Sunday, December 2

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, November 2012

Reviews of books read last month: two novels, and two popular science
   books, and a business book about Apple.

   Sorry if the reviews are a bit long - I didn't have time to make them
   shorter.


   1. "The Age of Miracles" by Karen Thompson Walker
     <http://www.amazon.com/The-Age-Miracles/dp/0812992970>

   This novel is set in suburban California in the near future.  Julia,
   the narrator, reflects on when she was an 11 year old girl.  Without
   warning, the earth's rotation has begun slowing down, meaning the days
   are gradually getting longer.  It's not only the clocks that are getting
   out of kilter.  The earth's gravitation and magnetic fields are also
   changing, with birds having problems flying and other animals struggling.

   After the initial shock of the unexplained changes, people adopt two
   conflicting strategies to deal with "the Slowing".  "Real timers"
   decide to accept the lengthening days and nights, synchronising
   themselves to the new cycle.  But the majority follow the government's
   decision to persist with "clock time".  Businesses and schools continue
   to run on the old 24 hour clock, and people sleep whenever their clocks
   say it's "nighttime".  The minority real timers are soon regarded with
   suspicion.  Shunned by the clock timers, they voluntarily relocate to
   desert communities where they can live as they please.

   It's against this backdrop that Julia tells us her story.  She continues
   to go to school, play soccer, and take piano lessons.  Her best friend,
   Hanna, moves to Utah with her Mormon parents when news of the slowing
   breaks.  They return a few months later, but Hanna decides to hang out
   with other, cooler, kids.  Julia's mother, develops strange symptoms:
   nausea, dizziness and sometimes blackouts.  She, along with many other
   people, has developed "the syndrome".  Her father is a doctor, and has
   been having an affair with her piano teacher.  As Julia tries to cope
   with all this, her twelfth birthday comes and goes, and she develops a
   crush on a boy.

   Overall, this is an interesting and well-written story.  At the risk of
   spoiling the ending, I want to point out there is no climactic crisis
   conveniently resolved by the intervention of the main character.  This
   isn't a Hollywood-style blockbuster sci-fi epic.  On the big-picture
   level, it's speculative fiction about how society must adapt to global
   changes.  But at its heart it's a personal story, about a girl who must
   adapt to the changes that will inevitably lead her to adulthood.


   2. "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"
      by Susan Cain
     <http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts/dp/0307352145>

   Between a third and a half of all people are generally introverts.
   The author of this book argues it's important that introverts are
   accepted for who they are, and not be expected to make themselves
   more "normal" (i.e. extroverted).  In fact, she argues that the are
   many benefits to society from having introverts.  A lot of art,
   music and other creative works are produced by introverts, along
   with many scientific and technological breakthroughs.

   The purpose of book is to redress the mainstream prejudice of focusing
   on the positive aspects of extroversion and the negative traits of
   introverts.  The author uses research into psychology, neuroscience,
   philosophy, genetics and biology to look at what makes many people
   behave in a quiet, introspective way.  There are some less than
   desirable aspect of extroverts, such as impulsiveness and big-talking.
   She critiques the emphasis on creating environments geared towards
   extroverted behaviour.  Schools, workplaces and other places have
   become tailored to meet the stimulation needs of extroverts: group
   work, open plans, constant noise and busy-ness help satisfy the
   extroverts' craving for constant stimulation, but are stifling for
   introverts.  Introverts are usually hypersensitive.  They prefer
   listening to speaking, thinking to acting, caution to knee-jerk
   reactions.  In some cases, working in groups can lead to bad outcomes,
   for example committees and groupthink.

   The author argues that it hasn't always been an extrovert-centric world.
   Before the modern era, there used to be a "culture of character".  In
   the early 20th Century, a new "culture of personality" emerged.  People
   who could sell themselves (as well as products) became the new role
   models.  This shift hasn't happened in all cultures: for example, until
   recently, children of Asian backgrounds are still lauded for having
   quiet and studious natures.

   It should be noted that nobody is purely introverted or purely
   extroverted.  Most people are actually ambiverts, exhibiting behaviour
   on a broad spectrum of introversion/extroversion.  The behaviour often
   changes depending on circumstances.  The author provides advice for
   introverts on coping in a world geared towards extroverts and
   extroversion.  She argues that we should accept that solitude is
   important, and that people deserve to receive the optimal level of
   stimulation for their personality type.

   If you're time-poor, check out these video/audio links:
   * RSA: Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking
     <http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2012/quiet-
        the-power-of-introverts-in-a-world-that-cant-stop-talking>
   * RSA Shorts - The Power of Quiet
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUaj7rj6MI8>
   * Little Atoms Podcast (April 6, 2012)
     <http://www.littleatoms.com/susancain.htm>


   3. "The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty" by Dan Ariely
     <http://www.amazon.com/Honest-Truth-About-Dishonesty/dp/0062183591>

   The author is a professor of psychology and behavioural economics.  In
   this book he explains the findings of research into dishonesty.
   Conventional economic theory, where people are expected to always act
   rationally, would suggest that we would try to maximise what we can
   get away with after weighing up the cost of getting caught.
   Fortunately, this "simple model of rational crime" does not appear
   to hold up: people don't take every available opportunity to act
   dishonestly, so another explanation for dishonest behaviour is required.

   The author argues that most of the time we want to do the right thing,
   or at least be seen to do the right thing, even if we could get away
   with it.  But the available research paints a very intriguing picture.
   It appears the dishonesty equation is rather complex.  Given the chance
   of getting away with something, scot-free, people do often act
   dishonestly.  But just a little bit.  By cheating just a bit, we can
   still regard ourselves as being nice.  This "fudge factor" is an
   example of cognitive dissonance, which allows us to rationalise away
   behaviour we know is wrong.

   These findings are based on repeated research experiments, asking
   people to solve problems for financial gain.  The researchers compare
   controls with results obtained by varying levels of self-reporting and
   opportunities to cheat.  They examined many factors which encourage or
   discourage cheating.  It turns out that moral codes, pledges of honesty,
   reasonable supervision, and minimisation of temptation can reduce the
   likelihood of cheating.  But if the environment encourages dishonesty,
   almost anyone will misbehave (for example Enron and Wall Street banks).
   There are several risk factors to watch for: conflicts of interest, the
   apparent distance between action and consequence, and depleted will-
   power.  Even knowingly wearing fake designer clothing or sunglasses can
   increase the likelihood of dishonest behaviour.  This explains the
   "slippery slope", or the "what the hell" effect.  Paradoxically, two
   things that don't appear to affect honesty are the amount of money to
   be gained and the probability of being caught.  All these factors
   affecting honesty, are neatly summarised in a diagram in the last
   chapter (page 245, figure 6 - reproduced at:
     http://www.ishn.com/articles/print/93791--what-the-hell---).

   The experiments have been conducted world-wide, with no appreciable
   evidence that people from different cultures are more dishonest.
   Environment is a bigger factor.  As mentioned before, the "distance"
   affects ability to rationalise cheating: it's harder to accept stealing
   cash, but easier to fiddle with complex securities far removed from
   investors.  There's an interesting link between creativity and
   dishonesty.  And it seems some religions practices, such as Catholic
   confession and Jewish atonement, are quite effective is reducing
   dishonesty.  This is because they allow the opportunity to ask for
   forgiveness, and permit sinners to turn over a new leaf.

   Other interesting books by the author: "Predictably Irrational" and
   "The Upside of Irrationality".

   If you don't have the time to read, check out the video and audio from
   Ariely's appearance at the RSA:
     <http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2012/free-beer-
        the-truth-about-dishonesty>
     <http://danariely.com/2012/10/20/the-honest-truth-about-dishonesty-
        rsa-animate-version/>


   4. "Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired - and Secretive - Company
       Really Works" by Adam Lashinsky
     <http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Apple/dp/1455516074>

   Written by a Fortune magazine editor, this book aims to lift the lid
   on the inner workings of Apple.  It collects and expands on several
   articles written by Lashinsky for the magazine over the years.  The
   author argues that Apple ignores a lot of the conventional wisdom
   about running large corporations.  It prefers to be closed and
   secretive rather than open and transparent.  It prefers tight focus
   (being vertical) over diversification (being horizontal), and
   micromanagement over empowerment of workers. And despite its size,
   in many ways the company is still run as if it was a lean startup.

