(This week's) Wednesday Reading Meme
What I've just finished reading
Non-fiction
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast by Lewis Wolpert
I nearly dropped this one when there was a mention of evolutionary psychology but I persevered. The author's ideas about beliefs, how they're formed, why science often seems so contrary to 'common sense', about causal beliefs being related to toolmaking, were all quite fascinating. After that, it all became quite messy as the author discussed beliefs in specific areas and I felt like I was getting a good look at the author's belief-set.
Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. Ambrose
Mediocre coverage of a fascinating subject. The transcontinental railroad was an incredible feat and the fact that it was all done by hand labour is breathtaking. I'd love to read a book that really looked at the men who built it rather than constantly talking about how much everything cost.
NB: According to reviews, the book contains a considerable number of errors so I really want to read a different book now.
Raffles and the Golden Opportunity by Victoria Glendinning
Raffles was a man born slightly too soon. He should have been born in Queen Victoria's age of empire-building. As it was, he had the ideas and the drive but minimal if any support and how the man did not have multiple nervous breakdowns, I have no idea. At the worst point, he and his second wife lost three of their four children in six months (a fifth would die in infancy.) The ship they boarded to take them back to England, where they would be reunited with their one remaining child, caught fire and sank. All of their possessions, including a collection of art and natural history specimens and all of Raffles' manuscripts, were destroyed.
The Ice Balloon: One Man's Dramatic Attempt to Discover the North Pole by Balloon by Alec Wilkinson
A fascinating story that was less preposterous - and more tragic - than it sounded. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for a whole book so the author included more information about the Artic and other expeditions. This can be done well but here it was very choppy. Still, I enjoyed it.
I reread Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded by Simon Winchester. My recollection was that I hadn't enjoyed the science parts very much and that was still the case. I was surprised, since I liked The Crack in the Edge of the World so much. I read some reviews that said Winchester had recycled Krakatoa's plate tectonics material for Edge but I don't think so. Both books do discuss plate tectonics and New Geology but in Krakatoa it's from the angle of volcanoes and in Edge, it's earthquakes. Rather different! I just didn't find the science parts as interesting for some reason. I also found Winchester's attitude towards modern Jakarta, Islam, Indonesian history, etc, somewhat patronising.
What I'm reading now
The Balloonists: The History of the First Aeronauts by L.T.C Rolt
What I'm reading next
No idea!
This entry was originally posted at http://venetia-sassy.dreamwidth.org/127900.html. If you can, please comment there.
Non-fiction
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast by Lewis Wolpert
I nearly dropped this one when there was a mention of evolutionary psychology but I persevered. The author's ideas about beliefs, how they're formed, why science often seems so contrary to 'common sense', about causal beliefs being related to toolmaking, were all quite fascinating. After that, it all became quite messy as the author discussed beliefs in specific areas and I felt like I was getting a good look at the author's belief-set.
Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. Ambrose
Mediocre coverage of a fascinating subject. The transcontinental railroad was an incredible feat and the fact that it was all done by hand labour is breathtaking. I'd love to read a book that really looked at the men who built it rather than constantly talking about how much everything cost.
NB: According to reviews, the book contains a considerable number of errors so I really want to read a different book now.
Raffles and the Golden Opportunity by Victoria Glendinning
Raffles was a man born slightly too soon. He should have been born in Queen Victoria's age of empire-building. As it was, he had the ideas and the drive but minimal if any support and how the man did not have multiple nervous breakdowns, I have no idea. At the worst point, he and his second wife lost three of their four children in six months (a fifth would die in infancy.) The ship they boarded to take them back to England, where they would be reunited with their one remaining child, caught fire and sank. All of their possessions, including a collection of art and natural history specimens and all of Raffles' manuscripts, were destroyed.
The Ice Balloon: One Man's Dramatic Attempt to Discover the North Pole by Balloon by Alec Wilkinson
A fascinating story that was less preposterous - and more tragic - than it sounded. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for a whole book so the author included more information about the Artic and other expeditions. This can be done well but here it was very choppy. Still, I enjoyed it.
I reread Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded by Simon Winchester. My recollection was that I hadn't enjoyed the science parts very much and that was still the case. I was surprised, since I liked The Crack in the Edge of the World so much. I read some reviews that said Winchester had recycled Krakatoa's plate tectonics material for Edge but I don't think so. Both books do discuss plate tectonics and New Geology but in Krakatoa it's from the angle of volcanoes and in Edge, it's earthquakes. Rather different! I just didn't find the science parts as interesting for some reason. I also found Winchester's attitude towards modern Jakarta, Islam, Indonesian history, etc, somewhat patronising.
What I'm reading now
The Balloonists: The History of the First Aeronauts by L.T.C Rolt
What I'm reading next
No idea!
This entry was originally posted at http://venetia-sassy.dreamwidth.org/127900.html. If you can, please comment there.