Many Lives was written by M.R. Kukrit Pramoj and first published in Thai in 1954. Kukrit was a man of many talents and achievements. Educated at Oxford University, he served as a professor at Thammasat University, worked as a journalist, and later became the Prime Minister of Thailand in 1975. He was also a member

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. I discovered Convenience Store Woman almost by accident while browsing a subreddit dedicated to unusual literature. The title caught my eye, and after reading a few comments, I decided to try it. Now that I have finished it, I do not quite understand why it was categorized as “weird

Trafalgar by Benito Pérez Galdós. Benito Pérez Galdós, one of Spain’s greatest novelists, was nominated several times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. However, the prize was never awarded to him, likely because of political considerations, despite the international recognition of his work. Galdós was a contemporary of Dostoevsky. Although their literary styles differ, I

The Fall of Carthage by Adrian Goldsworthy. Adrian Goldsworthy holds a PhD in ancient military history and  is an authority on the subject of Rome’s wars. Ancient history is a fascinating field. It’s remarkable that we can know so much about events that took place over two thousand years ago. Yet this knowledge is difficult

 Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. This historical novel, written over a hundred years ago, is set in 14th-century Norway. Sigrid Undset was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928, and Kristin Lavransdatter played a central role in that recognition. The prize acknowledged her detailed and historically accurate portrayal of life in the Middle Ages.

Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company by Patrick McGee. The author, a Canadian journalist, has built a distinguished career writing for leading outlets including the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times. He also earned a Master of Arts in Global Diplomacy from the University of London, where his

Sightseeing by Rattawut Lapcharoensap is a remarkable debut collection of short stories. Born in the U.S., raised in Bangkok, and educated at Cornell and the University of Michigan, Rattawut brings a unique, bicultural perspective to his writing. His prose is clear, concise, and emotionally powerful. What stands out most is his ability to create vivid,

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt is the second book I have read by the renowned NYU ethics professor. My first was The Righteous Mind, in which Haidt explores the origins of moral reasoning. I found his insights both profound and convincing, which is why I was eager to read this book. And I was

Kintu is set in 18th-century precolonial Africa, long before the arrival of Arabs in Uganda. The novel follows the journey of a young man named Kintu. After his father’s death, Kintu is set to become the governor of his province. When the time comes for him to choose a wife, he falls in love with