   Throughout the book, the author makes comparisons with how other tech
   companies make decisions.  For example, Google once reportedly set up
   experiments to test which 41 shades of blue should be used:
     <http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662273/google-equates-design-
        with-endless-testing-theyre-wrong>
   Apple famously frowns on such "decisions by committee".  Instead, an
   Apple employee might ask Steve (Jobs) or Jony (Ive, head of design).

   A lot of the information presented in not new, such as the obsession
   with simplicity, attention to detail, and efficient supply chain.  But
   some aspects are not as widely known.  For example, the periodic Top 100
   get-togethers, where the most important employees of the company meet
   off-site to discuss products in the pipeline.  The book also describes
   the "Apple University", which comprises courseware prepared by leading
   business educators, exclusively for internal use, with the aim of
   teaching the "Apple way" of developing and marketing technology products.
   This is one mechanism the company has developed to cope with the loss of
   key staff, including its founder and iconic CEO, Steve Jobs.

   A lot of the information in the book was gathered from interviews with
   former employees (many of them unnamed), business partners, and other
   Apple-watchers.  The lack of interviews with current Apple executives
   makes one wonder about the accuracy of some of the more speculative
   conclusions.  But, overall, an interesting look at what makes Apple
   tick, and what its future may hold without Jobs at the helm.


   5. "Generazione mille euro" ("1000 Euro Generation")
      by Antonio Incorvaia and Alessandro Rimassa
     <http://www.amazon.com/Generazione/dp/8817031631>

   This is a short novel about a group of 20-ish and 30-ish singles living
   and working in Milan.  Claudio, the main character, is an intern at a
   high-pressure, hyper-competitive marketing firm.  At the start of the
   novel, he's given the opportunity to go to Barcelona to present his
   work on an important campaign.  The presentation is well received, and
   his boss is happy, but not happy enough to give him a raise or a better
   contract.  Claudio is dissatisfied with the cold/hot/cold relationship
   with his girlfriend, Eleonora.  He shares a flat with a couple of guys
   and a girl.  Matteo lectures part-time at a university, but his real
   job seems to be working out obsessively at the gym.  He sponges off
   his wealthy parents.  Alessio has a steady job at the post office, but
   yearns to be a journalist.  Rossella is a part-time promotional model
   who babysits to make ends meet.

   The 1000 euro of the title refers to the average net monthly salary
   that many young Italians have to live on.  It's barely enough top cover
   rent and other basics - no wonder many of their peers prefer living at
   home and commute long distances to work.  But it's not just the meagre
   pay that causes financial insecurity: these "co.co.pros" are hired
   under recently-introduced labour laws which permit employers to hire
   workers for long probation periods with little or no pay, and relaxed
   termination clauses.

   Late in the novel Claudio has an interesting encounter with a homeless
   woman, Anna.  She went to live the streets after her husband died and
   she could no longer afford the mortgage.  Claudio feels compassionate
   and offers her money, but she tells him to keep it, because he needs
   it more than she does. This episode makes Claudio see his situation in
   a new light.

   I found the novel frustratingly short.  More fleshing out of characters
   and situations could have made more impact.  My hopes rose when Claudio
   briefly talked about the writing of George Orwell and Ray Bradbury in
   the context of censorship.  I also had hopes that the meeting between
   Claudio met Anna would develop into something more.  The increasing
   influence of the English language in everyday Italian life was
   interesting, as was the emerging politicisation of the plight of the
   "stagisti".  But, ultimately, this novel doesn't quite match Douglas
   Coupland in defining a statement for a generation (for example, in
   Generation X).

   The novel was recently made into a film, but from the description, it
   appears some of characters have been combined and the plot has been
   changed considerably.

Sunday, November 11

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, October 2012

   Reviews of books read last month.  Two satirical novels, and two popular
   science books: one on neurology, and the other on psychology.


   1. "Cold Comfort Farm" by Stella Gibbons
     <http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Comfort-Farm/dp/B002RI9S06>

   This story is mostly set in rural England during the 1930s. Flora Poste,
   a twenty year-old young lady from London, has just lost her parents.
   Rather than try making do with her annual allowance of £100, she decides
   to go live with her country relatives, the Starkadders, on their "Cold
   Comfort" farm in Sussex.  She considers her aunt and cousins as backward
   and in need of "tidying up".  She begins imposing herself on the lives
   of her relatives, loosening Aunt Ada Doom's grip on the family.  Among
   other things, she aims to find a suitable husband for her cousin, and
   encourage another cousin to take his religious fervour on a cross-
   country preaching trip.  This latter project is more a case of getting
   him out of the way so that her match-making can succeed.

   Apparently this book parodies popular fiction of the era, with some
   winks to great Victorian novels.  Having only a basic familiarity with
   those novels, a lot of the parody aspects are a bit lost on me.
   Nevertheless, it was still a reasonably enjoyable novel.  Flora is
   clearly a busybody, who means well most of the time.  The other
   characters are depicted as rather grotesque stereotypes, but that's
   in keeping with the satirical nature of the story.


   2. "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift
     <http://www.amazon.com/Gullivers-Travels/dp/009951205X>

   This classic satire was written in the 1720s, and is a collection of
   tales of the narrator's journeys to strange lands.  Perpetually
   shipwrecked or otherwise abandoned, the hapless protagonist recounts
   his adventures, starting with Lilliput where he is a giant among its
   tiny inhabitants.  On his next voyage, the tables are turned, and he
   is dwarfed by the big people of Brobdingnag.  Wherever he goes, he
   engages the locals in philosophical discussions.  These are really
   opportunities for the author to savagely critique and satirise the
   people and social institutions of his own time and place.  For example,
   in Brobdingnag, the king is convinced by the narrator's argument
   regarding legislators: "[L]aws are best explained, interpreted, and
   applied by those whose interest and abilities lie in perverting,
   confounding, and eluding them" (p139).

   Ideas from this relatively brief novel have been influential ever since
   its publication, and not just in literary and political circles.  The
   words big-endian and little-endian have been co-opted by computer
   architecture to describe ways of encoding information.  To the
   Lilliputians, they refer to the two sides in the strident and seemingly
   petty disagreement about which end of a boiled egg should be cracked.
   In the final adventure, we meet the Yahoos, who are coarse and
   uncultured beings, lacking the refinement of the horse-like Houyhnhnms.
   The Yahoos really represent everyday humans.

   Arguably, this could be considered a piece of proto-Science Fiction.
   While describing travels to far-off and imaginary places, the tales are
   actually a reflection on the author's (and our) own society.  I enjoyed
   reading this novel, which, despite some archaic spelling and wording,
   wasn't hard to read at all.


   3. "The Mind's Eye" by Oliver Sacks
     <http://www.amazon.com/Minds-Eye/dp/0307473023>

   This book, by renowned English-born neurologist Oliver Sacks, examines
   various vision-related disorders.  Sacks moved to the US in the 1960s,
   and has spent much of his early career working as resident neurologist
   in an aged and chronic care facility in New York.  Conditions covered
   include prosopagnosia (face blindness), alexia (word blindness),
   aphasia and stereo-blindness.  The connection between all these is not
   just the mechanics of our eyes, but also how much our brains actually
   construct what we see.  Hence the title, the "mind's eye".

   Perhaps the most poignant section of the book is the second-last (and
   longest) chapter, "Persistence of Vision". It's basically a journal of
   the author's own experiences with distorted vision and hallucinations.
   In late 2005, Sacks was diagnosed with an ocular melanoma in his right
   eye.  While undergoing treatment and surgery, he kept notes describing
   how his sight changed.  To help overcome his fear, he also conducted
   little experiments on himself to better understand what was happening
   with his vision.

   While this book discusses the cases of several patients, it is Sacks's
   most personal to date.  In addition to the hallucinations and loss of
   stereoscopic vision caused by the melanoma, the author has also long
   suffered from face blindness.  This is a brave and inspiring work, in
   addition to being informative and entertaining.

   Sacks has appeared several times on the Radiolab podcast. For example,
   he discusses face blindness in "Strangers in the Mirror":
     <http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2010/jun/15/strangers-in-the-mirror/>
   Also, two of the patients discussed in "The Mind's Eye" were featured
   in "Seeing in the Dark":
     <http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2012/oct/22/seeing-dark/>


   4. "The Happiness Trap: Stop Struggling and Start Living" by Russ Harris
     <http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Trap/dp/1590305841>

   Everyone wants to be happy, but is happiness overrated?  The author, an
   Australian medico argues that many people are trying so hard to be happy
   that they're actually making themselves feel anxious or depressed.  He's
   had to overcome his own bouts of depression and self-doubt, and suggests
   it's ok to be sad sometimes.  Life wasn't meant to be a bed of roses.
   Instead of pursuing absolute happiness (for ourselves and loved ones),
   we should be working towards meaningfulness.

