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Paperback Wanderings
Non-Fiction


Outdoor Kids in an Indoor World, Review
Outdoor Kids in an Indoor World by Steven Rinella Outdoor Kids in an Indoor World by Steven Rinella is a good, straightforward read that delivers exactly what it promises. Coming from someone who already follows a lot of Rinella’s work, it was almost impossible not to hear his voice while reading. If you’re familiar with him, you know the tone. Direct, practical, and grounded in real experience. Nature is not a place to visit. It is something we are a part of. At its core, t

Justin DeLeon
Mar 202 min read


Manic: A Memoir Review
Manic: A Memoir by Terri Cheney Manic: A Memoir by Terri Cheney is one of those books that quietly stays with you long after you finish it. I gave this memoir 4 stars , and I found it beautifully written and deeply impactful. Cheney’s prose is honest, raw, and at times unsettling — but never gratuitous. She invites the reader directly into her lived experience with bipolar disorder in a way that feels intimate and unfiltered, offering clarity without romanticizing the illnes

Niki DeLeon
Feb 72 min read


The Art of Money Getting, Review
The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum “How many have almost reached the goal of their ambition, but, losing faith in themselves... the golden prize has been lost forever.” This is going to be a short reviw considering this book is a little over 30 pages. That being said this was a good little book. I really enjoy how older finance and self-help titles tend to be short, focused, and free from the abstract fluff that modern books often get lost in. The Art of Money Getting

Justin DeLeon
Nov 21, 20252 min read


The Richest Man in Babylon, Review
The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason I realized yesterday that I was dropping the ball. Not on purpose, per se. I’m on chapter 11 of the 1,100-page Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I’m also a little more than halfway through How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler. Not to mention the short read The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum that I only read on nights my youngest asks me to lay with him while he goes to bed. He’s been very momm

Justin DeLeon
Nov 12, 20252 min read


Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs, Review
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs, by Adrienne Mayor I don’t read as much nonfiction as I probably should, but when a book blends solid research with good storytelling, it grabs me. Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, & Scorpion Bombs did exactly that. Adrienne Mayor dives into the darker, stranger corners of ancient warfare—where science, superstition, and fear were just as important as sword and shield. This isn’t a dry academic take on military history. It’s a vivid lo

Justin DeLeon
Oct 24, 20252 min read


Thunder Below! Review
Thunder Below! by Eugene Fluckey "If you run out of good ideas, make sure you still have guts." This book rewrote my understanding of...

Justin DeLeon
May 29, 20252 min read


On The Shortness of Life Review
On The Shortness of Life by Seneca I tend to reach for philosophy when I’ve got a weird, niche itch to scratch. This time, that itch was...

Justin DeLeon
Apr 30, 20253 min read


As A Man Thinketh Review
As A Man Thinketh by James Allen I was looking for a quick read—something small I could chip away at during those quiet moments while...

Justin DeLeon
Apr 10, 20253 min read


Poor Economics Review
Poor Economics by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo When I picked up Poor Economics , I wasn’t looking for an easy read. This isn’t a...

Justin DeLeon
Mar 31, 20253 min read


Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage Review
Endurance: Sheckleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing “It had been 497 days since they had last set foot on solid ground.” Some...

Justin DeLeon
Feb 27, 20252 min read


The First Minute Review
The First Minute by Chris Fenning Chris Fenning’s The First Minute is a slim but practical guide to improving workplace communication by...

Justin DeLeon
Feb 27, 20252 min read
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