Book Review of
The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel

Lynn's Review

The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel by Douglas Brunt. It was published in 2023. It is a WWI and pre-WWI history read. 

I heard an interview with Douglas Brunt when this book was released, and I instantly knew I wanted to read it. 

I thought this book would involve more true crime since the subtitle is Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of WWI. It isn’t really a true crime book though. 

I would describe this book as a biography of the Diesel engine and the man who invented it. 

This book is excellent. It is definitely a book that many people, especially men, would enjoy. This would be a great gift for an engineer or mechanic who loves reading. Or anyone who loves cars and engines and how they work. 

I had no idea that diesel was named after a man. We talk about diesel trucks and diesel engines, but I had no idea that Rudolf Diesel, a famous inventor, is the reason why we have diesel engines today. 

This is the story of Rudolf Diesel and the work that it took to develop the diesel engine. But it is about more than that. It is about politics and what led up to WWI. I

t is also a reminder that a lot has changed, but a lot hasn’t changed. There was corruption, politics, and greed in the early 1900s, and all of those things are still in 2023. 

Since reading this book, I have asked multiple people if they knew why we call diesel diesel, and none of them knew why. So if you like unusual history or know of someone who does, I think they will enjoy this book.