Rite of Fancy Book Recommendations & Reviews

  A short summary of A Brief History of Earth: A biography of our home planet. My favorite Andrew H. Knoll quote from the book: 'The face you see in the mirror may be decades old, but it is made of elements formed billions of years ago in ancient stars." Questions to ponder while reading: Did you realize how old the earth really was? Did you realize how diverse the earth really is? My review: An easy-to-understand study of life on earth. A great summary of earth sciences. A perfect foray into popular science. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work b...

  A short summary of The Checklist Manifesto: How to "checklist" a complete world. My favorite Atul Gawande quote from the book: "Man is fallible, but maybe men are less so." Questions to ponder while reading: Do you follow a routine? Do you make mistakes? My review: A wonderful little book about the importance of following a plan. Lots of real-world examples. Lots of ideas for different industries. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!

  A short summary of Root Shock: All about the cultural costs caused by Urban Renewal. My favorite Dr. Mindy Thomas Fullilove quote from the book: "Buildings and neighborhoods and nations are insinuated into us by life; we are not, as we like to think, independent of them." Questions to ponder while reading: How much do you know about the history of your neighborhood? Do you know what was lost? My review of the book: A very good look into the human costs of urban renewal programs. Well-researched and well-written. A book to make you question "progress." ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like ...

  A short summary of The Dawn of Everything: What the cavemen were REALLY like. My favorite Graeber/Wengrow quote from the book: "A man motivated by interest cannot be a man of reason."  Questions to ponder while reading: What do you think is important in your society? Do you believe in equality? My review of the book: A very good look into the origins of humanity. Surprisingly readable. The book shows how similar we (as modern humans) really are. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  webshop  or buying m...

  A short summary of The Gulag Archipelago: The insider's guide to the Soviet secret prisons. My favorite Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn quote from the book: "Power is a poison well-known for thousands of years." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you believe in your government? Do you have pride in yourself? My review of The Gulag Archipelago Volume 1: A damn scary book about the costs of communism. The conditions broke my heart. Very hard to get through but, I think, a necessary read.  I'm tapping out before reading volumes 2 & 3. Volume 1 was enough for me. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com ...

  A short summary of The Liberal Hour: The history of the liberal movement and how it grew big enough to reform Washington. My favorite Mackenzie/Weisbrot quote from the book: "Protest was choreographed for its visual impact." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you believe in party politics? Are you a liberal or conservative? My review of The Liberal Hour: A detailed look into the rise of liberalism. Explains the major causes and contributors. A great read about how modern liberal philosophy came into being. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supportin...

  A short summary of Pax Romana: How Rome kept an empire at peace. My favorite Adrian Goldsworthy quote from the book: "Glory was important, not least because a belief in Rome's strength and power was the best way to deter attackers." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Did you realize how long (1,000 years) the Roman Empire lasted? Did you realize how much they improved the areas they conquered? My review of Pax Romana: Detailed, scholarly, but incredibly readable. Well-researched and thorough. Rome was much more than its army. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please c...

  A short summary of Humans: From the Beginning: How we (humans) became who we (humans) are.  It's a long story. My favorite quote from the book: "At some stage, humans became able to look into their own thoughts about how they themselves would behave in such situations." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Did you realize Jericho was (12,000 years!) so old? Did you realize how much collaboration was required for all of our (human) advancements? My review of Humans: From the Beginning: Well-researched, well-documented, and well-written. Tons of details and plenty of footnotes. Surprisingly readable, although this isn't a book for relaxing on the beach with. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.eve...

  A short summary of the book Wild At Heart: What do men really need to be happy? My favorite John Eldredge quote from the book: "You can't fight a battle you don't think exists." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you know any wounded men? Have you ever wounded a man unintentionally? My review of the book Wild at Heart: A good look into the spirituality of masculinity. A great book for a better understanding of your husband. Christian-themed and biblically-based. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  w...

  A short summary of Think Again: How to keep an open mind and maintain lifelong learning. My favorite Adam Grant quote from the book: "Our convictions can lock us in prisons of our own making." Questions to ponder while reading Adam Grant's Think Again: Do you know why you think what you think? Are you willing to change your mind? My review of the book Think Again: I love his ideas about how we think (or don't think). The book gives you much to think about. It got a little drawn out toward the end. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting...

  A short summary of Dark Money: The hidden history of the Koch brothers and the rise of the radical right. My favorite Jane Mayer quote from the book: " They were among a small, rarefied group of hugely wealthy, archconservative families that for decades poured money, often with little public disclosure, into influencing how Americans thought and voted." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Which special interest groups have you listened to? Who owns the politicians you vote for? My review of Dark Money: A detailed look into special interest groups and the Koch brothers. Lobbyist organizations really should be for profit. The left uses the same loopholes as the right.  ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at...

  A short summary of Thoughts in Solitude: Thomas's thoughts on philosophy, current culture, and God were discovered during his time in the desert. My favorite Thomas Merton quote from the book: "...man knows when he has found his vocation when he stops thinking about how to live and begins to live." Questions to ponder while reading Thomas Merton: Do books speak to you? Do you enjoy silence? My review of Thoughts in Solitude: A perfect book found at the perfect time. Deep thoughts said quietly. I may be planning a desert pilgrimage now... ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Pleas...

  A short summary of Black, White, and Grey: A look into the ethnic relationships in modern America. My favorite Gerald Zezas quote from the book: "Racism is the prism through which those who practice it see the world." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you recognize the reality of racism? Do you expect different things from different people? My review of Black,White, and Grey: A good, logical explanation of the current state of Ethnic Relationships. Does very well to stay neutral and unbiased. *Really, it's 2021, why haven't we gotten this worked out yet?* ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #Taket...

  A short summary of Lawrence in Arabia: The creation of the Middle East, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. My favorite Scott Anderson quote from the book: "Earlier than most, Lawrence seemed to embrace the modern concept that history was malleable, that truth was what people were willing to believe." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Were you surprised by the lack of oversight? Did you realize there was this much chaos? My review of Lawrence in Arabia: A thorough history of the creation of the Middle East. So many players, so many agendas. A great, easy-to-read history of that time and place. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found...

  A short summary of Feardom: How we (as a country) allow our politicians and media to control us (as a country) with fear. My favorite Connor Boyack quote from the book: "Fear is only a potent weapon because we allow it to be." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you find the news sensational? Do you believe everything the "news" tells you? My review of Feardom: A look behind the mask of our politicians and media personalities. Well-written and easy to read. It will make you think. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sp...

  A short summary of Age of Ambition: The current state of China and how it came to be. My favorite Evan Osnos quote from the book: "The commander of a mighty army can be captured, but the aspiration of an ordinary man can never be seized." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you think you are in control of your fate? What do you think communism really looks like? My review of Age of Ambition: A very good insight into a powerful economy. Explores the Chinese people's perspective. Is there a perfect government? ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporti...

  A short summary of The Law: The philosophy behind justice in our laws. My favorite Frederic Bastiat quote from the book: "Life, facilities, production -- in other words, individuality, liberty, property -- this is man." Questions to ponder while reading The Law: Are politicians exempt from the vices they legislate? Do you believe in personal property? My review of the book: A great classical liberalism explanation. Fundamental paradigm shifter. Challenging concepts and language - take your time. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting m...