Adventures With Alex

Tag: Memoir

  • BR283) “First They Killed My Father” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung. 3/5 rating. 238 pages. Book #50 of 2022. Read December 26, 2022. This is Loung’s story of living through the Cambodian genocide by the Khmer Rouge. Loung’s young life was absolutely haunting and heartbreaking. Coming from a middle-class family living in Phnom…

  • BR281) “Born a Crime” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. 4/5 rating. 285 pages. Book #48 of 2022. Read December 18, 2022. This is an amazing memoir by Trevor about his childhood growing up in South Africa. I thoroughly enjoyed all of Trevor’s stories in this book. He lived such an interesting life…

  • BR182) “The Audacity of Hope” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama. 5/5 rating. 362 pages. Book #18 of 2021. Read February 20, 2021. This is an absolutely amazing book that shows the eloquence, intellect, and deep compassion of Barack. Written not too long after winning the Illinois Senate seat, this book tells his…

  • BR172) “On Writing” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.. 3/5 rating. 316 pages. Book #8 of 2021. Read January 22, 2021. This is half memoir, half writing advice by one of the most popular and prolific writers of our time. Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book, and it certainly is a…

  • BR166) “Eat & Run” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness by Scott Jurek. 3/5 rating. 273 pages. Book #2 of 2021. Read January 10, 2021. This is Scott’s story about his early life as an ultramarathoner. Scott is one of the most decorated ultrarunners (ultras are officially any race longer than 26.2 miles) in the world.…

  • BR162) “Living with a SEAL” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet by Jesse Itzler. 4/5 rating. 255 pages. Book #87 of 2020. Read December 21, 2020. This is the tale of Jesse’s month of having one of the most badass people on the entire planet come and live with him (David Goggins,…

  • BR142) “Bird by Bird” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.  5/5 rating. 220 pages. Book #67 of 2020. Read September 27, 2020. This is an absolutely amazing book about writing and life: one of my favorite books that I have ever read! Anne is hilarious! Her writing is dark, poignant, and just so…

  • BR139) “Shoe Dog” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight.  4/5 rating. 270 pages. Book #64 of 2020. Read September 16, 2020. This is a great book about Nike’s creation and the fight to keep Phil’s dream alive. (I got the Young Reader’s Edition because I couldn’t say no to the deal, but…

  • BR117) “Kitchen Confidential” Book Review

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    Alex Furst
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    Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain.  4/5 rating. 312 pages. Book #42 of 2020. Read June 28, 2020. This is a hilarious, self-deprecating, and amazingly entertaining memoir that began Anthony’s stardom and life of traveling to distant locales to explore and taste interesting foods. I truly believe that Anthony has got…