Category: Book Review

Bleak House and Fahrenheit 451, beside each other

What the reader discovers upon comparing Charles Dickens with Ray Bradbury

October 18, 2025

Almost by chance, I picked up Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 to read the same day that I finished Bleak House by Charles Dickens. The choice was serendipitous, for reasons only obvious to the restless wanderings of a mind wearied of the hyped-up buzz of today’s post-literate society. (I am being coy, of course; one might … More What the reader discovers upon comparing Charles Dickens with Ray Bradbury

Your attention has been stolen and you should be angry about it

February 10, 2024

I’ve just finished reading Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. I may be on a bit of a kick about focus, flow and generally how we think, at the moment – up next in my book pile are Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul. It is going to be difficult … More Your attention has been stolen and you should be angry about it

My 6 rules for life

June 2, 2018

While I’m currently reading 12 Rules for Life by the internet’s current favourite controversial intellectual, Jordan B. Peterson, I thought I’d share my (perhaps rather less weighty) 6 rules for life: Only drink coffee between the hours of 9am and 1pm. Tea may be drunk between 6am and 9am, and again between 1pm and 6pm. Colds are … More My 6 rules for life

Writing Better Lyrics, by Pat Pattison – book review

January 7, 2017

I’ve just finished Writing Better Lyrics. Let me try that again: I’ve just finished reading the book entitled Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison. This book has already cropped up once or twice on the blog. It was recommended to me (and a room full of other starry-eyed songwriters) by Graham Kendrick – the father of modern worship … More Writing Better Lyrics, by Pat Pattison – book review