Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

What are you reading? June 12, 2013

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Today I will have to leave at 9:15 Eastern back late this afternoon, probably

Also, I broke my Kindle. Should I get a Kindle or a Nook?

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.

If you like to trade books, try bookmooch

I’ve written some book reviews on Yahoo Voices:

Book reviews on Yahoo

Just finished

Lake Views: The world and the universe by Steven Weinberg. Essays by this leading physicist.

The Human Division by John Scalzi A series of “episodes” in the Old Man’s War series. Good fun, but probably best if you’ve read earlier books in that series.

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.

On politics: A history of political thought from Herodotus to the present by Alan Ryan. What the subtitle says – a history of political thought.  

Woodrow Wilson by John Cooper, Jr. A fairly admiring look at Wilson.

Algorithms Unlocked  by Thomas Corman  A gentle introduction to computer algorithms

Robert Oppenheimer: A life in the center by Ray Monk  Oppenheimer was one of the most interesting people of the 20th century. In this biography Monk (a wonderful writer) attempts to cover both his physics and his many other interests.

Heechee Rendezvous by Fred Pohl. The third book in the Heechee series. This is a re-read for me

Just started


3 comments

  1. slksfca

    A quadruple biography of four queens/empresses who lived at the turn of the 20th century, called Imperial Requiem: Four Royal Women and the Fall of the Age of Empires. It’s interesting but not really first-rate writing.

    Next up is a memoir by Frank Langella which a good friend recommended (and actually bought for my Kindle). I’m looking forward to that one.

  2. Jk2003

    Of the baroque cycle books that you suggested that week.  Thanks.  Haven’t started yet as I also picked up Ursula K LeGuins first earth sea book.   A relatively quick read as it is much shorter so I am plowing through that one before starting the Stephenson book.  Thanks again!

Comments are closed.