It is amazing how quality of writing can make such a huge difference to a book. I am currently reading a book called Epic Measures, that should, ostensibly, be the MOST boring book. It follows a nerdy, abrasive workaholic genius as he does statistical analysis on everyone in the globe to improve health care. There is a lot of writing about graphs.
It is utterly compelling.
Good on you Jeremy Smith.
Then there is Andrea Wulf, who writes what should be the most utterly (to me) interesting books! Titles like The Invention of Nature, writing about Humbolt, Chasing Venus, astronomers travelling throughout the globe facing all manner of adventure and adversity to watch the transit of Venus, The Founding Gardners, looking at the Founding generation of the US impacted on the gardens and landscapes of the US. All three of those I have tried, and given up. I want to read the books, I think they would be fascinating, but MAN they are bone dry. I have tried, and tried again, but I abandoned all three.
She has more amazing titles, that I would love to know about, but I think I won't bother, cause she. does. not. write. well.
I am staying up too late at night to read Epic Measures though.
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