Jason's Reading (books by Erik Larson)
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
Jun 2025 · ๐This is how history ought to be told. The big picture is so much more interesting when you see the small details, the humans who lived it all. Larson does a great job diving into Churchill’s life and leadership during the Blitz. It was a very interesting – “v. interesting”, as Mary Churchill might have written it – read. โฆ
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
Sep 2024 · ๐Another interesting, well-told bit of history. Growing up in the United States, I of course learned about the Civil War, but never with this kind of depth. Larson makes the lead-up to the war interesting, understandable, and personal. His portrayal of some of the characters is a bit caricature-esque, focused on only a few aspects of their personality, but on the whole the book feels like a credible recounting of a time that we would do well to remember; the antagonism and unwillingness to understand the “other” are eerily reminiscent of our modern political situation.
Dead Wake by Erik Larson
Nov 2022 · ๐This book was an interesting and harrowing read. Larson tells the story of the Lusitania’s final voyage well, including plenty of backstory while also keeping things moving. I was intrigued throughout, and the weight of the tragedy makes me grateful for the relatively peaceful times in which I live.