Sam (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
l33tminion) wrote2007-07-04 10:56 pm
l33tminion) wrote2007-07-04 10:56 pm
Entry tags:
Mostly Non-Fiction
Books reviews from recent reading:
The God Delusion: Dawkins defines "the god hypothesis" as "there exists a superhuman, supernatural intelligence who deliberately designed and created this universe and everything in it, including us", then argues against that hypothesis in a coherent, articulate defense of atheism. Worthwhile reading for atheists and believers alike.
Backlash: Essential reading for anyone interested in modern feminism, focusing on the history of the late 70's through early 90's.
Darwin's Dangerous Idea: This book is to the philosophical examination of evolution as The Selfish Gene is to the scientific; both are excellent.
Don't Eat This Book: The movie "Super-Size Me" was fairly awesome, this book is rather meh. It adds a little to the movie, if you've seen the movie, but it also covers most of the same material.
The Search: A pretty good analysis of the web-search industry. Light non-fiction.
Velocity: A serial-killer thriller. Not for the squeamish, but otherwise nothing special.
The Three Pound Enigma: Pretty interesting overview of neuroscience and related topics. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Phantoms in the Brain, though it covered a somewhat wider set of topics.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Interesting book on globalization. Unfortunately, its section on opposition to globalization is somewhat weak, probably influenced by the author's pro-globalization bias. Also, the book is quite dense and somewhat wordy. I didn't regret reading it, but I wouldn't give it a strong recommendation.
Rain Fall: Hit-man thriller set in Japan, first in a series. Good and pulpy.
The Long Tail: Great book on how the economics of (practically) limitless choice (made possibly by, among other things, digital and online distribution) are changing our economy and culture.
The God Delusion: Dawkins defines "the god hypothesis" as "there exists a superhuman, supernatural intelligence who deliberately designed and created this universe and everything in it, including us", then argues against that hypothesis in a coherent, articulate defense of atheism. Worthwhile reading for atheists and believers alike.
Backlash: Essential reading for anyone interested in modern feminism, focusing on the history of the late 70's through early 90's.
Darwin's Dangerous Idea: This book is to the philosophical examination of evolution as The Selfish Gene is to the scientific; both are excellent.
Don't Eat This Book: The movie "Super-Size Me" was fairly awesome, this book is rather meh. It adds a little to the movie, if you've seen the movie, but it also covers most of the same material.
The Search: A pretty good analysis of the web-search industry. Light non-fiction.
Velocity: A serial-killer thriller. Not for the squeamish, but otherwise nothing special.
The Three Pound Enigma: Pretty interesting overview of neuroscience and related topics. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Phantoms in the Brain, though it covered a somewhat wider set of topics.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Interesting book on globalization. Unfortunately, its section on opposition to globalization is somewhat weak, probably influenced by the author's pro-globalization bias. Also, the book is quite dense and somewhat wordy. I didn't regret reading it, but I wouldn't give it a strong recommendation.
Rain Fall: Hit-man thriller set in Japan, first in a series. Good and pulpy.
The Long Tail: Great book on how the economics of (practically) limitless choice (made possibly by, among other things, digital and online distribution) are changing our economy and culture.