The NonFiction Reading Thread
Well, finals are over, so I've been delving into my pile. Here are some thoughts:
The Code Book by Simon Singh. Fantastic. Really manages to make math dramatic and exciting. I think everybody shares a little bit of that childlike fascination with logical info-puzzles, especially when they can have dramatic consequences like potentially winning (or losing,) World War 2, or bringing down a 400 year hereditary rule, or opening up an entire ancient language. Very engagingly written, with a real flair for story-telling, but enough of a technical bent that I also felt I learned something about the science of cryptography. 9.5/10
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt. Pretty good. Interesting topics addressed from interesting angles, but nothing is discussed in enough depth to be satisfying. Its main virtue is in getting across the basic world view of this economist, but doesn't really do much to cast light on any specific issue it looks at. Interesting, but not a must-read. 8/10
The Third Chimpanzee by Jard Diamond. A mixed bag. It's pretty comprehensive, and at times very engagingly written. On the other hand, it's also very basic. A much larger problem, however, is that Diamond is so rabid in his political beliefs that he allows them to cloud his evaluation of scientific ideas. As an example, when rating the reliability of a number of competing theories on human sexual behavior, Diamond dismisses out of hand one of the more popular theories, because he thinks it offensively downplays the role of women. While I actually agree that the theory has rather sexist implications, that doesn't mean it's not true. Diamond doesn't seem too concerned with little details like truth, if they don't play nice with his preexisting moral stances. Also, he's kind of a nut, who advocates (seemingly seriously,) that men should undergo gene therapy so they can breast feed children, to better understand the female perspective on infants. 6/10
A Brief History of Time by Steven Hawking. I don't get why people liked this book so much. I thought it sucked. It oscillated between boringly simple to unreadably technical with absolutely no in-between. It is meandering and nothing is ever related to any sort of practical point. He speaks with no insight on any historical issue brought up. And he seems like kind of a dick. I am bewildered. 3/10
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It's been quite a few years since I read A Brief History of Time, but it did open the universe to me in a new way. I remain impressed with it.
Deliver Us from Evil: Peacekeepers, Warlords and a World of Endless Conflict by William Shawcross. A very hands-on, practical account of UN's work in peacekeeping in the post Cold War world. Explains the problems, causes and politics, highlights the heroes and gets you on the ground with every operation. Gripping stuff, although it often makes you wonder if we have any hope as a global society. Frustrating accounts of outright evil deeds and shocking political uncaring, with the odd selfless hero trying to make the world a better place.
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Morro, if you want a nice readable book on economics, get Tim Harford's Undercover Economist. The book speaks about economic basics and not-so-basics in a very readable way and you will burn through it in a day or two. And I hear that his new book The Logic of Life is a great read as well.
If you liked the part in Freakonomics about workings of gangs, the book by the researcher himself, Sudhir Venkatesh, is out now and is brilliant. It's called Gang Leader for a Day.
I'm currently reading a biography of Alan Turing, The Man Who Knew Too Much by David Leavitt. Since you liked The Code Book, it could be right up your alley. Lots of space is dedicated to explanation of Turing machines and the practical uses of his computers for decoding in Bletchley Park.
Also, I'm rereading a great little book called A Road To Serfdom by Friedrich August von Hayek. Very powerful reading, a mix of economy, sociology, psychology and philosophy.
EDIT: Simon Singh has also written a book about Great Fermat Theorem and how it has been solved and is similarly gripping as The Code Book, despite the fact that math used there is very advanced and complicated.
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Every computer geek must read The Soul of a New Machine. Really.
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Why Geography Matters by Harm de Blij. Really well researched and written, but not dry like a lot of books of this sort. It's a case study of several current issues (The subtitle says "Climate Change, the Rise of China, and Global Terrorism"), analyzed from a geographic perspective. Accessible to the casual reader, but not dumbed-down.
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You guys should add these recommendations to the Great Books that every person should read thread.
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Marine Sniper by Charles Henderson is a very interesting look at the Vietnam War through the eyes of Carlos Hathcock.
That's the only one I can think of off of the top of my head at the moment.
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Trying to find anything practical in A Brief History of Time is missing the point of theoretical physics. It reminds me of the argument that the best reason for supporting NASA is that we get non-stick frying pans as a byproduct of the research. Science, at its core, is the search for truth, not utility. That's not to say it can't be useful. However, any expectation of practicality, especially in theoretical physics, will end in disappointment.
