Books
George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring that Saved the American Revolution (Brian Kilmeade)
Espionage is always interesting and I had no idea that it played an important role in the Revolution.
Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America's Destiny ( (Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger)
An interesting book about Jackson as a military strategist. He outwitted a superior British force at a crucial moment in the war of 1812.
The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story (Douglas Preston)
The story of a centuries-long search for a lost city in the rainforest of Honduras and the mystery of the disappearance of the original inhabitants.
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics (Daniel James Brown)
This is the story of a rowing crew from the University of Washington during the Great Depression. It's a great historical snapshot, the real-life characters are interesting, and the descriptions of their training and races pulled me in.
The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom (Sławomir Rawicz)
This is the story of a group of prisoners in a Siberian internment camp in Russia during WW2. They escape and walk south through the Gobe desert, the Himalayas, and finally to the British colony in India. It is an amazing story of ingenuity, survival, and persistance.
Oathbreaker, Book 3 in the Stormlight Archive (Brandon Sanderson)
For me, Sanderson has brought new life to the fantasy genre which I had felt was getting tired. The world and magic he creates are fresh and new. The characters have moments of tragedy and triumph that make them very compelling. My favorite author right now.
Music
I saw the Punch Brothers with my daughter at the Bing in Spokane last summer. It was flat out the best concert I've ever experienced. Every song was amazing. The acoustics were amazing. I liked the band before, but this converted me to a fan. This isn't the same show, but the setlist is similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWCH_h8SEuo&t=5469s. If you only have time to check out one song, try My Oh My.
