All About Books

  Title: Cruelty Author: Roald Dahl Publisher: Penguin Books, London Year published: 2016 240 pages Cruelty is a collection of ten of his darkest short stories for adults, centered around the theme of human malice, greed, and the capacity to inflict suffering on others, often within seemingly ordinary domestic settings.  These tales showcase Dahl's signature style, characterized by a sharp wit, sardonic humor, and the famous " sting in the tail " twist ending, which is often darker and more disturbing than his well-known children's works. The stories explore the various forms cruelty can take, ranging from deliberate malice to thoughtless, accidental unkindness, and the destructive power of obsession.  The collection includes a diverse cast of characters from different social strata, all revealing their inherent streak of nastiness. One story, " Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat ," involves an adulterous wife who receives a luxurious mink coat from her lo...

  Title: Zeebrugge Author: Barrie Pitt Publisher: Cassell Military Paperbacks, London Year published: 2003 239 pages Zeebrugge is a detailed historical account of one of the most daring naval raids of the First World War . The book focuses on the British attack on the German-occupied Belgian port of Zeebrugge on April 23, 1918 . Pitt recounts how the Royal Navy planned and executed a bold operation aimed at blocking the Bruges–Zeebrugge canal , a key route used by German U-boats and destroyers to reach the North Sea . The author presents the event not just as a military maneuver but as a combination of courage, sacrifice, and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds. The narrative begins with the strategic background, explaining why the British Admiralty considered Zeebrugge essential to Germany’s naval power. Pitt describes the challenges of attacking a heavily fortified port and the complex planning under Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes , whose leadership and determination beca...

  Title: Mark Twain 's Journal Writings, Vol. 1 Author: Mark Twain Librivox Audiobook app Read by John Greenman (2 hr 31 min) This book brings together twelve essays that reflect Twain’s keen wit, biting irony, and penetrating social commentary. Across these diverse pieces, Twain examines the absurdities of human behavior, the follies of politics and society, and the contradictions of civilization through humor and satire . Each essay captures a different facet of his voice, ranging from travel writing and political reflection to moral allegory and comic storytelling. In “ Americans on a Visit to the Emperor of Russia ,” Twain lampoons diplomatic pretensions and the American fascination with foreign royalty. His portrayal of cultural misunderstanding highlights the arrogance and naïveté that often accompany national pride. “ The Austrian Edison Keeping School Again ” plays with the theme of technological progress and misplaced admiration, mocking the obsession with innovation and ...

  Title: Alonzo Fitz and Other Stories Author: Mark Twain Librivox Audiobook app Read by John Greenman (3 hr 19 min) Alonzo Fitz and Other Stories by Mark Twain is a diverse collection of satirical, humorous, and thought-provoking short pieces that showcase Twain’s mastery of wit and social commentary. Through these stories and essays, Twain explores human nature, cultural absurdities, and the contradictions of society with his signature blend of irony and charm. In The Loves of Alonzo Fitz , Twain introduces an imaginative romance conducted through a new invention—an early concept of the telephone—blending comedy, technology, and mistaken identity to comment on the nature of human connection. Clarence and Rosannah Ethelton follows a tale of miscommunication and misplaced affection, reflecting Twain’s keen eye for the folly of love and social expectations. On The Decay of the Art of Lying is a humorous yet insightful essay in which Twain argues that lying, if done with good inten...

  Title: Economyths: 11 Ways Economics Gets it Wrong Author: David Orrell Publisher: Icon Books, London Year published: 2017 The book offers a sharp critique of mainstream economics and the myths that have shaped economic thought for decades. The author argues that economics, despite presenting itself as a science, is built on outdated assumptions, unrealistic models, and flawed reasoning that fail to account for the complexity of the real world. Orrell’s central thesis is that economics has become detached from reality because it relies too heavily on mathematical models and abstract theories, rather than incorporating insights from psychology , biology , physics , and other fields that deal with complex systems . The book is organized around eleven key myths that Orrell believes dominate traditional economic thinking. Among these myths are the ideas that people are perfectly rational actors , that markets are efficient and self-correcting , and that economies naturally move towar...

  Title: Anti-Imperialist Writings Author: Mark Twain Librivox Audiobook app Read by John Greenman (5 hr 11 min) The book is a collection of essays, speeches, and reflections that reveal one of America’s most celebrated writers in his role as a social critic and political commentator. Written primarily in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these works demonstrate Twain’s fierce opposition to imperialism, colonialism, and foreign intervention, particularly by the United States. Twain, who had been widely recognized for his humor and storytelling, turned his wit and sharp tongue toward politics, exposing the hypocrisy and moral contradictions of imperial power. Anti-Imperialist Writings brings together Twain’s writings during and after the Spanish-American War , when the United States acquired territories such as the Philippines , Puerto Rico , and Guam . Twain, once a supporter of the war under the impression that it was fought to liberate oppressed peoples, became ...

  Title: Old Times on the Mississippi Author: Mark Twain Librivox Audiobook app Read by John Greenman (3 hr 38 min) Old Times on the Mississippi is Mark Twain’s semi-autobiographical account of his early years as a cub pilot on the Mississippi River . First published in serialized form before later being expanded into Life on the Mississippi , the work captures the mix of excitement, challenge, and nostalgia of an era when steamboats dominated American rivers . Twain blends humor, sharp observation, and personal memory to preserve the spirit of a world that was already beginning to fade. The story opens with Twain recalling his boyhood admiration for river pilots , who were regarded as glamorous, authoritative figures in river towns . For him, piloting was not just a profession but a calling that promised status and adventure. His dream materializes when he secures an apprenticeship under Horace Bixby , a respected but stern pilot. What follows is Twain’s struggle to learn the ha...