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A dense and detailed accounting of the self-conscious project of American capitalism. It defies the notion that the government and economy are separate, and that America is in decline as the world’s hegemon (at least at the time of writing). Almost too detailed to not own and be able to reference. I can’t say I understood all of it, but I at least took from it an outline that I can lean on throughout any future readings on the topic.

A fast read that delves into the period of the Imperium just after unification, which I’d love to read more of.

I still rankle when Games Workshop writers do things like make up the name of a progenitor of some well-known aspect of Warhammer that has the name of the thing in it (e.g. Arkhan Land being the creator of the Land Speeder and Land Raider). They do this here with a gene-smith named Astarte having created the Adeptus Astartes. It’s ham-fisted, and—I’ll be honest—contributed to the rating.

But if you need something to read on your commute, and you’re interested in the early days of the Imperium, pick up this book. If you don’t know what “the Imperium” is, then give this a miss.

A book that’s ostensibly about John Brown and his abolitionist work in antebellum America, but is really about a son’s relationship with his father, and the shadow that father casts on the family. Great, sad, book.