Author: Beau Kelly
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Dreams of El Dorado
“Dreams of El Dorado” by H.L. Brands is a captivating and comprehensive account of the American West. The book digs into numerous primary sources to tell the stories of the first settlers and founding narratives for a few cities west of the Mississippi. Brands tackles a broad swath of the American West and does it…
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The Deepest South of All
The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi The Deepest South of All by Richard Grant is a thoughtful, hilarious, and well-told story of Natchez, Mississippi. Grant is a British author who immerses himself in Natchez for half a year. He lives with an influential author with generations of history in the town,…
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Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
At the end of the year, I like to re-read a book that will set the tone for the upcoming year. For 2023, I dove back into Ryan Holiday’s Ego is the Enemy. Ego is the Enemy is a reminder to do the work. I made a major career change in 2022, and I feel…
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2022 Power Rankings
5 Stars-I would recommend these to anyone. Date-onomics: How Dating Became a Lopsided Numbers Game The Last Cowboys: A Pioneer Family in the New West Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City The Mastermind: Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal. The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of…
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Coyotes: A Journey Across Borders with America’s Mexican Migrants
In Coyotes: A Journey Across Borders with America’s Mexican Migrants, Ted Conover lives and travels with Mexican migrants as they pick oranges in Arizona and Florida. Conover vividly depicts the journey of Mexican migrants from their remote towns in Southern Mexico into the United States under the guidance of coyotes. Coyotes are paid to get…
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Cheap Land Colorado: Off-Gridders at America’s Edge
In Cheap Land Colorado, Ted Conover immerses himself in the barren landscape of Colorado’s San Luis Valley with individuals living at the margin of society. Conover’s book came out in November, and the subject material all takes place in the last five years as he lives in the Valley for months at a time. Conover…
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The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream
In The Snakehead, Patrick Keefe masterfully tells the story of mass illegal migration from China to the United States through the lens of the Golden Venture ship disaster and master smuggler, Sister Ping. Keefe details the unbelievable feats and prices that impoverished individuals are willing to undertake to make it to America. Sister Ping serves…
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Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice by Bill Browder
In Red Notice, Bill Browder details his journey of investing in Russia as the country began to privatize major industries while also battling corruption and human rights issues. Bill’s grandfather, Earl Browder was the presidential candidate for the Socialist Party in 1936. Bill’s parents and siblings pursued careers in academia, and Bill rebelled by chasing…
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The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl’s memoir tells the story of his upbringing with a single mom, his non-traditional introduction to music, and his time on the road with struggling grunge bands before his time with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. Dave takes his readers on a generally fun and interesting ride telling the story of Nirvana’s explosive success…
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Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self Control is Ryan Holiday’s second book in a series on the cardinal virtues (Courage is Calling was the first). Holiday’s writing is a call to action, and it eliminates excuses. I get fired up reading his books. He separates the book into three sections, The Body, The Temperament,…
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