Reading is one of my interests, and I have completed the Goodreads annual challenge to read sixty or more books since 2011. Science fiction and science fantasy are my favourite genres.
I've become especially interested in reading books in the sword and soul genre. Other favourite reading interests include history, science, current affairs and general fiction.
There are a number of favourite books in my library.
MY FAVOURITE READS OF 2024
How Migration Really Works by Hein de Haas
After reading a book like this, you realise that all you thought you knew about migration is entirely wrong and is based on what you hear from politicians, the media, and international humanitarian agencies! This book examines all the myths for and against migration and then explains why they are wrong.
Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life by Rolf Dobelli
Excellent. In an age of information overload, this book details why being immersed in what we consider news is not good for you.
Financial Joy by Ken and Mary Okoroafor
This is one of the best books I have read on financial planning and achieving financial independence. The information provided is based on the authors' (Mary and Ken Okoroafor) own experiences and the personal life experiences of many others they interviewed.
Hidden Potential by Adam M. Grant
I have found this book to be an invaluable read. As an instructor and teacher, I am always looking for ways to uncover students' hidden potential and consider how I might best continue to learn myself in an environment of constant change.
The "Actions for Impact" section nicely summarises some valuable practices.
How To Be Right… in a World Gone Wrong by James O'Brien
Well written and I very much enjoyed reading "How to be Right".
Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer
"Cuba: An American History" provides quite a detailed history of Cuba from colonial to modern times. The book also focused on its relationship to the US.
Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse
This was an excellent series, and I am a little saddened that the "Between Earth and Sky" trilogy has come to an end. The world-building, the characters, especially the main ones with their particular natures, Serapio, an avatar of a god, and Xiala, a creature of the sea, have made the series a real page-turner and "Mirrored Heavens" offered a grand finale bringing all the various strands of the story together. Great stuff!
The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World by Catherine Niixey
I know some aspects of the early Christian destruction of some classical works and have even come across the murder of Hypatia (an early scientist and mathematician), who they saw as a challenge to their teachings.
"The Darkening Age" presents an interesting view of the ascendency of a religion driven by intolerance, aggression, and the wholesale destruction of anything that didn't meet its code of ethics—an interesting read.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
The Story of Britain's Black Nurses by Kandace Chimbiri
Eveen, a member of the assassins guild, encounters a complication when she takes up her latest contract. The "Dead Cat Tails Assassins" is another enjoyable tale from P. Djèlí Clark and a fun read.
The Story of Britain's Black Nurses by Kandace Chimbiri
The Story of Britain's Black Nurses by Kandace Chimbiri
"The Story of Britain's Black Nurses" is another excellent book by Kandace Chimbiri that uncovers the contributions of Black nurses in Britain, which often goes unnoticed in history books.
In the book, she deals with these contributions to nursing well before the Windrush and NHS. The book contains some beautiful illustrations, and while aimed at young readers, there is much you can learn from it, and all ages can enjoy it - recommended reading.
Croydonopolis: A Journey to the Greatest City That Never Was
Wow, what a great read!
Will Noble provides us with a fascinating history of the town, which was not only a place of innovation, culture, manufacturing, and business but also had so many notable people from around the world pass through it at one time or another.
The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
"The Shadow Rising" is my favourite book in the series and was just as fantastic a read the second time.
The sword and soul genre
What is Sword and Soul?
Sword and Soul is Sword and Sorcery and epic fantasy based on African history, culture and traditions.
The following is a list of my favourite reads in the genre.
Griots: A Soul and Soul Anthology by Milton J. Davis and Others
Griots: A Soul and Soul Anthology is an intriguing collection of fantasy stories from some talented writers.
Tales of exotic magic, evil sorcery, incredible beasts, and great warriors are told in the context of a familiar and unfamiliar Africa. I was particularly pleased to find two of my fantasy favourites, Changa and Imaro, making an appearance in the book.
Griots: Sisters of the Spear by Milton J. Davis and Others
Sisters of the Spear brings together tales of heroic Black Women as leaders, warriors, rulers, magic users, and more. Each story is unique in its own way, and I'm sure readers will find their favourites in the collection. This work demonstrates how creative writers in this genre continue to be and nicely complements "Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology". Overall, it is an excellent read,
Imaro by Charles R. Saunders
Charles R. Saunders is considered to be the father of the Sword and Soul genre. The first book in the Imaro series fuses fantasy fiction into an alternative pre-colonial Africa.
