Upgrade by Blake Crouch Book Review & Reaction | The Next Michael Crichton Is Here!

Mike discusses the newest release by Blake Crouch with Upgrade.
You can purchase Upgrade here: amzn.to/3y7qJRc (physical) amzn.to/3u9VTGI (digital) amzn.to/3yvlWdN (audio)
Microphone used in these videos: amzn.to/3IpFSAX
Camera used in these videos: amzn.to/3IqqdBv
Want to send Mike something? You can do so to the below address:
Mike K.
15201 Mason Rd
Suite 169
Cypress, TX 77433
Support Mike on Patreon: / mikesbookreviews
Join Mike's server on Discord / discord
Visit Mike's Amazon Wishlist: amzn.to/2zpHooW
Follow Mike on Goodreads: / mikesbookreviews
Like Mike's Book Reviews on Facebook / mikesbookreviews
Follow Mike on Instagram / zepp1978
0:00 Introduction & Background Info
1:28 What Is It About?
2:20 What Makes It Good or Bad?
11:32 Why You Should Read It
12:44 Final Thoughts
------------------------------------------------------
Theme music provided by Infraction
/ @infraction
Music used: Epic (No Copyright Music)
infractionroyaltyfreemusic.ba...
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0(CC BY 3.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
------------------------------------------------------
#MikesBookReviews #BlakeCrouch #Upgrade

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I haven't read anything by Blake Crouch yet, but I'm here to support the endangered species of BookTube, the dedicated review, with a comment and a like! Also, I look forward to the interview with the author. Cheers, Mike!

[@alexthiebaut2195]

I know you’re a booktuber, can we talk about reviews for a second. Since when did reviews became a synopsis? I’m not talking about Mike here, but lots of reviews on booktube are simply a summary of the plot with no analysis whatsoever. And now it’s not only booktube but even Locus Mag hardly bothers reviewing books anymore, most of the reviews on the mag are book summaries.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@alexthiebaut2195 I agree with you about the difference between a plot summary and an analysis of a story - very different things! The latter requires a little understanding of how to go about it, which anyone can acquire with practice.

[@ErikGuin]

The man... the myth... the legend! Sir Phillip Chase in tha house!!! Nice to see you guys supporting each other!

[@whutzat]

Dark Matter was one of the best reading experiences of my life. I haven't read Recursion yet...looks like i'd better get hoppin'!

[@katieamarsh]

It felt like an exciting great summer thriller movie. I could not put it down.

[@exio6241]

Recursion is the best blake crouch book for me, reading it blind is the best way to read it

[@VinyZikss]

Recursion is really good, but Dark Matter was still superior, that book was almost perfect for me

[@Subtle-System]

Recursion is superior imo... his best

[@whutzat]

@@Subtle-System I NEED to get on that! Thanks.

[@kelbyholbrook35]

Loved Wayward Pines and Recursion. Currently reading Dark Matter. Pre-ordered this book last week and was pumped to see this video! Thanks for all of your hard work, I love your content!

[@tyronefrielinghaus3467]

Kelly: thanks for the suggestions...just started 'Upgrade''...1st BC book...and really enjoying it so far..damn mustn't stay up too late reading it! Upgrade is great! p150 so far...direct from opening for first time😊

[@BookMaven9]

Wayward Pines was amazing!

[@aliumer2964]

Dark matter is brilliant

[@RedFuryBooks]

Excited for the Blake Crouch interview, and my congratulations to you to for getting this opportunity!

[@kaiju_k5042]

Blake Crouch is a national treasure, I cannot wait for your interview, omgosh insanity peppers! Think I read more than 70% of his catalog and his works with other authors that he co-authored. Can't wait to get this one! I was already hungry for Upgrade but this video legit made me starving for it.

[@kaylahuesman1825]

I was so happy that Book of the Month had Upgrade as a pick this month. I was waiting for release, then to my surprise, there it was. I read it in two days (I didn’t want to put it down but I had to). I agree that this is his most Michael Crichton-esque book. Awesome book!

[@iWizard]

Can't wait for your interview with Mr. Crouch!