   The book is a practical guide to acceptance and commitment therapy, ACT,
   pioneered by Steven Hayes.  The same acronym can sum up three steps to
   dealing with setbacks: Accept your thoughts and feelings, and be
   present; Choose a valued direction; Take action.  Of course, the book
   goes into more detail than just list cute acronyms.  Pain and negative
   thoughts are unavoidable, but these are only thoughts and they cannot
   hurt us.  We can defuse them and get beyond them.  We can allow them to
   come and go without judgement or struggle.  We should focus on the here
   and now, and let negative thoughts and feelings pass.  Goals, especially
   if they are other people's, can be sources of pain and suffering.  We
   should instead work out what our core values are, and do whatever helps
   us live those values.  This is how to achieve meaningful lives,
   without getting hung up on fleeting happiness.

   I read this book as part of my ongoing process of coping with tinnitus.
   ACT is a useful and natural progression from my studies of cognitive
   behaviour therapy (CBT).  Something that I found particularly
   interesting is the subtle distinction between "accepting" and
   "acceptance".  The former suggests that it's a process.  We don't have
   to like what happens to us.  Also, we shouldn't feel pressure to just
   "accept it".  Acceptance takes time, but it helps if we stop struggling
   with our problems.  Letting go is also important: we need to accept that
   some things are beyond our control, and dwelling on them doesn't help.
   While ACT shares things in common with spirituality and religion (for
   example, meditation and mindfulness), it does not mandate a religious
   conversion.  It turns out that these concepts are consistent with
   scientific research, and they can help us deal with everyday problems.

Sunday, October 7

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, September 2012

   Reviews of three books read last month: two novels, and a political
   essay.


   1. "Railsea" by China MiƩville
     <http://www.amazon.com/Railsea/dp/0230765122>

   This is a "weird" fiction novel set in a future where railway tracks
   cover the known world.  The world of Railsea comprises two layers of
   sky and four terrestrial layers.  Most of the action takes place on
   the rail tracks and the inhabited islands.  This sprawling network of
   rail tracks is a legacy of an earlier civilisation.  An undisclosed
   catastrophe brought an end to that civilisation, and the survivors
   are forced to live a more primitive existence, making do with what
   they have.  They have managed to salvage remnants of earlier
   technology, and rebuilt cities on "islands" of suitable land amongst
   the sea of railway tracks.

   Adventurers and scavengers board trains, searching for new land or
   valuable pieces of material that can be salvaged.  But venturing into
   the Railsea is risky business.  Pirates roam the tracks to plunder
   any "treasure" salvaged by others.  Corrupt navies try to impose the
   appearance of order, often demanding protection money.  Most ominously
   of all, there are giant "moles" that live underground.  When trains
   approach, these subterranean monsters can break through the surface
   and attack.  Molers are engaged to track down and capture these moles.
   There is no explanation of the origins of these beasts: are they
   genetic mutations?  Maybe it's not even the planet Earth?

   At the start of the novel we are introduced to Sham (don't call him
   Ishmael).  He's about to join the crew of the moler train "Medes",
   captained by Abacat Naphi (an anagram of "Captain Ahab").  She, like
   Ahab, is obsessed by a nemesis, in this case a mole called Mocker-Jack.
   Obviously, this novel is paying homage to "Moby-Dick".  After these
   initial similarities, the plot of "Railsea" takes a very different
   turn when the crew of the Medes stumble upon an abandoned adventurers'
   train.  Inside, they find photos (actually "flatographs") and various
   instruments.  The story quickly becomes a race to find the "Promised
   Land" pictured in those flatographs.

   Apparently, this book is classified as "Young Adult", but it should
   appeal to the wider reading audience.  I've read and enjoyed two of
   the author's earlier books ("The City & the City" and "Embassytown").
   Knowing that "Railsea" was inspired by "Moby-Dick", I finally caved
   and decided to read that classic.  As it happens, you only need to
   have a general idea of "Moby-Dick" to fully appreciate "Railsea".
   Overall, I must admit I enjoyed this novel more than "Moby-Dick".
   It was much easier to read, and I found the world of Railsea more
   intriguing than the history of whaling in the 19th Century.
   Stylistically, the only jarring thing was the heavy use of the
   ampersand, "&", in place of the word "and".  An enjoyable adventure
   story.


   2. "The Woman Who Died a Lot" by Jasper Fforde
     <http://www.amazon.com/The-Woman-Who-Died-Lot/dp/0340963115>

   This is the seventh instalment in the Thursday Next, literary detective,
   series.  With such long-running series, there is always the possibility
   that the main characters and the underlying concepts may begin to lose
   their appeal.  But, fortunately, the author still manages to keep things
   fresh.  The previous book was a more radical departure, with the action
   taking place mostly in a BookWorld that was literally "rebooted".  This
   time, the focus is back on the real Thursday Next, and is set
   exclusively in the "physical" world.

   Thursday is semi-retired after getting injured in the line of duty, and
   SpecOps has been disbanded for twelve years.  She's still happily
   married to her husband, Landen.  Their genius teenage daughter,
   Tuesday, is working on an anti-smiting defence shield to protect
   Swindon from the Global Standard Deity.  And their son, Friday, is
   wrestling with his drastically revised future: he was destined to be
   a brilliant leader of ChronoGuard, the time travel policing agency,
   but somehow the future was rewritten and time travel would not be
   discovered after all.

   The Goliath Corporation is back to its old tricks.  It has developed
   doppelgangers ("day players"), which can temporarily be inhabited by
   the consciousnesses of Goliath agents, while their actual (albeit
   incapacitated) bodies are elsewhere with convenient alibis.  Perfect
   for carrying out assassinations and other misdeeds.  Two of Thursday's
   long-standing nemeses return to also make things difficult for
   Thursday.  Jack Schitt is back, and when not trying to kill Thursday,
   he's working on Goliath's latest plan to exploit BookWorld.
   Apparently, palimpsests (old manuscripts erased and written over)
   hold the key to the mystery of "Dark Reading Matter".  Meanwhile,
   Aornis Hades continues to torment Thursday and her family.
   Previously, Aornis had implanted a Mindworm in Thursday's head -
   i.e. that idea that she had another, non-existent, daughter.  Aornis
   raises the stakes, and takes turn implanting the Mindworm in the other
   members of Thursday's family.

   Any reservations about the series becoming stale quickly evaporated,
   and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the Thursday Next series.


   3. "Doctrines and Visions" by Noam Chomsky
     <http://www.amazon.com/Doctrines-Visions/dp/0141023058>

   This book in the Penguin 70s series comprises two essays by MIT
   linguistics professor, Noam Chomsky.  But what Chomksy is more
   widely known for is his poilitcal activism, in particular,
   critiquing bad behaviour by the world's governments.  The two
   chapters are companions to his full-length book, "Hegemony or
   Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance".

   Chomsky applies a blowtorch to the foreign policy objectives of
   various United States administrations and those of their allies.
   In particular, the essays in this book he focus on the buildup and
   early execution of the Iraq War.  The US and allies fabricated
   evidence, overstated the threat and manipulated public opinion to
   prosecute the war.  Chomsky argues that modern Western democracy
   has evolved to be largely about giving its citizens the illusion
   of having a voice, while actually using fear and the threat of
   terrorism to distract and manipulate public opinion.

   The book's cover has Orwellian overtones: the top photo shows former
   US Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, shaking hands with former BFF
   Saddam Hussein.  The bottom photo shows a soldier and an American
   flag covering the face of a statue of the newly-deposed Iraq leader.

   What you get out of this book depends on where your political
   viewpoint.  It would be easy to characterise Chomsky as a radical,
   anti-US propagandist.  But, in the aftermath of the "weapons of mass
   destruction" deception perpetrated by the then, neo-conservative led,
   US government, Chomsky has something valuable to contribute.

Sunday, September 16

Recent Feeds + Reads (a new blog)

   Despite appearances, the B-List used to be more than just a place to
   post my book reviews. Originally, it was a medium for sending links
   to interesting things that I found on the web. For the nostalgic,
   the B-List blog (from 2003 to the present) is at:
     <http://b-list.blogspot.com.au/>

   Even earlier posts can be found in the B-List Archive (from 2000 to
   2005):
     <http://users.on.net/~brunoa/B-List/index.html>

   Lately, I've been thinking about reviving the old-style B-List. Over
   the past few months, I've sort of been riffing on the original B-List
   concept, posting a lot to a tumblr blog, called "Recent Feeds + Reads":
     <http://rfar.tumblr.com>

   On rfar I usually highlight (and sometimes comment on) articles that
   have caught my eye. These days, there is a distinct bias towards
   several topics, including: psychology, neuroscience, music, books
   (what a surprise!), economics, philosophy, creativity, coffee, gaming
   and programming.

