I listened to this book as an audiobook -- twice in a row. The author, Rick Rubin, is a record executive and producer. He has worked closely with manyI listened to this book as an audiobook -- twice in a row. The author, Rick Rubin, is a record executive and producer. He has worked closely with many top musicians and artists throughout his illustrious career.
Rick Rubin reads his own book, and he has a wonderful voice. Moreover, he has a very philosophical attitude towards creativity. While Rubin's field is music, his advice is not specific to music -- his advice applies to all areas where creativity is involved -- all of the arts, and more.
Rubin's prose is poetry. Very philosophical in approach. Consider this quote: "I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be." --Rick Rubin
This book is actually worth reading -- multiple times....more
During the American Rvolutionary War, hundreds of ships were awarded marques, that is, licenses to hunt and attack enemy ships. I had not realized howDuring the American Rvolutionary War, hundreds of ships were awarded marques, that is, licenses to hunt and attack enemy ships. I had not realized how significant privateering was during the war. At the time, the American navy had few ships, and the army had very little ammunition, so capturing ammunition ships was very important. It also enriched the ship owners and crew when the ships and their cargoes were sold at auctions.
The business of privateering did have its down-sides. Most notably, when captured, privateer crew members were jailed, either in England or in New York. British ships were anchored in New York harbor, and used as jails. The conditions in these floating jails were horrific, as very few prisoners survived for long.
I did not read this book; I listened to the audiobook, narrated very nicely by Eric Jason Martin....more
I initially had some misgivings about this book, since I had read at least one other book by Stephen Hawking. I wasn't looking for a dry book about phI initially had some misgivings about this book, since I had read at least one other book by Stephen Hawking. I wasn't looking for a dry book about physics and cosmology. But as soon as I started listening to the audiobook (which is excellent, by the way!), my opinion did a 180. This is a marvelous book. I had not realized, either, that Stephen Hawking had a wonderful sense of humor!
I had not realized how many discoveries about cosmology were made by Hawking. He mentions these discoveries in a humble manner, almost in passing. But he does show the importance of some of these discoveries in shaping our understanding of the cosmos, and the origins of our universe.
Hawking also dipped into politics a bit, and the existential crises facing humanity. He strongly recommends that people start thinking seriously about space travel, at least for the purpose of diversification. He throws in all sorts of humor. If Columbus had not had the exploring spirit, today we might not have McDonalds and KFC. Our nearest star is 4 light years away. So, if there are inhabitants on planets orbiting that star, they are still blissfully ignorant of Donald Trump.
People often ask the question, "if the universe started with a Big Bang, then what was there before the big bang?" Hawking shows why this is not a valid question, as time did not exist before the Big Bang. It is sort of like asking, how do you go south from the south pole?
I highly recommend this book. It is totally approachable, it isn't flooded with any sort of jargon, and it's a lot of fun, too!...more
Life is so unfair. I am so unhappy. How can I find self-fulfillment? Where can I find love? Why can't I get over my past loves? How can I get a pre-paLife is so unfair. I am so unhappy. How can I find self-fulfillment? Where can I find love? Why can't I get over my past loves? How can I get a pre-paid trip to India to find my spiritual self?
If these are the sorts of questions that interest you, then by all means, read this book. Elizabeth Gilbert is a gifted writer, and her articulate ramblings are enjoyable.
I might actually have given this book a higher rating, but unfortunately, I listened to the audiobook. The author reads her own book--which is OK, as she has a pleasant voice. However, the recording engineer did not do his job--I don't think he did anything at all, in fact. The sound level is very low, almost inaudible in any environment that is not perfectly noise-free. I took a quick look at the audio waveform; it looks OK, but the author's soft voice just doesn't come through. This could have been fixed, but it wasn't. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK. Unless you listen in a very quiet environment....more
My favorite books about science topics are always the ones that are written by scientists. This book, by Professor Sarah Johnson, is exceptionally welMy favorite books about science topics are always the ones that are written by scientists. This book, by Professor Sarah Johnson, is exceptionally well written. I didn't read this book--I listened to the audiobook. By listening to it, I heard a lyricism that is not often encountered in books about science. Well done!
This book is about the history of Mars exploration, with an emphasis on the search for life. The successes and failures of astronomers and modern space probes are described in a personal way. I really felt like I was reliving some of the stories about the modern space probes. The history is interleaved with memoirs of the author's life. Her early years were spent learning about geology and her later years participating in spacecraft studies of Mars. She also talks a bit about balancing science work and personal family life.
