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PaperclipPerfector  22hr ago (text post)   893 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for February 22, 2026

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I have some interest in participating in Scott's Book Review contest, but I'm having a very hard time figuring out what to review.

I have a few things already up my sleeve:

  • A detailed review of the Golden Oecumene series by John C.Wright, comparing and contrasting it with the Culture novels by Ian Banks. This is roughly complete, but needs a bit of polish before I'm ready to hit submit. In the domain of fiction, I feel like it's my best shot. I have thoughts.

  • A psychiatrist's take on Wuthering Heights, focusing on the obvious mental illness in most of the dramatis personae. Unfortunately, this would require me to re-read the damn novel, and that brings up PTSD flashbacks from a BPD ex who tried to force feed me Victorian period dramas.

  • Blindsight? Unfortunately it's very well known in SSC/Rat circles, and I'm not sure there's much to add beyond a discussion of some minor advances in cognitive neuroscience (and massive advances in LLMs).

  • An even more in-depth review of Reverend Insanity? Tempting, but niche.

  • This Is Going To Hurt, the memoirs of an ex-gynecology resident in the UK. An incredibly funny, poignant, and moderately depressing look into how the NHS functions. Written over 10 years ago, so you can only imagine how much worse things are today. Well, if I do write it, you'll no longer have to try very hard imagining.

  • The Denial of Death. Prime candidate for a transhumanist takedown, leaving aside that like many grand theories of the human psyche, it proves too much. Unfortunately, I've yet to read it, and I don't know if the views it espouses are still fashionable enough to be worth skewering.

I was 70% through my planned submission for the Anything But A Book Review contest last year, namely a comparative analysis of the NHS and the healthcare system in India informed by both data and my personal experience, but that was unfortunately derailed by a combination of depression and work/exam pressure. Oh well, perhaps I can salvage it for next year.

I'd appreciate suggestions! My main blocker is that I rarely read non-fiction or "Big Picture" books these days. Those are typically winners, from my analysis of past results, and I haven't read anything in the past few years that even remotely inspired me to engage in that level of analysis. Controversial take: I find that the most interesting material dealing with the real world is found in blogs or online essays, not in books. Sue me.

Edit: To be clear, I'd appreciate both suggestions on options I've already curated, as well as books you think might be a good fit (in terms of me having something useful to say, plus being suitable for the actual contest).

Wuthering Heights and This is Going to Hurt sound like winners to me.

Thanks! Out of curiosity, do you plan on throwing your hat in the ring?

I was considering submitting my review of Rejection, but I decided it's probably not the sort of thing that would appeal to SSC readers, so I just went ahead and published it. If I think of something else I might give it a go, but at the moment I have no plan for a specific book to review. My not-a-book review got a fairly positive reception in spite of not making the finalists, which I was pleased with.

Incidentally if you'd like me to read over your draft and offer feedback, I'd be more than happy to.

I was considering submitting my review of Rejection

The collection of short stories? I agree that it would have been unlikely to win, but that's on the basis of general ACX-audience inclination, and not because of your chops as a writer (very real) or the quality of the book (I have no clue).

Incidentally if you'd like me to read over your draft and offer feedback, I'd be more than happy to.

Thank you again! This reminds me that I really need to apologize for asking you to send me your draft and never getting around to giving suggestions :(

If it's any consolation, I have consistently felt bad/embarrassed about it ever since. I try and keep my promises in general.

I can take an actual look this time, assuming you still want a second set of eyes on it.

the quality of the book (I have no clue).

I think you would really enjoy it.

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