literature

Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.

Book Review: Relentless by Tim Grover – The Path to Unstoppable Success
Relentless by Tim Grover: CHAMPIONS ARE BUILT IN SILENCE Introduction In a world where competition is fierce and mediocrity is often accepted, Relentless by Tim Grover stands out as a powerful manifesto for those who refuse to settle for anything less than greatness. Grover, the legendary trainer of elite athletes like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, doesn’t just offer motivational fluff—he delivers a no-nonsense, brutally honest guide to achieving dominance in any field.
By Am@n Khan about a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "How It Is" by Samuel Beckett
You might be wondering about why I'm reading Samuel Beckett and I'm going to be really honest with you here: it was cheap. Shopping for used books makes me feel good because books which have a label of costing £10 or so, suddenly go down to £1 to £3 each. Not only do you feel like you're getting a bargain, but if you've got £10 to spend on books, you can now get several as opposed to one and you get to support some great second-hand bookshops. However, you also need to be careful with second hand bookshops. There has been times where I have ordered a Saul Bellow book and received and entirely different Saul Bellow book - so there's a weird issue. I have no idea how common that is.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Hermit" by Chris McQueer
It's April 2025 and I have to be honest with you, my back hurts from carrying shopping right now. I'm getting a bit on edge because my Hello Kitty pen is running out of ink and it's my favourite pen so that's upsetting. As you can probably see, there is nothing of worth going on in my life right now and yet, we are back with another review. Hermit tells the story of a young man caught in the web of the incel community after meeting someone online. Dragged into the depths, we see what happens when you don't open your mouth against someone who is trying to influence your actions and opinions. Chris McQueer writes an interesting analysis of what is actually going on in these strange segments of the dark online world.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
The Strangest Discoveries That Made Their Finders Rich
Throughout history, accidental and intentional discoveries have turned ordinary people into millionaires—or even billionaires—overnight. From hidden treasures buried for centuries to bizarre artifacts that rewrite history, some finds have not only amazed the world but also made their discoverers incredibly wealthy. In this article, we’ll explore some of the strangest, most valuable, and most unexpected discoveries that transformed their finders into rich and famous figures. Each story is packed with mystery, luck, and sometimes sheer persistence. We’ll dive deep into the circumstances of each discovery, the historical significance, the financial windfall, and the lasting impact. Some treasures were found by sheer accident, while others were the result of years of dedicated searching. 1. The Saddle Ridge Hoard – A Couple’s $10 Million Gold Coin Discovery The Discovery In February 2013, a couple (who chose to remain anonymous) were walking their dog on their rural Northern California property when they noticed a rusted metal can protruding from the ground. Curious, they dug it up—only to find it filled with shining gold coins from the 19th century. Excited, they grabbed a small shovel and kept digging. Over the next few hours, they unearthed seven more cans, all filled with gold coins. In total, they found 1,427 coins dating from 1847 to 1894, most in near-mint condition. The Contents of the Treasure The coins included: $5, $10, and $20 gold pieces Rare 1866-S No Motto Double Eagles (worth over $1 million each) Liberty Head and Indian Head designs Experts believe the coins were deliberately buried in the late 1800s, possibly by a wealthy businessman hiding his fortune. The Value & How They Cashed In The total estimated value was $10 million. Instead of selling all the coins at once (which could flood the market and lower prices), the couple worked with coin experts and auction houses to sell them in batches. The rarest coins went for over $1 million each in private auctions. Some were donated to museums, earning them tax benefits. They kept a few as family heirlooms. Why This Discovery Was So Important It was the largest buried treasure ever found in the U.S. The coins were in pristine condition, making them even more valuable. The mystery of who buried them and why remains unsolved. 2. The Hoxne Hoard – A Lost Hammer Leads to Roman Gold The Discovery In November 1992, English farmer Peter Whatling lost his hammer in a field in Suffolk. Frustrated, he asked his friend Eric Lawes, a retired gardener with a metal detector, to help find it. As Lawes swept the field, his detector went wild. Instead of a hammer, he uncovered silver spoons, gold jewelry, and ancient coins. Realizing the significance, he stopped digging and called archaeologists. What they found was astonishing: a wooden chest filled with Roman treasure from the 4th and 5th centuries. The Contents of the Hoard 14,865 Roman coins (gold, silver, and bronze) Gold body chains and bracelets Silver spoons and ladles with Christian inscriptions A rare gold aureus of Emperor Gratian The Value & Reward The British Museum declared it the largest Roman treasure ever found in Britain and acquired it for £1.75 million (about $3.5 million today). Eric Lawes received £1.75 million (split with the landowner). Peter Whatling got his hammer back—plus a £5,000 reward for reporting the find. The Historical Significance The hoard revealed: Roman Britain’s wealth before the empire collapsed. Early Christian influence (some spoons were inscribed with Christian symbols). How Romans stored and buried their riches. 3. The Antikythera Mechanism – The World’s First Computer The Discovery In 1901, sponge divers off the coast of Antikythera, Greece, discovered a 2,000-year-old shipwreck. Among statues and pottery, they found a bizarre bronze device with gears. At first, archaeologists thought it was an astrolabe. But decades later, X-rays revealed it was an ancient mechanical computer used to predict eclipses, planetary movements, and Olympic games. How It Worked The device had: 30+ interlocking bronze gears Dials tracking the sun, moon, and planets An eclipse prediction calendar Why It’s Priceless Older than any known clockwork by 1,000 years. Proves ancient Greeks had advanced engineering. Only one of its kind ever found. The Financial Impact While the mechanism wasn’t sold, the divers and archaeologists gained: Global fame and research funding. A deeper understanding of ancient technology. 4. The Staffordshire Hoard – A Metal Detector’s Anglo-Saxon Gold The Discovery In 2009, amateur treasure hunter Terry Herbert was scanning a field in Staffordshire, England, when his metal detector erupted with signals. Over five days, he unearthed: 3,500+ pieces of gold and silver Sword hilts, helmet fragments, and crosses Intricate warrior decorations from the 7th century The Value & Reward The hoard was declared treasure trove and valued at £3.3 million ($4.5 million). Herbert and the landowner split the reward. Museums across the UK now display the artifacts. Why It Rewrote History Largest Anglo-Saxon gold hoard ever found. Showed the wealth of ancient warrior kings. Changed how historians view the "Dark Ages." 5. The Black Swan Project – $500 Million in Sunken Treasure The Discovery In 2007, Odyssey Marine Exploration discovered a sunken Spanish galleon off Portugal. Codenamed "The Black Swan," it held: 500,000 silver coins Gold bars and jewelry Precious gems The Legal Battle Spain claimed the treasure, leading to a 5-year court fight. Odyssey eventually had to return most of it—but kept some artifacts and data rights. The Financial Fallout Odyssey still profited from the recovered items. Proved deep-sea treasure hunting could be lucrative. 6. The Cuerdale Hoard – Viking Silver in a Riverbank The Discovery In 1840, workers repairing the River Ribble’s bank in England found a lead chest containing: 8,600+ Viking silver items Coins from as far as Baghdad Hacksilver (cut-up jewelry used as currency) The Reward The workers were compensated, but the British Crown took most of it. Why It Matters Largest Viking silver hoard ever found in the UK. Showed the extent of Viking trade networks. 7. The San José Galleon – The $17 Billion Shipwreck The Discovery In 2015, Colombia located the San José, a Spanish galleon sunk in 1708. It’s believed to hold: 200 tons of gold, silver, and emeralds Priceless historical artifacts The Ownership Battle Colombia, Spain, and salvage companies are still fighting over rights. Potential Impact Whoever wins could become billionaires. Could rewrite colonial history. Conclusion: The Thrill of the Hunt These discoveries prove that treasure is still out there—whether buried in a field, lost at sea, or hidden in plain sight. Some finds were pure luck, while others took years of research. Could you be the next to strike it rich? Keep exploring—you never know what’s waiting beneath your feet!
By amgadabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Hanging of Hettie Gale" by Tess Burnett
I found out about this book via Twitter and honestly, I was interested in it straight away. They do tell you to never judge a book by its cover and I was trying hard not to, but the title really got to me. I initially thought it was a spoiler but as I investigated the book further, I found it was just the begininng of a winding and twisting story that was comprised of multiple storylines in different times. It is formed of letters, diaries, confessions and so much more. Really, this is something that drew me in. It was a great reading experience and I also devoured it in one sitting.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
King Solomon's Riches
King Solomon’s riches have long been the subject of legend, mystery, and speculation. According to ancient texts, Solomon, the biblical king of Israel, possessed unimaginable wealth, including gold, jewels, and rare treasures. But where did this fortune come from, and more intriguingly, where did it go? Some believe Solomon’s vast riches were tied to the legendary mines of Ophir, a fabled location that many historians and treasure hunters have tried to identify over the centuries. Others suggest that the treasure was hidden away, lost to time, or perhaps intentionally concealed to protect its power. As the myth persists, the truth behind Solomon’s wealth remains a tantalising puzzle, prompting questions about the secrets buried in history and the search for a treasure that could change everything.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Okay Then, That's Great" by Susannah Wise
Again, this is a book I borrowed from the library. No it wasn't in my reservations, I simply found it and became intrigued at the chaos of the cover. I was reluctant to find another dark-comedy-horror to start because of the fact it would very quickly become dull for me and it's a genre I enjoy too much to allow it to do that. Instead, after reading the back of this book, I decided that a lighter approach was probably the best way to go. This book is titled Okay Then, That's Great and follows a protagonist who is clearly having some deep personal problems. By the time it was over, I really felt like I knew Marnie very well...
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "The Sacrifice" by Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is known for her morally ambiguous literature. When I first read The Book of American Martyrs in the last year or so, I was astounded - it was simply fantastic. Since then, I've been trying to get more into her works that aren't just her horror writings. I've read books like Carthage and My Life as a Rat as well, all three of these books involve women and girls at the centre of emotional and moral turmoil. Questions are asked inside their heads of what the right thing to do is and Joyce Carol Oates shows us that though the truth is there - the answer to all these questions is not so simple. Sometimes, the truth can change your life and not always for the better. Anyways, if you ever get the chance to read The Book of American Martyrs then please, go ahead. It is wonderful. On to the review...
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Mr Norris Changes Trains by Christopher Isherwood
Mr Norris Changes Trains, written by Christopher Isherwood, was published in 1935 by The Hogarth Press, marking a significant point in Isherwood’s career and the development of British literature. This novel, based on his experiences in Weimar Berlin during the early 1930s, was the first of two books Isherwood wrote about Berlin’s turbulent political and social scene. Together with his later work, Goodbye to Berlin, it forms The Berlin Stories, a series that documents the decadence, desperation, and danger present in pre-World War II Germany.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Monumenta" by Lara Haworth
I'm still using the library in Nottingham and as of now it is March 2025 (as of writing). This means that my mental health is a bit here and there. I don't want to sound sorry for myself but I do find I have started to enjoy the library here more than usual. Since I've been visiting: I have been to some exhibitions, spent time reading in the coffee shop there and even looked into reserving books using the online catalogue which helped me find things I like a bit faster. So I guess, when life isn't going your way there is always something to enjoy - even if it's only a little thing like a trip to the library. Let's have a look at one of the books I reserved called "Monumenta" by Lara Haworth.
By Annie Kapurabout a year ago in Geeks
The Montauk Project: The Mind-Bending Conspiracy That Inspired Stranger Things
If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, you probably know that the show started as a script called Montauk. That’s no coincidence. According to conspiracy theorists, the creepy experiments, missing children, psychic warfare, and secret labs featured in the Netflix mega-hit are based on real events tied to a hidden government program known as The Montauk Project.
By Rukka Novaabout a year ago in Geeks
Travis Taylor vs. Luis Elizondo vs. Bob Lazar: Who’s Telling the Truth About UFOs?
In the rapidly evolving world of UFO/UAP disclosure, three names dominate the conversation: Dr. Travis Taylor, Luis Elizondo, and Bob Lazar. Each has stepped forward—some under bright studio lights, others in shadowy interviews—to say one thing:
By Rukka Novaabout a year ago in Geeks