For those who are new ... we discuss books. I list what I'm reading, and people comment with what they're reading. Sometimes, on Sundays, I post a special edition on a particular genre or topic.
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Book Readers schedule
Readers & Book Lovers Series Schedule
Just finished
Wild Thing by Josh Bazell. The continuation of the life of Dr. Pietro Brnwa that was started in Beat the Reaper. Brnwa has been in witness protection for a long time and is working as a doctor on a cruise boat when a reclusive billionaire hires him to help investigate claims of some "wild thing" living in an obscure lake in Minnesota - a sea monster. Violence, sex, science and a surprise visit from no Kossack's favorite vice presidential candidate.
(started and finished) Mad River by John Sandford. The latest in the Virgil Flowers series. Here, Flowers is dealing with a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde on a murder and robbery spree in rural Minnesota. A good page turner.
Now reading
Cooler Smarter: Practical tips for low carbon living by the scientists at Union of Concerned Scientists, a great group. These folk make sense, concentrating on the changes you can make that have the biggest impact with the least effort.
Thinking, fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman. Kahneman, most famous for his work with the late Amos Tversky, is one of the leading psychologists of the times. Here, he posits that our brains have two systems: A fast one and a slow one. Neither is better, but they are good at different things. This is a brilliant book: Full of insight and very well written, as well.
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. Dan Sylveste is intent on figuring out what happened to the Amarantin civilization, hundreds of thousands of years ago. Lots of other stuff going on as well, with a lot of interesting hard-SF ideas.
The secret life of pronouns by James W. Pennebaker. What our choice of pronouns and other "function words" says about our mood, our education, our personality and other things
Louis D. Brandeis: A life by Melvin Urofsky. Supreme Court Justice Brandeis was fundamental in shaping the modern state of the law and of law firms and played a key role in many reform movements as well. A fascinating man and a well written biography.
Just started
What hath God wrought? by Daniel Walker Howe. Subtitled "The transformation of America 1815-1848. I am reading this with the History group at GoodReads.