Vulcan Reads

Civilizations collapsed, art was stolen, money men fell, lights went out, lands were cleansed, empires rose… and here I am, just trying to read them all.Go

My next book haul lineup is starting to take shape! Here are the titles I’m planning to grab soon:

- Operation Paperclip by Annie Jacobsen
- The N***s Next Door by Eric Lichtblau
- Lords of the Deccan by Anirudh Kanisetti
- Rebel Island by Jonathan Clements
- China: A History by John Keay
- The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers by Paul Kennedy
- A History of Ancient Egypt: Volume II by John Romer
- The Making of Australia by David Hill

I can’t wait to dive into these.

Loving how this book stack looks next to me. There’s just something satisfying about seeing history lined up like this—from India under British rule, to big-picture human origins, to Egypt and the Middle East. So many stories, perspectives, and lessons packed into these spines.

The story starts off as an adventure—kids stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash—but it quickly becomes so much more. Golding masterfully explores how quickly societal norms can break down, how fear and power struggles can take over, and how fragile civilization really is.

What struck me the most was how each character represents different aspects of human nature: the instinct to lead, the desire for order, the pull of savagery, and the struggle between morality and self-interest. It’s both fascinating and unsettling to see how quickly things unravel when rules and authority disappear.

Even though the book was first published in 1954, its themes feel timeless. It makes you question the nature of humanity, leadership, and how we balance reason with instinct.