Lying (S. Bok) - This actually is a book concerning the daily choices we all make as to whether to lie. When is it acceptable and even morally and ethically preferably to do so. Bok's academic backgrkound is philosophy. So far it's a little drier and reaches back a bit too much to ancient and Judeo-Christian traditions for me, but I'm sticking with it.
Priors (Most recent on top)
Alice in Quantumland (R. Gilmore) - A short allegory about physics which is so utterly incomprehensible as to be thoroughly entertaining. I'm SUCH a geek! It was difficult. Some of the concepts make NO sense at all. But I did learn some stuff that I was always curious about. But now, it's back to something less esoteric.
Steve Jobs (W. Isaacson) This was very well done. It was loaned to me by my former boss and fellow retiree Dave Boughton, and I greatly appreciate it. He does a good job describing the genius, the shortcomings, and the many ideosyncracies of this fascinating icon, and how he impacted Apple, Pixar, and Next, not to mention family and friends, for better and for worse.
Eastern Standard Tribe and For the Win (C. Doctorow) More escapist futuristic techno-fiction. I loved "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" and "Little Brother" by the same author so I ordered a bunch of his other books. These were the first of that batch. "EST" was okay, dealing with . "For the Win" is darker in tone, a story about on-line computer gamers being exploited, attempting to unionize, and being brutally beaten down by vicious supervisors. Very well worth it. And the author quickly responded to an e-mail I sent him!
Any recommendations? Let me know!
Reading has lately gone back from fiction to biography. No classes. I dropped music lessons. NOTHING ELSE IS NEW!
DVD Courses Taken (an indication of what interests me):
From Yao to Mao - 5000 Years of Chinese History
The Nature of the Earth - An Introduction to Geology
Understanding The Universe - An Introduction to Astronomy
The Great Debate - Advocates and Opponents of the American Constitution
Isaac Newton and 17th Century Alchemy
The Vikings
The History of the Supreme Court
Understanding Linguistics
Understanding the Brain
Economics
Nutrition Made Clear
The Modern Intellectual Tradition
The Conservative Tradition
The States (from History Channel)
The Presidents (from History Channel)
The Theory of Evolution
Earth's Changing Climate
American Ideals - Founding a Nation of Virtue
My Favorite Universe
The American Mind
Cycles of American Political Thought (in progress)
