This may be one of the most important books of the century. Trace the history of the planet and mankind, and discover just why we and our descendants can expect some pretty rough times. It's not cheerful reading, but it's readable all the same: a brilliant book that every person on the planet ought to read.
Adventure, remote places, interesting people, even biohazards! This book had all the ingredients I love plus more. Sadly, it won't be a series. This writer is telling his life story all the way to retirement. I was enthralled from page one all the way to the end. Love, love, loved this book!
Reading the introduction is essential to enjoying this book. As the author points out, the only reason why we aren't lambasted for own follies is that we're not recognised geniuses! I found some of the stories to be about lesser-known geniuses, and that was interesting in itself: things like the guy who first noticed a supernova being besotted with a drunken moose and incorrect theory of how the universe works. I will look forward to finishing it - I didn't have time to when I first had it.
I absolutely loved reading this book. It was only after completing it that I discovered that its roots in reality extend beyond the mere fact that coin clipping was once a crime carrying the death penalty. The author worked with a descendant of the main character in this book who, in turn, has published a non-fiction account of the Yorkshire coin clippers. The result is, I believe, very realistic. These were people who didn't understand the consequences of debasing a currency that relied on the weight of gold in each coin to determine its worth. To a certain extent they were able to improve the fortunes of the local people who supported their enterprise. But inevitably, a degree of mobster mentality began to creep in, and with the "business" affecting entire communities, it got out of control. Given the scale it ultimately achieved, it attracted the attention of law enforcement officials. Its downfall was inevitable. Equally inevitable, the "civilizing" influence of looming industrialisation and land grabs paint a stark picture. Superb historical novel!
This book is the second in a series and may be better if you read the preceding one. It stands alone quite well, but can be confusing. I say it's "Norwegian" based on the rather bleak stereotype that nation has earned. It was well-written, but I found it a little slow in places. Nevertheless, it delivered a fascinating insight into rural life in a challenging environment during a time of global change. Richard's thorough review explains the plot and its setting nicely, so there's no real need to say more.