The book brings to life the excitement felt by the teams of scientists who built and ran the Mars probes. She describes the scenes so eloquently and sometimes gave me a shivering sensation. Highly recommended!...more
This is a fun book about Pollan's investigations into the world of psychoactive plant-derived substances. He talks with people who grows or harvests dThis is a fun book about Pollan's investigations into the world of psychoactive plant-derived substances. He talks with people who grows or harvests different types of plants--opium, caffeine, and mescaline. Under what conditions are they legal to grow, legal to harvest, and legal to ingest? It is complicated. It seems to depend on where you live, and your purpose, and even your religion.
Pollan reaches back into fome of his old writings, that at the time may have gotten himself or others into legal trouble. He figures that in today's legal climate, his writings should not be troublesome.
This book is not very scientific. It is just a collections of stories about the legal tribulations of various people, to grow, harvest, and ingest these psychoactive substances....more
This is a fun book about a plan to combat global warming in the near future. All sorts of climate catastrophes are happening, so a small group of peopThis is a fun book about a plan to combat global warming in the near future. All sorts of climate catastrophes are happening, so a small group of people (vigilantes?) have decided to take it upon themselves to fix the problem. Their approach? Climate engineering.
This is a rambling, happy-go-lucky sort of story. Like many of Neal Stephenson's fiction, the best part is not necessarily the overall plot, or even the characters. The best part is the arrangement of a few scenes. In these remarkable scenes, crazy things happen that border on the absurd, practically surreal. It's almost like a long, drawn-out joke that is calculated to have an amazing punch line. Stephenson takes his time to build up the background behind these scenes, and then unleashes them into a spectacular trajectory. I love it!
And, what is "Termination Shock"? That is a potential downside of climate engineering. What happens if people perform climate engineering for a while, successfully counteract the greenhouse effect -- and then pull the plug? That is called "Termination Shock"....more
What a beautiful story! I didn't know what to expect, but I was flabbergasted! Linus Baker is a strict rules-following bureaucrat who works at a very What a beautiful story! I didn't know what to expect, but I was flabbergasted! Linus Baker is a strict rules-following bureaucrat who works at a very strict government agency has the job of investigating orphanages for magically-endowed children. The agency is the very picture of hell on earth. Linus is given a special assignment, to investigate a very special orphanage, isolated on an island.
Linus knows that his job is to be objective, and not to get emotionally connected with the children or the "master" of the orphanage. Nevertheless, he gets caught up in the emotional issues, histories, and incredible diversity of the personalities there. Some of the children are not even human! Linus learns about bigotry. He learns that he has the inner strength to fight against his own inclinations, to change his own character. And he learns he has the strength to fight back against stupid prejudices.
I urge you NOT to read this book. Instead, please LISTEN to the audiobook! It is superbly acted by Daniel Henning. He makes all of the characters come to life. The audiobook was such a joy to listen to. ...more
This is the third book in the series "Poseidon's Children" by Alastair Reynolds. The first book in the series Blue Remembered Earth was wonderful. TheThis is the third book in the series "Poseidon's Children" by Alastair Reynolds. The first book in the series Blue Remembered Earth was wonderful. The second was ok. This third book, not so much. It didn't capture my imagination. I listened to all three novels as an audiobook. Perhaps I was turned off in this book by the narrator. Each character was given a different voice--which is great. But some characters were given voices that were just terrible. ...more
I really enjoy books written by active researchers in the field. This is not exactly a book, since it is a series of lectures in audiobook format. NevI really enjoy books written by active researchers in the field. This is not exactly a book, since it is a series of lectures in audiobook format. Nevertheless, the subject is fascinating. Some of the topics covered in the book are old hat -- meaning, that I've read about them several times in other other books. Nevertheless, there are enough new topics in this book to hold my interest. In fact, up until now, I had really believed in some of these brain myths. Indre Viskontas gently lets you know why these myths were initially ingrained into our culture, and the research that has shown why the myths need to be exploded.
The author is not only a neuroscientist, but an opera singer, too!...more
Every chapter is interesting, but this book seems to go in circles. I just cannot figure out what the author intended for the overall theme. Brian GreEvery chapter is interesting, but this book seems to go in circles. I just cannot figure out what the author intended for the overall theme. Brian Greene is a well-known author and physicist. He delved into so many different subjects--it was hard to keep track what he was ultimately driving at.
The beginning of the book was about the beginning of time, about the laws of thermodynamics and entropy, and the structure of DNA. So far so good. Then the book diverges into religion, philosophy, consciousness, and all sorts of other subjects. The final chapters return to physics and what will happen in the very very very distant future.
Perhaps the book could have been improved by just making it into a collection of essays. Then there would be less need to try to make it into a coherent story.
