We Are Not Saved

The power of positive thinking and cocaine!

The Kid Stays in the Picture

By: Robert Evans Published: 1994 432 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

This is the autobiography of Robert Evans. It jumps around a lot, but it's mostly built around his time as head of production for Paramount pictures from basically 1966-1974. Evans had basically zero experience, but by working himself nearly to death he produced such films as: The Godfather, Love Story, Chinatown, and Rosemary's Baby. In the process he saved the studio and became one of the most iconic figures of "New Hollywood".

Or to come at it from another angle, imagine Hollywood in its most wheeling and dealing, debauched, and drug-fueled state, that's what this book is about.

What's the author's angle?

Evans is an obvious narcissist, and it's clear that he has axes to grind, scores to settle, and crimes to explain. But he also has people to thank, stories to embellish, and insights to dispense. This is the author's book in a way that few books are. If Evans had any kind of editor, or even a lawyer look over this book I'm sure he told them to piss off far more often than he listened to them.

If you pick it up on audio, Evans did the reading which adds a whole other layer to his stories.

Who should read this book?

If you enjoy meeting that person at the party, the person who name drops like each name is a bomb and he's over Germany in 1945. The guy who tells one insane story after another, stories so insane you can't believe they're not exaggerated. But it's also possible that they've actually been toned down for legal reasons.

If you enjoy outrageous raconteurs, then this is the book for you.

Specific thoughts: What does success look like?

Chesterton mostly lost me after Arthur and Alfred, but I feel like I got his point in spite of that.

A Short History of England

By: G.K. Chesterton Published: 1917 107 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

The book is titled the "History of England", but it's really a book about the soul of England. Chesterton examines this soul chronologically from the "Age of Legends" down to the time the book was written, which happened to be the middle of World War I.

What's the author's angle?

It's Chesterton, so there's obviously a religious angle, and a traditional cultural angle. Even expecting this, I was surprised by how much he missed the old guild system, and other features of medieval life. There's a lot of anti-rich sentiment in the book, but he's also no socialist either.

Who should read this book?

I don't think it's practical or even wise to read everything Chesterton wrote, but I have a vague goal to read most of what he's written. Even then I'm pretty sure that knowing then what I know now I would have advised myself to skip this book, or at least only read the first few chapters.

The big problem is that Chesterton is not dispensing English history (contra the title) he's interpreting it. He assumes you already know a ton of history, and he's just going to tie it together in a new way. I'm sure a highly educated Englishman in 1917 would have had no problem with Chesterton's references, but 100 years on, this poor American was frequently completely lost. Here's an example:

It will be apparent, when I deal with that period, that I do not palliate the real unreason in divine right as Filmer and some of the pedantic cavaliers construed it. They professed the impossible ideal of "non-resistance" to any national and legitimate power; though I cannot see that even that was so servile and superstitious as the more modern ideal of "non-resistance" even to a foreign and lawless power. But the seventeenth century was an age of sects, that is of fads; and the Filmerites made a fad of divine right.

Who or what is Filmer and the Filmerites? One could look it up (apparently it refers to a 17th century political theorist, Robert Filmer) but you're not going to get any information from the book. This selection, with its two references, is the first and last time the name shows up.

I'll tell you what I got out of the book and you can go from there, but as a general matter I wouldn't recommend reading this book. It has all the normal Chesterton witticisms and turns of phrase, but there are easier places to get those.

I actually never got around to discussing the Lord of the Flies element of this book. But trust me it's in there!

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

By: David Grann Published: 2023 352 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

This book is about what happened to HMS Wager, a Royal Navy ship that was shipwrecked on the south coast of Chile in 1741. The journey before the shipwreck was brutal, and it only got worse from there. Out of an initial crew of roughly 250, only about 36 eventually made it back to England.

What's the author's angle?

Grann is a writer for the New Yorker who has written three books centered around unearthing interesting and often tragic historical events. His first book was The Lost City of Z. (Which I have read, and it was quite good.) His second and best known book is Killers of the Flower Moon (which I have not read). This is his third book in that same vein.

Who should read this book?

I quite enjoy books like this: true survival stories, particularly those framed by ambitions and sensibilities we can barely imagine in 2025. It's also history at its pointiest, the tale of a single ship, and really just a handful of men. (The book largely focuses on just three.) If all that sounds appealing, then I think you'll like this book.

Specific thoughts: The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there

Banned in most prisons! That feels like a point in the book's favor, but I'm not entirely sure I can articulate why.

