Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a well-written gripping journalistic account of North Korean defectors, describing their lives in the DPRK. I have to question whether the
Continue readingMonth: October 2013
Review: Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said
Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’d read some Philip K Dick before and this was certainly in a fast-flowing writing style. It only took me half a day to
Continue readingReview: Catch-22
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a 20th century classic novel I had to read. It is a fascinating story of the Second World War which grows ever more absurd as Yossarian proceeds on
Continue readingMatch Report: Liverpool vs West Brom (26.10.13) W 4-1
Liverpool began the match with their favoured three central defenders, Daniel Agger still not being able to force his way back into first XI. The game began with a fast tempo with Liverpool passing the ball around well. Suarez was
Continue readingMatch Preview: Liverpool vs West Brom (26.10.13)
Liverpool welcome West Brom to Anfield in this non-televised 3pm fixture. Liverpool are currently third in the league with West Brom standing at twelfth. League form, however, can be overlooked. West Brom are a
Continue readingReview: The FARC: The Longest Insurgency
The FARC: The Longest Insurgency by Garry Leech My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book covers a very interesting subject for what in general there is a dearth of information and that which does exist tends to be fundamentally
Continue readingMatch Report: Newcastle United vs Liverpool (19.10.13) D 2-2
Liverpool started the game in their favoured 3-5-2 formation, with natural wing backs in Aly Cissokho and Glen Johnson bot making reappearances. Sakho, Toure and Skrtel form the central defence 3. Lucas Leiva stayed at home with his wife and
Continue readingMatch Preview: Newcastle United vs Liverpool (19.10.13)
Well, thankfully, the international break is over, and it’s a return to the Premiership for our club players. We lie second in the table, to Newcastle’s 11th. Luckily no more injuries were picked
Continue readingGreat People, Great Parties, and Great Poker
What Happens in Vegas… …great people, great parties, and great poker Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World, Capital of Second Chances…just hearing the name brings memories of bright lights and fun nights. In Lonely Planet Las Vegas, Scott
Continue readingReview: Siddhartha
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse My rating: 4 of 5 stars This short work by German / Swiss author and nobel literature prizewinner, Herman Hesse, was a cornerstone of the hippy movement which emerged during the 1960s. The book explores the
Continue readingReview: When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order
When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order by Martin Jacques My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is an excellent study of China and its position in the
Continue readingReview: Animal Farm
Animal Farm by George Orwell My rating: 4 of 5 stars This short book is regarded as one of Orwell’s key classics. It was written at a time when criticism of the USSR in Britain was not encouraged as they
Continue readingReview: Kon-Tiki
Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been to Polynesia, and stood out on a deserted beach, staring out at the vastness of the Pacific, it is only natural to imagine how these people first arrived
Continue readingReview: Confessions of an Economic Hitman
Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is an easy to read autobiographical account of a confessing EHM, who feels the pangs of guilt for his work in expanding America’s global empire
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Review: A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
I studied Chinese language for a couple of years and am constantly on the lookout for books about China and its culture. When this jumped out at me from a charity shop bookshelf, at first I thought it was just
Continue readingMatch Report: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (05.10.13) W 3-1
It began a good day for Liverpool as it saw Kenny Dalgleish return to a position in the directors’ box at Anfield. Liverpool started the game in their recent favoured 3-5-2 formation, Martin Skrtel joined by Sakho and Toure in
Continue readingMatch Preview: Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (05.10.13)
Last time out at Anfield, Liverpool gave a disappointing performance and slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Southampton.We turned the corner in out mini-crisis, however, and beat Sunderland away last week, to take up
Continue readingDietmar Hamann
Dietmar Hamann or Didi was known as ‘The Kaiser’ during his time at the helm of Liverpool’s central midfield. The German international was signed for Liverpool by Gerard Houllier in July 1999 for £8 million from Newcastle United. His seven
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Review: Cyberwar: The Next Threat to National Security & What to Do About It – by Richard A. Clarke
The author has had a political career which has reached the highest levels of the Pentagon. He is obviously a very driven and intelligent man and his analysis of the new phenomenon that is Cyber War is second to none.
Continue readingReview: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford My rating: 4 of 5 stars It only took me three days to read this relatively thin paperback. Genghis Khan had a huge role in history and there
Continue readingDirty Wars by Jeremy Scahill
Following on from his book on the mercenary force Blackwater, Jeremy Scahill delves into the Dirty Wars of the Bush and Obama era in the War on Terror. The main theatres covered include Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. Scahill
Continue readingNo Ordinary Joe by Joe Calzaghe
I was fortunate enough to get to watch Calzaghe fight live, against Mikkel Kessler, in Cardiff Millenium Stadium. I followed him throughout his career and can honestly say he was the most amazing fighter. I believe that his record places
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A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
I studied Chinese language for a couple of years and am constantly on the lookout for books about China and its culture. When this jumped out at me from a charity shop bookshelf, at first I thought it was just
Continue reading
Review: Cyberwar: The Next Threat to National Security & What to Do About It – by Richard A. Clarke
The author has had a political career which has reached the highest levels of the Pentagon. He is obviously a very driven and intelligent man and his analysis of the new phenomenon that is Cyber War is second to none.
Continue readingCyberwar: The Next Threat to National Security & What to Do About It by Richard A. Clarke
The author has had a political career which has reached the highest levels of the Pentagon. He is obviously a very driven and intelligent man and his analysis of the new phenomenon that is Cyber War is second to none.
Continue readingAyahuasca In My Blood: 25 Years Of Medicine Dreaming – by Peter Gorman
This autobiographic tale of one man’s relationship with the most sacred vine, shows Peter Gorman as a true pioneer. Ayahuasca is still very much an unknown quantity in the West and Gorman’s 25 years of experience make him a critical
Continue readingThe Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Casteneda
For anyone who has the vaguest interest in shamanism, this is an essential text. It is Carlos Casteneda’s seminal work and in my opinion is a work of art. He has a very direct personal way of revealing his story,
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