If you're still interested in the subject matter, but don't like Hawking's presentation, I would recommend Brian Greene's The Fabric of the Cosmos, but for a different reason than the author intends. My opinion is that the intention of the author is to promote string theory and M-theory, and he does it unconvincingly. However, the first 60% of the text doesn't deal with either of those theories. That part of the book succeeds beautifully in explaining spacetime and experience in the most accessible form I've seen.
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Killing Pablo
About the hunt for Pablo Escobar. Written by Mark Bowden, the same guy that wrote Black Hawk Down, which was also very, very good.
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I read Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali not to long ago and it is excellent.
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Add to that list Bowden's book on the Iran hostage crisis, Guests of the Ayatollah. I remember watching news reports on TV when I was little, but I really didn't know any of the back story. Bowden did a very good job fleshing everything out and putting it in historical context.
A couple books I pick up and read every few months or so:
The Art of Voice Acting: The Craft and Business of Performing for Voice-Over by James R. Alburger
There's Money Where Your Mouth Is: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Voice-Overs by Elaine A. Clarke
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A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra, Their Own Story - "The love affair of Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia, and his wife Alix, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria...becomes clear with the release of their private letters and diaries."
This has been a very interesting read so far and since they wrote to each other in English, I don't have to wonder what was lost in translation!
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No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam by Reza Aslan was excellent and beautifully written. It's not too academic to be boring and yet it's very enlightening about Islam's history and current troubles.
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Not a Good Day to Die by Sean Naylor is a really good account of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. It illustrates the attitude of the military commanders underestimating the Taliban fighters, under committing resources to the fight, and some tales of great heroism that occurred in those few days. The book does get very technical, and it can be hard to keep up with the names and locations and chain of command. Additionally, it goes through the buildup and planning of the operation very thoroughly, so if you're looking for just an account of the battle, you may want to look elsewhere.
North Star over My Shoulder: A Flying Life by Bob Buck is a really fascinating look at aviation in its early days through the eyes of a commercial pilot. Bob Buck grew up flying, and became an airline pilot in the early days of airlines in the U.S. He really saw the world, and even worked for Howard Hughes for a while. He describes the early days of transatlantic flights, where they would make 4 or 5 stops between the US and England, and how they navigated by the stars on long flights over the ocean. Buck retired from Pan-Am as a 747 captain. This book is a must-read for those interested in aviation.
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The Omnivore's Dillema: It will change how you think about food.
A Primer on Postmodernism: Brilliant essays on how modern thought got to be where it is, and what's a philosopher, priest or poet to do about it.
A Rabbi Talks with Jesus: A compelling and very challenging book for any Christian or Jew. Extremely well written "what if" account of a modern Rabbi's conversation with a historical Jesus, and why that Rabbi would choose not to follow him.
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I'm reading POSTMODERNISM: A Very Short Introduction by Christopher Butler. Good stuff. I have gripes with a lot of "postmodern" fiction writers, and I'm trying to figure out if it's more the philosophy or the writers themselves. Interesting stuff.
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Heartily seconded. Every aviator should read this memoir, as it really captures our love of flying as no other book has, in my opinion. Continuing on the aviation note, allow me to recommend:
Duel of Eagles by Peter Townsend
This is one of the most gripping and informative accounts of the Battle of Britain I've ever read, and is penned by an individual who fought in it. As with Buck, Townsend has a gift for caricature and the aviators, commanders, strategists, and everyday people are brought to life in vivid detail. The book serves as both a comprehensive history of that tense period and a visceral re-telling of an aviator's experience. Another must-read for anyone who has earned their wings, or indeed has any interest in the battle.
On a somewhat more cerebral note:
The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity by Roy Porter
An engrossing, detailed, and pleasantly readable account of the history of medicine, from ancient Greece to modern times. Although sometimes verging on becoming a litany of names, Porter manages to keep the book flowing quite well, interspersing numerous anecdotes and asides to keep the narrative fresh. I'm not done with this one yet, but I'm certainly enjoying it thus far. Recommended for history buffs and anyone with an interest in how the art and science of medicine has evolved over the millennia.
