What I'm reading ...

I have started Humans by Brandon Stanton. I was somewhat familiar with Humans of New York, so I was very pleased when some good friends gave me this book as a retirement present earlier in the year. Having read almost exclusively on Kindle for the last decade, it is a little odd to handle a “real” book, but, as it is lavishly illustrated, this is the right medium. Here’s the blurb:

Brandon Stanton’s Humans is a book that connects readers as global citizens at a time when erecting more borders is the order of the day. It shows us the entire world, one story at a time . . .

Brandon Stanton’s Humans – his most moving and compelling book to date – shows us the world. After five years of traveling the globe, the creator of Humans of New York brings people from all parts of the world into a conversation with readers. He ignores borders, chronicles lives and shows us the faces of the world as he saw them. His travels took him from London, Paris and Rome to Iraq, Dubai, Ukraine, Pakistan, Jordan, Uganda, Vietnam, Israel and every other place in between. His interviews go deeper than before. His chronicling of peoples’ lives shows the experience of a writer who has traveled widely and thought deeply about the state of our world.

Including hundreds of photos and stories of the people he met and talked with in over forty countries, Humans is classic Brandon Stanton – a full colour illustrated book that includes many photos and stories never seen before. For the first time for a HONY title, Humans will contain several of the essays Brandon’s posted online which have been read, loved and enthusiastically shared by his followers.

Commonwealth - by Ann Patchett

This was a very pleasing read. Although it is about just two families, their various relationships are quite complex, which, along with the multiple timelines, kept me on my toes. The author has a great ability to paint pictures in words and uses metaphor with a very light touch - you don’t notice that there’s been one until you stop to think about it. The ending of the book is slightly abrupt, but short of waiting until everyone is dead, I cannot think how it could have been done better. I would think that all the interesting stuff has happened. I was caught out by seeing how many pages were left, but didn’t notice that this included “end matter”. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. The author is well renowned and I have enjoyed her work before. Here’s the blurb:

A powerful story of two families brought together by beauty and torn apart by tragedy, the new novel by the Orange Prize-winning author of Bel Canto and State of Wonder is her most astonishing yet

It is 1964: Bert Cousins, the deputy district attorney, shows up at Franny Keating's christening party uninvited, bottle of gin in hand. As the cops of Los Angeles drink, talk and dance into the June afternoon, he notices a heart-stoppingly beautiful woman. When Bert kisses Beverly Keating, his host's wife, the new baby pressed between them, he sets in motion the joining of two families whose shared fate will be defined on a day seven years later.

In 1988, Franny Keating, now twenty-four, has dropped out of law school and is working as a cocktail waitress in Chicago. When she meets one of her idols, the famous author Leon Posen, and tells him about her family, she unwittingly relinquishes control over their story. Franny never dreams that the consequences of this encounter will extend beyond her own life into those of her scattered siblings and parents.

Told with equal measures of humour and heartbreak, Commonwealth is a powerful and tender tale of family, betrayal and the far-reaching bonds of love and responsibility. A meditation on inspiration, interpretation and the ownership of stories, it is Ann Patchett's most astonishing work.

Born On a Blue Day - by Daniel Tammet

This was an excellent book and a very enjoyable read. I always like to get insights into other people’s lives and, when it is someone as remarkable as this author, it is a particular pleasure. The book is well written in a very simple style, that I like. One of my strongest reactions to the book is my familiarity with some of his idiosyncrasies; nothing like the level that he experiences, but confirming that I’m somewhere on the edge of “the spectrum”. Before I finished reading this book, I had ordered a copy of his next one.

What I'm reading ...

I have started reading Born On a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. I had heard of this book before, but it was the recommendation of it by a good friend, who himself experiences synesthesia, that motivated me to buy a copy. Here’s the blurb:

'I was born on 31 January 1979 - a Wednesday. I know it was a Wednesday, because the date is blue in my mind and Wednesdays are always blue, like the number nine or the sound of loud voices arguing.' Like the character Hoffman portrayed, he can perform extraordinary maths in his head, sees numbers as shapes, colours, textures and motions, and can learn to speak a language fluently from scratch in three days. He also has a compulsive need for order and routine. He eats exactly 45 grams of porridge for breakfast and cannot leave the house without counting the number of items of clothing he's wearing. If he gets stressed or unhappy he closes his eyes and counts. But in some ways Daniel is not all like the Rain Man. He is virtually unique amongst people who have severe autistic disorders in being capable of living a fully-functioning, independent life. It is this incredible self-awareness and ability to communicate what it feels like to live in a totally extraordinary way that makes BORN ON A BLUE DAY so powerful.