I didn't read this book--I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author. Brian Greene reads his book rather well, and his voice, at least, is not distracting. ...more
This is the thirteenth, and final book in the "Saxon Stories" series by Bernard Cornwell. The main character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg lives in his ancestThis is the thirteenth, and final book in the "Saxon Stories" series by Bernard Cornwell. The main character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg lives in his ancestral home, a formidable castle that is well protected from enemies. In this final chapter, Uhtred is caught between a rock and a hard place. A huge army of gathered by King Constantine of Scots, Irish, and Northmen are invading the land. Meanwhile, King Aethelstan (grandson of King Alfred) has broken his oath to Uhtred, and is bringing his army from the south. To sit back and stay neutral would be totally out of character for Uhtred, and would probably be a disaster in any case. So, who would Uhtred join forces with? And, whichever side he chose, there would be people who would doubt his loyalty.
One of the fun aspects of this series is learning how Uhtred cleverly escapes the most dire of circumstances. How would he defend against a war lord who has staked a claim, choosing a battlefield most advantageous for slaughter? For me, this was one of the best books in the series, because I really could not predict the outcome--in fact, I couldn't predict what would happen next!
I highly recommend these books by Bernard Cornwell. But, I didn't read them--I listened to the audiobooks. This one, read by Matt Bates, is quite engaging!...more
This is a fun book about the journey from being a beginner to becoming -- a non-beginner. Not necessarily to become an expert, but to become adept at This is a fun book about the journey from being a beginner to becoming -- a non-beginner. Not necessarily to become an expert, but to become adept at some skill. The book includes some developments in the neuroscience of learning. However, the book is mostly a collection of personal memoirs of how the author learned new skills. The new skills included chess, singing, surfing, drawing, and juggling. The process of learning each new skill is a journey. Sometimes, he began his new journey along with his daughter, in order to be closer to her.
The book does smack a bit of elitism. The author is privileged to be able to hire tutors, private coaches, and to spend money traveling to places where surfing is available. Nevertheless, the book is so optimistic, that the author's enthusiasms are quite contagious....more
This fascinating book is about exploring the world. It contains the author's personal memoirs of travel to distant places, some above-ground, but mostThis fascinating book is about exploring the world. It contains the author's personal memoirs of travel to distant places, some above-ground, but mostly underground. As he explores these regions, he allows the reader to travel alongside and experience mystery, magesty, danger, and discovery. His lyrical prose makes this book such a joy! You can travel with the author to an underground astronomical observatory (yes!), to the ice cap of Greenland, to the catacombs under Paris and under Odessa, to sea caves in Norway to view prehistoric art, to ancient burial sites, and to recently-discovered networks that trees use to communicate.
If you enjoy a deep poetic dive into science, exploration, religion, philosophy, and history, then this book is for you. If you prefer conventional books, then perhaps stay away.
I didn't read this book--I listened to the audiobook version, as narrated by Matthew Waterson. This is one of those cases where I did not appreciate the narration. The words themselves kept my interest, not the reading. Perhaps the printed book is to be preferred....more
Rome was once the biggest empire in the world. Why did it end? I had always been under the impression that the root cause was insurrections, revolts, Rome was once the biggest empire in the world. Why did it end? I had always been under the impression that the root cause was insurrections, revolts, and invasions by surrounding tribes. Well, yes, but why were these enemies so successful, against the biggest, baddest armies of the Roman empire?
The answer is that the Roman defeats did not occur overnight. They occurred over the course of centuries. Kyle Harper, the book's author, makes a very good case that the Roman empire was battered by pandemics and climate change. Hmmm ... sound familiar?
Rome is well known for building then-state-of-the-art roads over long distances. After all, we have the well-known saying, "All roads lead to Rome". Rome's bread-basket was Egypt, along the Nile River. Long-distance transportation and communication across the vast empire was unprecedented in history. But there were consequences. Local outbreaks of epidemics in the outskirts of the empire soon spread as pandemics across huge swaths. These pandemics sometimes decimated the population, including the Roman legions.
On top of the pandemics were droughts. At the beginning of the Roman empire, the Mediterranean region was more humid and cooler than it is today. Climate change induced aridification, and the result was occasional droughts that lasted years. These changes also affected the Rome's ability to field enormous armies across its entire empire.
The author notes that the real wonder, is how Rome lasted as long as it did. Multiple pandemics and droughts took their tolls, but the empire was amazingly robust. Towards the end, some really incompetent (and evil) emperors did their part, too, in ending the reign of Rome.
The book is also very interesting, due to the science that Kyle Harper adds. The details of the climate changes are deeply interwoven with the science of climate. This applies also to the pandemics and diseases. The book dives deeply into the science of medicine and the germs and medical practices of Rome. So, while this is primarily a history book, it is also quite immersed in science.
The author is a professor and professional historian. While the book is fascinating, the style of writing is EXTREMELY dry. It is a history book for historians and science historians, probably not for the general public....more
Loading...
