Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorator is a fictional story that is getting international recognition.  I cannot remember how I heard about this book.

Started:  5/2/2018

Completed: 5/27/2018

Recommended By:  Nobody

Recommendation: Recommended

Review:

This is a stirring tale in a seemingly post-apocalyptic future.  It feels like an allegory for current conditions particularly given the #MeToo movement.  It is hard to talk about the book without providing spoilers, so bear with me if it seems that I'm not saying much about the plot.  In a sense, this is a coming of age story.  As usual, however, it has implications for all known civilization.  I really liked listening to this book on CD as the dramatist, Anne Flosnik, has a rich and expressive voice.  I happened to have a copy of the book (as I was planning to read it) and when I skimmed it for the spelling of various names, I would never have pronounced them correctly.  Also, Ms. Flosnik brings a sense of "other" with a rich accent that I simply could not place (perhaps that is the intent).  It could also be that I am simply unfamiliar with many African accents.

I cannot say that this book is Earth shattering or that it gave me a new perspective, but it was displacing.  Perceiving the world from the protagonists point of view makes the familiar artificial and the use of Ju-Ju (a form of magic) further takes the world from the familiar.  It is unclear to me, however, whether it is magic in the traditional sense or whether the practitioner is tapping into something else (perhaps some future technology).  Shape changing suggests it is just plain magic, but I still like to leave the opening for something else.

As a fun read, this was fine.  It have enough oomph to make it worth my time and I am glad to have read it.

The Hundredth Queen, Emily King

The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King is a free book I picked up for the Kindle.  It was a long time ago and I don't know why I thought it would be good.

Started: 4/20/2018

Completed: 5/5/2018

Recommendation: Recommended

Recommended By:  Nobody

Words for which I sought help:

khanda -- a double-edged straight sword.  An emblem of Sikhism.

Review:

This is not a well written book, but so few are.  This is, however, a really enjoyable book.  A story of a princess who rescues herself is always fun.  I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed the premise.  I look forward to paying for and reading the sequels.

Antifragile, Nassim Taleb

Antifragile:  Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a book that I picked up from the library on audio to hear during my commute.  I have one of his other books sitting on my shelf and I heard on NPR that this one should be read first, so, there you go.

Started: 4/3/2018

Completed: 5/2/2018

Recommended By:  Nobody

Recommendation: Recommended

Review:

Antifragile is the opposite of fragile.  Fragile means that something breaks easily and is not useful after it is broken.  Antifragile means that something gets stronger under disruption.  So, if you marked a box "Fragile" you would want it to be handled with care, not jostled, and identify that the object inside could be ruined if this care was not provided.  If you marked a box "AntiFragile" then it should be handled roughly, jostled, and the item within would get better if this care was provided.  It is kind of hard to imagine such a thing, but things that meet this criteria abound around us, particularly in nature.  This is an extensive text that does not lend itself to full analysis in a paragraph.

The basic concept is pretty simple, but the implications are significant.  I am still working to understand the implications, particularly with regard to risk analysis.  In the end, I'm trying to keep track of opportunities with little downside, but huge upside.

The Inevitable Party, Seth Masket

The Inevitable Party:  Why Attempts to Kill the Party System Fail and How they Weaken Democracy by Seth E. Masket is a book I chose based on a New York Times Op-Ed that included the author.  I thought that the editorial had merit and since I have been a proponent of a third party, the title of this book caught my eye.  When I saw it was published by Oxford University Press, I thought it was worth the time to read it.  As I started this blog post, I came to find out that Dr. Masket is the head of the Political Science Department at the University of Denver.  He is also similar in appearance to Paul Ryan:

Started:  3/17/2018

Completed: Never

Recommended by:  loosely, the NYT

Recommendation: Do not waste your time

Words for which I needed help:

endogenous -- having an intellectual cause or origin

Review:

