the book blogs
For most of the time between 2005 and 2019 I was a member of the Amazon Books Editorial team. Nobody knows what that means, and it’s boring to explain. (The Seattle Times gave it a shot once.) But part of the job was writing bits and pieces for the Omnivoracious book blog, later “rebranded” as the Amazon Book Review. Many of these were best-of lists, “celebrity picks,” breaking book news, and plenty of corporate mash. But now and then I had a little fun and did what I wanted to do, even if I knew the Danielle Steel* crowd wouldn’t care. All in all it was a good, weird job, and I interviewed dozens of writers, musicians, adventurers, and various other People of the Scene.
In 2020, the Amazon Book Review moved to a new home. For a while, older material was maintained at amazonbookreview.com, but late in 2021, the old url was redirected to the new pages and everything I did there disappeared. But as guy who understands that Amazon doesn’t care about anything, I had preserved some of my favorites. This page is a sampling across a number of categories; to see everything, or everything in a category, use the “book stuff” navigation above. You may find an occasional broken link or formatting anomaly within the posts.
NB: Publishers and authors provided images for the original Amazon posts. Since this is not a commercial website, I have included them here, with attribution where available. (In some cases I used fewer than in the original blogs.) If I have done this in error, please contact me directly.
* I am not dragging Danielle Steel. I interviewed her over the telephone and she is genuinely a charming and classy lady.
outdoors & adventure
If there’s one book that might make you a Bigfoot Believer, John Zada’s In the Valley of the Noble Beyond could be the one.
The author of The Lost City of Z goes to the ends of the Earth in search of another doomed adventurer, Frank Worsley
It’s spring, so you’re going on a Bigfoot hunt. Here are seven highly rated books to ensure your success.
Jim Herrington on The Climbers, his 20-year quest to photograph the pioneers and legends of mountaineering.
Firestorm author Edward Struzik presents 10 of the most destructive wildfires—and their impact on policy, people, and the environment.
SEMI-RAD’s Brendan Leonard’s Cocktail Party Primer of some of the greatest adventure narratives.
Leif Whittaker grew up in America's premier mountaineering family. What does that do to a person? As it turns out, enough to write a book.
A Q&A with Kyle Dickman, former “Hotshot” firefighter and author of On the Burning Edge.
All the Wild That Remains author David Gessner contrasts Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner through an examination of their haircuts.
Many do. But Ian Whitelaw’s The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies is a brilliant example of how its mystique transcends the actual sport.
Carl Hoffman’s Savage Harvest explores the mysterious disappearance of Michael Rockerfeller. Did he perish at sea, or die at the hands of cannibals?
Badluck Way author Bryce Andrews on life as rancher and settles the debate between Levi’s and Wranglers.
The first American to summit Mt. Everest shares his memories of the expedition on the eve of its 50th anniversary. Includes yeti content.
Here talks about his collections of skulls and “completely odorless” animal scat, among other things.
outdoors & adventure
If there’s one book that might make you a Bigfoot Believer, John Zada’s In the Valley of the Noble Beyond could be the one.
The author of The Lost City of Z goes to the ends of the Earth in search of another doomed adventurer, Frank Worsley
It’s spring, so you’re going on a Bigfoot hunt. Here are seven highly rated books to ensure your success.
Jim Herrington on The Climbers, his 20-year quest to photograph the pioneers and legends of mountaineering.
Firestorm author Edward Struzik presents 10 of the most destructive wildfires—and their impact on policy, people, and the environment.
SEMI-RAD’s Brendan Leonard’s Cocktail Party Primer of some of the greatest adventure narratives.
Leif Whittaker grew up in America's premier mountaineering family. What does that do to a person? As it turns out, enough to write a book.
A Q&A with Kyle Dickman, former “Hotshot” firefighter and author of On the Burning Edge.
All the Wild That Remains author David Gessner contrasts Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner through an examination of their haircuts.
Many do. But Ian Whitelaw’s The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies is a brilliant example of how its mystique transcends the actual sport.
Carl Hoffman’s Savage Harvest explores the mysterious disappearance of Michael Rockerfeller. Did he perish at sea, or die at the hands of cannibals?
Badluck Way author Bryce Andrews on life as rancher and settles the debate between Levi’s and Wranglers.
The first American to summit Mt. Everest shares his memories of the expedition on the eve of its 50th anniversary. Includes yeti content.
Here talks about his collections of skulls and “completely odorless” animal scat, among other things.
music, art & culture
I talked to the legendary director about his novel, Consumed. Just don’t call it “body horror,” like I did.
I was anxious about talking to the Wilco frontman about his autobiography, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back). It shows!
Tim Mohr’s Burning Down the Haus unearths the unknown history of East Berlin’s punk rockers, and how they helped tear down that wall.
MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer documents his descent into his self-made hell and his reemergence into the world of the living.
