Reading list

A thorough dive into general and algebraic topology.

A selection of myths from various cultures around the world.

It's amazing to realize that Hofstadter was writing about a time now more than 60 years past; many of the issues he discusses feel lifted straight out of today's political climate. In this book, he highlights various strands of American hostility to intellect and intellectuals, arguing that this feature is deeply entrenched in the American identity.

Examines the origins of the ubiquitous sense of economic precarity.

The first in his Third Reich Trilogy and likely to be the one I find most useful today. I'd like to take particular care to compare it against The Death of Democracy.

Supposedly a foundational work on polyamory, which is a topic I wish to better understand.

A thorough introduction to abstract algebra.

A history of ancient Rome, which is something I've wanted to learn more about for a while. I'm reading it as a sort of palate cleanser and will not be taking extensive notes as I go.

The title is absolutely fitting. The text is well-written, typographically attractive, and playful at times. We worked through the first half during my latest linear algebra course, and I'd like to see it through to the end, which promises a deep, motivated understanding of determinants.

A collection of short stories that I picked up after hearing about the final entry (“Through the Flash”). That story did not disappoint, and I am certain the others won't either.

Just a tiny dash of spice: Zuboff believes that capitalism would be fine if not for the surveillance capitalists. I strongly disagree, but I am sure the book contains many other valuable insights.

A history of the foundations of the modern Christian church, focusing on those figures declared heretics and their contributions to the faith.

I may actually have studied enough mathematics to understand this.

A history of Habsburg rule of Europe. (I probably thought I was getting the author's other book, Germania. I'll start with this one and look into the other later.)

Details secret radiation experiments conducted in the US during the Cold War.

Ruth Ware was on my list of authors to look into, so I grabbed a copy of this book at a thrift store.

Another of those classic titles that I need to read.

Chronicles the author's time spent living as a man and integrating into male social circles.

Covers the first two centuries of Christian history.

Not at all what it sounds like, I swear. It's a doctoral thesis on the history of the original group calling themselves the Illuminati, and according to Hofstadter, it's “the most vivid account of the hysteria over revolution and infidelity that followed the French Revolution.”

Yet another account of Nazi Germany. While popularly acclaimed, it has been panned by professional historians for its entire existence.

An introduction to partially ordered sets, a topic that Lidl & Pilz sparked my interest in. Also, the author chaired the math department at my university.

A collection of essays surrounding contemporary reactionary movements, all of which I've heard are excellent.

An examination of the history of conservatism. A major theme is that conservatism does not exist without a liberatory movement to oppose. The conception of politics as a venture in which the average citizen could participate only emerged from the ashes of absolute monarchy. A monarch's authority is tautologically justified: he is the king because he is the king. Only when the populace began to challenge this notion was something more substantial needed, and thus was born what we know today as conservatism.

Similar dynamics are at play today. As marginalized voices receive greater attention, reactionary movements rise to uphold the status quo. This is not to say that movements for equality are to blame for conservatism; rather, reactionaries view gains for egalitarianism as threats to their own positions.

This one might be a tad spicy. Judging by the subtitle (20 Gute Gründe, mit dem Gendern Aufzuhören) and a few snippets I picked up while skimming it, the author wishes to do away with gender-neutral conventions like the gender star. I haven't read far enough into it to know whether he proposes an equitable alternative or simply wants to halt efforts of linguistic inclusion. Only one way to find out!

Argues that conspiracy theories reflect inter-group conflicts.

Should be an interesting companion to Anti-Intellectualism in American Life.

I've enjoyed Ng's other novels, so I expect I will enjoy this one.

I will need to start this over since my previous notes have completely vanished into the digital aether. Remember to take frequent breaks, because this book is heckin' stressful.

A history of MCA and its mob connections.

Promises to debunk the myth that the private sector is the only innovator.

