleshes out Mike’s emotions, thoughts, and choices. On the flip side, the author spends about a third of the book explaining why Mike chose to have the surgery, yet determining Mike’s choice was pretty obvious just by looking at the cover of the book. The book did, however, become increasingly more interesting in the second half. Considering that Mike May’s story is rare, as this surgery has only been given to a selected few before, the book leaves an insight not only on blindness but also on the surgery. As a result, this book can appeal to any reader but is particularly interesting for those interested in blindness. – Zina J. ‘14

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The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande (review by Samyu Y. ’15)

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The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things RightThe Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Harvard doctor’s perspective on medicine, The Checklist Manifesto offers a unique and workable way to make medicine safer and more efficient: checklists. Like his previous two works, Gawande’s third book deals with the shortcomings in the practice of medicine and, more importantly, simple ways to fix them. Having observed the benefits of checklists in other professions, such as airplane piloting and construction, Gawande moves to bring it into medicine. Gawande uses a sophisticated, crisp writing style. His, suspenseful narrations of medical cases paint the vivid scenes and his suggestions are well founded in research, and personal experience. Though his book is compiled as a series of essays, it reads like a gripping novel that sets the reader to serious consideration not only of medicine, but also of the little mistakes in everyday occupations and how a simple checklist can save lives. Any reader will enjoy this refreshing, probing, and eloquent discussion of the modern workplace. – Samyu Y. ‘15

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