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Just finished reading "I am a Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter. Author of "Godel, Escher and Bach". Which started off enjoyably enough, but somehow he's turned what would have been an intriguing chapter in a book into a tedious book all and of its own. This despite the wonderful reviews posted all over the dustcover and bookflaps.
And again we come to the theme of "Preaching to the Choir". In that I was initially quite sympathetic to his arguments, not 100%, but there is much in them to think about, but he develops them, rephrases them with different examples, repeats them, repeats them, repeating them again and again (over and over) ad nauseum. The point would have been better made with fewer words.
Overall I'd give it one out of eight bananas.
TO save you the trouble of reading it for yourselves I'll summarize his arguments as follows: The Mind - Consciousness - "I" - The sense of self and individuality we all feel is an illusion created by nested patterns and thought processes running in the brain. This is expounded with many examples from Math and Physics; and using some of the techniques of his earlier books (the dialogues, for example). That's it.
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And so at long last I finally finished "Science at the Edge". Which was interesting, a compilation of essays by leading scientists on what they think are important issues.
It was interesting, and not least because it reaffirmed my belieft that science, in some measure, has become a bit of a religion. And as in any religion there are zealots. They have no problems disagreeing profoundly on just about everything, in almost every aspect those adherents of a particular theory will defend it almost unto the death. While they acknowledge there is the possibility they may be wrong, none will believe it. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence. And, lest you think that by some quantum "viewer creates their own reality conundrum" they're all right, by their own admission and insistence they can't be. Someone must be wrong. Just not the scientist writing this essay.
But it was a book, and the problem with books is that it takes time to edit, proofread, set the presses, distribute, market, etc.
And for books on technology that's a bad thing. Principally because by the time the book makes it to a shelf near you many of the subjects and topics are already out of date. No, there's no general unified theory as of yet, but great strides have been made that answer and raise new questions. And that information can be found online. All of it.
For this, the internet is perfect. Information can be distributed and disseminated instantaneously. For science and technology especially, as information distributed by older means is far too slow to the mill.
So I'll end this by saying, if you want to know what the current top issues in science are today, and get the breaking news, don't read a book. Books are for literature, poetry, plays. And when I say this, bear in mind I am prejudiced in favour of books. A book is, in my mind, far superior to staring at a digital screen. But not for this.
Links to Ezines on Science and Technology:
Links to Video Media on Social, Science and Technology Issues:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Google+Techtalks&emb=0#
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Currently I am in midst of reading the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" series of books to my children. Which is excellent, and I would recommend you read it to your children upwards of 8 years old. What distinguishes it from other works for the same age range is the authors rather demented sense of humour and perpetual small subversions that give away more about the world they're growing into than most people would be comfortable discussing or acknowledging. Which, if you're like me you're always eager to discuss and the book gives many introductions to topics that can easily expand into a cheerful evenings conversation....
The story focuses on 3 children - Violet, Klaus and Sunny, (AKA the Beaudelaire orphans), who were left without parents after a mysterious fire destroys their home, and the villainous Count Olaf, who attempts to possess himself of the Beaudelaires' fortune by various intrigues and adventures. While superficially very humourous, and written at an age level most younger children could easily understand, the books also offer many winks and nods to an older and more informed audience via asides from the narrator, Lemony Snicket.
Some quotes:
"For instance, as I crouch here behind the altar of the Cathedral of the Alleged Virgin...."
"The most important thing we do at the hospital is paperwork...."
And, of course, he scrupulously dissects such adages as: "Children should be seen and not heard" and "No News is Good News".
These quotes and topics above are but a very few of the many themes covered in book #8 - "The Hostile Hospital". Overall, these books are excellent, and I would recommend for children aged 8-14, although I've heard of adults who have read and quite enjoyed them as well.
Please note, that while the movie of the same name possessed characters of some resemblance, all qualities end there.
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2 books on my bedside table, the first - Richard Feynman, - "Surely your joking, Mr. Feynman" - the autobiography of the Nobel Prize winning physicist, an easy read, enjoyable principally because of the fascinating character that Mr. Feynman was.
And the other, the collected letters of Vincent Van Gogh to his brother Theo, (edited) - the "edited" offends me, I want to know what was left out. I'm reading the Feynman book to stall the reading of Van Gogh's letters, already they have me rapt and I am savouring, delaying the sadness that comes with finishing a great read.