Apparently we are very reliable at making stupid decisions. Through sets of experiments the author shows what kind of non-wise decisions we make, and tries to find the underlying factors affecting our behavior. This is to make us aware of our tendency to make these mistakes. Awareness which in turn will help us avoid making them in the first place.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Periodic Table
By Primo Levi
He is one of my favorite writers. Though I'm amazed at the diversity of writing quality I find in his books. I don't remember seeing that when I was reading him in Hebrew, so it leads me to assume that the English translations vary in quality. That is not to say that they are by any means bad, it's just that they don't always flow as well sometimes.
In this case, it definitely took me longer to read this book in English than it did in Hebrew, and it's not only because English is not my mother tongue. However, I still liked most of the stories, and the last one - the story of the a carbon atom - will possibly play some role in the Biology class I will be teaching next semester. We shall see. [240 pp.]
Book link
He is one of my favorite writers. Though I'm amazed at the diversity of writing quality I find in his books. I don't remember seeing that when I was reading him in Hebrew, so it leads me to assume that the English translations vary in quality. That is not to say that they are by any means bad, it's just that they don't always flow as well sometimes.
In this case, it definitely took me longer to read this book in English than it did in Hebrew, and it's not only because English is not my mother tongue. However, I still liked most of the stories, and the last one - the story of the a carbon atom - will possibly play some role in the Biology class I will be teaching next semester. We shall see. [240 pp.]
Book link
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Scroogenomics
By Joel Waldfogel
I know it sounds like "screw genomics", but it's actually an economics book that describes how gift giving, especially to people that are not close to you, can destroy a lot of value. The solution - improved retailer gift cards and charity gift cards. Read it if you are worried about what gifts to buy to all those people you have to buy gifts on Christmas! [173 pp.]
Book link
I know it sounds like "screw genomics", but it's actually an economics book that describes how gift giving, especially to people that are not close to you, can destroy a lot of value. The solution - improved retailer gift cards and charity gift cards. Read it if you are worried about what gifts to buy to all those people you have to buy gifts on Christmas! [173 pp.]
Book link
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Just Add Hormones
By Matt Kaily
A first person account on the process of transformation from female to male. He talks about the changes and about society's acceptance (or lack of acceptance). He also talks about the restricting nature of gender categories society forces everybody into. Although somewhat repetitive, and the jokes are sometimes too silly, it is a very interesting and enlightening book. It seems like it is mostly addressed to other transpeople or people who know a transperson, but I think everybody should read it, because it's mostly about being open-minded and tolerant, aware of diversity, and embrace it.
Without diversity the world would be way too boring. [184 pp.]
Book link
A first person account on the process of transformation from female to male. He talks about the changes and about society's acceptance (or lack of acceptance). He also talks about the restricting nature of gender categories society forces everybody into. Although somewhat repetitive, and the jokes are sometimes too silly, it is a very interesting and enlightening book. It seems like it is mostly addressed to other transpeople or people who know a transperson, but I think everybody should read it, because it's mostly about being open-minded and tolerant, aware of diversity, and embrace it.
Without diversity the world would be way too boring. [184 pp.]
Book link
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Creation
By E. O. Wilson
This is a book written as a long letter addressed to a typical Southern pastor, arguing that the author and religious leaders, despite some disagreement do have something in common - they care about the creation. In order to save the planet the should overcome their disagreements and focus on the common.
I don't usually do it, but here's a couple of excerpts from the book that I really liked and would like to have on hand:
"There are still thinkers around the world, some in commanding political and religious positions, who wish to base moral law on the sacred scripture of Iron Age desert kingdoms while using high technology to conduct tribal wars - of course with the presumed blessings of their respective tribal gods" (p. 28).
"Scientists seldom make leaps of the imagination. Most, in fact, never have a truly original idea. Instead, they snuffle their way through masses of data and hypotheses (the latter are educated guesses to be tested), sometimes excited but most of the time tranquil and easily distracted by corridor gossip and other entertainments" (pp. 103-104).
Book link
This is a book written as a long letter addressed to a typical Southern pastor, arguing that the author and religious leaders, despite some disagreement do have something in common - they care about the creation. In order to save the planet the should overcome their disagreements and focus on the common.
I don't usually do it, but here's a couple of excerpts from the book that I really liked and would like to have on hand:
"There are still thinkers around the world, some in commanding political and religious positions, who wish to base moral law on the sacred scripture of Iron Age desert kingdoms while using high technology to conduct tribal wars - of course with the presumed blessings of their respective tribal gods" (p. 28).
"Scientists seldom make leaps of the imagination. Most, in fact, never have a truly original idea. Instead, they snuffle their way through masses of data and hypotheses (the latter are educated guesses to be tested), sometimes excited but most of the time tranquil and easily distracted by corridor gossip and other entertainments" (pp. 103-104).
Book link
Saturday, April 10, 2010
When Men Become Gods
Mormon Polygamist Warren Jeffs, His Cult of Fear, And the Women Who Fought Back
By Stephen Singular
The subtitle pretty much says it all. It's a pretty fascinating and informative account on the rise and fall of the Prophet Warren Jeffs. The people who fought back actually also include a few men from outside the church. [294 pp.]
Book link
By Stephen Singular
The subtitle pretty much says it all. It's a pretty fascinating and informative account on the rise and fall of the Prophet Warren Jeffs. The people who fought back actually also include a few men from outside the church. [294 pp.]
Book link
Friday, March 19, 2010
Firmin
By Sam Savage
The design of the book made me pick it up at the library, but also, later, made me think that this book can not be good. It is a book about a rat who voraciously consumes - in both meanings of the word - books. There's an illustration of a very cute rat on the cover, and the side of the book looks like it's chewed up. A bit tacky, he? But don't let it discourage you from reading this heart-warming-yet-realistically-depressing book. It tells the interesting story of a rundown neighborhood in Boston, through the eyes of a rat who lives in the basement of a bookstore in that neighborhood. He is a very special rat - an intellectual, piano player, and a porn-movie watcher. Wonderful. [165 pp.]
[Beautiful illustrations by Fernando Krahn adorn the pages of the book]
Book link
The design of the book made me pick it up at the library, but also, later, made me think that this book can not be good. It is a book about a rat who voraciously consumes - in both meanings of the word - books. There's an illustration of a very cute rat on the cover, and the side of the book looks like it's chewed up. A bit tacky, he? But don't let it discourage you from reading this heart-warming-yet-realistically-depressing book. It tells the interesting story of a rundown neighborhood in Boston, through the eyes of a rat who lives in the basement of a bookstore in that neighborhood. He is a very special rat - an intellectual, piano player, and a porn-movie watcher. Wonderful. [165 pp.]
[Beautiful illustrations by Fernando Krahn adorn the pages of the book]
Book link
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