What Are You Reading Now?

[PaloAltoCougar]

Unlike some of you, I enjoy having my "faith" tested. ...

Why the "unlike some of you" opener in responding to me? Did my "fascinating and thought-provoking" comment indicate a lack of enjoyment on my part?

[SeattleUte]

Did you read Homo Deus? Imo it's better than sapiens. It's blowing my mind

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Yes, I read Homo Deus. I loved it. Probably Sapiens I loved a little more. Half of Homo Deus was a recap of Sapiens--which was okay, I enjoyed it--and the last half was science fiction. It included a premise that I've been toying with for a long time for a novel.

[SeattleUte]

Why the "unlike some of you" opener in responding to me? Did my "fascinating and thought-provoking" comment indicate a lack of enjoyment on my part?

I wasn't thinking of you particularly. Not everything is about PAC. But it seems that you have the right attitude. You have to enjoy the ride, while you read that whales may have a more robust inner life than you the reader do, and an explanation that in fact the physical evidence tends to prove this. (But note his repeated disclaimer, "we don't really know.....")

[PaloAltoCougar]

I wasn't thinking of you particularly. Not everything is about PAC. But it seems that you have the right attitude. You have to enjoy the ride, while you read that whales may have a more robust inner life than you the reader do, and an explanation that in fact the physical evidence tends to prove this. (But note his repeated disclaimer, "we don't really know.....")

This is very disappointing. I agree with your other point, though.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Why did you hate it? I am almost done with it and have my thoughts, but am very curious why you disliked it.

Hate might be a little strong. I really enjoyed the first half - that had me captivated. But I was disappointed in the second half. He (and many readers) make a big deal about his argument that corporations, etc. are nothing more than something people imagine, but that drew a huge yawn from me. He blithely dismisses silly notions like religion, but seemed ultra-religious about human cruelty to animals (he has to be a vegan - another negative for me). Then at the end he got into his predictions about the future, many of which I found absurd. So let's say I found the book grossly over-rated.

I bought Homo Deus before reading Sapiens (bought them as a pair based on the hype), but if Homo Deus is more of his vision for the future, count me out. I tried to return it to Audible but it was too late.

To fully get Harari, I think it helps to be already quite educated about Sapiens. For example, if you're weak on Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire you might miss some of his more subtle points. He's a fantastic writer but covers a lot of territory in relatively few words.

Haha. I see what you did there.

[Art Vandelay]

I have a friend who is a professor at Heritage University in Washington. She is an American Indian and I asked her once for a good novel by an American Indian author. A couple of weeks later she sent me Two Old Women by Velma Wallis, an Alaskan Native author. It was 139 pages long and reads like a Jack London novel. I sat down to read it on Sunday and finished it in one sitting. It's an easy and good read. I enjoyed the story's parabolic teaching people about respecting your elders and their wisdom, via a tale of survival in such a harsh environment in winter. If anyone would like to read it, as it's out of print, message me your address and I'll send it to the first person to respond.

Wuap, have you read There There, by Tommy Orange? I would recommend it only for the preface essay, about Native Americans. The novel is outstanding. I loved the story of native Americans living and adapting to an urban setting - the story is set primarily in Oakland. Check it out.

Heritage U is in Toppenish. I did a 6 month clinical rotation at the Indian Health Hospital there when I was in school. Loved working with the Yakama tribe. Sadly, I saw more diabetic retinopathy in my 6 months there than I have in the last 20 years of private practice combined.


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[BigPiney]

Wuap, have you read There There, by Tommy Orange? I would recommend it only for the preface essay, about Native Americans. The novel is outstanding. I loved the story of native Americans living and adapting to an urban setting - the story is set primarily in Oakland. Check it out.

Heritage U is in Toppenish. I did a 6 month clinical rotation at the Indian Health Hospital there when I was in school. Loved working with the Yakama tribe. Sadly, I saw more diabetic retinopathy in my 6 months there than I have in the last 20 years of private practice combined.


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I read it. Was very good and short. I like that about a book. I live near a rez and work with multiple tribes in this area.

[SteelBlue]

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I'm liking it a lot so far.

[happyone]

I am reading a book on WW1 and the background stuff about the Ottoman empire is fascinating (those sultans were crazy). I am woefully ignorant of this part of world history. Anyone have a recommendation for a good book?