Pythagoras - by Kitty Ferguson

I have abandoned reading this book. It is unusual for me to do this, but I see no point in continuing with a book if reading it is a chore; that is not the place for reading in my life. I thought that this book might be interesting, as I like biographies - learning about other people’s lives. However, I just found this book hard going. It started out by explaining that very little is actually known about Pythagoras. This made me wonder what the next 350 pages would hold. The answer is snippets of information, anecdotes and speculation. So, after 50 or so pages, I gave up.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Pythagoras by Kitty Ferguson. It was time for non-fiction and this looked potentially interesting. I have no idea where I got the book from. Here’s the blurb:

This is the enthralling story of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans, whose insights transformed the ancient world and still inspire the realms of science, mathematics, philosophy and the arts.Einstein said that the most incredible thing about our universe was that it was comprehensible at all. As Kitty Ferguson explains in this eye-opening new book, Pythagoras had much the same idea – but 2,500 years earlier.Though many know him only for the so-called Pythagorean theorem, in fact the pillars of our scientific tradition – the belief that the universe is rational, that there is unity to all things, and that numbers and mathematics are a powerful guide to truth about nature and the cosmos – hark back to the convictions of this legendary scholar and his ancient followers.Born around 570 BC on the cultured Aegean island of Samos, Pythagoras founded his own school at Croton in southern Italy, where he and his followers began to unravel the surprising deep truths concealed behind such ordinary tasks as tuning a lyre. While considering why some string lengths produced beautiful sounds and others discordant ones, they uncovered the ratios of musical harmony, and recognised that hidden behind the confusion and complexity of nature are patterns and orderly relationships – they had glimpsed the mind of God. Some of them later found something in nature and numbers that was darker: irrationality, an unsettling and subversive revelation.Alongside the poignant human saga, Kitty Ferguson brilliantly evokes Pythagoras’ ancient world, showing how his ideas spread in antiquity and in the Middle Ages, and chronicles the incredible influence he and his followers have had on extraordinary people – from Plato to Bertrand Russell – throughout the history of Western thought and science.

The Immortalists - by Kyle Mills

Overall I’d say that this was a good book. It’s quite a complex story, with quite a few surprises and it kept me turning the pages. I thought that the science behind it sounded to credible, so I didn’t need to suspend belief.

The book raise some interesting questions:

Are there rich people/organizations who are really above world governments?

What would the world be like if everyone could be immune from old age? Statistically, everyone would die eventually from illness or injury. However, the birth rate would need to be much lower or the population would grow to a totally unsustainable level. Would just rich people [secretively] buy into the anti-aging therapy?

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Immortalists by Kyle Mills. Time for fiction again. I am not sure how I came by this book, but it sounds interesting enough to give it a go. Here’s the blurb:

Dr. Richard Draman is trying desperately to discover a cure for a disease that causes children to age at a wildly accelerated rate—a rare genetic condition that is killing his own daughter. When the husband of a colleague quietly gives him a copy of the classified work she was doing before her mysterious suicide, Draman finally sees a glimmer of hope. The conclusions are stunning, with the potential to not only turn the field of biology on its head, but reshape the world. Soon, though, he finds himself on the run, relentlessly pursued by a seemingly omnipotent group of men who will do whatever it takes to silence him.

The Book of Fame - by Lloyd Jones

This book was a bit of a surprise. I was expecting a non-fiction account of the tour, hoping that, even though I have minimal interest in rugby, it might give me some interesting insights, through the eyes of visitors, to this country 100 years ago. It turns out that, even though the book is based around the facts, the author has used his imagination and knowledge of the period to elaborate. The result is an enjoyable read and I did feel that I got some insights.