[@WordsinTime]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this one Mike! I gave Dark Matter a 9.5 and Recursion an 8.5 so I'm pumped for Upgrade!

[@RekindledReader]

Awesome review! I've been waiting for this one. Can't wait to have mine arrive on Tuesday. I'll be fitting it in right away. Thanks for the review, Mike!

[@sjkrum320]

Loved Wayward Pines so much. I'm a library girl, so it'll be a while before I get to read this, but I'll definitely check it out. Can't wait to see your interview!!!! I always love seeing you chat with authors 😁💜

[@moonbot7613]

Can’t wait to read it, Crouch is always good. Speaking of Crichton, I’m reading Jurassic Park and The Lost World right now because I’m going to to Jurassic World exhibit here in Denver on Friday.

[@grnberet9401]

I am very much looking forward to this!!! Great review as always, Mike!

[@dpeady78]

Thanks to you Mike putting me onto him, I have enjoyed every Blake Crouch so far and I assume I’ll enjoy this too

[@DannyMexen9]

And wishlisted! Thanks, Mike.

[@TheMeltingPointOfWax]

Nice, I’m excited about this one, thank you good sir

[@mimimayhem]

I've been waiting for Mike's review on this before I order the book. Awesome as always, Mike!

[@stewartmiddleton4527]

Excellent and informative review, without too many (if any) spoilers. Thanks - am going to get this now

[@brianmelendy1194]

I too am a big fan of the late, great Crichton. I will have to check this book out. It sounds like a good story. Thanks for sharing. Also, please check out more Robert McCammon you won't be disappointed.

[@cutiepiebb]

Looking forward to reading this :)

[@QuestLegacy]

Love Crouch and your breakdown. Solid review as always. Just finished this one myself and enjoyed it quite a bit

[@Tralala001]

I'll be picking this up as soon as I finish my current book.

[@avi4905]

Thanks for the great review

[@ChuckRedwood]

I just got into Blake Crouch a few months ago and "listened" to Recursion and Dark Matter. Man, he's such a great story teller and I love your assessment of him. Couldn't agree more! And I really look forward to this new book!

[@FionnKirwan]

Well done yourself and Media Death Cult are knocking it out of the park with interviews. Having authors on really makes me interested in checking their work.

[@MediaDeathCult]

Who?

[@FionnKirwan]

@@MediaDeathCult Dyslexicon Strikes Again

[@sagekhk]

Picked up Dark Matter, haven't read it yet, because of your review and am now interested in Michael Crichton aswell because of your reviews and praise. Will be getting Upgrade just one the premise of gene editing. Great review, keep it up Mike!

[@TheBookworm3581]

Definitely going to give this one a go. Loved Dark Matter after you sung it's praises

[@kflott]

Excited for this one, will start on release day. Blake Crouch is definitely an automatic read at this point and they read so quickly so I bump to top of TBR. Looking forward to the interview!

[@joalgustas6498]

Lol I was talking to my mom about “Dark Matter”, for some reason I kept calling Blake, Bartie. Too much HP in my life haha

[@moonbot7613]

Iol. I actually recommend Dark Matter to my mom and she ended up loving it.

[@Ulmo90]

Loved Dark Matter and Recurssion, I'm eager to read this one!

[@Ulmo90]

Finally read this one, I really enjoyed it, especially the action and the themes and ideas, however I felt it being a little bit slow at times

[@tyronefrielinghaus3467]

I really like your intro music...it's really cinematic! Almost a fanfare?

[@jasonfredensborg7646]

When Michael Crichton died, I basically quit reading for awhile. Blake Crouch has definitely given me back a passion for reading...if you are a Crichton fan, you will definitely love Crouch.

[@tyronefrielinghaus3467]

Hi Mike...I started 'Upgrade' 70 min ago...yeeha! It's great...and just the kind of book I want to read right now. Great story, great storytelling and solid science. Enjoying it for the same reason I loved 'Lucy' film. Thanks for suggesting, and now me grooving the book. And now I have another author to look fwd to reading😁😁😁 From JHB, South Africa

[@roberthubbard4881]

I'm so excited to pick this up! I just finished Sphere by Crichton and I'm ready to roll into this one.

