Almost all the books I read are non-fiction that I obtain from the Central Coast library network (blackgold.org).
Over the last few months I’ve read;
Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
Elon Musk (by Walter Isaacson)
Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency
All were worth reading but not good enough to earn a place in our family library.
Yesterday I finished The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes - by Donald Hoffman. It was crazy redundant, the author should have greatly reduced the number of pages, which is why I skimmed the last half of the book.
I read the book Sapiens (by Harari) a few years ago, started it again last night. My favorite author Edward Abbey stated that a good writer speaks not to you, but for you. This is the case with the following paragraph from page 32 of the copy I have of Sapiens (excerpt below), warranting a place in my personal Notes to Self document;
“Ever since the Cognitive Revolution (~70,000 years ago), Sapiens have thus been living in a dual reality. On the one hand, the objective reality of rivers, trees, and lions; and on the other hand, the imagined reality of gods, nations, and corporations. As time went by, the imagined reality became ever more powerful, so that today the very survival of rivers, trees, and lions depends on the grace of imagined entities such as the United States and Google.”
I have not read this book, but I did read a critical essay of it. In summary, the critic had nothing nice to say about how Isaacson treated the subject and stated that despite Isaacson’s excellent reputation in the “Tech News” world, that his last couple of books, including this one, are examples of his move toward full blown hagiography.
That disappointed me because: (1) hagiographies are terrible reads; and (2) Isaacson being seen that way can’t be good for independent tech news.
Thanks @SeattleUte that is what in context this meant. When I read what should be an independent third-party profile, I don’t want them to gloss over anything and I certainly don’t want the subject to be lionized.
Interesting, I’ve been listening to Mike Duncan’s podcasts on the French Revolution. I highly recommend that podcast, Revolutions. FWIW I’m very much a history buff.
Are you going to come to Sam Weller’s or Kings English like you did for Logos? I’ll come and buy a copy for sure, especially if the Wilsons will be there.
ohhh…I assumed that shop went out of business.
They have moved to Trolley Square, apparently.
Not the same feel as the historic downtown spot, I’m sure, but I’m happy to learn they still are providing books to the SLC, nonetheless!
The Women. A fictional account that relates the experience of an army nurse in Viet Nam and after coming home. A good read and a sad reminder of the cluster@#% that was Viet Nam.
