Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Grapes of Wrath Genre – Fiction Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) The Story This could almost be considered historical fiction, as it follows the mass migration from Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s—an event that devastated farms and uprooted entire communities. The novel centers on poor farming families forced to…

Reading Time: 4 minutesReview: A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) One thing about Howard Zinn is that he truly walked the walk. He wasn’t just a historian on paper—he lived the struggles he wrote about. Zinn taught at Spelman College for seven years, chairing the History and Social…

Reading Time: 2 minutesRating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) A Snapshot of the Man Behind the Myth Benjamin Franklin, born January 17, 1706, in Boston, remains one of the most fascinating figures in American history. His autobiography offers a rare chance to hear his story in his own voice — but it’s also a product of its time,…

Reading Time: 3 minutesCacao, Change, and the Scent of Clove: A Deep Dive into Jorge Amado’s Bahia By Jorge Amado Jorge Amado’s Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon may be one of the finest pieces of historical fiction I’ve ever read. Nearly every detail is grounded in real events, real politics, and real social norms of 1920s…

Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Langdon Series – six-book wrap-up Final Thoughts: The Robert Langdon Series This final post on Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series is meant to show that even in fiction, you can discover real people, places, and ideas worth exploring. The books are packed with references to famous landmarks, artworks, historical figures, and…

Reading Time: 2 minutesReview: The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown Overview and Pacing The Secret of Secrets is the sixth installment in the Robert Langdon series. While it jumps out of the gate quickly like the previous books, the story itself feels distinctly different. The novel starts with Langdon perceived as a bit of…

Reading Time: 2 minutesOrigin by Dan Brown Overview and Pacing This is the fifth book in the Robert Langdon series, and yes—we’re back to the fast pace that makes your heart race. Honestly, this one gave me a bit of the willies. The eccentric futurist Edmond Kirsch instantly made me think of Elon Musk (if…

Reading Time: 3 minutesOverview and Pacing This is the fourth book in the series, and wow—it pains me to say this, but it was a very frustrating read compared to the others. The first ten pages moved quickly, and I thought, great, we’re back to the familiar pace of book one. But then it slipped…

Reading Time: 5 minutesA Monumental But Accessible Biography Before you dive into this book—and I highly recommend you do—you should approach it as a project. At over 900 pages, it’s a massive work, yet it absolutely does not read like a dry history textbook. Ron Chernow, one of the finest biographers of our time, tells…