I've been reading Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer by Fred Kaplan lately. I'm only a few chapters into the book, but already it is destined to be one of my favorites of the year.
The book remined me how nice it is to have returned to a president who speaks in complete sentences. A talent obtained the way Lincoln did, by reading and writing.
Here are a couple of reviews:
Jonathan Yardley on 'Lincoln' The Literary Preparation of a Great President and this review by Francine Prose.
And have I told you that Sarah Vowell's "The Wordy Shipmates." It is a delightful history of the Puritans. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to read about religious fundamentalists, but I was mistaken. I learned a bit, and enjoyed the process.
Other than OneGoodMove?
Been reading some Rushdie and a book on the Iran-Contras. Basically, if I want to feel good about the world I read Rushdie (that dude can say more in one sentence than I could express in an entire book), and if I want to be pissed off I read about the Iran-Contras (It's amazing how many of the same geniuses behind that corrupt fiasco were also behind the invasion of Iraq).
That, and I've been reading lots of stuff on about the plight and struggles of homeless veterans in America because I'm doing a documentary on the subject.
I only read at work, it's what keeps me sane with having a job that requires me to know nothing and do little (but pays OK).
So I've just read me some Douglas Adams (The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul) and still not finished Stuart Kauffman's At Home in the Universe.
Mostly read science and comedy. If you got any suggestions, please do. I got a thick book supposedly of Poe's complete work, so some creepy short stories as well, but haven't dug into it lately.
I've been reading a lot of science fiction short stories for a project I'm working on. Gardner Dozois "The Best of the Best" is really great. Science fiction has come a long way. Also just read Audacity of Hope which someone gave me ages ago but I wasn't interested until pretty recently. I'll read his other one at some point, I'm sure...
"Washington's Crossing" by David Hackett Fischer
"The Godfather" Mario Puzo
Excuse a rambling answer to a simple question- I'd like to set things in context.
I was recently debating evolution with a creationist. I was accused of believing that "life evolved out of rocks". Although I knew that to be a blatant misrepresentation, I found myself at a loss for words. Thus began a short stint of self-education.
The first thing I learned is that evolution makes no claims whatsoever regarding the origin of life; rather, evolution deals with the development of pre-existing life only- an important distinction to make.
But this doesn't answer the big question: where did life come from? Aliens? God? A natural process?
Disregarding both aliens and God as a potential origin, we are left with the realization that, theoretically, organic matter evolved from inorganic matter. But how?
And this brings me to the book:
Genesis: The Scientific Quest for Life's Origins by Hazen
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Scientific-Quest-Lifes-Origins/dp/0309094321/ref=pd_ybh_3?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=13ZES8Y860MAWHH45V39
I have no words to describe the amazing information contained within.
In the immortal words of my namesake's author- this is nothing short of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
And, contrary to popular belief, the answer is far more complex than "42".
Highly recommended.
Norm: being that you have been so generous with your books, I would be happy to send this your way, assuming you pass it along to other readers once finished. I'd be happy to ship at my expense, just give the word.
It sounds fascinating. Alas, I have so many books in my to read stack I don't know when I'd get to it. Thanks for the offer. If you'd like to give it away on the site we can certainly do that.
The Plan: Big Ideas for America by Rahm Emanuel and Brude Reed.
So far its just one long Bush bash and a few old ideas with new names.
Also: 1950 GMC Truck Maintenance Manual - amazingly detailed information about everything on my truck that already works fine and frustratingly little info on what doesn't.
The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal, by Jared Diamond.
I would strongly recommend this wonderful, rich, and witty book to anyone interested in human evolution. It has intriguing discussions on human phylogeny, how the distinctive human life cycle evolved, tool and language use, art, and much else. It's hard to put down!