   I've decided not to repost those items to the B-List, since I often
   post several items per day and I wouldn't want to spam you. If you're
   interested in the type of stuff I post there, I suggest you visit
   rfar.tumblr.com whenever you need a fix. Alternatively, you can
   subscribe to the rss feed:
     <http://rfar.tumblr.com/rss>

   As for the B-List, I still plan to post book reviews here. I also
   have a (long) backlog of musical rough guides I hope to get to one
   day.

   Thanks for reading, and I always appreciate feedback.
   B!?

Sunday, September 2

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, August 2012

   Reviews of books I read last month: all five books were non-fiction.
   This wasn't intentional - I do have a few novels queued up and reserved,
   but none were available in time.

   Topics covered include the global financial crisis, human behaviour,
   soccer (the real football), decision-making and how to lead a fulfilling
   life. I guess a common theme is that each tackles their subject in a
   rather unconventional way. All were pretty good, but my two picks would
   be "Subliminal" and "How Will You Measure Your Life?"


   1. "Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World" by Michael Lewis
     <http://www.amazon.com/Boomerang/dp/0393343448>

   The author is an American financial journalist and former bonds trader.
   Shortly after leaving Salomon Brothers he wrote his first book, "Liar's
   Poker", which is an unflattering portrayal of Wall Street traders, and
   their ethics, beliefs and work practices. That was an enjoyable and
   well- written book, so I looked forward to reading the author's latest.

   "Boomerang" collects a series of magazine articles which focus on the
   ongoing financial crisis facing various European countries. A chapter
   is devoted to each of four countries he visited between 2009 and 2011:
   Iceland, Greece, Ireland and Germany. The final chapter brings the
   global crisis back to where it began, the United States. Each country's
   story is different, with the various national psyches contributing to
   their individual predicaments. In doing so, the author is arguably
   promoting national stereotypes, which I did find a bit off-putting.
   It's too easy to generalise: the Greeks wanted easy credit to live the
   good life; the Icelanders wanted to rocket themselves into the fast lane
   by becoming big shots in the global hedge fund game; the Irish wanted to
   overcome their reputation as being the poor men and women of Europe; and
   the Germans wanted to believe in a united Europe. For me, the real story
   though was how easy it was for anyone, regardless of nationality, to be
   seduced by greed. Therefore I was willing to forgive any gross
   stereotyping. Unbridled greed has a different way of manifesting itself,
   but it brings out the worst in everyone.

   Regarding Greece, while its government did cook the books to ensure
   entry into the Eurozone, this could only have been done with the active
   assistance of Wall Street investment bankers. Here's a quote from page
   62 of the book: "Goldman Sachs ... engaged in a series of apparently
   legal but nonetheless repellent deals designed to hide the Greek
   government’s true level of indebtedness. For these trades Goldman Sachs
   — which, in effect, handed Greece a $1 billion loan — carved out a
   reported $300 million in fees." It gets worse: "The investment bankers
   also taught the Greek-government officials how to securitize future
   receipts from the national lottery, highway tolls, airport landing fees,
   and even funds granted to the country by the European Union. Any future
   stream of income that could be identified was sold for cash up front,
   and spent."

   The original Vanity Fair article is online:
     <http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2010/10/
        greeks-bearing-bonds-201010>
   Page 4 has the above quotes.

   Overall, the book is well written, not overly technical, and often reads
   like a good novel as new revelations unfold. I hope to read the highly
   praised "The Big Short" by the same author, which looks in depth at Wall
   Street's role in causing the global financial crisis.

    Here are a couple of interviews with the author discussing "Boomerang":
   * PBS Newshour interview (~ 9 mins)
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjDEjCvaac8>
   * ABC 7:30 Report interview (~ 8 mins)
     <http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3373569.htm>


   2. "Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior"
      by Leonard Mlodinow
     <http://www.amazon.com/Subliminal-Your-Unconscious-Rules-Behavior/dp/0307378217>

   This book is another one in my ongoing quest to try to understand the
   curious workings of the human mind. The book's premise is that much of
   our perception, memory, social judgment and behaviour are largely driven
   by our unconscious (the mind's subliminal processes), and not by the
   conscious processes as we like to believe. It shatters many common
   misconceptions regarding the way our minds work. For example:
   * Our vision does not function like a video camera - we have blind
     spots, we see only parts of a scene and our minds fill in the blanks.
   * Human memory is not like a a set of files on a hard drive - memory is
     incomplete, influenced by many unconscious factors such as our senses,
     emotions and desires.
   * Eyewitness accounts are not always reliable as evidence - this flows
     from the previous finding.
   * We are not the best judges of our ability - in survey after survey,
     regardless of the task, almost everyone rates themselves above average
     or better. They can't all be right, and is called the "above average"
     affect".
   * Similarly, we aren't always good judges of other people.

   Neuroscience is providing new ways of examining how our brains and senses
   function, and what governs our behaviour. The latest research throws new
   light on earlier findings from various scientific fields. Required
   reading for anyone interested in how our "wetware" works.

   The author gave an entertaining "At Google" talk earlier year. It
   provides good coverage of topics in the book (~ 50 mins):
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ-IfVHJH58>


   3. "Soccernomics" by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski
     <http://www.amazon.com/Soccernomics/dp/1568587015>

   As the title suggest, the authors apply concepts from economics to
   explain the performance of soccer teams. In reality, it's more like
   applied statistics than economics. The book's lengthy and descriptive
   subtitle is: "Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why
   the US, Japan, Australia, Turkey – and Even Iraq – Are Destined to
   Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport".

   Early on the authors describe the current state of the art in soccer
   as follow: "The best soccer is [European] Champions League soccer,
   Western European soccer. It's a rapid passing game played by athletes.
   Rarely does anyone dribble, or keep the ball for a second. You pass
   instantly. It's not the beautiful game -- dribbles are prettier -- but
   it works best. All good teams everywhere in the world play this way.
   Even the Brazilians adopted the Champions League style in the 1990s.
   They still have more skill than the Europeans, but they now try to
   play the European pace" (page 27). The key reason this type of soccer
   has come to dominate is due to the close network of quality clubs,
   players and coaches based in western Europe, which lead to the cross-
   pollination of ideas. The English national team is not part of the
   world elite, largely because of its relative isolation and resistance
   to foreign influence.

   The rest of part one looks at the club-level aspects of soccer:
   discrimination, the player transfer market, remuneration (it turns out
   there's a better correlation between performance and salary than
   performance and transfer price). The chapter on penalty kicks was a
   highlight for me, discussing information systems, game theory and
   psychology. As you might guess, the best penalty takers are those that
   get lots of practice and always mix things up, often changing their
   minds mid run-up.

   Part two looks at the fans, and is mostly Anglo-centric. It turns out
   fans are not as loyal as they make themselves out to be: the legend of
   the Fan is a British national fantasy. Hosting the World Cup finals is
   not very profitable, but it does make the host citizens happy. National
   unity brings people together, thereby reducing isolation, loneliness and
   suicide.

   Part three looks at countries. Unsurprisingly, most successful teams at
   the World Cup finals have large populations and are generally wealthy.
   The idea that poverty helps inspire good players is the exception rather
   than the rule. Diet, training, quality coaching and support mechanisms
   are better predictors. Home teams do have a slight advantage. The
   authors try to assess which countries over- or underachieve relative to
   their wealth and population. Interestingly, by their metrics, Italy
   (winner of four World Cups) underachieves relative to the comparably
   wealthy and populous England and France (each having won only one title
   - both on home soil incidentally). The authors seem to suggest this
   discrepancy is due to luck, but I think their reliance on statistics is
   leading them astray. Perhaps there are some intangible or unmeasurable
   qualities at play, such as organisational ability, mental toughness,
   commitment and passion.

   The final chapter makes some predictions on which countries will be
   future world powers. The diaspora of quality coaches from Western
   Europe could lead to countries on the periphery, such as Turkey,
   Russia and yes, even Australia, may become world powers. Regarding
   Australia, the authors predict that early next century: "Aussie Rules
   might only exist at subsidized folklore festivals". They might be onto
   something.