I really wanted to read this book.  It is really annoying me.  It feels like the professor has cherry picked his statistics (for example, one of his early charts shows that $4M less went to a party and that about $4M more went into a 508(c)(4)...he then explains that it is $4M for Senate campaigns and that there was no senate campaign when the reduced amount appears).  His own charts, graphs, and arguments fight against themselves.  Another example, he argues that there was a genuine effort to reform the effects of parties (whom, he asserts, controlled the legislature for their own gain), then points out how unlikely such a genuine reform is (it would require the legislature--controlled by the parties--to vote for something against the party's best interests).  He then goes on to argue that the reform was ineffective (big surprise, if it really wasn't a reform that would hurt party interest).  Instead of concluding that reform cannot be enacted by legislatures controlled by parties, he argues that parties always find a way around he legislation that is enacted.  Well, big surprise, the legislation is written to let that happen.  He then coasts through example after example of how this is true.  I find the lack of logic, the cherry-picking of statistics, and the conclusions unworthy of the Oxford University Press.  So disappointing.

A Higher Loyalty, James Comey

A Higher Loyalty:  Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey is the story of the head of the FBI who was fired by Trump.

Started: 4/17/2018

Completed: 4/28/2018

Recommended By:  Nobody

Recommendation: Highly recommended

Review:
I really never thought I would read a book written by an FBI director.  I don't particularly have anything against the FBI, but the work of the director is broadly uninteresting to me.  I have found Comey, himself, to be an unsympathetic figure.  I did not like the way he handled the Clinton emails, but I admitted at the time that it was important he speak out about it.  I remember discussing this with my wife and feeling that Comey had to do what he felt was right.  I did not think his actions were politically motivated, but I did feel they were unfortunately timed over and over again.  Reading his book helped as he makes a fairly convincing argument that he could not choose the timing of his liking.  I like the truth and it is clear that Comey does as well.

My suspicions in reading his book was that I was going to hear how he was right.  Those suspicions were validated.  My concern was that I was going to hear the pettiness behind his self justifications.  Those concerns were misplaced.  I may not like what he did, how he did it, and, especially, when he did it, but I am now convinced that he was a man of integrity trying to do his best.  That is really all we can ever ask of anyone.

My base position is to distrust those in power.  It always feels like they are doing something for their own power grab.  Having read this book, I'm inclined to trust Comey.  Sure, there might be more information that comes out later, but my impression is that this is a man of character doing his best.  He has character flaws, but at least he is trying to overcome those flaws.  I am truly stunned that I have found myself sympathizing with this man.  The full truth will probably not come out until long after I am gone and I hope my trust is not misplaced, but he seems like a man who really likes the truth.

Weapons of Choice, John Birmingham

Weapons of Choice by John Birmingham is the first in a series of books that I got free on the Kindle.  This book was nominated for the Locus Award for best first novel.

Started:  10/23/2013

Completed: Never

Recommendation: Do not waste your time

Recommended By: Nobody

Review:

So, if you like reading about incredibly offensive opinions that may or may not have been common in the 1940s, then this is the book for you.  Otherwise, the premise is shallow and the implementation is weak.  Do not waste your time.  I wasted too much of mine.

Breakthrough!, Jon Queijo

Breakthrough!  How the 10 Greatest Discoveries in Medicine Saved Millions and Changed Our View of the World by Jon Queijo is a book I downloaded for free onto my Kindle.  I saw a promotion of some sort and this one caught my eye.

Started: 5/10/2012

Completed: 4/19/2018

Recommendation: Mild Recommendation

Recommended By:  Nobody

Review:
Despite the many years it took me to read it, this is an interesting book.  It sat on my Kindle/phone and only got read when I didn't have the forethought to bring my book with me (most recently the physical therapist).  There are just times when you do not realize you might need or could even read a book.  That is a great time to have a book sitting on your phone.  The down side, however, is that it takes forever to read.

I enjoyed learning the history of both the diseases and the cures.  This was interesting to me as I have often wondered how this stuff gets resolved.  How is it that someone decides to eat moldy bread when sick (that isn't how it happened)?  Anyway, this is a great collection of tidbits of information that can be digested a piece at a time.

I especially liked the end which talked about more holistic medicine.