George Lakoff is HUGE right now. You see him on political talk shows and read interviews with him etc. etc. It's because the notion, largely popularizGeorge Lakoff is HUGE right now. You see him on political talk shows and read interviews with him etc. etc. It's because the notion, largely popularized by him and his associates, that HOW issues are framed is KEY to any hope of persuading the body politic about anything. I decided that before tackling some of his more recent work, I would begin with his original work, published several decades ago and ground myself in the basic conepts That may have been a mistake. All it really accomplished was reminding me how much I hate anything to do with linguistics, a mind numbingly boring topic for me. I got through it, but only barely. I do think what Lakoff has to say is important--now, more than ever, so I will read one of the more recent works. Hopefully, he became a better writer as his work progressed. Sheesh!!...more
I bought this book after reading a very positive review. Two of my close in-laws were dying at the time, and I probably had expectations that I would I bought this book after reading a very positive review. Two of my close in-laws were dying at the time, and I probably had expectations that I would find this book consoling or instructive since death and dying were so much on my mind at the time. Those expectations were not met and they were not really fair. I concur with a lot of the author's prejudices here and her critique of the current worship of "Fitness" and "Holistic Living" and all that other drivel about a "Natural" lifestyle. Give it up. We are not in control and never were. But an awful lot of this book comes across as a rather unfocused rant about some rather strange topics, including the critical role macrophages play in cell death and maybe cancer? If you want a more thoughtful, informed revew, check out the one by FB reviewer Leah Lucci.
Second Review. Just read this book for the second time, following the author's recent death, and the onset of my own health problems. I came away with a much more positive take on it and found it a most helpful read....more
Not a very flattering picture of Albert Einstein. It reminds me a tad of a quote I read once by a writer who reviewed his performance in some concert,Not a very flattering picture of Albert Einstein. It reminds me a tad of a quote I read once by a writer who reviewed his performance in some concert, remarking that "he didn't understand the man's reknown as he was a fairly mediocre violinist." (or words to that effect) --a reason for having good editors.
A great amount of second-hand research went into this book and the authors try to be objective, but after all is said, all they prove is that genius or not, the man was flawed and made for a crappy husband. It certainly debunks him as an icon. The book gave me a sense of the chronology of his life, and his struggles, but wish they had delved a bit deeper into the science and significance of the general theory of relativity. It wouldn't be the first book I would recommend for someone wanting to more more about either Mr. Einstein or theoretical physics....more
One of the best--if not THE best science book I've read. Just shows that a good writer can make even rather dry topics interesting. I think if I read One of the best--if not THE best science book I've read. Just shows that a good writer can make even rather dry topics interesting. I think if I read this book two or three times more, I could consider myself a reasonably well educated person. It is that good....more
This book provides an excellent introduction to the basic concepts of cellular biology without overwhelming the lay reader with too much detail., too This book provides an excellent introduction to the basic concepts of cellular biology without overwhelming the lay reader with too much detail., too much math or chemistry, or too many charts. I came away knowing a lot more about cells and how they are structured and how they work than I ever have. Plus it provided a good overview of the the issues (or at least I think they're still the issues--the book is 14 years old and maybe a lot has changed). I liked the fact that the writer is of a philosophical bent and integrated a lot of ancient writing about life into the text. The only reason I did not rate it a 5 was that the glossary was not quite sufficient. Many words were used that were not explained. I also think it would have been helpful to provide a bibliography of suggested readings for the lay reader. The cited references were all from professional journals. I know that I need to read Stephen Pinker and Jay Gould and Richard Dawkins for more accessible writing in this field, but it would have been nice to have an actual guide....more
Three times an Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for his foreign affairs columns for the NYT, Thomas Friedman packs a punch, and he uses it to provideThree times an Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for his foreign affairs columns for the NYT, Thomas Friedman packs a punch, and he uses it to provide one convincing argument after another for why America needs to make policy and take charge of the fight against global warming. The book is comprised of very many interviews with knowledgeable people, presumably undertaken for his columns. It took me a long time to get through this, and it left me more depressed than hopeful about our future. It is not a "fun" read, but it is an important read, leading to a better understanding of global warming, and what is necessary to turn things around....more
This is a rather touching account of the discovery of the planet Pluto (which of course is no longer considered a planet)..It made me curious to read This is a rather touching account of the discovery of the planet Pluto (which of course is no longer considered a planet)..It made me curious to read more about the actual events, and it is noteworthy for its representation of scientific discovery as a flawed and very human process. You don't need to know a whole lot about astronomy or mathematics to appreciate this story, but suppose that if you were indeed knowledgeable in those fields, the story would be even more meaningful....more