   Overall, an interesting book. A bit too UK- and US-centric for my taste.
   For example, there's lot of comparisons with baseball and other American
   sports. Also, there weren't enough metrics on actual gameplay to back up
   some of their assertions. The only in-game stats discussed were penalty
   kicks.

   Here's an interview featuring one of authors, during the 2010 World Cup
   in South Africa (~ 22 mins):
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_ZBUlVhSRI>


   4. "Tempo" by Venkatesh Rao
     <http://www.amazon.com/Tempo/dp/0982703007>

   This brief book by a popular blogger, Venkatesh Rao, an independent
   researcher and consultant. He's worked for various organisations, such
   as defence companies and startups. The book is about decision-making,
   examining principles from information systems, military theory,
   cognitive psychology, philosophy and narrative theories. Timing is a
   big theme, as you'd expect from the title.

   The author's approach is a bit unconventional, and perhaps outside the
   interests of the average reader. But if you're work requires a lot of
   decision-making, it's a quick and interesting read that might provide
   new insights.

   The book's website:
     <http://www.tempobook.com/>

   The author's main blog:
     <http://www.ribbonfarm.com/>

   Perhaps his most famous series of blog posts take a deep look at the
   TV series "The Office", in which he develops a new theory of the
   organisation to rival established management theories.


   5. "How Will You Measure Your Life?"
      by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon
     <http://www.amazon.com/How-Will-Measure-Your-Life/dp/0062102419>

   Clayton Christensen is a Harvard Business School professor. He's
   renowned for his theories about innovation and disruption in business.
   In his latest book, he and the other authors apply techniques and
   lessons learned in analysing companies and industries to the field of
   individual human happiness. At first blush this may seem a stretch,
   but it turns out being a useful approach.

   From the book's inner jacket: "Christensen puts forth a series of
   questions: How can I be sure that I'll find satisfaction in my career?
   How can I be sure that my personal relationships become enduring
   sources of happiness? How can I avoid compromising my integrity — and
   stay out of jail? Using lessons from some of the world's greatest
   businesses, he provides incredible insights into these challenging
   questions."

   The book was in part motivated by Christensen's recent illness, but as
   he explains, he's always concluded his courses with an open discussion
   where the techniques taught during the course are applied to individuals
   rather than companies. Each chapter looks at a particular technique or
   concept. There's a brief explanation of the concept as it usually
   applies to business, then the rest of the chapter shows how it can be
   applied to our own lives. For example, the dangers of outsourcing by
   business can provide useful lessons for parents. The "job to be done"
   approach to customer satisfaction shoes us how to be good spouses/
   parents/friends. The "marginal cost" theory can be applied to our lives
   to keep us out of trouble.

   Overall, I found the book's novel approach to measuring satisfaction
   very convincing. But, even if you're not swayed by the application of
   these ideas to individuals, you will at least learn some things about
   companies and industries.

   Here's a TEDx talk given by Christensen. It's a brief, "big picture"
   view of the book with a few examples (~ 20 mins):
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvos4nORf_Y>

   Here's a longer, slightly more technical presentation for LinkedIn's
   inDay (~ 73 mins):
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DwYcNr0Nuw>

Sunday, August 5

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, July 2012

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month: one Pulitzer Prize-winning
   novel, and three books on quantum electrodynamics.  Just kidding, the
   other books were non-fiction.


   1. "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
     <http://www.amazon.com/Confederacy-Dunces/dp/0802130208>

   This is the first and only novel written by John Kennedy Toole, who
   sadly died before it was published.  Eleven years after his death, his
   mother managed to find a publisher.  Toole was posthumously awarded the
   Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981.  Here's the description on Amazon:
   "A Confederacy of Dunces is an American comic masterpiece. John Kennedy
   Toole's hero is one Ignatius J. Reilly, 'huge, obese, fractious,
   fastidious, and a latter-day Gargantua, a Don Quixote of the French
   Quarter. His story bursts with wholly original character, denizens of
   New Orleans' lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the
   zaniest series of high and low comic adventures' (Henry Kisor, Chicago
   Sun Times)".

   Set mostly in the French Quarter of New Orleans during the late 1960s,
   it follows the (mis-)adventures of Ignatius J. Reilly and those
   (unfortunates) within his orbit.  The out-of-work Ignatius lives with
   his widowed mother.  When she causes a car accident, she demands that
   Ignatius get a job to help pay the compensation.  Despite having
   graduated from college, Ignatius is virtually unemployable.  It doesn't
   help that he spends his days eating, sleeping and writing the rather
   ironically-titled "Journal of the Working Boy".  His forays into paid
   employment provide much amusement throughout the novel, especially when
   he tries to "improve" the enterprises he works for.  He also has
   ambitions of reforming the entire American political landscape.  This
   is his unflattering assessment of New Orleans: "This city is famous for
   its gamblers, prostitutes, exhibitionists, anti-Christs, alcoholics,
   sodomites, drug addicts, fetishists, onanists, pornographers, frauds,
   jades, litterbugs, and lesbians, all of whom are only too well protected
   by graft".  Many of the rather dysfunctional, self-absorbed characters 
   in the novel seem to back him up, at least in his eyes.

   While this is not strictly an autobiography, there are several parallels
   with the author's real life experiences.  The novel's structure is based
   on that of Ignatius's favourite book, Anicius Manlius Severinus
   Boethius' "Consolation of Philosophy".  A copy of the book even features
   in the plot.  Ignatius is convinced he does not belong in this world,
   and all striving is meaningless.  He blames his circumstances on the
   fickle goddess Fortuna and her wheel of fortune.

   Overall, I enjoyed this off-beat and quite farcical story.  But I
   appreciate that it won't appeal to everyone.  The author's Southern
   (USA) sensibility influences the portrayal of women and minorities, for
   example.  While most readers seem to enjoy the novel, some do seem to
   loathe it.  The characters speak in the various local patois.  Ignatius
   himself tends to be verbose.  Initially, the dialogue can be hard to
   follow, but eventually I got to appreciate each character's unique
   "voice".  Recommended for anyone with a sense of humour.


   2. "Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error" by Kathryn Schulz
     <http://www.amazon.com/Being-Wrong/dp/0061176052>

   It's often said that the only way we truly learn is by making mistakes.
   Unfortunately, in our ever more competitive times, admitting failure or
   being wrong is taken as a sign of weakness.  This book attempts to
   remind us that it's ok to be wrong sometimes.

   The book looks at human error according to various disciplines,
   including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, politics, art, logic
   and evolution.  There are many reasons we make mistakes: biases develop
   without us knowing, senses deceive us, reason is often preempted by
   emotions, and we allow ourselves to be swayed by others.  The book
   describes our aversion to mistakes is driven by feelings of
   embarrassment, anger, heartbreak, betrayal, disgrace and foolishness.
   So we become defensive and unwilling to admit even the slightest
   mistake.  But the author explains why error should be seen not as
   something to be avoided, but rather as something that should be
   accepted as a healthy and necessary part of the human condition.  Far
   from just a bad thing, making mistakes is part of the learning process.
   In fact, many scientific advances are the direct result of accidents or
   mistakes.

   I recommend this book to anyone, especially those are obsessed with
   perfection, or those who think they're infallible.


   3. "Meatball Sundae" by Seth Godin
     <http://www.amazon.com/Meatball-Sundae/dp/1591841747>

   This light, breezy book looks at marketing in the "Web 2.0" age.  Godin
   is a veteran of internet-era startups, and he was a former VP of Direct
   Marketing at Yahoo!  These days he 's regarded as a guru for "new"
   marketers.  Being a self-employed consulting developer, this book might
   give me some useful marketing advice.

   According to Godin, many established businesses market themselves as if
   they're still in the 1960s.  The "Mad Men" era kicked off the broadcast
   advertising model on our TV screens.  This is a "meatball" approach,
   the author argues, and it no longer works effectively.  Nowadays,
   businesses are coming to terms with information-hungry and always-
   connected customers.  The pervasiveness of social networks requires a
   new approach of marketing.  Some firms have tried to incorporate new
   techniques, but their efforts come across much like putting whipped
   cream and a cherry on top of the same old meatballs (or lipstick on a
   pig).  To avoid this "Meatball Sundae", the author suggests firms need
   to acknowledge fourteen trends that are remaking the way business is
   done.  To thrive in the 21st Century, many firms will need to revamp
   their marketing approach from the ground up.

