WRBA Review: May
I only managed one episode of Who Reads Books Anymore? in May, and the universe was determined to make it a quiet one. Of all the unsuspecting strangers I stopped, only three had actually read a book, and of those three, exactly one made his case like he meant it.
So it was a thin month for the show. But it was not a thin month for me, as I was lugging around eight hundred pages of a dead president.
My Favorite Book from May
I read only one book in May: Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow.
But, oh, what a book!
My plan to browse this doorstopper soon gave way to a deep curiosity about how America’s first president achieved legend status. The answer? A combination of sheer luck, extreme ambition, nerves of steel, and a taste for revenge.
Young Washington was a well-connected land surveyor, making him the ideal volunteer for daring missions into the American wilderness. After proving himself steadfast under fire, Washington expected a promotion, and, with a burgeoning taste for land acquisition, a raise. But the British looked down upon colonists like George, no matter how capable or well connected, so he was passed over again and again.
These early frustrations compounded under increasing financial stress, some external (e.g., taxation without representation) and some self-imposed (e.g., fancy clothes), giving rise to a middle-aged man who would rather be drawn and quartered than give up his slaves.
Washington, by modern standards, was a rich white racist, but by eternal standards, he was a brave and modest leader, most notably stepping down from power to secure the stability of a fledgling nation.
Like America today, Washington embodies both the worst and best of human nature, and Chernow does not shy away from this. Instead of building yet another statue out of Washington, Chernow seeks the human within, and succeeds brilliantly in this portrayal.
If you’re looking for an extremely nerdy and prolonged way to celebrate the Fourth of July this year, you found it.
Books Recommended on WRBA
And now, the recommendations from this month’s small but glorious band of readers.
CHILDREN OF RUIN by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The one reader who would “absolutely” recommend his pick, and the only person to sell a book like a true believer:
It’s a hard sci-fi space series, and what I love about space sci-fi series is they can really open up the mind as far as what humans are capable of, if we allow ourselves to progress.
SHINE by Gino Wickman & Rob Dube
This gentleman, when asked for a recommendation, recommended his own book. You have to respect the hustle. He says it’s about freeing your true self:
We give you ten disciplines that set a foundation in your life, and then we give you three discoveries to help you uncover your true self.
CHARLOTTE’S WEB by E. B. White
She told me she read 15 children’s books in the past month, and this classic was her favorite among them. No reasoning offered. None needed. Some spiders write their own reviews.
Support the Show
Thanks so much for reading the WRBA Review and watching the show. I hope this series offers a fun way to discover new books and to better understand the role books play in our culture.
If you’d like to support the project, please consider purchasing my first novel (available now) and/or my second novel (coming September 2026).
Proceeds allow me to buy food and coffee (short-term goal) while moving me one step closer to my dream of being a full-time book person (long-term goal).
Thanks again,
Will Pass