Michael J. Shields
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Michael J. Shields
@bigdealshields.bsky.social
Books 3 & 4: The Last Ronin

Nostalgia abounds.
January 4, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Book 2/50: “The Strength of the Few” by James Islington

Vek, just as good as the first, if not better.
January 3, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Book 1/50: Solo Leveling #14

Good to be back with a great series.
January 1, 2026 at 11:24 PM
41/50: Solo Leveling, Books 9-13

Easily one of the best anime series and manga series I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.
January 1, 2026 at 10:05 PM
35/50: “The Devils” by Joe Ambercrombie

Perfect adventure tale. No notes.
December 9, 2025 at 12:51 AM
34/50

“Here One Moment” by Liane Moriarty

A great exercise in philosophy, fate and how dogs save lives.
December 4, 2025 at 9:24 PM
33/50: “The Fury of the Gods” by John Gwynne

Vikings, magic, and revenge.
November 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
32/50: “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies.”

We are COOKED.

If you’re searching for warm fuzzy feelings, would not recommend.

#selfimprovementhour
October 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Book 31/50: “The Hunger of The Gods” by John Gwynn

Book 2 done. Book 3 on deck. What a story so far.
October 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Book 30/50: “The Coming of The Third Reich” by Richard J. Evans

Historical fiction that reads terrifyingly parallel to current events.

#selfimprovementhour #dothereading
September 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Book 28/50: “Attack From Within” by Barbra McQuade.

This is terrifying.
August 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
26/50: “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding

I’ll be saying “I’ve got the conch” when speaking for the foreseeable future.
August 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
25/50: “Ready Player Two” by Earnest Cline

A worthy successor indeed.
July 30, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Book 24/50: “The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party.”

McConnell may be responsible for bringing down democracy in the United States, but as a political tactician, he has no rival.
July 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
23/50: “Recovery from Gaslighting and Narcissistic Abuse” by Don Barlow.
July 23, 2025 at 11:09 PM
23/50: “Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members” by Dr. Sherrie Campbell

Oof.
July 20, 2025 at 10:47 PM
22/50: “It’s Not You” by Ramani Durvasula, PhD

Fascinating look into family dynamics.
July 14, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Michael J. Shields
June 30, 2025 at 9:46 PM
21/50: “Norse Mythology” by Niels Gaiman.

Really wanted to read “American Gods” again after this.
June 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
TRUMP IS PUSHING FORWARD TO OVERRIDE AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, STARTING WITH BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, AND PROBABLY HEADING TOWARD TERM LIMITS AND THEN FREE SPEECH. CONGRESS AND THE SUPREME COURT HAVE ABDICATED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN STOPPING HIM.

THE SKY IS FALLING.
a cartoon dog is sitting at a table with a cup of coffee surrounded by fire .
ALT: a cartoon dog is sitting at a table with a cup of coffee surrounded by fire .
media.tenor.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Book 20/50: “Wind and Truth” by Brandon Sanderson

“Honor is dead. But I’ll see what I can do.”

Can’t wait for the next Sanderson book to take up two months of my life.
June 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Book 19/50: “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

“He fucked us.”
June 5, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Book 18/50: “Barbarian Days” by William Finnegan

I loved following Finnegan’s adventures around the world despite knowing absolutely nothing about surfing.
May 29, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Book 17/50: “Generation of Swine” by Hunter S. Thompson

“Not me. I’m going to the race track tomorrow,” he said. “There are more important things than who’s going to be the next president of the United States.”

I didn’t know journalists partied this hard.
‎Generation of Swine
‎Fiction & Literature · 2011
books.apple.com
May 10, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Book 16/50: “Men Who Hate Women” by Laura Bates

A book about the psychology of misogyny.
May 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM