Review: I Can't Stop Thinking About Var: Forward by Jonathan Wilson

I Can't Stop Thinking About Var: Forward by Jonathan Wilson by Daisy Christodoulou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is primarily a book about VAR (Video Assistant Referee), its problems, and some ways to think about possible improvements. But there is an undercurrent of some deeper themes about the natural and limits of rule-governed orders and how to make sure they function well towards their aims.

It is a quick read, with many interesting ideas and analyses of VAR. The author discusses the way VAR has affected the rules and the games. She explores the why of these changes as well. She discusses how VAR might be improved, but also the limits to any such improvement. The writing is smooth and interesting.

It’s worth reading for anything interested in football, but also for those interested in the philosophy of sport. There isn’t any reference to the philosophical literature on these issues, but it’s not really about the higher-order questions here: it’s more practically focused. That said, the things she covers have relevance for those philosophical questions, the philosophy has relevance for the issues she is looking at.


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Review: Temptation of the Force

Temptation of the Force by Tessa Gratton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the better HR books. I felt like a got a clearer picture of the characters than in some of the other HR novels. The story cooks along with a good mix of personal scenes, dialogue, and battle scenes. The only downside is that there is little revealed; much, I hope, will be answered in the sequel. There is one significant occurrence in the novel, that as far as I know, is unique. No spoilers! The narration is great.

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Review: The Auschwitz Violinist

The Auschwitz Violinist by Jonathan Dunsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third novel in the wonderful series that follows an Israeli hard-boiled detective in Tel Aviv in the late 40s and 50s. This one is set in 1950. Adam is following up on a suicide of a fellow Auschwitz survivor; as you might expect--there's more to this than the police think. He's also preparing to go on private vengeance mission to kill Nazis still in Germany. The story plays with ideas of vengeance and justice; desert and guilt, surviving and moving on. It also explores the complicated perception of survivors in Israel. Highly Recommend!

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Review: Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words

Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words by John McWhorter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An absolute delight. McWhorter's way of presenting linguistics and language evolution is clear, entertaining, and persuasive. Grammar pedants might be put off by some of his conclusions: about "Billy and me" and the singular They, in particular, but he's too reasonable and careful in his argumentation to easily reject him.

My only objection is how short it is, I would have like a few more chapters.



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