[@al8xr]

"Upgrade" was my first fiction book in English this year - and first book by Blake Crouch. The book is dynamic and fascinating to read. Worth to be a movie or a TV-series. Now, I want to read the other books like Dark Matter and Recursion.

[@Wanderwilderreading]

Getting this one on book of the month, I keep checking the mail every day even though it’s not out yet 😂 I was actually just reading another nonfiction book about CRISPR technology in preparation for this one. Love your thoughts, you’ve increased the hype for me!

[@katieamarsh]

Looking forward to it and won’t have to battle my husband over who reads it first because he’s starting Swan Song tonight. I can’t wait to see that interview! As someone with a science background, I am super excited about this! I love Crichton too.

[@anna_rn]

Great review! I really liked Upgrade and it gave me huge Crichton vibes. Dark Matter remains my favorite but Upgrade was a close second.

[@fraternalcloud3883]

This book reminds me of the movie Upgrade, loved the movie, definitely going to check out this book.

[@cmmosher8035]

I just borrowed Dark Matter and Recursion audiobooks from my library. I am enjoying Dark Matter so far. Based on your interview with Mr Crouch i am waiting for the Wayward Pines rereleases since i do have a soft spot for the first season of the show.

[@jeremyfee]

Very funny "Crouch potatoes" joke. I also just read this book and really enjoyed it, as I did the previous Blake Crouch books. Peace!

[@brog534]

Read the synopsis for this I am so keen to read this it comes out tomorrow (Australia)

[@akellerhouse83]

I got this book as my book of the month for July. They let you pick from 5 different books and Upgrade was listed first. I didn't even bother looking at the other 4 books.

[@kylerieman221]

I will definitely be checking out Blake Crouch at some point.

[@redjarl]

Thank you for "Crouch potato", yes, I am😂

[@SINW]

I thought it was great. IMO its my favorite Crouch book so far. It took something that we have seen before (supes) and did it without some of the tropes that are associated with those trappings. I really really enjoyed it. Only like a 3 hour read. It is fantastic.

[@noeditbookreviews]

Throughout Dark Matter I thought "I can't believe how many references to alcohol are in this book." Picked up Upgrade and THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE Jesus, here we go again lol

[@scottadams3616]

This is my first foray into Blake Crouch. If you say that Recursion and Dark Matter are even better than Upgrade, which I enjoyed a ton, then I’m in for a hell of a ride. Can’t wait for your interview with Blake.

[@dinocollins720]

Sounds really good. Are all of Crouch's books connected?

[@matthewward1509]

Recursion and Dark Matter are so good. Can’t wait for this.

[@saldanamoreno]

I've been waiting for this. I just finished Recursion and I have this book pre-ordered on my Kindle. Ok, now to unpause the video and enjoy.

[@cuppleschristopher]

Been waiting for it in my BOTM club box. Should be here tomorrow

[@olesrensen1863]

Sounds very interesting. Near future techno dilemmas is an interesting theme. Many things are on the edge atm in this field I feel. We in the western world ofc have a more open discussion on these subjects than maybe China and Russia or other autocratic countries. I will check BC out, Thx Mike, Hope you have a good cruise in the Carribian.

[@eaintemo]

I just finished upgrade. Until this video, I was completely unaware how recently this book had released. I finished dark matter last week, and it was pure coincidence that the day I went to the bookstore to pick up more crouch novels, it must’ve been the first day release. Dark matter was intensely personal, with the overall question of: “if I am one aspect of a being with a million different possibilities and variants, what makes me, me?” And to contrast, upgrade asks the question: “who are WE?” Beautiful stuff. Spoiler territory for this last paragraph, but alas: Apathy is the disease, empathy is the cure. Ironically, it is the overly intelligent that believe a lack of intelligence is the disease, but that same intelligence will perpetuate the apathy that would go on to blur the definition of humanity. Beautiful

[@Themaninblack19]