The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy, and Human Nature

By: Robert Greene Published: 2021 464 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

A "page a day" book collecting bits of wisdom from Robert Greene's other books (Laws of Power, Art of Seduction, Strategies of War, etc.)

What's the author's angle?

As a general matter Greene is something of a Machiavellian figure, he's going to tell it like it is, and give you the tools you really need to succeed in life. Or at least that's his claim. I generally find his approach to be refreshing, but there are also moments when I would say he takes things too far and dispenses advice that's counterproductive.

Who should read this book?

If you're one of the small number of people who likes to have a page of the day book as a way of marking the time from January 1 to December 31, this is an average entry in this very niche genre. But as the genre is not particularly large, any example might be welcome.

If you've never done a page a day book I would probably start with Tolstoy's A Calendar of Wisdom. I thought it was quite good. Also, there's an argument to be made for it being the first such book chronologically. (It's the earliest example of a devotional book that wasn't rigidly sectarian.) Finally, it was banned by the Soviets, which immediately gives it ten extra points in my book.

Specific thoughts: Some good advice, some okay advice and a few pieces of actively bad advice

If John Wick and Judge Dredd loved each other very much…

Saga of the Forgotten Warrior

By: Larry Correia

1- Son of the Black Sword 2- House of Assassins 3- Destroyer of Worlds 4- Tower of Silence 5- Graveyard of Demons 6- Heart of the Mountain

Briefly, what is this series about?

The series is set on the continent of Lok, in a world inspired by feudal India and Southeast Asia, meaning that there are castes, and outside of that, the casteless, who are literal non-people. The story follows Ashok Vadal, a pitiless "Protector of the Law". The Order of the Protectors is like a branch of elite special forces, called in when the normal constabulary, or even the normal military is insufficient. Even among these elite warriors Ashok stands out as being particularly deadly because he bears one of the world's twelve sentient magical swords.

Much of the law concerns the status of the first caste and the casteless' lack of status. But it also forbids religion, illegal magic, and demons leaving the sea. The ocean is full of demons, and they don't have much regard for the law, so Ashok spends much of his time killing them.

Given that the ocean is the exclusive domain of the demons, all status consists in living far away from it, and all insults reference the ocean in some way. "Saltwater!" Or calling someone a "Fisheater."

Who should read this series?

Much of my discussion below will concern this very question, but as a tl;dr you should definitely like it if you like Correia's other stuff. Also if you like fast moving action heavy fantasy series that are done, I would also recommend it.

Specific thoughts: How this fantasy series compares to other fantasy series

When "stigmatizing" has become a bad word and a bad thing everywhere and for every one, one brave British curmudgeon dares to demand it's return!

Romancing Opiates: Pharmacological Lies and the Addiction Bureaucracy

By: Theodore Dalrymple Published: 2006 160 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

This book aims to shatter some of the myths around opioid addiction. The first part covers the myth that stopping opioids cold turkey is both painful and dangerous. The second part dissects the myths propagated by literature, primarily Coleridge and De Quincey. The final part ties it into an addiction bureaucracy, though that part still references De Quincey an awful lot.

What's the author's angle?

Dalrymple worked as a prison doctor and psychiatrist for many years. Accordingly, he has a lot of experience with addicts. But he's also very culturally conservative. The combination of the two leads him to strongly oppose coddling addicts, arguing instead that they should be stigmatized.

Who should read this book?

I'm a fan of Dalrymple. I've enjoyed his columns over the years, and I appreciate his curmudgeonly British insight. I previously enjoyed and reviewed his book Life at the Bottom. I would definitely recommend that book before this book. Actually, I would not recommend this book period, unless, for some reason, you want a really deep dive into Coleridge and De Quincey's writings about opium.

Specific thoughts: Opioid addiction is not a disease?

Maybe the answer really is to be found in early 1970's Chilean socialism…

The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions—and How the World Lost Its Mind

By: Dan Davies Published: 2024 304 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

The development of accountability sinks, a construct used by governments, corporations, and really any large-scale organization to deflect responsibility (and potential punishment) away from individuals and into processes. As part of his critique and his hoped for solution Davies leans heavily into management cybernetics and Stafford Beer. If neither of those ring a bell perhaps you've encountered Beer's most famous saying, "The purpose of a system is what it does."

What's the author's angle?

