Mr. and Mrs. Psmith’s Bookshelf

BRIEFLY NOTED: Reader Recommendations

We’ve already established that I usually don’t read the comments on these posts, because I am a weak and fallible human and thus seek to avoid…

Jun 29 • John Psmith

58

8

1

REVIEW: 1939, by David Gelernter

1939: The Lost World of the Fair, David Gelernter (Avon, 1996).

Jun 15 • Jane Psmith

85

28

8

REVIEW: Anabasis, by Xenophon

Anabasis, Xenophon (trans.

Jun 1 • John Psmith

215

26

27

May 2026

REVIEW: 50 Years of Text Games, by Aaron Reed

50 Years of Text Games: From Oregon Trail to AI Dungeon, Aaron A.

May 11 • John Psmith

187

36

29

April 2026

REVIEW: The Greatest Knight, by Thomas Asbridge

The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power Behind Five English Thrones, Thomas Asbridge (Ecco, 2015).

Apr 27 • Jane Psmith

162

27

17

March 2026

REVIEW: Boyd, by Robert Coram

Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed The Art Of War, Robert Coram (Back Bay Books, 2002).

Mar 23 • John Psmith

203

64

25

REVIEW: BoyMom, by Ruth Whippman

BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity, Ruth Whippman (Harmony, 2024).

Mar 9 • Jane Psmith

240

94

34

January 2026

JOINT REVIEW: Philosophy Between the Lines, by Arthur M. Melzer

Philosophy Between the Lines: The Lost History of Esoteric Writing, Arthur M.

Jan 26 • Jane Psmith and John Psmith

144

78

29

REVIEW: How to Solve It, by George Pólya

How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method, George Pólya (Princeton University Press, 1945).

Jan 12 • John Psmith

217

40

38

December 2025

2025: The Year in Review(s)

Jane: Well, we’ve done it again: despite the many forces militating against us (our children, your job, an exciting variety of upper respiratory…

Dec 29, 2025 • Jane Psmith and John Psmith

151

40

13

REVIEW: An Amish Paradox, by Charles E. Hurst and David L. McConnell

An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the World’s Largest Amish Community, Charles E. Hurst and David L. McConnell

Dec 15, 2025 • Jane Psmith

188

38

29

GUEST REVIEW: The Triumph of the Moon, by Ronald Hutton

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, Ronald Hutton (1999; Oxford University Press, 2021).

Dec 1, 2025 • Gabriel Rossman

91

58

20