Keep On Truckin'

New Look, Same Great Pace

Hi guys.

As I said in my video the other day, I renamed this page because “CrackerStack” wasn’t doing it for me. It was cheeky and juvenile, which does kind of describe me, but doesn’t describe the mission here.

I ran a poll on X and while “Trucker Man Reads” narrowly lost out to “The Literate Trucker,” I went with TMR for a couple of reasons.

First, it’s direct. There’s no ambiguity about the meaning. I’m a trucker. I’m a man. I read.

Second, distinguishing myself as “The Literate Trucker” throws a sideways elbow at my fellow bros and bro-ettes of the high GCWR. I’m hardly the only trucker who reads, or can. We’re not ALL Harjinder Singh*, right guys? Ha ha. Up top. [high five noise]

*Harjinder Singh is an illiterate illegal alien who killed three people after making a U-turn in a semi-truck earlier this year. Bodycam footage later surfaced of a prior encounter with a DOT officer and yeah, dude is functionally unable to understand English. This is in violation of trucker regulations dating back to 1936. Un-clutch your pearls.

Anyways, I’m hoping the name will make it easier for people to check out what I do here. Substack is gaining popularity and I’m up to 57 subscribers, for which I’m grateful, and I want to keep sharing great things that I’ve read. Here’s what I got up to this week:

AUDIOBOOKS

The big one here is that I finished Shelby Foote’s first of three volumes on the Civil War. MASSIVE tome, but probably the most comprehensive and objective title I’ve read on this subject to date.

And I used Speechify to read a review copy of BEHIND THE VEIL by Sherrer/Ringo. I am really high on this series, even with its hiccups and flaws (there are parts of the writing that take me out, but I don’t care because I keep wanting to read). I thought book 3 was the final, but there will be a 4th to wrap it up. Totally fine with that.

PRINT BOOKS

I was afforded the chance to read a review copy of DUST SACRIFICE, the companion graphic novel to AMERICAN PALADIN by Correia. Can’t spoil anything, I shared my thoughts here though.

I’m also reading SMOKE FROM THIS ALTAR by L’Amour, a collection of poems. Honestly I’m underwhelmed. I want to get better at prose, and his poetry hasn’t been all that moving. I’ve marked a few passage though.

And I’ve set a pace for myself to finish SAINTS & STRANGERS by mid-November.

COMIC BOOKS

I had a fun time with the Batman/Deadpool crossover, which has gotten a lot of hype and marketing. NO MAN’S LAND completely lived up to my expectations, and GHOST PEPPER continues to delight me. It’s one of the most unique books I’m following right now.

BOOKS ON DECK

This week I’m reading two more review copies, and Wednesday will be huge for comics—Geiger, Spider-Man & Wolverine, The First Americans, and a couple of G.I. Joe issues. I have a book recommended by my friend Brett that has me intrigued, and then I’m starting ADMIRAL OF THE OCEAN SEA, a biography of Christopher Columbus.

I’m also doing more videos over here, so that YouTube can just be for book reviews. This week you can expect some short pieces covering almanac-style history about the U.S. (Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, for example.) Curious to see if you guys like that.

Anyway, thanks for reading to the end. If you liked what I do here, pass it along. Drive safe, see you out there.