From Here to Timbuktu by Milton J. Davis
When advanced ancient technology is discovered in the fabled city of Timbuktu in Mali, the Prussians who lead a newly established Germany will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. Famara (a Malian agent) and Zeke (a Bounty Hunter) from the newly established country of Freedonia team up to thwart their designs. This tale of speculative fiction (steamfunk) is set in the year 1870, but it is a very different world from the one we might be familiar with!
Shades Of Memnon: Book One by Gregory Walker
Inspired by the tale of Memnon (The Ethiopian royal), who was granted immortality by the gods during the Trojan War.
The Blood of Titans by C. Michael Forsyth
The Blood of Titans is a love story set in the Golden Age of Africa. Halima, a teenage princess of an advanced civilization, falls in love with the warrior king Shomari, a magnificent mountain of a man.
Timbuktu Chronicles: Aida and the Chosen Soldier by Anthony Nana Kwamu
Timbuktu, Mali Empire - 1310 AD. Famine sweeps the empire. A raw breed and a dark wizard conspire to control humanity. Two mysterious orbs are all that separate humanity from this fate. Skilled swordsman Commander Gyvan Drabo, chosen to find the orbs, wants to wed the woman of his dreams. But he is not alone. To succeed, he must learn to trust the girl, Aida, the most powerful of all Eeids and resolve the conflict between them as time is the enemy.
Return of Odu'a by Tokunbo Ogunbanjo
When a menacing danger threatens the existence of Yorubaland, resulting from a curse, the children of Odu’a are scattered to the four corners of the globe. A courageous young Poet, Lagbaja, accepts the daunting task of embarking on an arduous, unpredictable journey to save the land of his fathers.
Changa's Safari (Changa, #1) by by Milton J. Davis
On the day a young prince and an evil sorceress cross paths with Changa, a chain of events unfurls, leading Changa and his crew on a high adventure across continents. A great read, and I'm certainly looking forward to the continuing tales of this hero.
Once Upon a Time in Afrika by Balogun Ojetade
Once Upon a Time in Afrika by Balogun Ojetade
What a great read this was! Balogun has written an enjoyable tale full of larger-than-life characters, humour, magic, and feats of martial prowess. It's a nice addition to the "Sword and Soul" genre and recommended reading!
My favourite reads of 2023
The Peacekeeper by B.L. Blanchard
A speculative fiction murder mystery tale set in North America that Europeans never colonised. Not only was this a great whodunit, but it was also fascinating to see (and feel) how the native American traditions and culture are expressed in this story. The practice of law, development of living buildings and much more are all in keeping with these traditions in this alternative 21st Century.
I am a fan of speculative fiction stories and look forward to reading The Good Lands sequel by B.L. Blanchard.
Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara
Hope in the Congo is like hot coal. Take hold, and it will scold you to the bone - Cobalt Red.
I found this book difficult to read because affluent consumer lifestyles and the use of technology causes so much death that the death of a child in the Congo counts for nothing. This is a story that needs to be told.
Food for Life: The New Science of Eating Well by Tim Spector
"Food for Life" had me rethinking some of my ideas on food and should form a valuable basis for making food choices. Part one of the book focuses on our gut, the microbiome and our attitudes to food. The second part looks at various foods, including meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables, fungi and mushrooms, nuts and seeds and more, outlining what we know about their benefits or not.
A couple of essential takeaways were (1) we need to be careful about making generalisations about food and the effect of what you consume will be very specific to each individual, and (2) that we should be cautious of the claims made about the foods we consume without any supporting data.
A worthwhile read which I recommend.
Unprocessed: How the Food We Eat Is Fuelling Our Mental Health Crisis by Kimberley Wilson
Easy to follow, look at how processed food affects brain health and the impact on society. Recommended reading.
Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken
"Ultra-Processed People" is an excellent exposé of Ultra-Processed Food and the industries that support it. This book is highly recommended reading.