There are quite longs sections of the book that are written in stream-of-consciousness, blank verse [I think that’s what it is]. This proves to be a very effective way to convey impressions and feelings.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Book of Fame by Lloyd Jones. I am not sure where/how I got this book; I am sure that someone recommended it, but can’t remember whom. I thought that the book was mainly factual, but I observe that it has won awards for fiction. Here’s the blurb:

In August 1905 a party of young men set sail for England. Amongst them were ordinary farmers and bootmakers, a miner and a bank clerk. Together they made up the All Blacks, an unknown rugby team from Auckland, New Zealand. And they had come to show the world what they could do. What they didn't know was that they were bound for fame.

The first game was in Devon, 'played in golden farm light, a surprising victory'. By December they had become the 'wonderful All Blacks' who had beaten Yorkshire 40-0, England 15-0 and Ireland 15-0. People stopped them in the streets. In this melding of true history and imagination, Lloyd Jones has recreated an unforgettable journey from innocence to celebrity.

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics - by Carlo Rovelli

This book “did what it says on the tin”. I did not receive any great insights, but some good clarification of stuff hat I knew about. It is a good, short read on the topic. The last few pages are rather philosophical, but I forgive the author. 😀

What I'm reading ...

I have started Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli. A short book and a complete change of pace. Here’s the blurb:

Everything you need to know about modern physics, the universe and your place in the world in seven enlightening lessons

These seven short lessons guide us, with simplicity and clarity, through the scientific revolution that shook physics in the twentieth century and still continues to shake us today. In this beautiful and mind-bending introduction to modern physics, Carlo Rovelli explains Einstein's theory of general relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, elementary particles, gravity, and the nature of the mind. In under eighty pages, readers will understand the most transformative scientific discoveries of the twentieth century and what they mean for us.

Hamnet - by Maggie O’Farrell

This was a very enjoyable read. The author’s descriptive skills are amazing. I have rarely seen metaphors used so effectively. Beyond the story, I felt that the book gave a strong feel for what life was like in the 16th Century. A surprisingly familiar concept was the occasional shut down of all the theatres etc. in London to contain the spread of plague.

The story is fairly simple, but has multiple layers of significance, which leans to the abrupt, but logical ending to the book.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Time for some fiction and this came highly recommended. Here’s the blurb:

On a summer's day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a fever. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Why is nobody at home?

Their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away, in the garden where she grows medicinal herbs. Their father is working in London. Neither parent knows that one of the children will not survive the week.

Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright. It is a story of the bond between twins, and of a marriage pushed to the brink by grief. It is also the story of a kestrel and its mistress; flea that boards a ship in Alexandria; and a glovemaker's son who flouts convention in pursuit of the woman he loves. Above all, it is a tender and unforgettable reimagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - by Yuval Noah Harari

Overall, a really interesting, well-written and well-organized book. It took me a long time to read simply because there is so much in there. Every chapter introduced some new ideas. The blurb says that the book is “provocative” and I agree; quite a few people would be offended or annoyed by some of the assertions, particularly about some religious and political matters. I think that I can truly say that I will never look at the world and our place in it quite the same again.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. Once again, time for non-fiction. This book came recommended by a respected friend and addresses a subject that I find very interesting. Here’s the blurb:

Planet Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it. Us.

We are the most advanced and most destructive animals ever to have lived. What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?

In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we’re going.

Sapiens is a thrilling account of humankind’s extraordinary history – from the Stone Age to the Silicon Age – and our journey from insignificant apes to rulers of the world.

Sunfall - by Jim Al-Khalili

First off, I thought that this was a great book. It is well written and interesting and its pace is just right - I was glued to it for the last 100 pages or so.

I had wondered how a scientist would do with science fiction. As expected, there is lots of science in the book: the Earth’s magnetic field flip, global warming, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, self-driving vehicles, dark matter, ubiquitous Internet. I am sure that there is more. In almost every case, I felt that the story was true to the science, with only a tiny hiccup, which I will come to. I found the depiction of the world 20 years hence entirely credible.

The tiny glitch was minor and maybe I missed something. One of the protagonists is going to ride her motorbike. She grabs the Lithium ion batteries and sets off. It starts first time. She has a crash and, while lying on the ground, she observes that the engine is still running. This raises questions/issues:

• Will we still be using Lithium ion batteries in 20 years?
• The bike starting first time is rather meaningless; why wouldn’t it?
• The bike engine running when stationary makes no sense.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Sunfall by Jim Al-Khalili. I have very much enjoyed this author’s radio programs and science writing, so I thought that it might be interesting to see how he does with Sci Fi and a topic that I find particularly interesting. Here’s the blurb:

2041 and the world as we know it grinds to a halt. Our planet seems to be turning against itself - it would appear that the magnetic field, that protects life on Earth from deadly radiation from space, is failing . . .

Desperate to quell the mass hysteria that would surely follow, world governments have concealed this rapidly emerging Armageddon. But a young Iranian hacktivist stumbles across the truth, and it becomes a race against time to reactivate the earth's core using beams of dark matter.

As a small team of brave and brilliant scientists battle to find a way of transforming theory into practice, they face a fanatical group intent on pursuing their own endgame agenda: for they believe mankind to be a plague upon this earth and will do anything, commit any crime, to ensure that the project fails . . .

And so bring about humanity's end.

Brief Answers to the Big Questions - by Stephen Hawking

As expected, this was a very interesting and insightful read. Although it covers some quite complex topics, it was quite easy to read, as it is well written. I found Hawking’s enthusiasm for his subject particularly pleasing. As each chapter is a separate essay, one could dip into the book and read the contents in any order, but it does result in slight overlap here and there.

What I'm reading ...

 I have started Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking. Time for non-fiction again and this short book looks like just the job. Here’s the blurb:

The world-famous cosmologist and #1 bestselling author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the universe's biggest questions in this brilliant posthumous work.

Is there a God?

How did it all begin?

Can we predict the future?

What is inside a black hole?

Is there other intelligent life in the universe?

Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?

How do we shape the future?

Will we survive on Earth?

Should we colonise space?

Is time travel possible?

Throughout his extraordinary career, Stephen Hawking expanded our understanding of the universe and unravelled some of its greatest mysteries. But even as his theoretical work on black holes, imaginary time and multiple histories took his mind to the furthest reaches of space, Hawking always believed that science could also be used to fix the problems on our planet.

And now, as we face potentially catastrophic changes here on Earth - from climate change to dwindling natural resources to the threat of artificial super-intelligence - Stephen Hawking turns his attention to the most urgent issues for humankind.

Wide-ranging, intellectually stimulating, passionately argued, and infused with his characteristic humour, Brief Answers to the Big Questions, the final book from one of the greatest minds in history, is a personal view on the challenges we face as a human race, and where we, as a planet, are heading next.

Circle Of Friends - by Maeve Binchy

This book was everything that I’d hoped for. It was a long book with a complex story-line, but a straightforward read that was never taxing. Binchy’s books always have a lot of characters, with complex relationships between them. This one was just like that, and, with only one tiny, unimportant exception, I never lost that thread. There are about three points in the story when an unexpected dramatic event occurs which is almost like a reboot - just when you thought things were going smoothly …

I am sure that I’ll be back to read [or re-read] more this author’s work.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Circle Of Friends by Maeve Binchy. Some years ago I had a spate of reading Irish authors and very much enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s work, so I thought I would like reading another one of them. [Of course, with my bad memory, I may find that I have read it before!] Here’s the blurb:

Generous-hearted Benny Hogan and the elfin Eve Malone have been best friends for years, growing up in sleepy Knockglen. Their one thought is to get to Dublin, to university and to freedom...

On their first day at University College, the inseparable pair are thrown together with fellow students: beautiful but selfish Nan Mahon and the handsome Jack Foley.

But trouble is brewing for Benny and Eve's new circle of friends and, before long, they find passion, tragedy – and the independence they yearned for.

Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking - by Matthew Syed

This book totally delivered to me. It describes the idea behind diverse thinking and illustrates it with numerous real world stories. In some, it has succeeded and, in others, failure is linked to not applying diverse thinking. The book is well written and fairly easy to read with a very clear explanation of the ideas. I will look out for other work by this author.

What I'm reading ...