   The book starts off by giving a brief history of marketing: pre-mass
   advertising was extremely local, relying on reputation and word of
   mouth.  Mass-media allowed centralisation and a more global focus:
   firms could get away with one thing for all people.  The internet age
   allows a more personalised approach, sort of "globally local" strategy:
   firms often need to cater for each individual's tastes.  The core of
   the book describes the fourteen trends that are disrupting the way
   business is done.  For example: direct communication, short attention
   spans, outsourcing and explosion of choice.  The book concludes with
   some case studies to back up the arguments made.  Conveniently, the
   book has a four page executive summary of the book's main argument.

   There are many interesting observations and ideas here, in particular
   the shift in the balance of power from producers to consumers.  While
   I don't fully accept all the arguments, they're presented in an
   entertaining and easily digestible way.  This book is probably useful
   for anyone thinking of running their own business.  It is possible to
   compete with the big guys, if you know how to attract and keep
   customers.  Also, more broadly, this book provides insights into how
   companies will be trying to reach you, their customers.

   Seth Godin is a regular TED presenter.  Check out some of his talks at:
     http://www.ted.com/speakers/seth_godin.html


   4. "A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough" by Wayne Muller
     <http://www.amazon.com/Life-Being-Having-Doing-Enough/dp/0307591395>

   This book aims to address a modern malady.  Many people feel they're
   on an endless treadmill.  To keep up with the Joneses, they have become
   obsessed with the pursuit of money, success and self-improvement,
   without making much progress in the things that really matter to them.

   As per the title, Muller argues that we should recognise that we already
   are, have, and do enough just as we are.  We just have to know what
   'enough' looks and feels like.  He summarises the basic research into
   happiness, for example:
   * "What makes us happy? For several decades, researchers have probed
     this question, and their findings are intriguing. First, once people
     (whether individuals, communities, or nations) have attained a certain
     level of security and comfort -- enough food, clothing, shelter,
     education, community -- any increase, however large. in wealth or
     possessions, appears to have no significant impact whatsoever on
     people's happiness."  [Deaton and Kahneman]
     ~ see <http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/yourmindyourmoney/archives/can-money-make-you-happy.html>
   * "Studies that compare changes in the happiness of recent lottery
     winners with recent amputees find that, after a short time of
     adjustment, lottery winners soon return to whatever state of
     happiness they felt before winning their millions. And amputees,
     their bodies and hearts tender and grieving, find that their
     spirits rise and return to nearly the same level of happiness they
     felt before their amputation."  [Dan Gilbert]
     ~ see <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/science/22conv.html?pagewanted=all>

   The last chapter, "Happiness from the inside out" starts with this quote
   from Abraham Lincoln: "Most folks are about as happy as they make their
   minds up to be."  The chapter neatly summarises the basic premise of the
   book: "Happiness is an inside job. Sufficiency, contentment, are grown
   in the soil of moments, choice points, and listening at each juncture
   for the simplest, most deeply true, next right thing."

   The author often takes a spiritual approach - he is a pastor after all
   - but don't let that put you off.  It's not a sermon, rather an easy-to-
   read collection of personal anecdotes and research findings, to help
   find a balance between competing demands on our time.  When everyone
   seems to be so "busy" doing "stuff", sometimes it's reassuring to know
   that it's ok to feel that we have "enough" (money, possessions, status).
   Once we accept this, we can concentrate on the things that actually
   makes us feel happy and fulfilled.