It’s not easy to get the straight story out of David Lynch, but Kristine McKenna did it in her collaboration with the incomparable director, Room to Dream.
Greg Prato—author of The Yacht Rock Book—presents his top 10 yacht rock album covers: a cavalcade of bare chests, feathered hair, and stylized ampersands.
Author Joe Hagan on Rolling Stone magazine, Jan Wenner, and the dawn of the modern celebrity.
Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and venerable rock critic Robert Christgau face off in a battle of memoirs.
I spent 10 minutes talking with punk icon Richard Hell about his book, Massive. Pissed. Love.
24. Apollo 13. Splash. Even if you don’t know who Brian Grazer is, you certainly know his work. Here he shares his secret for success.
Viv Albertine dishes on the three themes of her killer memoir: Clothes, Music, and Boys.
DEVO’s Mark Mothersbaugh, delivering observations regarding the condition of man in the world these days.
music, art & culture
I talked to the legendary director about his novel, Consumed. Just don’t call it “body horror,” like I did.
I was anxious about talking to the Wilco frontman about his autobiography, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back). It shows!
Tim Mohr’s Burning Down the Haus unearths the unknown history of East Berlin’s punk rockers, and how they helped tear down that wall.
MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer documents his descent into his self-made hell and his reemergence into the world of the living.
It’s not easy to get the straight story out of David Lynch, but Kristine McKenna did it in her collaboration with the incomparable director, Room to Dream.
Greg Prato—author of The Yacht Rock Book—presents his top 10 yacht rock album covers: a cavalcade of bare chests, feathered hair, and stylized ampersands.
Author Joe Hagan on Rolling Stone magazine, Jan Wenner, and the dawn of the modern celebrity.
Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and venerable rock critic Robert Christgau face off in a battle of memoirs.
I spent 10 minutes talking with punk icon Richard Hell about his book, Massive. Pissed. Love.
24. Apollo 13. Splash. Even if you don’t know who Brian Grazer is, you certainly know his work. Here he shares his secret for success.
Viv Albertine dishes on the three themes of her killer memoir: Clothes, Music, and Boys.
DEVO’s Mark Mothersbaugh, delivering observations regarding the condition of man in the world these days.
books, writers & whatnot
Killers of the Flower Moon author David Grann discusses the Osage Indian Reservation murders, stolen oil, and the early days of J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI.
John Hodgman tells me how long it will take my family to move on after I die. (“Sooner than you think.”)
Marc Maron talks about his influential podcast, WTF, and his book Waiting for the Punch. Do it up.
Jeff Guinn unmasks cult leader and mass murderer Jim Jones through interviews with the people who knew him: townspeople, his parishioners, and the “reverend’s” own family.
Ian McGuire discusses his suspenseful, sometimes shocking thriller set aboard an ice-bound whaling ship.
The Mountain Goats’ frontman wrote a novel, and it’s creepy as hell. I asked him three questions about it.
A Q&A with American Heiress author Jeffrey Toobin on the Patty Hearst kidnapping, the SLA, and the Swinging ‘70s.
Geoff Manaugh’s A Burglar’s Guide to the City will change the way you look at architecture.
Before he won every decent literary award in the world, Colson Whitehead gave us The Outsider’s Guide to Gambling in Las Vegas.
Carl Hoffman’s Savage Harvest explores the mysterious disappearance of Michael Rockerfeller. Did he perish at sea, or die at the hands of cannibals?
He makes a lot of people mad. But he’s really quite pleasant, as I found while discussing his autobiography, An Appetite for Wonder.
Philipp Meyer discusses The Son—his 150-year saga of family, oil, and power—and one really gross thing he did for research.
Let’s talk about Sweet Farts. I’m guessing we’re mostly grownups here, but we are going to talk about the series of books called Sweet Farts. Sweet Farts by Raymond Bean.
books, writers & whatnot
Killers of the Flower Moon author David Grann discusses the Osage Indian Reservation murders, stolen oil, and the early days of J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI.
John Hodgman tells me how long it will take my family to move on after I die. (“Sooner than you think.”)
Marc Maron talks about his influential podcast, WTF, and his book Waiting for the Punch. Do it up.
Jeff Guinn unmasks cult leader and mass murderer Jim Jones through interviews with the people who knew him: townspeople, his parishioners, and the “reverend’s” own family.
Ian McGuire discusses his suspenseful, sometimes shocking thriller set aboard an ice-bound whaling ship.
The Mountain Goats’ frontman wrote a novel, and it’s creepy as hell. I asked him three questions about it.
A Q&A with American Heiress author Jeffrey Toobin on the Patty Hearst kidnapping, the SLA, and the Swinging ‘70s.
Geoff Manaugh’s A Burglar’s Guide to the City will change the way you look at architecture.