 I have started Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew Syed. Time for another non-fiction and this came recommended. here’s the blurb:

Where do the best ideas come from?

And how do we apply these ideas to the problems we face - at work, in the education of our children, and in the biggest shared challenges of our age: rising obesity, terrorism and climate change?

In this bold and inspiring new book, Matthew Syed - the bestselling author of Bounce and Black Box Thinking - argues that individual intelligence is no longer enough; that the only way to tackle these complex problems is to harness the power of our 'cognitive diversity'.

Rebel Ideas is a fascinating journey through the science of team performance. It draws on psychology, economics, anthropology and genetics, and takes lessons from a dazzling range of case-studies, including the catastrophic intelligence failings of the CIA before 9/11, a communication breakdown at the top of Mount Everest, and a moving tale of deradicalization in America's deep South.

It is book that will strengthen any company, institution or team, but it also offers many individual applications too: the remarkable benefits of personalised nutrition, advice on how to break free of the echo chambers that surround us, and tips on how we can all develop an 'outsider mindset'.

Rebel Ideas offers a radical blueprint for creative problem-solving. It challenges hierarchies, encourages constructive dissent and forces us to think again about where the best ideas come from.

The Lido - by Libby Page

 This is a real “feel good” book. Well, for me anyway. Perusing some of the Amazon reviews, a small minority sound like they have read a different book!

On the surface, the book is about the potential closure of a lido in Brixton, the impact of this possibility on various people and a campaign to stop it. What the book is really about is friendship, community, body image, mental health, love, life and death. 

I really enjoyed the read. When I was approaching the end, I experienced a common ambivalence: I did not want to put the book down, but I also didn’t want it to end. I was pleased to see that there’s another book by the author and further one to be published soon.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Lido by Libby Page. I am not sure how I came to own this, but it’s time for some solid fiction and this looks like it’ll fit the bill. Here’s the blurb:

Rosemary has lived in Brixton all her life, but everything she knows is changing. Only the local lido, where she swims every day, remains a constant reminder of the past and her beloved husband George.

Kate has just moved and feels adrift in a city that is too big for her. She's on the bottom rung of her career as a local journalist, and is determined to make something of it.

So when the lido is threatened with closure, Kate knows this story could be her chance to shine. But for Rosemary, it could be the end of everything. Together they are determined to make a stand, and to prove that the pool is more than just a place to swim - it is the heart of the community.

A History of Modern Britain - by Andrew Marr

This book took a while. Partly this is due to it being a big book, me being a slow reader and my life being less conducive to reading from time to time lately. It is also because there is a lot of stuff in it and that takes time to process.

The book covers essentially 1945-2017, so all of my life  is encapsulated. I learned a great deal. Mostly about the political situation in my younger life, where I really had no idea what was going on. But also the background to Brexit, which was not really that clear to me - why would anyone vote to sabotage they country’s economy?

The book is well written and well paced. It feels very well researched and reliable. The last chapter confused me a little, as it “felt” different and is almost written backwards. I understand that it was added for the second edition, which explains the slight disconnect.

What I'm reading ...

I have started, A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr. My knowledge of modern history is very inadequate, so I hope that this book, by a well respected author, will help. Here’s the blurb:

A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity and self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier and harder to herd than predicted.

Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge – first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War and later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital and migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political and economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men and punks, Margaret Thatcher's wonderful good luck, political lies and the true heroes of British theatre.

The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden - by Jonas Jonasson

This book took a while to read, but this was as a result of my circumstances; it was not an unduly challenging read. The story is complex and humorous, as expected. It is a very unlikely tale, but I could not say that it would be impossible. All the characters were well drawn so that, by the end, I really felt that I knew them. Overall an enjoyable read that gets me in the right mindset for something more substantial. 

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson. Time for some lighter reading and I enjoyed the author’s last book. Here’s the blurb:

Just because the world ignores you, doesn’t mean you can’t save it . . .

Nombeko Mayeki was never meant to be a hero. Born in a Soweto shack, she seemed destined for a short, hard life. But now she is on the run from the world's most ruthless secret service, with three Chinese sisters, twins who are officially one person and an elderly potato farmer. Oh, and the fate of the King of Sweden - and the world - rests on her shoulders.

As uproariously funny as Jonas Jonasson’s bestselling debut, this is an entrancing tale of luck, love and international relations.

Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus - The Language of the Universe - by Steven Strogatz

This book did a great job of taking a complex, highly technical subject and explaining what it’s about and why it’s important. It never sets out to teach the reader calculus, but it explains how we got to where we are, why people do learn it and many of the applications and benefits that have been gained from it.

It is written in a very accessible style, which makes it a fairly easy read. I might accuse the author of a bit of repetition, but maybe that was necessary to push home some of his points. I still would not know what to do with a partial differential equation, but I o understand why people endeavour solve them.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus - The Language of the Universe by Steven Strogatz. It was time for some non-fiction and this is a topic that I really feel I should understand more fully. Here's the blurb:

This is the captivating story of mathematics' greatest ever idea: calculus. Without it, there would be no computers, no microwave ovens, no GPS, and no space travel. But before it gave modern man almost infinite powers, calculus was behind centuries of controversy, competition, and even death.

Taking us on a thrilling journey through three millennia, professor Steven Strogatz charts the development of this seminal achievement from the days of Archimedes to today's breakthroughs in chaos theory and artificial intelligence. Filled with idiosyncratic characters from Pythagoras to Fourier, Infinite Powers is a compelling human drama that reveals the legacy of calculus on nearly every aspect of modern civilisation, including science, politics, medicine, philosophy ...

Grandmothers - by Salley Vickers

A well-written book and straightforward read, with chapters of a modest length that always said “just one more”. The book starts out as three stories about each of the grannies, following events over about a year. But it also explores their characters and histories in a very natural way. I was pleased when their stories began to intertwine, as this seems to happen in real life. 

All in all an enjoyable read that will make me come back to this author.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Grandmothers by Salley Vickers. It was time for some fiction and this looked interesting. Here’s the blurb:

Grandmothers is the story of three very different women and their relationship with the younger generation: fiercely independent Nan, who leads a secret life as an award-winning poet when she is not teaching her grandson Billy how to lie; glamorous Blanche, deprived of the company of her beloved granddaughter Kitty by her hostile daughter-in-law, who finds solace in rebellious drinking and shoplifting; and shy, bookish Minna who in the safety of shepherd's hut shares with her surrogate granddaughter Rose her passion for reading. The outlook of all three women subtly alters when through their encounters with each other they discover that the past is always with us and that we go on learning and changing until the very end.

A Promised Land - by Barack Obama

I was interested in reading this book to get a different perspective, after hearing Michelle’s angle in her book Becoming, which I had very much enjoyed.

This is a big book - about 900 pages pf text - which I found rather daunting. It took me a while, but I was motivated to carry on with it - reading the book was never a chore. 

The book is very well written - coherent and well paced. It is long, even though it covers Obama’s political life only until around half way through his first term.  This is because it is very detailed, not covering just the facts about things that happened, but also the thoughts and planning leading up to them and the author’s feelings and reactions.

In a way, it is 3 books:

• an account of Obama’s political life
• a thoughtful history of key world events and the political scene in the US over this period
• a clear insight into a remarkable man, who is happy to document his successes, but not afraid to admit when he made mistakes

I am very pleased to have read it and look forward to the next volume.

What I'm reading ...

I have started A Promised Land by Barack Obama. I normally wait for the paperback publication of a book, which brings down the Kindle edition price, but I decided that this could not wait, as it is so topical. It is a big book and the first of two volumes, so quite a commitment.  Here’s the blurb:

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making-from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency-a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation's highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune's Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective-the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of "hope and change," and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama's conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.

Nine Perfect Strangers - by Liane Moriarty

This book, like the others that I have read by this author, pulled me in very quickly. The story has a brisk pace that moved me along. The characters are well-drawn so that I have a clear picture of each one in my mind. There are also not too many [11-12 main ones, I guess] so I always knew who is being talked about in the text.

The book is an interesting mix of a main storyline, multiple back-stories and a psychological exploration of the main characters. That sounds like a mash-mash, but it holds together well; it all seemed to belong.