   ~~~~

   PS: Cheap parting shot. The cover of the current edition of "A
   Confederacy of Dunces" makes me think of a typical Crows football fan:
     <http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780241951590/confederacy-dunces>

Sunday, July 1

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, June 2012

Mini-reviews of books I read last month: two classic novels, plus a
   pioneering book on positive psychology.

   I'd put off reading "Moby-Dick" for a while, but finally decided to give
   it a go when I found out that the similarly-surnamed China MiƩville has
   just published a novel, "Railsea", that "reimagines" Herman Melville's
   classic.

   "Learned Optimism" reinforces some things I've been learning about
   cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), which has been proven to be helpful
   in dealing with my tinnitus.


   1. "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale" by Herman Melville
     <http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Dick/dp/0099511185>

   Set in the early 19th century, the adventure-seeking Ishmael tells the
   tragic story of his maiden whaling expedition.  The Pequod is captained
   by the mysterious Ahab, who is obsessed with tracking down one whale in
   particular, Moby-Dick.  Ahab harpooned this enormous white sperm whale
   in an earlier expedition, but the whale got away.  In the process, Ahab
   lost a leg.

   Starbuck, the cautious first mate, acts as a foil to the captain's
   single-mindedness, often leading to clashes between the two during the
   fateful voyage.  Starbuck reminds Ahab that they have work to do, and
   the safety of the boat and her crew shouldn't be put at risk for the
   sake of one man's vendetta.  Along with Ahab's obsession for revenge,
   I found the battle of wills between the two men the most interesting
   aspects of the book.  The rest of the ship's motley crew also have
   differing views on the quest for Moby-Dick.

   The crew of the Pequod have a long and perilous voyage before they even
   encounter Moby-Dick.  The first hundred or so pages describe events on
   shore in Nantucket, Massachusetts, before the ship sets sail.  In search
   for whales to hunt for oil, the ship heads first to the south Atlantic,
   rounds South Africa, sails through the Indian Ocean, until it finally
   reaches the Pacific.  Throughout the middle of the book there are many
   short chapters of exposition about whales, whaling and whale ships.
   These chapters read like excerpts from a 19th century encyclopaedia.
   Being a seaman in those days was tough enough: whaling made it even more
   dangerous.  When they finally find Moby-Dick, the captain and crew spend
   three epic days battling the white whale.

   I found this book a bit of an ordeal.  The prose was a bit too archaic
   for my taste, and the subject matter a bit off-putting.  But most of all
   I found it too long.  Perhaps I might have enjoyed it more if all the
   dated filler was left out?  While it's an interesting novel, I can only
   recommend this novel for dedicated readers.  Others should instead watch
   the 1956 movie.  Obviously a lot of the book is left out, and the three
   day climax is cut to a single day, but it's a decent adaptation.

   For an argument that this is the greatest American novel, visit:
     <http://www.salon.com/2012/06/14/call_me_the_greatest_american_novel/singleton/>


   2. "The Power and the Glory" by Graham Greene
     <http://www.amazon.com/Power-Glory/dp/0142437301>

   This novel is set in the 1920s and 1930s in an unnamed Mexican state.
   Following a revolution, the new regime has outlawed religion.  The
   police have been ordered to round up any priests who don't defrock and
   get married.  We follow the fate of one particular priest.  While not
   exactly the most upstanding member of the clergy (for example, he'd
   taken to drinking before the revolution), he cannot bring himself to
   turn his back on his faith.

   This "whisky" priest's already shaky faith is further put to the test
   while on the run.  Over the years he encounters various people, seeing
   many sides of human nature.  He constantly questions his duties, his
   choices, and their consequences.  It doesn't help when the police start
   taking hostages unless villagers inform on any priests.  Anyone found
   to have helped priests is also executed.  After some close shaves, the
   priest finally gets to the border.  But when someone comes to him,
   begging him to go back and absolve the sins of a dying man, he is
   faced with a difficult dilemma: cross the border to save his life,
   or risk getting captured by doing his duty as a priest.

   A concise and thought-provoking novel.


   3. "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman
     <http://www.amazon.com/Learned-Optimism/dp/1400078393>

   This book is the result of many years of research and experience.
   The author, Martin Seligman, is a noted psychologist and clinical
   researcher.  He is often referred to as the father of positive
   psychology.  Dismissing this another self-help book would not do it
   justice.

   Seligman was instrumental in researching "learned helplessness", which
   went against the dominant theories of the era, Skinner's behaviourism.
   Learned helplessness is a when someone has learned to act or behave
   helplessly in a particular situation, usually after experiencing some
   inability to avoid an adverse situation.  Seligman saw a similarity with
   severely depressed patients, and argued that the perceived lack absence
   of control contributed to depression.  Later this theory was extended
   to include attributional (or explanatory) style, i.e. how one explains
   events can affect their response.  Pessimists tend to blame themselves
   even when there is no evidence, while optimists tend to place the blame
   elsewhere without hesitation.  Pessimists can also see events as
   permanent and pervasive, while optimists interpret the same situations
   as temporary and specific.  Note that these explanatory styles tend to
   make pessimists see the world more realistically.  In some cases this
   is actually desirable, e.g. when faced with a dangerous situation.
   But the author argues that there are also many more everyday situations
   where the pessimist's irrational and unfair explanatory styles can
   ultimately lead to depression.  Rumination on one's problems is another
   risk factor.

   An interesting observation Seligman makes is that the "me" generation
   is likely to suffer even more from depression, since failure could be
   more damaging.  But there is hope.  The author argues that it's possible
   for a pessimist to change their outlook, and so by being more optimistic
   when appropriate they can protect themselves from negative thoughts and
   depression.  Several techniques are described, ranging from simple
   distraction and distancing, to the more long-lasting disputation.  This
   book is consistent with the cognitive therapy approach, which has been
   more successful than endless psychoanalysis at helping deal with
   problems such as depression and anxiety.

   Here's another review of the book, with selected quotes:
     <http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/06/28/learned-optimism-martin-seligman/>

   Several years ago Seligman gave a TED talk on the state of psychology:
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology.html>

Sunday, June 3

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, May 2012

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month: two sci-fi novels and two non-
   fiction books.


   1. "The World Jones Made" by Philip K. Dick
     <http://www.amazon.com/World-Jones-Made/dp/0575098988>

   This novel was written in 1956, and is set in the then-future (2002).
   After a nuclear war between the Cold War superpowers, the new federated
   world government, Fedgov, has been slowly rebuilding things.  Relativism
   is the sanctioned political philosophy: "The law gives anybody the right
   to live as he pleases", as long as they don't make anyone else try to
   follow that doctrine.  Paradoxically, Fedgov enforces this policy with
   security police (Secpol).

   Children of the survivors of the nuclear fallout are at risk of random
   genetic mutation.  Some mutant humans have special abilities, and they
   tend to gravitate to the margins of society.  One such mutant is
   carnival fortune-teller Floyd Jones, who can see one year into the
   future.  Meanwhile, large alien lifeforms have been floating peacefully
   through space, occasionally entering Earth's atmosphere.  Some people
   see these "Drifters" as threats and want to destroy them.  Fedgov
   prohibits this, arguing they are harmless.  But when Jones's predictions
   start coming true, members of the anti-Drifter cult seize on his
   warning that the Drifters do indeed pose a threat to humanity.  Fedgov
   is overthrown by a Jones-led cult.  Former members of Fedgov want to
   depose Jones and his followers, but it won't be easy.  Doug Cussick,
   former Secpol agent, wonders "how he could possibly kill a man who knew
   the topography of the future. A man who could not be taken unawares: a
   man for whom surprise was impossible".

   Written by prolific science fiction author Philip K. Dick (PKD), this
   novel raises questions about ideology, determinism and ethics.  During
   my Uni days I was obsessed with PKD's stories, and read whatever I could
   get my hands on.  This novel is one of the few that I hadn't read yet.
   Overall, there are some interesting ideas here in a compact story, but
   it's not his finest.  I'd recommend "Do Androids Dream of Electric
   Sheep?" or "Man in the High Castle" if you want to get a taste of PKD's
   work.  Many of his stories have been adapted into movies, including
   "Blade Runner", "Total Recall", "Minority Report", and most recently,
   "The Adjustment Bureau".  Apparently, Terry Gilliam is planning to adapt
   "The World Jones Made" into a movie.


   2. "The Windup Girl" by Paolo Bacigalupi
     <http://www.amazon.com/The-Windup-Girl/dp/1597801585>

   This dark, gritty "biopunk" novel is set in a post-peak oil, globally
   warm future.  Multinational "calorie" corporations control the world's
   food supply.  They hoard genetic material and release modified seeds
   that produce sterile plants.  They are also suspected to have released
   crop-killing viruses, which have begun mutating out of control.  This
   novel is arguably a thought experiment of what could happen if current
   trends continue to their logical ends.

   The action takes place in Thailand, nominally still a monarchy with a
   child Queen.  In reality, there's a delicate balance of power between
   the ministries of Trade and Environment.  Both sides are corrupt, and
   are played off against each other by foreign interests.  The fiercely
   independent Thais have their own seed bank, and seem to have access
   to unique and disease-resistant species that are coveted by the
   multinationals.

   Sources of calories, be they food or energy fuels, are scarce.  Rising
   sea levels have forced people to higher ground.  The Thai capital is
   surrounded by dykes and levees due to the constant threat of flooding.
   People rely on basic transport methods to get around: walking, riding
   on bikes or in rickshaws.  Heavy work is done using gene-hacked
   (genetically-engineered) super-elephants called megodonts.  Like their
   ancestors, the megodonts are revered.  Among the white people in
   Thailand, called "farangs", are agents of multinationals who run
   various businesses as fronts.  Refugees from other conflicts (e.g.
   Malaysian Chinese) have fled to Thailand in the hope of restoring
   their fortunes.  Representing their lower status, they are called
   "Yellow Card Men".  Added to this diverse and volatile mix are gene-
   hacked human servants, called "New People".  From Japan, they are
   like futuristic geisha girls, intended as menial assistants, slaves,
   or simply for entertainment.  Thailand supposedly has a ban on "New
   People", but somehow a few have managed to slip into the country.

   There's a lot of food for thought in this enjoyable, award-winning
   page-turner: resource scarcity, sovereignty, tradition, corporate
   power, corruption, international intrigue, even the rights of humans
   and "new" humans.  Readers will also learn a bit about Thai traditions
   and culture.  Highly recommended.


   3. "Adapt" by Tim Harford
     <http://www.amazon.com/Adapt/dp/1250007550>

   The book's subtitle, "Why success always starts with failure", hints at
   the author's main premise.  Humanity faces many complex problems, such
   as climate change, poverty, peace and financial stability.  The chances
   of solving these problems first time is very low.  Mistakes will
   inevitably me made along the way.  Through trial and error, appropriate
   solutions can be found, as long as we learn from our mistakes and those
   of our predecessors.  In other words, by adapting to the outcomes of
   incremental decisions, we can eventually arrive at viable solutions to
   complex issues.  This applies at every level: from individuals in their
   everyday lives, to competitive corporations, governments and other
   organisations.