Davies sits in a weird place ideologically. He's a huge fan of Beer, and spends lots of time talking about Beer's partnership with Salvador Allende, the president of Chile in the early 70s. They partnered to create Cybersyn, a cybernetic management system for the whole economy. Davies admits it wouldn't have worked at the time, but seems to think that maybe with AI something like it might work now? On the other hand, in many places he seems to be channeling Taleb, and while I can't find anything by Taleb directly commenting on Cybersyn, I'm confident he would not be a fan. Davies also levels significant criticism at Milton Friedman, which makes sense in the Chilean context, but it feels out of character for a soberly written business book.

Who should read this book?

I read it as part of a Slate Star Codex/Astral Codex Ten book club. If that means anything to you, you'll probably find the book interesting. Additionally, anyone looking for another way to describe the hidden brokenness of the world will probably enjoy the book.

What does the book have to say about the future?

Pick it up because it's short. Continue it because of the brutal Bavarian accent. Finish it because maybe he's on to something?

The Future of Truth

By: Werner Herzog Published: 2025 128 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

Legendary badass, and sometimes filmmaker Werner Herzog weighs in on the concept of truth, how best to represent truth, and what's happening to it. Drawing on his own experiences he distinguishes between dry, factual truth, and what he calls ecstatic truth, a deeper kind of truth revealed by art.

Who should read this book?

I don't think anyone should literally read this book. It's best consumed as an audiobook with Herzog's strangely compelling narration carrying you along. With a voice like Herzog's and clocking in at only 3.5 hours of audio, it almost doesn't matter what it's about.

What does the book have to say about the future?

Many college age girls lead lives of quiet desperation.

The Mind Reels

By: Fredrik deBoer Published: 2025 168 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

The book follows Alice. Alice has severe bipolar disorder. This doesn't come out until she's at college. It's entirely awful. Going from least to worst bad, we see: large weight fluctuations, social fallout, impulsive sex, being committed, psychotic and manic paranoia, and depression so deep she can't make it to the bathroom.

What's the author's angle?

Normally I don't talk about the angle for a fictional book, but this book deserves (demands?) an exception. DeBoer is known for many things. (And I would say that he's one of the few Substack writers where I read 90%+ of what they write.) One of the big things he's known for is pushing back against the old vision of the mentally ill as tortured geniuses or the more modern quirky, actually it's kind of a super power narrative. This book was explicitly written to provide a very real depiction of what it's like to have a severe mental illness. (It succeeds by the way.)

Who should read this book?

If you like anything deBoer has written, I think you'll like this. His unsparing view of reality is his biggest charm, and it definitely comes through in this book. I know people who don't like deBoer's fiction, but who nevertheless liked this book.

If you've never heard of deBoer, but you like books where characters have an intense interior life, and there's not necessarily a hopeful "happily ever after" arc, I would also definitely recommend this book.

Specific thoughts: Most men (and women) lead lives of quiet desperation

Part memoir, part science writing, part history, and a lot of blaming her neighbor for her empties.

Drink Your Way Sober: The Science-Based Method to Break Free from Alcohol

By: Katie Herzog Published: 2025 208 Pages

Briefly, what is this book about?

You may be familiar with Katie Herzog from Blocked and Reported, the podcast she hosts with Jesse Singal. Or you might have seen her byline on the Free Press. What I didn't know (at least before she started promoting this book) is that she's also a recovering alcoholic. I also didn't know about the Sinclair Method for "extinguishing" alcohol use disorder (AUD). Finally I didn't know that we are now calling it alcohol use disorder. So you could say this is a book about a bunch of things I didn't know.

What's the author's angle?

Herzog failed to get her drinking under control using any of the more common methods. Willpower, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), overwhelming shame, etc. The Sinclair Method was what finally worked for her. This method involves taking naltrexone before you drink. This blocks the reward circuit allowing you to train your body out of alcohol dependence. It's also something that not a lot of people have heard about, so her angle resembles that of a fiery recent convert, who believes that people trapped in similar despair need to hear the good word.

Who should read this book?

As someone who's never had a drink, I'm loath to recommend anything in the sobriety space. In the same manner that a fish doesn't know about water, can I have anything meaningful to say about sobriety? That very large caveat aside, if you have AUD, and nothing else has worked, and you haven't tried the Sinclair Method (or if you know someone who fits this category) I would definitely recommend this book.

If you're thinking of reading it just as Herzog memoir, there's some pretty good stuff in here, but not enough to justify reading the entire book. But if you're on the fence I would push you towards getting the book.

Specific thoughts: So why isn't the Sinclair Method better known?