... the conversation turned to books,

Talking with another content creator recently, the conversation turned to books, and I realized something: even though I have dyslexia, I absolutely love to read. Sure, it takes me more time, and sometimes the words fight back—but honestly, that just makes the victories sweeter. The worlds I’ve visited, the ideas I’ve wrestled with, and the perspectives I’ve picked up along the way have all been worth the grind.

Naturally, that got me thinking—what are my ten must-read books? Of course I wanted to cheat (who wouldn’t?) by listing whole series instead of single titles, but I forced myself to play fair and stick to ten. Here they are, in no particular order:

On a Pale Horse – Piers Anthony
A man accidentally becomes Death. Dark humor, moral dilemmas, and cosmic paperwork—what’s not to love?
Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
Child genius turned intergalactic commander. Strategy, manipulation, and the question: do the ends justify the means?
The Gift of Dyslexia – Ronald D. Davis
This one’s personal. It reframed how I see my own mind—not as broken, just wired differently.
Siddhartha – Hermann Hesse
A journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Slow burn, but it sticks to the soul.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Philosophy disguised as comedy. Also, never forget your towel.
Blue World – Robert R. McCammon
Obscure, haunting, and weird. A survival tale with teeth.
How to Cheat at Everything – David H. Freedman
It’s half life-hacks, half mischief manual. Teaches you to spot the angles everyone else misses.
Red Dragon – Thomas Harris
The birth of Hannibal Lecter on the page. Chilling, tense, and brilliantly unsettling.
The Anarchist Cookbook – William Powell
Not a novel—more like a time capsule of rebellion. Controversial, yes, but undeniably thought-provoking.
Dune – Frank Herbert
The ultimate sci-fi epic. Politics, prophecy, power plays—and sand. Lots of sand.

This isn’t a “greatest books of all time” declaration. It’s just my ten—the ones that shaped me, challenged me, or refused to leave my head. They’re messy, eclectic, and maybe even contradictory… which feels about right. If I could sneak in full series, I absolutely would. But for now, these ten are my bookshelf snapshot.

—Tibalt’s Apprentice

Comments

Lab Report 059: I Hate Alchemy (and Why Nice Guys Finish Last on Arena)

I Hate Alchemy (and Why Nice Guys Finish Last on Arena) “A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.” Let me get this out of the way up front: I hate Alchemy. Hate it. Despise it. The digital-only nonsense, the endless “rebalancing,” the half-baked mechanics that would collapse under their own weight if they ever had to exist in cardboard form—Alchemy feels like Magic’s integrity got fed into a paper shredder just so someone in accounting could hit their quarterly bonus. Sure, the official line is that it keeps the game “fresh” and “exciting.” But let’s not kid ourselves. This isn’t about fresh gameplay—it’s about milking the cow until it keels over. And here’s the real kicker: nobody cares. Nobody at Wizards cares that Alchemy cheapens the game. Nobody on the Arena ladder cares if you’re stubbornly refusing to play the busted cards. Nobody gives you a shiny badge of honor for “staying true to real Magic.” If anythin...

Eminence is NOT Broken!

Eminence is NOT Broken! So I got to see a clear contrast between a 2017 Commander deck and a 2026 Commander deck… and it’s not even close. The Setup A little context: I played a straight-up 2017 precon against three copies of a newer Commander deck (the Ninja Turtles one). They told me the decks were still around “bracket two”—light upgrades at most—and honestly, nothing I saw contradicted that. What I did see was this: I was casting 1–2 spells per turn They were casting 2–3 spells per turn Almost every spell came with extra triggers Their boards naturally created synergy webs And here’s the important part: I still had fun. This isn’t a complaint post—it’s an observation post. Because what I experienced wasn’t just power creep… it was design evolution . What Changed? (This is where WotC philosophy comes in) Back around 2016–2017 (think Magic: The Gathering Commander 2017 decks ), precons were built very differently. 1. “Battlecruiser Magic” Was the Goal Wizar...

The New Era of Commander Deck Building: Efficiency vs. the Joy of Jank

The New Era of Commander Deck Building: Efficiency vs. the Joy of Jank Commander has exploded in popularity, and with it comes a wave of advice on how to build “better” decks. Recent guides talk about the “new era” of Commander — focusing on templates like the 1-2-3 Utility Conundrum, keeping ramp/draw/removal at 3 mana or less, and “percentile pushing” to hit ideal numbers of interaction while staying on-theme. These ideas make a lot of sense on paper. They help decks run smoother, reduce awkward turns, and let players execute their plans more reliably. But I have to push back a little. I miss the old spirit of Commander — the one where the format was about making cards that were meant to be bad work in ridiculous, wonderful ways. The Shift Toward Efficiency and Synergy Modern deck-building advice pushes hard for efficiency and synergy . Find low-curve utility that lets you ramp fast, draw cards, and answer threats without missing a beat. Look for “sign post cards” that rei...

Lab Notes!

Search This Blog