Aidan Busch > Recent Status Updates

Finding this to be a bit ponderous so far

Reminds me why I liked my time at Wheaton so much. Thankful for historians/profs who care about teaching people to do history well just as much as they care about the history itself

Arrived ON my doorstep today. LETS GET EXCITED

Describing being a priest on Ash Wednesday as “the most punk rock thing I do all year” is a GREAT line.

Enjoying this more than I thought I would

Picked this up at the National Book Festival, where I heard Chernow speak. Guy in the audience next to us, a big Chernow fan, expressed concern that “these kinds of authors tend to get more rambly as they get older.” This book clocks in at 1,030 pages. We’ll see if he’s right lol

Enjoying this book so, so much. It’s a classic- I’ve always enjoyed the old PBS series based on (and named after) this book. Miller does such a wonderful job putting words to what makes Chicago such an energetic, incredible, innovative, and oftentimes horrifying city. Only about halfway through, but I think I’m going to be disappointed it’s not longer.

Unbelievably good

Really feel like I’m living inside this guy’s head.

Delightful. So far a mix between Monty python, LOTR, and Philomena Cunk. This book’s sense of humor was made in a lab for me.

Word on the street is that it’s a tragedy, but so far getting very little hint of that. Feeling a bit nervous about this fact.

This book was practically made in a lab for me

Just unreal.

Loving this. Super interesting to read on the sub-strategic / tactical level after my big picture, 30000ft account from my Churchill read last year. The oral history is a fun format.

I have no clue what’s going on

Slightly over midway update: slightly thought provoking but overall underwhelming. Texting my therapist friends a lot to ask questions.

This is so good. Dude is a master of writing introductions.

A lot of smoke and not much fire so far…. A little worried it’ll be a DNF.

Plodding through like Rommel in North Africa

In all seriousness, still an absolute masterpiece

Not as good as the original trilogy- I get he needs to re-do some of the world building so it’s a bit slow. But still highly entertaining.