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My professor just gave me:
The Elusive Quest for Growth By William Easterly
It discusses how we have failed to apply economic principles to practical policies to help poor countries increase their standard of living and achieve economic growth.
For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. ~Ron Shelton, Bull Durham, 1988
I love reading non-fiction, particularly magazines like The Atlantic and sites like Slate. The most recent book I finished was Never Saw It Coming by Karen Cerulo: Slate pushed this novel as the antidote to "The Secret" nonsense, and I thought it was amazing. It's essentially a study on how modern society tends to re-inforce positive thinking to the detriment of being prepared for worst case scenarios and all the trouble it's been causing us recently. It might be a little difficult to find a paperback copy depending on the time of year, since it's constantly being used in sociology classes, which results in only the hardcover textbook edition being in print at any given time, but it's well worth the read.
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My recommendations would be:
Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine. A funny and sad look at endangered species.
Death by Black Hole by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Short pieces on cosmology, so a good bathroom book (If your into that
)
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan. (Basically anything by Sagan that I have come across is fantastic and readable)
The Future of Life by E. O. Wilson. Probably one of the most influential books I have come across in my life.
I'm working through Guns, Germs, and Steel. It's riveting. Fascinating.
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Is it any better than Wilson's "The Creation"? I picked it up on a whim, but wasn't even able to make it through it's ~100 pages.
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I've looked at that so many times in ye local bookshoppe. Based on this, maybe I'll finally pick it up the next time.
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Well "The Creation" was a book directed at a particular audience. Future of life is a little more broad, but is also alot more lengthy. What about it did you not like ?
Ogilvy on Advertising, David Ogilvy. Fascinating how the most effective sales methods don't really change from decade to decade. For most products, it doesn't matter how slick your slogan or sexy your photo - it's the quality of information that really sells.
Good In A Room, Stephanie Palmer. I've been aggressively networking lately, and the ideas in Palmer's book are useful, if a little common sense. Anyone who's hobnobbed with a formal networking group already knows most of the stuff in this book, and I think it's more for someone who dreads the thought of networking or someone with little sales experience.
The New Rules of Marketing and PR, David Meerman Scott. Haven't started it yet, but it comes highly recommended from a friend.
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I just read two books, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars by the neurologist Oliver Sacks and I enjoyed both. I recommend them to anyone who has an interest in neurological disorders, or those who just have in interest in how the human brain functions. Sacks is notable as a writer cause he presents the stories of these individuals as inspirations of how humans can rise above whatever disorder they have to find their place in the world and live a happy life.
Both books are similar in that they are divided into standalone stories/chapters that deal with a different patient. However, I preferred Anthropologist because it only had about 7 stories that delved deeply into each of the individuals, whereas Man Who Mistook His Wife told more than 20 and often only offered a few pages to each case. Another thing is that due to Man Who Mistook His Wife's short treatment of each chapter, many of the chapter's were focused on the disorder instead of the person.
Examples of the stories told in Anthropologist include a preeminent professor of agriculture with Aspergers, a man who lost his ability to see colors late in life, a man who was blind his whole life but regained his sight at ~50, and a young boy with autism who is a very succesful artist.
That's been on my list for forever.
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Disinformation (www.disinfo.com) publishes rather good essay anthologies every so often. Each one is loosely themed and, while the books do tend towards a definate bias, essays are gathered from all over the political/cultural spectrum and the reader is invited to make up their own mind.
God, The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist by Victor J. Stengar. Despite the subtitle, the book doesn't really show that God doesn't exist, but rather, that there is no room for God in our knowledge of the way the world works- that God is a vestigial cultural artifact that only complicates our model of reality rather than explaining it.
Collected Essays of H.P. Lovecraft vol.5: Philosophy, Autobiography and Miscellany, edited by S.T. Joshi. A must for any fan of Lovecraft.
It's all well and good until someone loses a torso.
Jared Diamond does a fantastic job of synthesizing a wide array of information, data, and research into a coherent model of the world as it was, as it changed, and as it became and why. At least, so far.
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This is a terrific book too.
dejanzie- "Let's say Stephen Hawking is after your new pc, and your porn is backed up- would you find it wrong to shoot him?"
LiquidMantis- "Hell no. I'd push over his wheelchair then teabag him while shouting, 'Here's your universe in a nutshell!'"