Three Ingredient Cocktails

By Robert Simonson

I enjoy Simonson's writing. In this book he brings in a bit of each cocktails history or backstory in along with the recipe.

Some drinks are a just specialty drinks created for clubs that have long since gone away. He records them in the book because he likes them, and hopes they will come back.

Others have more of a story. Why is the martini so iconic yet the Rob Roy an after thought?

Simonson is by no means a purist. If you like your martini with a lemon twist instead of an olive, then have it that way.

But not vodka. Vodka martini's are technically called Kangaroos.

There is not a lot of room for vodka in Three Ingredient Cocktails. It doesn't bring any flavor to the party.

I bought Campari after seeing it pop up in many of the recipes of this book. I was hoping to broaden my cocktail experience. To add some sophistication to my pallet. I now know that I don't like Campari. Too bitter.

The Old Man and the Sea

By Hemmingway

 

I'm trying to get over my apathy towards great literature. The Old Man and the Sea is a good way to dip my toe into that ocean as it's really a novella.

 

It is a very clear and well written novel. I'm not sure what made it so great though. I must keep pushing myself to learn what great literature is.

 

Foucault’s Pendulum

A conspiricy theory thriller. A group of coworkers make up an interesting and well researched conspiracy theory. When word of this theory gets around, some unstable elements embrace it (Think Pizza Gate) and the theory gains a dangerous life.

Part of this is depressing and timely in that even back in the 80's, the author anticpated the crazy way that conspircay theories propagate.

At times the book was tedious, in that the author went to great pains to flesh out the real histrory backing up the fake theory.

An interesting slice of the book covers why some people believe in these theories. The book doesn't really have ideas on how to talk these people back from the ledge. At most it suggests "Don't engage."