Before he won every decent literary award in the world, Colson Whitehead gave us The Outsider’s Guide to Gambling in Las Vegas.
Carl Hoffman’s Savage Harvest explores the mysterious disappearance of Michael Rockerfeller. Did he perish at sea, or die at the hands of cannibals?
He makes a lot of people mad. But he’s really quite pleasant, as I found while discussing his autobiography, An Appetite for Wonder.
Philipp Meyer discusses The Son—his 150-year saga of family, oil, and power—and one really gross thing he did for research.
Let’s talk about Sweet Farts. I’m guessing we’re mostly grownups here, but we are going to talk about the series of books called Sweet Farts. Sweet Farts by Raymond Bean.
outsiders & dystopias
Tom Kizzia on Pilgrim’s Wilderness, an all-American tale of narcissism, religious mania, and the worst people who think they know best.
America’s astronomer laureate Neil deGrasse Tyson on the relationship between astrophysics and the military while eating soup in the back of a limo.
Jeff Guinn unmasks cult leader and mass murderer Jim Jones through interviews with the people who knew him: townspeople, his parishioners, and the “reverend’s” own family.
You have to hand it to today’s hermit: despite the challenges of our crowded and noisy world, a dedicated recluse will find a way.
A leading Roman scholar compares the (then upcoming) 2016 election to the politics of the ancient world. Plenty of irony within.
Many are saying these are the essential items to make your administration amazing, just really unbelievable. [Written before the 2016 election.]
A Q&A with American Heiress author Jeffrey Toobin on the Patty Hearst kidnapping, the SLA, and the Swinging ‘70s.
Geoff Manaugh’s A Burglar’s Guide to the City will change the way you look at architecture.
Journalist Bruce Barcott journeyed into the underworld of growers, sellers, and smokers. He returned with these seven mysterious relics.
Paul Fischer’s guide to the essential cinema of North Korea’s super-producer, Kim Jong-Il.
The Great Leader and the Fighter Pilot author Blaine Harden’s primer on the essential, terrifying nuttiness of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Peter Pomerantsev — author of Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia — saw it all coming.
outsiders & dystopias
Tom Kizzia on Pilgrim’s Wilderness, an all-American tale of narcissism, religious mania, and the worst people who think they know best.
America’s astronomer laureate Neil deGrasse Tyson on the relationship between astrophysics and the military while eating soup in the back of a limo.
Jeff Guinn unmasks cult leader and mass murderer Jim Jones through interviews with the people who knew him: townspeople, his parishioners, and the “reverend’s” own family.
You have to hand it to today’s hermit: despite the challenges of our crowded and noisy world, a dedicated recluse will find a way.
A leading Roman scholar compares the (then upcoming) 2016 election to the politics of the ancient world. Plenty of irony within.
Many are saying these are the essential items to make your administration amazing, just really unbelievable. [Written before the 2016 election.]
A Q&A with American Heiress author Jeffrey Toobin on the Patty Hearst kidnapping, the SLA, and the Swinging ‘70s.
Geoff Manaugh’s A Burglar’s Guide to the City will change the way you look at architecture.
Journalist Bruce Barcott journeyed into the underworld of growers, sellers, and smokers. He returned with these seven mysterious relics.
Paul Fischer’s guide to the essential cinema of North Korea’s super-producer, Kim Jong-Il.
The Great Leader and the Fighter Pilot author Blaine Harden’s primer on the essential, terrifying nuttiness of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Peter Pomerantsev — author of Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia — saw it all coming.
lists & features
Dive deep into the Expanded Porky's Universe—and more!—with these classic movie tie-in novelizations.
It’s spring, so you’re going on a Bigfoot hunt. Here are seven highly rated books to ensure your success.
Greg Prato—author of The Yacht Rock Book—presents his top 10 yacht rock album covers: a cavalcade of bare chests, feathered hair, and stylized ampersands.
Wherein I revisit my first literary love - The Hardy Boys - and discover some weird shit.
You have to hand it to today’s hermit: despite the challenges of our crowded and noisy world, a dedicated recluse will find a way.
Many are saying these are the essential items to make your administration amazing, just really unbelievable. [Written before the 2016 election.]
lists & features
Dive deep into the Expanded Porky's Universe—and more!—with these classic movie tie-in novelizations.
It’s spring, so you’re going on a Bigfoot hunt. Here are seven highly rated books to ensure your success.
Greg Prato—author of The Yacht Rock Book—presents his top 10 yacht rock album covers: a cavalcade of bare chests, feathered hair, and stylized ampersands.
Wherein I revisit my first literary love - The Hardy Boys - and discover some weird shit.
You have to hand it to today’s hermit: despite the challenges of our crowded and noisy world, a dedicated recluse will find a way.
Many are saying these are the essential items to make your administration amazing, just really unbelievable. [Written before the 2016 election.]