Although aspects of the story seemed somewhat unlikely, they were far from being implausible. Very much the model for this author’s work. I have just one more book of hers that I have yet to read. I will resist that for a while and hope for more in the future.

What I'm reading ...

I have started, Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Time from some fiction and I have enjoyed several other books by this author. Here’s the blurb:

Nine perfect strangers, each hiding an imperfect life.
A luxury retreat cut off from the outside world.
Ten days that promise to change your life.
But some promises - like some lives - are perfect lies . . .

Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology - by Jim Al-Khalili and Johnjoe McFadden

This book took a while. It is a long book and I am a slow reader, but it is also packed with information. I often found that I could only read a few pages before I needed a break to digest. I am familiar with Jim Al-Khalili’s work, both written and on the radio, and he has a very lucid style.

The main thing that I learned from the book was how incredibly complex the subject is; I have really only gained an appreciation of all the work that is going on. A couple of random nuggets: spinach might be thought of as a quantum computer; if we can build solar panels that work on the same principle as photosynthesis in plants, they will be fantastically efficient.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology by Jim Al-Khalili and Johnjoe McFadden. Time for non-fiction again and I expect this to be an interesting read from past experience of the (first) author. Here’s the blurb:

Life is the most extraordinary phenomenon in the known universe; but how does it work? Even in this age of cloning and synthetic biology, the remarkable truth remains: nobody has ever made anything living entirely out of dead material. Life remains the only way to make life. Are we missing a vital ingredient in its creation?

Like Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene, which provided a new perspective on evolution, Life on the Edge alters our understanding of life's dynamics as Jim Al-Khalili and Johnjoe Macfadden reveal the hitherto missing ingredient to be quantum mechanics. Drawing on recent ground-breaking experiments around the world, they show how photosynthesis relies on subatomic particles existing in many places at once, while inside enzymes, those workhorses of life that make every molecule within our cells, particles vanish from one point in space and instantly materialize in another.

Each chapter in Life on the Edge opens with an engaging example that illustrates one of life’s puzzles – How do migrating birds know where to go? How do we really smell the scent of a rose? How do our genes manage to copy themselves with such precision? – and then reveals how quantum mechanics delivers its answer. Guiding the reader through the maze of rapidly unfolding discovery, Al-Khalili and McFadden communicate vividly the excitement of this explosive new field of quantum biology, with its potentially revolutionary applications, and also offer insights into the biggest puzzle of all: what is life?

The Green Road - by Anne Enright

This book is less of a story, more of a study of a family and their interrelations. Each of Rosaleen’s children go off and lead different lives and the author describes them each with great insight. Overall, a very well-written book and enjoyable read that gave me a glimpse of some other, unfamiliar worlds.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Green Road by Anne Enright. It is time for fiction and I have not read any Irish writing for a while. Here’s the blurb:

Hanna, Dan, Constance and Emmet return to the west coast of Ireland for a final family Christmas in the home their mother is about to sell. As the feast turns to near painful comedy, a last, desperate act from Rosaleen - a woman who doesn't quite know how to love her children - forces them to confront the weight of family ties and the road that brought them home.

Daemon Voices: Essays on Storytelling - by Philip Pullman

This book, as the title says, is a collection of essays, which were written under a variety of circumstances. The background/origin of each is provided and this explains the varying style. There is also so update information at the end of a few, as many were written quite a few years ago.

Overall, I gained quite a few insights and it has made me think about writing and storytelling in a different way. I would recommend it to any aspiring writer. It was also interesting to get the author’s views on various topics, including education and religion; in most cases, he aligns with my opinions.

If I have any criticism of the book, I’d say it is a little long - a bit of culling might have been good. There are also a few examples of repetition, but I guess that was inevitable, given the essays’ origins.

 

What I'm reading ...

I have started Daemon Voices: Essays on Storytelling by Philip Pullman. It was time for some non-fiction. I very much enjoy this author’s work, so his and on various matters around storytelling cannot fail to be interesting. Here’s the blurb:

In over 30 essays, written over 20 years, one of the world’s great story-tellers meditates on story-telling. Warm, funny, generous, entertaining and, above all, deeply considered, they offer thoughts on a wide variety of topics, including the origin and composition of Philip’s own stories, the craft of writing and the story-tellers who have meant the most to Philip.