Ok ok , i get it , ill check him out 😂😂 he is on my to read list

[@Tiffs-bookshelf]

I can’t wait to read this book. Dark matter was fantastic…. Recursion was a 4 star for me. I am going Tim heck some back list books of his after I read Upgrade

[@lauramcdonald5004]

Haha, my initial thought as you started describing the premise was that it sounded very Crichton meets the movie Gattaca. I'll definitely be adding this to my TBR. I was disappointed by Dark Matter, but mainly because it was so majorly overhyped at the time. I was already pretty steeped in multiverse stories by the time I read it, so all the "blown minds" reviews seemed silly to me because it was a pretty basic multiverse story. I absolutely love time travel and multiverse stuff though, so I went in with much more exposure to those ideas. Looking back now it is a very good book that I definitely recommend. I personally loved Recurssion more than Dark Matter, but I read that one while I was also reading some relevant classic sci-fi that made it even better.

[@Lyanraw]

Why does noone ever mention the book limitless was based on or its sequal? They changed the tone entirely and it's great. Loved upgrade

[@Isaiah_McIntosh]

Crouch potatoes might be the best one yet

[@The_Living_Shadow]

Sounds very "Gattaca"

[@calista3371]

This sounds like the movie "Gattica" a great movie.

[@Uppernorwood976]

Dark Matter is on kindle to read on holiday next month. I’m expecting big things!

[@TysonPJ]

Pre ordered it months ago. Only read Abandon (meh) and Dark Matter (great).

[@mrsnaythomas9773]

This was my BOTM pick. I can't wait to get to it.

[@windwhisper0234]

Hey Mike. I think I saw Hellsing on your shelves. Did you read it?

[@aleidadiaz2261]

Sounds like Gattaca.

[@hpwrotethis]

Finished this yesterday. Thought it was fine. I liked the sci fi triolgy amped/wired better about this topic. Think dark matter Is still his best work

[@Speed202]

Book Review FTW

[@shamimfischer]

They read the code

[@CoachMarkBenge]

You held this attention deficit's attention the whole time. Which is no easy task. Great job!

[@chrisholmstrom8652]

I think that each of his books keep getting tighter stories

[@xKingGingerx]

So when does the book take place? I couldn’t figure it out even when reading.. prolly missed a small detail here and there

[@mikesbookreviews]

Oh I can't remember exactly. He mentions a building the lead character is at one point and how many years old it was. So I looked it up and noted the difference in years.

[@tiananesbitt7156]

Yeah! Does it get better than Dark Matter? If not I don't want it!

[@atom0191]

🤩🤩🤩

[@BrotherB-kr7sm]

Definitely need to read Daniel Suarez - rate him (along with Crouch) as the master of the near-future, “totally could happen”, character/science driven techno thriller currently working

[@cmmosher8035]

I have only read Daemon but i can definitely see it being a good recommendation for Chriton and Crouch fans.

[@DanielGFreeman]

I loved Dark Matter and Recursion. I thought this was, by comparison, was only OK. still a great read, but didn't live up to his previous works for me.

[@nikkiholly5843]

I skipped over all of the dna codes / lists of dna info. I really loved the message but didn’t like this one as much as his other books. Would still recommend it tho.

[@marcus9039]

Definitely my least favourite Blake Crouch book (only read Dark Matter, Recursion). Still decent though. Didn't like the character as much as the other two. Didnt get connected to his family as we didn't really spend enough time with them, so the emotional sections didn't affect me too much. Otherwise, a decent thriller. Dark Matter - 4.5 * Recursion - 4 * Upgrade - 3 *

[@jacobstine8693]

I am halfway through and really don't get why Logan is against the idea. I just don't understand why anyone would look at those improvements in themselves and say "I don't want to be better"

[@FellTheSky]

Because he is a communist.

[@dildojizzbaggins6969]

07:30 *has _begun_ Don't help your kids with the English-homework... :'D

[@Kapmasterable]

Please cover more techno thrillers & one off sci-fi romps like this. Space operas & fantasy are mostly lame imo

[@johnkeller2669]

Lol crouch potatoes