‘Thrust onto Egypt’s most powerful throne at the age of nine, King Tut’s reign was fiercely debated from the outset. Behind the palace’s veil of prosperity, bitter rivalries and jealousy flourished among the Boy King’s most trusted advisors, and after only nine years, King Tut suddenly perished, his name purged from Egyptian history. To this day, his death remains shrouded in controversy.’
The Murder Of King Tut is a book you simply won’t put down. James Patterson intermeshes the story of the discoveries that led to the theories of betrayal and deception behind the death of the infamous boy king. Read this on an long bus journey.
Doc’s rating 7.5/10.
Also by James Patterson: Bullseye, Cross The Line, Treasure Hunters.
The Scare The Pants Off You Tragedy Read
‘A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that “suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down.” He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more — including Krakauer’s — in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer’s epic account of the May 1996 disaster.’
There have been many disasters on Mt Everest, but until 2014 the happenings entailed in Into Thin Airwas the greatest of them all. And this was not a natural event. This was a man made disaster built on bad decisions and human error. Read about the heroes and fools of the 1996 Everest tragedy while trekking through Nepal.
Doc’s rating 7.5/10.
Also by Jon Krakauer: Into The Wild, Eiger Dreams, Missoula.
The Great Escape, Escape Again, Escape Some More Read
‘Henri Charrière, called “Papillon,” for the butterfly tattoo on his chest, was convicted in Paris in 1931 of a murder he did not commit. Sentenced to life imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana, he became obsessed with one goal: escape. After planning and executing a series of treacherous yet failed attempts over many years, he was eventually sent to the notorious prison, Devil’s Island, a place from which no one had ever escaped . . . until Papillon.’
Henri Charriere or Papillon received bucket loads of criticism upon the release of Papillon due to the fact that he shot to fame as an instant celebrity while a lot of people questioned his story. I will say this. If 20% of what this man wrote in his book was fact then this man is a champion. His life unfairly taken from him he was a man who said ‘no’, I will not stand for this. I will live my life or I will die trying. A fantastic read that everybody should flick through at least once in their lives. Read this when you are feeling sorry for yourself and then realise it’s not all bad.
Doc’s rating 9/10.
Also by Henri Charriere: Banco.
The Take Me To South America Now Read
‘Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia’s notorious San Pedro prison. Intrigued, the twenty-something Australian law graduate travelled to La Paz and joined one of Thomas’s illegal tours. What followed took both men by surprise…..’
This is an outrageous true story about a journalist who lives inside of San Pedro prison with an inmate who was convicted of drug trafficking. Rusty the journalist soon learns that this is not only a prison but a school, a community, a family centre and Bolivia’s largest cocaine processing plant. Marching Powder is one story that you think belongs in the fiction section. Read this in a hammock on a beach in Thailand.
Doc’s rating 8.5/10.
The I Wanna Be An Irish Mobster Read
5. The Westies: Inside New York’s Irish Mob
‘Even among the Mob, the Westies were feared. Starting with a partnership between two sadistic thugs, Jimmy Coonan and Mickey Featherstone, the gang rose out of the inferno of Hell’s Kitchen, a decaying tenderloin slice of New York City’s West Side. They became the most notorious gang in the history of organized crime, excelling in extortion, numbers running, loan sharking, and drug peddling.’
The Westies is a great mobster book set in New York City during the rise of the Irish mob. If you like reading about drugs, crime and history then this one is for you. One of the better true crime accounts you will find. Watch The Departed then go buy this book.
Doc’s rating 8/10.
Also by T.J. English: Havana Nocturne, Paddy Whacked, Where The Bodies Were Buried.
The Entrepreneurial Life Changer Read
‘Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan–there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, The 4-Hour Workweek is the blueprint.’
While not applicable to everyone out there The 4hr Workweek is an absolutely outstanding read. Take from it what you will be read this book. Even if 95% of the books details don’t apply to you business or home life the 5% that does will be golden nuggets of information. It will also hopefully sway some thinking for most of what is important in your life and how to live it. And if that fails, you might be beyond help anyway. Read this at home if you are stuck in the grind and need some new fresh ideas in your life.
Doc’s rating 8.5/10.
Also by Tim Ferriss: The 4hr Body, The 4hr Chef.
The I Can’t Believe He Actually Did That Read
‘In April 2008, Ed Stafford set off to become the first man ever to walk the entire length of the Amazon. He started on the Pacific coast of Peru, crossed the Andes Mountain range to find the official source of the river. His journey lead on through parts of Colombia and right across Brazil; all while outwitting dangerous animals, machete wielding indigenous people as well as negotiating injuries, weather and his own fears and doubts.’
Walking The Amazon is a story of a man who was truly mad. Just to push the limits of human exploration Brit Ed Stafford decided that he would walk from the point of glacial melt that leads into the early tributaries of the Amazon Rainforest all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. You can only imagine the perils along the way. Great read. Read this while in or prepping for South America.
Doc’s rating 7.5/10.
Also by Ed Stafford: Naked And Marooned.
The Serial Killer You End Up Loving Read
‘Top Mob Hitman. Devoted Family Man. Doting Father. For thirty years, Richard “The Ice Man” Kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious professional assassin in American history while happily hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey.’
With a prologue that will haunt you for the rest of your days The Ice Man is a tale that will grip you like no other. The story of career hit man with over 200 kills to his name who lead a double life as a loving family man and successful businessman. Richard Kuklinski really was a loveable monster. Read this while on a visit to the 5 boroughs of New York City.
Doc’s rating 9.5/10.
Also by Philpin Carlo: The Butcher, Gas Pipe, The Night Stalker.
The 12 Month Around The World Trip Epic Read
‘George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series has become, in many ways, the gold standard for modern epic fantasy. Martin — dubbed the “American Tolkien” by Time magazine — has created a world that is as rich and vital as any piece of historical fiction, set in an age of knights and chivalry and filled with a plethora of fascinating, multidimensional characters that you love, hate to love, or love to hate as they struggle for control of a divided kingdom.’
Well, well, well. How much free time do you have? This is a book not to be messed with. Sure you guys have all seen the show. And I am sure a lot of you love it but the book is not the show. The show is great but the book is better. Much, much better! Told through the minds and perspectives of different characters each chapter GRRM takes you for a wild ride through the epic power struggles of Westeros and beyond. The battle for the Iron Throne is rife with dragons, swordplay and debauchery but buyer beware, you are in for 5 books (so far) of 900 pages or so each. Read this book while spending a gap year travelling on a round the world ticket.
Doc’s rating 9.5/10.
Individual books: A Games Of Thrones, A Clash Of Kings, A Storm Of Swords, A Feast For Crows, A Dance With Dragons.
Also by G.R.R Martin: The World Of Ice & Fire, A Knight Of The Seven Kindoms, The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword.
“It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured.”
To put it quite simply, Shantaram could be close to the greatest tale ever written. From the jails of Aus, to the slums on Bombay, to the hills of Afghanistan, this tale of love, friendship and adventure is one you will not want to finish. Only once has a book ever brought me to tears. This was that book. Read this over a 6 month period at home breaking in between all 5 parts.
Doc’s rating 10/10.
Also by Gregory David Roberts: The Mountain Shadow.
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Enjoy guys. Doc.
