This summer didn’t feel much like summer, but I did get the chance to visit two cities: Munich and Krakow. Maybe because I was traveling and making the most of the summer, I didn’t watch many TV shows or finish any books. However, I did manage to watch a few movies, including one at the cinema. Let’s take a look at the books and movies I enjoyed during the third quarter of 2025.
Books
Apple in China
I’ve probably read almost every book about Apple, but Apple in China by Patrick McGee was still pretty interesting. The first 100 pages felt unnecessary because they covered things I already knew. However, after that, I learned a lot about how Apple makes its products and how its supply chain works. The book gives a lot of insight into how Apple gets such low prices from suppliers, how it deals with the Chinese government, and what the factories are like in China. One detail that really stood out was how one million Chinese workers move to the coast to make iPhones for a short time and then return to their towns, not even allowed to stay in the coastal cities. It was eye-opening. If you’re interested in Apple, supply chains, or China, I highly recommend this book.
The Railway Journey
Last quarter, I mentioned a book called The Taste of Paradise by Wolfgang Schivelbusch, and I said I wanted to read more by the same author. Since I love traveling by train, I decided to pick up The Railway Journey to learn more about the history of train travel. It was hard to find, so I ended up buying a second-hand copy from the UK, but it was definitely worth it. The book goes into great detail about the history of trains, how they started, and how they’ve developed over time. I was fascinated to learn that train travel was the first way to travel long distances faster than horse-drawn carriages, and how it changed how people viewed space and time. I was also surprised to find that older trains had cars where you couldn’t walk between them. The book also covers early train accidents and how they changed how people reacted to shocks. If you’re a fan of trains like I am, I highly recommend this book.
Material World
Another interesting book I read last quarter was Material World by Ed Conway. The book looks at the history and uses of six different materials: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. I learned a lot about these materials and some uses I never would have thought of. For example, I didn’t realize how important salt is for clean water, or that there are different types of sand for different purposes. The book also talks about the oil refinery in Wesseling, Germany, which was used to turn coal into oil, and how complicated it is to make a chip. It was interesting to read about countries that have these critical materials or factories that turn them into something useful, especially since these materials are becoming more of a national security issue. It was an easy read for me during my train journey from Krakow.
Movies
The Zone of Interest
I’m really into movies, documentaries, and TV shows about World War II, and The Zone of Interest was one of the most interesting ones I’ve seen. Unlike many other films about the war that show the horrific events directly, this one doesn’t show the violence at all. Instead, it gives small clues and lets you piece together the darker side of the story.
The movie focuses on a Nazi commander’s family living in a house next to a concentration camp. You don’t actually see what’s happening in the camp, but you see the family’s everyday life. Small details like smoke rising at night from the factory, blood on the commander’s boots, and bones found while swimming in the river are scattered throughout. I found this approach even more horrifying than showing the violence directly because it makes you think more about it. The acting, especially by the commander and his wife (played by my favorite German actress, Sandra Hüller), was excellent. I highly recommend this movie.
F1: The Movie
I’m not really into F1 and still don’t understand why so many people love it. But I try to watch as many movies and TV shows from Apple as I can, since they’re usually pretty good.
Even though I liked F1: The Movie, it felt like a typical Hollywood film. The story is about a former driver (Brad Pitt) who is doing his own thing, and his friends try to convince him to drive for their team. He refuses at first, but eventually agrees. He struggles at the start because he’s an outsider who can’t do things the usual way, but in the end, he wins the race. Of course, there’s also the predictable romance where he sleeps with a woman who normally doesn’t get involved with her colleagues. The plot was pretty basic, but I did enjoy the shots taken from inside the F1 cars. If you’re into F1, I think you’ll like this movie.
Idiocracy
I remember starting Idiocracy, but I wasn’t sure if I actually finished it. It’s a movie that shows a dystopian future in a funny way. The society in the movie is so messed up—people use energy drinks to farm, everything is covered in ads, and life has become incredibly dumbed-down. Even though it’s a comedy, based on where society is heading right now, I can actually see some of the things in the movie happening in the future.
The Brutalist
I still remember The Pianist and Adrien Brody’s incredible performance in it. In The Brutalist, he delivers another great performance. He plays a Hungarian Jewish architect who escapes the war in Europe. In the U.S., he stays with a friend and starts doing some work. Eventually, a wealthy person discovers who he really is and hires him for a project. Throughout the movie, you see his struggles as an obsessed architect determined to finish his masterpiece, while also dealing with problems in his marriage. It’s a long movie, but definitely worth watching.
Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write about a Serial Killer
I came across Psycho Therapy because both the writer and director are Turkish. When I saw that it also starred Steve Buscemi and Britt Lower, I had to check it out. They’re both great actors—Buscemi’s performance in Boardwalk Empire is unforgettable, and Lower’s performance in Severance (one of my all-time favorite shows) is amazing. The movie didn’t disappoint. It’s about an unsuccessful author and a retired serial killer. While it’s a comedy, I don’t think everyone would enjoy it, but I did. The movie shows their strange interactions and also the relationship between the author and his wife. I really liked Britt Lower’s cold character throughout the film.
One Battle After Another
I can’t remember the last time I went to the cinema, but I felt it was time to go again for DiCaprio. I’ve probably seen almost every movie he’s been in because he’s really picky about the roles he takes. One Battle After Another is about a revolutionary who takes part in a lot of events and then has to escape with his baby to avoid being caught. Later, he tries to save his daughter. The movie is packed with action and suspense, but it also has some funny moments that I really enjoyed. Besides DiCaprio, I have to say that Sean Penn also did an excellent job in his role.
