Just finished
Book review #1
Waiting for Aphrodite: Journeys into the Time before Bones by Sue Hubbell
A fascinating and wonderfully written look at invertebrate zoology. Small vital creatures such as worms, millipedes, horseshoe crabs and the Aphrodite of the title, which is a deep ocean dwelling creature known as a sea mouse.
Book review #2
Rereading Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett. Leonard of Quirm has invented a gonne, and while no one wants this device that shoots things duplicated, no one is willing to destroy it. And Carrot Ironfounderson has been promoted to Corporal. and there’s a move on to restore kings to Ankh Morpork, and evidence that the rightful king is named …. Carrott. Wonderful, as Pratchett always is
Now reading
Book review #3
Society without God by Phil Zuckerman. How life is lived in two of the least religious countries on Earth: Denmark and Sweden. The first chapter of this book demolishes the argument that societies without God would be hellish, crime-ridden or whatever. Later in the book, he has discussions, or interviews, with many ordinary people about their lives and the role of religion.
Book review #4
The Fellowship by John Gribbin. About the founding of the Royal Society and the scientific revolution. I am fascinated by this period, but am finding this rather slow going. I’ll stick with it though. I wish I could find a better book on this. The fact that this book isn’t holding my interest is not good.
Book review #5
The End of Time: The Next Revolution in Physics by Julian Barbour. Barbour’s idea is that time does not really exist. Just started it, but it looks very interesting
Book review #6
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larson. The third book in the series that started with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and continued with The Girl who Played with Fire – these should definitely be read first. This one is also very very good, but it hasn’t quite grabbed me the way the first two did. I am reading this on my Kindle
Just started
Book review #7
Foundations of Language: Brain, Meaning, Grammar, Evolution by Ray Jackendoff. All about language; a technical introduction to linguistics for the motivated layperson. Fascinating. And anyone who thought all the geeks were studying math, physics and computer science should have a look.
Book review #8
Rereading Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett. At the behest of the auditors (who want to get rid of humans because they are messy) Jeremy Clockson is building the perfect clock. If he completes it, the universe will end. It’s up to Lu Tze and his acolyte Lobsang Ludd to stop him. With some help from the history monks.
