What I'm reading ...

I have started Anachronist by Andrew Hastie. Time for fiction again. I’m not sure where this book came from, but it looks intriguing. Here’s the blurb:

Travelling into the past using the timelines of ancient artefacts, the Oblivion Order explore the forgotten centuries, ones that never made it into the history books.

Weaving back through time, the secret society of eccentric anachronists ensures the best possible future for humanity, making subtle adjustments to the past – saving us from oblivion.

Every alteration is carefully calculated, and nothing is left to chance. Until the day Joshua Jones, a teenage thief, breaks into one of their station houses and finds himself transported back to 1944 – where he accidentally changes the outcome of WW2.

Josh is inadvertently pulled into their secret world of alternate realities, temporal guilds and chaos demons. With the help of Caitlin, a beautiful librarian, he learns to harness his abilities as she shows him a future he never dreamed he could have.

But beyond the temporal borders, an ancient evil is gathering, threatening to devour every moment that ever was.

Will Josh fulfil his destiny? Will he come to terms with his past?

A fast-paced, time travel adventure, Anachronist will take you on a journey into a world not bound by the rules of time, exploring history and the consequences of changing it.

But What Can I Do? - by Alastair Campbell

This book is largely aimed at enthusing people - particularly young people - to become involved in politics. Interested first, involved later. This is not directly relevant to me, but it provides me with inspiration and ammunition to converse with young people on this topic.

One of the most outstanding insights, for me, was a very clear explanation of how populism works; how despicable people [e.g. Hitler, Trump, Johnson … the list goes on] gain popularity and come to power. I found it rather scary.

It is easy to read, I felt, and has an honestly about it that appealed to me. There were also some recommendations for other books to read …

What I'm reading ...

I have started But What Can I Do? by Alastair Campbell. As a frequent listener to the Rest is Politics podcast, I recently read and enjoyed Rory Stewart’s book. So this was obviously necessary reading too. I have heard good feedback from other readers. Here’s the blurb:

Our politics is a mess. Leaders who can't or shouldn't be allowed to lead. Governments that lie, and seek to undermine our democratic values. Policies that serve the interests of the privileged few. It's no surprise that so many of us feel frustrated, let down and drawn to ask, 'But what can I do?'

That question is the inspiration behind this book. It's a question regularly posed to Alastair Campbell, not least in reaction to The Rest is Politics, the chart-topping podcast he presents with Rory Stewart. His answer, typically, is forthright and impassioned. We cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. If we think things need to change, then we need to change them, and that means getting involved.

But What Can I Do? provides each of us with the motivation and the tools to make a difference. Opening with an acute analysis of our polarised world and the populists and extremists who have created it, it goes on to show how we can effect change for the better. It explains how we can develop our skills of advocacy and persuasion. It draws on Alastair's long experience to offer practical tips on putting together and leading a campaign team. It provides priceless advice on developing confidence and coping with criticism and setbacks. And it sets out the practical steps by which we can become political players ourselves.

Part call to arms, part practical handbook, But What Can I Do? will prove required reading for anyone who wants to make a difference.

The Thursday Murder Club - by Richard Osman

As expected, this was quite a straightforward and entertaining read. Nice quality of writing and a pace that kept me turning the pages. The complexity of the story was OK, as I didn’t take a break from reading for more than a day or so, otherwise I would have lost track. I may be inclined to read later books in this series.