Not only is this a really good novel, with interesting characters and plot, but it also teaches a little bit about particle physics and the Higgs bosoNot only is this a really good novel, with interesting characters and plot, but it also teaches a little bit about particle physics and the Higgs boson, and a lot about how politics determine the outcome of so many things in life. I thought it was an amazing read from an author well into his 90s. I had forgotten what a great craftsman Herman Wouk is....more
A collection of case studies by a prominent neurologist. Not quite as entertaining as Oliver Sacks (who the author knew and seems to have envied). TheA collection of case studies by a prominent neurologist. Not quite as entertaining as Oliver Sacks (who the author knew and seems to have envied). The stories are meant to demonstrate points about epilepsy, aphasia, various movement disorders, music vs language, prions, Huntington's Chorea, and something--I didn't quite get--called "spandrels." A worthwhile read....more
This is one of the best science reads in a long time. I learned so much about genetics that I didn't know and about mitochondrial DNA, pretty fascinatThis is one of the best science reads in a long time. I learned so much about genetics that I didn't know and about mitochondrial DNA, pretty fascinating stuff. The writer is very good at taking complicated material and making it understandable, and about explaining how the science of genetics proceeds. Pretty amazing that they can extract DNA from bones that are so old.. The last chapter or two gets a bit wonky with conjecture about the role of women in Cro-Magnon society, but the rest of it is wonderful and well worth the read....more
An enticing overview of the enormously complex world of microbiology, written in a very accessible way. It left me with more questions than answers, hAn enticing overview of the enormously complex world of microbiology, written in a very accessible way. It left me with more questions than answers, however, but I guess that is a good thing. I find myself wanting to read a newer treatment of this subject as the material seemed rather dated....more
I'm reviewing this a few weeks after reading it and I can't seem to find it anywhere to refer to it. I rememver I was a tad disappointed because I finI'm reviewing this a few weeks after reading it and I can't seem to find it anywhere to refer to it. I rememver I was a tad disappointed because I finished still confused about a lot of definitional things. Think it was a good overview of the topic but left many questions unanswered and would have appreciated more detail....more
Author Brian Green is to be commended for his brilliant attempt to communicate the intricacies of particle physics, general and special relativity, thAuthor Brian Green is to be commended for his brilliant attempt to communicate the intricacies of particle physics, general and special relativity, the Big Bang, quantum mechanics and, yes--even string theory--to the interested lay person. It is a monumental effort ,since these topics are not easy for most people to grasp. I know because I have a genuine interest and have read numerous books purporting to make these theories understandable. This is the first one that I almost, nearly--at least sometimes almost nearly--got. And since the book contains an excellent glossary of terms I will at least now be able to sprinkle my conversation with some daunting verbiage--always a good thing.
I did not find all the included graphics helpful, but a few were enormously helpful. I now have a much firmer grasp of what is meant by extra dimensions (never easy to visualize) and I was blown away by the thought that the universe probably resembles a Pringles potato chip, when I had always just assumed it must be balloon-like. Who would have thought.
I think that if I read this book two or three more times, I might actually become an educated person. That’s unlikely, but at least there’s that great glossary....more
Worth a read. The authors argue for the value of an evolutionary perspective to better understand disease processes and health vulnerability, rather tWorth a read. The authors argue for the value of an evolutionary perspective to better understand disease processes and health vulnerability, rather than just looking at the "proximate" causes (the usual medical model). They do a good job of showing how "evolution" is generally misunderstood by lay people to mean some kind of advancing perfectionism of the body, when it is more like a process of kluging stuff together in a way that guarantees genetic survival. They also do a good job of showing how we and all forms of life are engaged in a sort of war for survival with each other. They also do a very good job of explaining how evolution is not much related to longevity, that in fact many things that have survival value in youth become problematic for us as we age. Much of what is presented is just speculation but that's ok because the books purpose is to promote more research designed to answer questions about how evolution impacts health....more
This is just a wonderful read reminiscent of Burton Rouche. Steven Johnson really makes what is an already fascinating tale just jump off the page at This is just a wonderful read reminiscent of Burton Rouche. Steven Johnson really makes what is an already fascinating tale just jump off the page at you. Having just finished a book bemoaning how ideology is taking the place of science in societal decision-making, it was wonderful to read something that provides a succinct example of how and why that often happens, especially since in this particular story the good guys eventually win. I learned a lot about cholera, about the early beginnings of epidemiology and empirically based medicine, and investigative technique. It is amazing to consider how little anyone understood infectious disease just 150 years ago. Made me hungry to learn more....more
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