Die Trying

Peter Beaumont is one of those rare writers who's willing to go all the way over the edge in his relentless pursuit of the truth. What happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, and other battlefields of the early 21st century? Beaumont uses the pen to reflect on the people he met, the surreal realities of war and the deep wounds left long after the shooting stops. Haunting, troubling, and deeply affecting, if you want to understand why we fight, what happens when we do, and what it takes to gaze unflinchingly at humanity's shadow, Beaumont must be read.

Julia Ebner puts her finger on some of the most important questions that writers face, not just in our turbulent times, but across all ages: - Who controls language? - Are you using language or being used by it? - Are some people's truths more truthful than others? - How does language change to meet the context of the day? Arming us with critical skills, it's worth reading if you're into the culture war, gender studies, toxic masculinity, incels, the patriarchy, fourth wave feminism, conspiracy theories, the far right, terrorism, deradicalisation and that sort of stuff.

Laura Bates threads the needle in her undercover investigation into incel culture, misogyny and the manosphere. Unfiltered and rough on the eyes, Bates is brave enough to tackle a thorny issue head-on and come out still standing, her strong arguments standing up across 300 pages. Weaving together online and RW examples, we're privy to forums, threads, vlogs, interviews, protests and in-person meet-ups as Bates walks the beat of investigative journalist/activist. Is male-on-female violence a form of terrorism? You'll have to read it to find out. Keep one eye out for Bates' adept use a whole bag of persuasive techniques, from stats and figures to anecdotes and eyewitness accounts. Especially powerful are her metaphors - watch out for the Guinea worm burrowing into your leg! Other reading: - Going Mainstream by Julia Ebner - 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson - Lean Out by Dawn Foster

Christian G. Appy's mammoth 600-page non-fiction book collects personal accounts of the Vietnam/American War from all angles. From the Chief of Staff of the United States Army to a new recruit of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, we hear myriad voices and are lucky to have writers who do such heavy lifts. Published half a century after the war ended and made up of hundreds of interviews, cuttings and clips of memory, stories, perspectives and reflections, Appy collates them together in an attempt to really understand what happened during the war. If you're interested in the Vietnam War, insane stories of personal struggle, the highest and lowest experiences human beings can have, and that sort of thing, then read this book. If you're a writer and want to learn how to approach a seemingly insurmountable multi-year writing project, then Appy's work stands as an inspiration. Similar books: - The Forgotten Voices series about WW1 and WW2 - Nam by Mark Baker

Herman Melville takes us on a 625-page voyage that could have been 90. Maybe the greatest example of overwriting in history, Captain Ahab's monomaniacal quest is a sick example of pushing your story, themes and characters to breaking point and how it sometimes pays off. It's easy to criticise Melville's inaccuracies, scientific blunders and cultural insensitivity but if you can step forth critically, armed with context and good humour, there be gold in them hills. Or should I say spermaceti in them organs.

Sebastian Junger takes us on a 130-page trek across a range of subjects, themes, and stories from history, science, geography, philosophy, autobiography and pretty much every genre under the sun. Is it creative non-fiction, long-form jpurnalism, a sociological and anthropological meta analysis? Who cares when the writing is as cool as this.

Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and Joseph L. Galloway convey the brutality and strength of men trying to kill each other. It's crazy how a battle report from the Vietnam War can hold so many transcendent truths about human nature, heroism, and loss that still resonate today. Read it if you wanna know what happened in the Ia Drang Valley in November 1965 or if you wanna know what Hell on Earth really looks, sounds, smells, and tastes like.

Fyodor Dostoevsky nails his characters and reader to the page with nine inch nails, cranking the tension up to the max and ruthlessly forcing you to face Great Truths no one else has had the balls to go after. Took me three attempts over 10 years so be prepared to work but the payoffs will change your life and writing forever.

Lee Child takes us to a preppers paradise buried in the Montana mountains full of anti-globalist nutjobs in this 1998 thriller. Not only interesting for how on-point it was (think Alex Jones, QAnon, etc) but also in highlighting the difference between good and great art, high and base emotions, and the addictive nature of popular/pulp fiction. I wanted Tolstoy but all I got was Jack bloody Reacher.

George Orwells depressing deep dive into the mind of an Incel poet can teach us plenty about clear writing, creativity, and the difference between art, advertising and propaganda. It also helped me realise that even Orwell is human, someone who worked on ideas and got better over time. Read it only if you've already read 1984, Wigan Pier, Paris and London, Homage to Catalonia, Animal Farm and his essays but before Burmese Days..