Author Archives: John Walters

Book Review:  The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss

I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, and bookstores have always been a source of wonder and excitement for me. When I was wandering the world with nary a possession but what could fit … Continue reading

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Book Review:  The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English

This true story of spying and smuggling takes place in the 1980s, when Poland, as a part of the Soviet-dominated East Bloc, suffered brutal repression. Its citizens had very little personal freedom; most books from the outside were banned, and … Continue reading

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Thoughts on This Immortal by Roger Zelazny

Recently I needed a book that I could take with me on a journey by plane without adding much to the weight and volume of my carry-on luggage. It also had to be well-written and absorbing, something that would hold … Continue reading

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Not a Tourist

This week in my newsletter The Perennial Nomad: For Those Who Wander with Intent I discuss the differences between nomads and tourists. I can’t emphasize this enough: a perennial nomad is not a tourist. This has nothing to do with … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet by Kate Marvel

For days I have been immersed in this fascinating new book on the environmental impact of human activities. Marvel is a climate scientist with a PhD in theoretical physics who works with computerized climate models to study climate change. At … Continue reading

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Book Review:  Team Dog: How to Train Your Dog – the Navy SEAL Way by Mike Ritland

If you consider Team Dog a departure from the type of books I usually review, you’d be right. After all, I don’t even own a dog. However, there is a reason for this deviation. And in the interests of all … Continue reading

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Book Review:  The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson

I wouldn’t say I have a particular penchant for Civil War stories, but this book caught my attention due to its relevance to the modern era of political antagonism and uncertainty. The author researched and wrote the book during the … Continue reading

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Journey to Maine

For the past two weeks in my newsletter The Perennial Nomad: For Those Who Wander with Intent I have been sharing insights acquired during my recent trip to Maine. These include observations on traveling with an open mind, changing time … Continue reading

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Book Review:  The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna

The year 2023 saw the publication of The Internet Con by Cory Doctorow, which explains how big tech creates monopolies for their products so that consumers needing to access them have a dearth of options. This exclusivity allows tech companies … Continue reading

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A Summer Treat for My Blog Followers

As a summer gift to readers, I have enrolled electronic editions of some of my books and stories in the Smashwords Summer Sale, which runs through the month of July. Complete books are half price, marked down from $3.99 to … Continue reading

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