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I started reading this on an international flight and immediately got completely absorbed into its universe -- our universe, filled with the forsaken and despised of impoverished rural Appalachia as the opioid crisis is generated around and through them, another industry (like coal mining before) grinding up an entire culture for private, corrupt gain. I got a bit bogged down in the middle as the pain became hard to stay with, but am really glad I pushed through. By turns hilarious and tragic, Kingsolver rewrites Dickens for the 21st century, reminding us that the social damage done by capitalism scars communities, families, and individuals in ways that we might not see but should not ignore.

Practical advice for thinking about grassroots social movements and how to organize and sustain them.

A compelling argument about the importance of ensuring that good intentions are backed with the skills and mindset necessary for actually doing good in the world.

The first thing to note is that Jack Jewers is a friend of mine, whom I adore, which may color my reading a bit. But the second thing to note is that this book is just plain fun. The premise is, as the title suggests, that Samuel Pepys kept one further diary beyond those we know of, and that this one involves a complex investigation involving embezzlement, murder, and international intrigue. The writing is delightful, and the book was a perfect bit of holiday fun.