Current Reading - January 2026

Currently reading through Adventurers: The Improbable Rise of the East India Company by David Howarth. As its name implies, it discusses the earlier history of the English East India Company. I'm still early in the book, but so far, it seems interesting. While the focus is primarily on the English, it also deals somewhat with other names, as well as the Dutch VOC.
I'm also working my way through A Powerful Mind by Adrienne Harrison. The book focuses on George Washington's self-education. I'm also still in the early stages with this book, but it seems interesting so far as well.

Finally finished The Demise of Norse Religion. It may be no surprise from my review below that it took me a while to get through.

Knocked off The Freaks Came Out to Write, an oral history of the rise, fall, and low-key survival of the "Village Voice."

Catching up, I did make a stab at The Currency of Empire, which essentially looks at London's North American empire as an exercise in monetary management, with varying degrees of success. Undercut by a very grab-bag feel of essentially being a collection of anecdotes that didn't quite jell for me.

Finished Ghosts of Iron Mountain, a look at the notorious hoax about a supposed think-tank exercise promoting the necessity of war as vital for the long-term health of the US economy, the circumstances that provoked its creation, and its ongoing importance as a foundational text of modern American conspiracy thinking.

Finished Prince of Fire by Daniel Silva. History but hard history to read. Book was well written.

The Thistle & the Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor by Linda Porter (2025)
Biography of Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's oldest sister. I'm reading the paperback edition of the book.

Finished The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 by Rick Atkinson

Finished Rational Ideas Book Two by Israel Drazin.

"This book provides examples of how Judaism has evolved from the time of Moses." On the back of the book.
The author has written 58 books as of 2025.
Chapter One : The Oral Torah Was Not Revealed on Sinai.
There are 25 chapters which are usually 1 or 2 pages.
Chapter 6: Hermann Cohen's Problematic Philosophy
Chapter 7: Ralph Waldo Emerson Was Only Half Right.
Chapter 15:Secrets of Shavuot
Chapter 19: My Family's Zemirot Contributions
Chapter 21: Israel Has No State Religion.
There is such a variety of topics I was glad the chapters were short.
I am not Jewish and so would have like a glossary of terms.
I find the author quite knowledgeable. He is a Rabbi, he is an attorney, he was the youngest U.S, Army Chaplain are some of his accomplishments. He also has many awards.
This is the second book I have read by Israel Drazin. This short book leaves the reader wanting to learn more.
I won a copy from LibraryThing. The opinions are my own. It will be a re-read for me. A 5 star rating.

Wrapped up the month with Twilight of Empire, which examines the tangle of events that led to the tragedy of Meyerling. Short version: Save me from kings and the people who think monarchy is a good idea.