A couple more that I have recently finished

Lords of the Horizons
This is "complete" history of the Empire. I thought it was well written and researched. At 324 pgs, it is not in depth, but is a good primer. Covers the empire from the beginnings to the end- roughly 600 yrs

Empires of the Sea

This one covers the 16th century struggle to control the Med. It covers the Ottoman conquest of Rhodes, their unsuccessful attempt to take Malta and 6 yrs later the Christian Alliance's overwhelming victory at Lepanto which ended Ottoman expansion in the Med. One insteresting tidbit - The Ottoman Naval Cdr and the head of the Knights of St. John (the formal name of the Hospitallers) at Malta, both fought at Rhodes.

I think Empires is a 4+ star read, while Lords is a solid 4

[SeattleUte]

I finally read Beloved. Read it with my teenaged son who had to for school. Great book. Morrison humanized everybody, white or black, "good" or "evil". Some scenes will stay with me forever. I was afraid I'd find it overrated, but it's not.

[Scott R Nelson]

The front of the book that I'm reading right now, in big letters, says MICHAEL CRICHTON - The Andromeda Evolution. Then in the fine print at the bottom "A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson". If you've read the original Andromeda Strain from 1967, or seen the movie from 1971, you'll have the right background for this book. Wilson has captured the style, so if feels like a Crichton novel. I'm only half way through, so I'm sure there will be several more major catastrophes before the end.

It was on the shelf at the library where they put recent books and it looked interesting. I can't handle reading everything Crichton has written, but I've read nearly half of his books. I guess he can join Vince Flynn and Robert Ludlum in the group of dead authors where someone else is continuing to write for them.

[wuapinmon]

Wuap, have you read There There, by Tommy Orange? I would recommend it only for the preface essay, about Native Americans. The novel is outstanding. I loved the story of native Americans living and adapting to an urban setting - the story is set primarily in Oakland. Check it out.

Heritage U is in Toppenish. I did a 6 month clinical rotation at the Indian Health Hospital there when I was in school. Loved working with the Yakama tribe. Sadly, I saw more diabetic retinopathy in my 6 months there than I have in the last 20 years of private practice combined.

Sorry I missed this. I haven't read it, but I just ordered it.

[Northwestcoug]

I finally read Beloved. Read it with my teenaged son who had to for school. Great book. Morrison humanized everybody, white or black, "good" or "evil". Some scenes will stay with me forever. I was afraid I'd find it overrated, but it's not.

Agreed. I read that in my sociology 101 class, along with other books the prof thought would expose us to the ills of humanity. All the books were good, but that one stayed with me.

[jay santos]

Hate might be a little strong. I really enjoyed the first half - that had me captivated. But I was disappointed in the second half. He (and many readers) make a big deal about his argument that corporations, etc. are nothing more than something people imagine, but that drew a huge yawn from me. He blithely dismisses silly notions like religion, but seemed ultra-religious about human cruelty to animals (he has to be a vegan - another negative for me). Then at the end he got into his predictions about the future, many of which I found absurd. So let's say I found the book grossly over-rated.

I bought Homo Deus before reading Sapiens (bought them as a pair based on the hype), but if Homo Deus is more of his vision for the future, count me out. I tried to return it to Audible but it was too late.



Haha. I see what you did there.

I had same thoughts about Sapiens. I thought I was the only one that didn't like it. I love reading and learning about evolution and human development, but I wasn't big on that book for all the same reasons you give.

[PaloAltoCougar]

In connection with an excellent class I've been taking on foreign policy, I've just finished The New Militarism--How Americans Are Seduced by War, by Andrew Bacevich, a West Point grad and Vietnam vet. This wasn't one of his major points by any means, but I was struck by the following which confirms my long-held suspicions:

“Thank you for your service.” The functional equivalent of the store clerk’s “Have a nice day” after completing a sale, this stock phrase creates the illusion of a relationship of appreciation where none actually exists. Imposing no obligation, such expressions of appreciation for soldiers serve chiefly to gratify the speaker, lionizing the troops as an exercise in self-congratulations. Soldiers were not slow to figure this out.

Nonetheless, to Bo, happyone and others, thanks.