The art of story-telling is everywhere present in the essays themselves, in the instantly engaging tone, the vivid imagery and striking phrases, the resonant anecdotes, the humour and learnedness. Together, they are greater than the sum of their parts: a single, sustained engagement with story and story-telling.

Gut Symmetries - by Jeanette Winterson

 This was a very unusual book. Initially, I felt that it was very word - going on and on about details, but I gradually understood that this was a way to convey a detailed idea of the feelings of the characters as well as the events of the story. The story itself, whilst somewhat unlikely and a little surreal, was basically quite simple. The richness of the book came form the details: the back story of the characters, the details of their parents and childhood etc. Eventually, I started enjoying the rich language; it was like rich food, which can be indigestible if you’re not used to it.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Gut Symmetries by Jeanette Winterson. A well-known author whose work I have enjoyed before. Here’s the blurb:

Travelling across the Atlantic on board the QE2, Alice - a bright, young physicist - meets Jove, short for Giovanni, one of the world's most respected experts on time travel and a confirmed lothario. By the time the pair land in New York, Alice has become Jove's mistress, an affair of the heart which is only complicated further when Alice meets Jove's, wife, Stella; a tempestuous beauty born with a diamond at the base of her spine. As this love triangle turns into a menage-a-trois, Alice, Stella and Jove struggle against the currents immersing them, while their romance pulls into its wake the stories of other generations, philosophies, quantum physics and time travel. A celebration of the human heart in all its frailty, confusion and excess, Gut Symmetries is a lyrical evocation of parallel lives, loves and universes, from one of Britain's best loved authors.

The Death of Expertise: The Campaign against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters - by Tom Nichols

Overall this was a good book and covered an interesting subject, which is very topical. As it is a fairly recent publication, it is even more topical than might otherwise be expected. The analysis of the subject was detailed, enlightening and interesting. I guess that I find myself neither reassured or surprised by the conclusions.

The book is somewhat typical of this type of American publication. It follows a formula:

1. Tell ‘em what you’re going to say.
2. Say it.
3. Tell ‘em what you just said.

The result is a lot - a lot! - of repetition. This is a good 100 page book that is buried in >250 pages ...

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Death of Expertise: The Campaign against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters by Tom Nichols. I forget how I came to have this book - maybe someone recommended it. But it seems to address a very topical subject. Here’s the blurb:

Technology and increasing levels of education have exposed people to more information than ever before. These societal gains, however, have also helped fuel a surge in narcissistic and misguided intellectual egalitarianism that has crippled informed debates on any number of issues. Today, everyone knows everything: with only a quick trip through WebMD or Wikipedia, average citizens believe themselves to be on an equal intellectual footing with doctors and diplomats. All voices, even the most ridiculous, demand to be taken with equal seriousness, and any claim to the contrary is dismissed as undemocratic elitism.

Tom Nichols' The Death of Expertise shows how this rejection of experts has occurred: the openness of the internet, the emergence of a customer satisfaction model in higher education, and the transformation of the news industry into a 24-hour entertainment machine, among other reasons. Paradoxically, the increasingly democratic dissemination of information, rather than producing an educated public, has instead created an army of ill-informed and angry citizens who denounce intellectual achievement. When ordinary citizens believe that no one knows more than anyone else, democratic institutions themselves are in danger of falling either to populism or to technocracy or, in the worst case, a combination of both. An update to the 2017breakout hit, the paperback edition of The Death of Expertise provides a new foreword to cover the alarming exacerbation of these trends in the aftermath of Donald Trump's election. Judging from events on the ground since it first published, The Death of Expertise issues a warning about the stability and survival of modern democracy in the Information Age.

Rough Music - by Patrick Gale

This was a great read. There are two timelines that involve mostly the same characters, but it is always clear where you are. The story has a very good pace, with a few surprises and a number of “mysteries” - aspects of the story that keep the reader wondering until they are resolved. My only tiny, tiny reservation was that I didn’t really understand the last few paragraphs. In any case, I will be reading more of this author’s work.