Hard to say how spicy this will be. At least one person has referred to quoting this book as a red flag, so…

Definitely spicy

Examines the falls of several liberal democracies across the globe and promises insights into the future of ours. This was written in the midst of the Trump presidency, and while I do agree with the authors that he was no good, I am hoping for more of substance from their recommendations than “Trump bad, electoralism good”.

The first in the Earthsea series.

Covers the Khmer Rouge period in Cambodian history.

A history of the development of American racism.

Part handbook, part road map for a future without police.

Ew

Not to be confused with the historical WWII novel of the same name, this book outlines the authors' experiences living in the Children of God (AKA The Family International.

The fall of Eastern Airlines.

Explores how media outlets help to sell citizens on war.

I'll be honest, I picked this up because of the cover endorsement from Celeste Ng.

Possibly a tiny bit spicy. I have doubts that the author fully grasps the ideological deficiencies of right libertarianism. We shall see.

This seems like one of those essential reads, right? I've heard plenty about it, and I think it's time I actually read it.

I keep seeing references to this franchise, so I'll need to read some of it eventually.

Tells the story of the first-generation conservative broadcasters.

Documents the uneasy place Jews have held in America’s racial culture since the late nineteenth century.

A discussion of cryptocurrency from a decidedly critical angle. Takes the position that the story of cryptocurrency is more psychological than technological.

The story of Facebook's short-lived Libra project.

Covers the early AIDS pandemic.

What happens in the minds of the members of doomsday cults when their leader's predictions repeatedly fail to appear?

I believe this is a history of lesbians in media.

The third book in Evans's Third Reich trilogy, covering the second world war.

The second in Evans's Third Reich trilogy, covering the latter part of the interwar period.

Hopefully this covers the roles of women in early computing and their eventual displacement.

I've heard it described as “a tone poem, where the tone is 'venom'.”

Discusses the relations between Christians and Jews.

Very spicy. Supposedly Dugin's works have informed much of Russia's current policy.

A profile of women in the alt-right.

I need to read this.

As with all of Danielewski's work, Only Revolutions will take some effort to get through. Initial passes give the flavor of Finnegan's Wake, only with a greater proportion of English.

I forget why I originally wanted to read this. Maybe it was cited in a Contrapoints video?

A biography of David Reimer, who was raised as a girl following a botched circumcision.

No idea how spicy this might be.

All about Robert Moses, whose (terrible) influence on city planning is still very much felt today.

Discusses American military interventions since WWII.

Wrestles with the question of whether people become Moonies by choice or through brainwashing.

A follow-up to The Handmaid's Tale.

Covers the trial of Adolf Eichmann, during which Arendt coined her controversial phrase “the banality of evil”. I believe most of the critics misunderstood her phrasing, but reading this book is the necessary first step to defending that position.

I've been meaning to read some of Arendt's work. This is as good a place to start as any other (not least because I now have a copy). And wow, does it look dense upon initial scan.

I bought this largely because I didn't pay enough attention during my two (!) semesters of real analysis — which used this as their text — and want to prove to myself that I can do better.

The final book in the Southern Reach trilogy.

I read this whole book in a single afternoon, and even though I finished it no more than an hour ago, I'm struggling for the words to describe it.

An examination of Civil War-era theological schisms resulting from American slavery. I suspect/hope it will provide an interesting perspective on the recognition of queer identities within today's churches.

A fun ride undercut by its infuriating ending.

Discusses the long-running campaign of American evangelicals to masculinize Jesus and the ripple effects that campaign has had on the nation's political discourse.

An examination of the Weimar Republic's final years.

My all-time favorite novel, House of Leaves almost never leaves my head. If you hang around me long enough, I'll eventually pull out my copy and talk at length about the text.

Argues that racism, sexism, and ableism in AI are not glitches but are in fact built into its foundation.

A young woman struggles to survive in a highly regimented city on an unforgiving planet.

A highly accessible and frankly enjoyable introduction to authoritarianism, written by someone who has studied the topic for decades.