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As I approach my 40th birthday, the book that resonated with me explores aging, reflection, and the world around us. It also encourages practical action, as demonstrated by Michael Pollan, who built his own small cabin to create space for reflection, writing, or even an afternoon nap. The idea of a small, orderly space resembling the archetype of a hut or shelter deep in the woods appealed to me. Alongside the physical building process, Pollan explores and analyzes the layers of meaning that have accumulated over millennia, shaping our current understanding of home and architecture in general.

As changes with the second Trump presidency are coming, I wanted to read a book about a place that no longer exists (Tangier International Zone), as it feels like the same might happen with the American empire. It was a place where people grifted each other, played shadowy games, and trusted nobody because they knew that those around them were just like them — frauds. So, it’s no surprise that the protagonist went mad while committing acts of grifting, as he was constantly running schemes in his head about how others might grift him.

The ironic part is that the protagonist mistook his madness for clear and rational thinking. I think there are parallels with present-day Americans because those grifters who have just gained power are also in the same mindset.

I really enjoyed this book. That roller-coaster ending was nice.