Sister Mother Warrior by Vanessa Riley
This book was a great story based on the lives of Victoria "Abdaraya Toya" Montou and Marie-Claire Claire Felicite Dessalines, two women involved in the Haitian Revolution, and both were very closely associated with Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Victoria "Abdaraya Toya" Montou was born in West Africa and ended up as an enslaved woman on the same estate as Dessalines. Marie-Claire was born free in Haiti and became the wife of Dessalines.
I particularly liked the last chapter, where the author outlines the research undertaken for the book and explains much of the conflicting information she came across. An interesting point she makes is that years before Mary Seacole, Marie-Claire offered nursing services on the battlefield during the Haitian War. Men like Dessalines, Toussaint L'Ouverature, and Henri Christophe are well known in the histories of Haiti, but the women involved are often overlooked and it was nice to see mention of female officers in the Haitian army like Sanité Bélair and Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére.
Overall, I found this book an enjoyable read.
My favourite reads of 2022
The Story of Britain's Black Airmen by K. N. Chimbiri
Despite being a young person's book and a short read, I learned much about Britain's forgotten Black airmen.
I was familiar with the story of Ulric Cross and Sam King, as well as James Hyde from the BBC's World War II broadcast "West Indies Calling". But learning about Alexander Patterson, Britain's first known Black pilot working with the Royal Flying Corp in 1913, was an eye opener.
"The Story of Britain's Black Airmen" is another excellent book by K. N. Chimbri with a bibliography for further reading and research.
Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi
I learned much about Octavia E Butler from this biography that I didn't know, and this work presents her life exceptionally well through poems and quotes from Octavia herself. This is an engaging read and thoroughly recommended.
Welcome to Lagos by Chibundu Onuzo
I found this an enjoyable tale that navigates modern politics and corruption with an element of humour and many notable characters. A story that shows that sometimes even the worst people may have a redeeming nature.
Together The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy
This is the first book I have read about the impact of loneliness and how it affects us. We learn that loneliness influences the same parts of the brain as physical violence and more. The topic is well presented, and I would recommend this book.
My Favourite Reads of 2021
High on the Hog by Jessica B. Harris
After watching the Netflix documentary, I was pleasantly surprised to find much more in the book revealing how Africans and their cuisine have influenced the palate of the western world, particularly in the United States.
With their arrival in the Americas, Africans brought some of the foods, cooking, and farming techniques they had known in their homeland. Wher
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam M. Grant
One of the best books that I have read and this has to be one of my recommendations. The thirty practical takeaways in the "Actions for Impact" chapter are priceless. Adam Grant shows how rethinking and relearning what we think we know can benefit us at home and at work.
Why We Kneel, How We Rise by Michael Holding
Michael Holding covers much, both historical and contemporary and does a great job by drawing on his own experiences and the experiences of others involved in sport. Recommend reading.
Loot by Barnaby Phillips
I have viewed the Benin Bronzes and Carvings at the British Museum in London on several occasions and was somewhat familiar with the story of how these beautiful pieces were stolen from Benin by a British expedition in 1897. But I didn't fully appreciate the entire history and the significance to the people of Benin until reading "Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes" by Bar
Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola
A great debut by Bolu Babalola, imagines love and romance from an African perspective (both historical and modern), based on myths and folktales from around the world. My favourites in the collection included Psyche, Attem, Yaa, Nefertiti, and Siya, but I found all the stories to be a pretty good read. I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
My Favourite Reads of 2020
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
An entire book about sleep!
In this book, Matthew Walker highlights a host of ailments we suffer in industrialised societies that are related to a lack of sleep; these include diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. In addition, consider the many accidents in the home, at work or on the road caused by a lack of sleep.
One other area of focus is the role that artifi
Island People by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro
This book is not just a travelogue of the Caribbean. As Joshua Jelly-Schapiro arrives at each island, he offers some background history, it's culture as well as a look at the contemporary lifestyle and politics of the place.
It was interesting to see how the various locations visited (Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Montserrat, Grenada, Barbados, Antig
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Great fantasy saga set in a world based on pre-Columbian America.
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
Each chapter represents a different plot, although we meet the same characters throughout the book. These are primarily the members and friends of the Turner/Green family, as they deal with the worst of Jim Crow era USA at both the earthly and not so earthly level. The fantasy theme is a counter to H. P. Lovecraft's racism.
I didn't have any expectations and thoroughly