   In the first chapter, the author summarises the recipe for successful
   adapting.  "The three essential steps are: to try new things, in the
   expectation that some will fail; to make failure survivable, because
   it will be common; and to make sure that you know when you've failed".
   The bulk of the book elaborates on these steps, and draws on many
   diverse examples of failures and successes, such as: industry in the
   former Soviet Union, the Iraq War, foreign aid, oil platform and
   nuclear power plant disasters, and financial crises.  A common cause
   of repeated failure is the lack of flexibility or unwillingness to
   adapt in the light of newly obtained information.

   Written by "The Undercover Economist", Tim Harford, this book covers
   more than just economics and finance: psychology, anthropology,
   evolution and physics also provide relevant evidence for the
   importance of adaptation.


   4. "Balancing Agility and Discipline: A Guide for the Perplexed"
      by Barry Boehm and Richard Turner
     <http://www.amazon.com/Balancing-Agility-Discipline/dp/0321186125>

   Developing software can be a complex undertaking.  An alarmingly large
   proportion of software projects fail to meet the required objectives:
   they under-deliver on functionality, go over time or budget, or are
   scrapped before completion.  Over the years, various approaches or
   methodologies have been proposed to deal with the problems of writing
   quality software.  These include: eXtreme Programming (XP), Capability
   Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), Rational Unified Process (RUP), Lean
   Development (LD), Scrum and Cleanroom.  Proponents of each methodology
   can be so dogmatic that they are blind to alternatives.

   The purpose of this book is to provide a refreshing, ideology-free
   assessment of the various methodologies.  In short, the authors argue
   that methodologies need to be selected or adapted in accordance to five
   key variables or risk factors: project size, type of personnel,
   criticality of deliverables, organisational culture and dynamism
   (changeability in requirements).  The book outlines a framework for
   determining which methodology is most suitable given the circumstances
   of the project.  It surveys the leading methodologies, across the entire
   spectrum from controlled/disciplined to agile/flexible.  Strengths and
   weaknesses are identified, describing both typical days and crisis days
   for each methodology.  Polar charts, called "home ground" plots, display
   each methodology's sweet spot with respect to the five factors.  These
   profiles can be used to help guide selection of the most appropriate
   methodology for a project.

   This book should be required reading for project managers and software
   developers, especially those who believe there is only "one true way"
   to undertake software projects.

Monday, May 7

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, April 2012

Mini-reviews of books I read last month: two fiction and two non-fiction.


   1. "Civilisation: The West and the Rest" by Niall Ferguson
     <http://www.amazon.com/Civilization-West-Rest/dp/1594203059>

   Written by Niall Ferguson, a Scottish-born Harvard history professor,
   this is an ambitious attempt to explain why Western civilisation has
   been dominant for the past five hundred years.  Obviously, a lot of
   what is written is open for debate, and any broad analysis of history
   can help but be both selective and subjective.  Over the years several
   historians have written overviews of civilisation before (e.g. Kenneth
   Clark).

   Ferguson argues that there are "six identifiably novel complexes of
   institutions and associated ideas and behaviours".  He calls them the
   West's "killer apps": competition, science, property rights, medicine,
   the consumer society, and the work ethic.  He argues that "it was not
   just Western superiority that led to the conquest and colonization of
   so much of the rest of the world; it was also the fortuitous weakness
   of the West’s rivals".  He also asks, in light of the Global Financial
   Crisis and the rise of China as an economic superpower, if we are
   witnessing the decline of the West's latest golden age.

   This a very readable overview of the past five centuries.  While you
   could argue with the generalisations and interpretation of events,
   the author makes an interesting case.  The mixed ratings on Amazon
   reflect the at times divisive and contentious nature of some of the
   views presented.  In the preface, the author says that his motivation
   was in response to the lamentable and politically-correct nature of
   history education, as he sees it.

   A six-part TV series is based on the book, and is currently screening
   on SBS Australia:
     <http://www.sbs.com.au/documentary/program/885/Civilisation:-Is-the-West-History?>
     <http://www.channel4.com/programmes/civilization-is-the-west-history>

   The author recently wrote a timely book on the history of finance called
   "The Ascent of Money", which was also made into a TV series.


   2. "Embassytown" by China MiƩville
     <http://www.amazon.com/Embassytown/dp/0345524497>

   This is the latest "New Weird" novel by award-winning British author,
   China MiƩville.  Avice lives in a colony called "Embassytown" on the
   planet Ariekei, out in deep space.  Humans and the native race of
   insectoids, called the Hosts, have developed a symbiotic culture over
   many years.  This is quite an achievement given the vast differences
   between them.  For example, the Hosts have a language that requires
   two mouths, each speaking different words simultaneously.  In order to
   communicate effectively, the humans have genetically engineered clones/
   twins that speak the language as an "Ambassador" pair.  Another
   complication is that the Hosts' language is entirely literal.  There is
   no concept of symbolism, and no facility to tell lies.  The delicate
   social and political balance on Ariekei is upset when a new ambassador
   arrives, and literally intoxicates the Hosts when the ambassador pair
   speaks to them.

   There are many interesting ideas in this novel.  Some are weird takes
   on traditional sci-fi concepts, such as hyperspace travel, alien
   civilisations, colonisation, biotechnology and terraforming.  But these
   mostly just set the scene.  The novel is basically an exploration of
   language, and the idea that language influences thought (part of
   linguistic relativity).  The plot is an excuse to explore this idea,
   with political intrigue and an inevitable clash of civilisations as
   the climax.

   Arguably there are too many ideas here, and not enough space is given
   to explore them properly.  Normally I don't like thick novels, but some
   of these ideas could've benefitted from more elaboration, or left out
   altogether.  The reader's job is complicated further by time differences
   and made-up words, which need to be determined from the context.  This
   is standard fare for science fiction, but even seasoned sci-fi readers
   could struggle.

   Overall, an interesting novel.  It's been nominated for several awards,
   though I wouldn't recommended to people new to sci-fi.  Unless you're
   particularly interested in the underlying premise that language shapes
   thought, or like reading about new and strange things.  Instead, I'd
   recommend "The City & the City" by the same author, which is more
   satisfying and easier to follow.

   If time is short and you want to hear what other people have to say
   about the novel, check out this episode of The Incomparable Book Club
   podcast:
     <http://5by5.tv/incomparable/52>


   3. "Over to You: Ten Stories of Flyers and Flying" by Roald Dahl
     <http://www.amazon.com/Over-You-Stories-Flying/dp/0141189657>

   Roald Dahl is mostly known for his children's books, such as "Charlie
   and the Chocolate Factory" and "Fantastic Mr Fox".  But he also wrote
   books for adults.  This is a collection of ten short stories based on
   his experiences as an RAF fighter pilot in North Africa and southern
   Europe during World War II.  As such, they are quite different in tone
   and much darker than his more famous works.

   In this collection we get a pilot's eye view of life in the air force
   in wartime.  He rather de-glamourises life as a fighter pilot.  There's
   a lot of anxious waiting, boredom, and the looming hand of fate.
   Several stories have unexpected twists.  My favourites are "An African
   Story" and "Beware of the Dog".


   4. "Beautiful Code: Leading Programmers Explain How They Think"
      edited by Andy Oram and Greg Wilson
     <http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Code/dp/0596510047>

   This is a collection of over thirty essays and case studies about
   software, written by a professionals in the field.  Each chapter
   presents and discusses "the most beautiful piece of code" the author
   has seen.  As such, the book is probably aimed at people working in or
   familiar with the software development process.  A broad cross-section
   of programming languages is presented, but usually it isn't essential
   that the reader knows the intricacies of each language to understand
   what's going on.

   In some cases, authors saw beauty in the fine detail of the language
   statements themselves, while others were more concerned with the overall
   architecture and structure of the program.  Various problem domains are
   covered, including text processing, project management, genetics,
   mathematics, operating systems and accessibility.  I generally found the
   chapters on "big picture" issues more interesting, largely because they
   didn't place the emphasis on the specifics of the individual languages
   used.

   Overall, I found this book a bit patchy.  This was in part due to each
   chapter being written by a different author.  The nature of the problem
   being solved and the language used also had a bearing.  Beauty is
   subjective after all.  My favourite chapters include: "Treating Code As
   an Essay" (by the inventor of Ruby), "When a Button Is All That Connects
   You to the World" (which discusses a program that had the one line spec:
   'Professor Stephen Hawking can only press one button'), "Code in Motion"
   (based on "The Seven Pillars of Pretty Code") and "Writing Programs for
   'The Book'" (where the task was to determine programmatically if three
   points all lie on the same straight line).

Sunday, April 1

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, March 2012

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month: another mix of fiction and
   non-fiction.  The pick is probably the so-called "weird" fiction novel,
   "The City & the City" by English author, China MiƩville.


   1. "The Elephant Vanishes" by Haruki Murakami
     <http://www.amazon.com/The-Elephant-Vanishes/dp/0679750533>

   This is a collection of seventeen short stories by Japanese author,
   Haruki Murakami.  My favourite short stories were: "TV People", about
   mysterious little people who install TV sets while nobody is supposed
   to be looking; "The Dancing Dwarf", where a man who works in an elephant
   factory allows a dwarf to possess him so he can dance with a pretty
   woman; and the title story, which describes the impossible case of a
   vanishing elephant.

   Many of the other stories also have a surreal take or some other twist.
   In "The Kangaroo Communique", a man working in a customer services
   department responds to a complaint via an audio recording after seeing
   kangaroos at the zoo.  In another, a man's request for an authentic
   lederhosen prompted his wife to leave him when she saw another man
   wearing them. And an otherwise sensible man gets his kicks by burning
   abandoned barns in the middle of nowhere.  Another story is essentially
   the opening of what would become a novel, "The Wind-up Bird Chronicles",
   which I enjoyed.

   Overall, a fairly diverse mix.  Most work quite well, but I didn't
   enjoy them all as much as I'd hoped.  Perhaps I prefer reading
   Murakami's novels, where he really lets his story ideas rip.


   2. "The Year 3000: A Dream" by Paolo Mantegazza
     <http://www.amazon.com/The-Year-3000/dp/080323032X>

   This brief, futuristic novel was published in 1897.  The author was a
   leading Italian anthropologist, and the novel depicts a rather utopian
   vision: the world has been united, with a single language, women have
   attained relative equality, science has continued advancing, and illness
   has been eliminated.

   A young couple is travelling from Rome to Andropolis, the capital of
   the United Planetary States, to celebrate their "mating union".  They
   spend an interesting stopover in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) which comprises
   many city-states having governments of all types, ranging from the
   tyrannical to the egalitarian.  When they reach Andropolis, they visit
   the Government Palace, divided into the wings: Land, Health, School,
   Commerce and Industry.  Each of these is described, along with the
   nature of religion and culture in the year 3000.  Arguably it foretells
   the Great War in Europe, and the subsequent trend to unification of the
   European states.  Air travel and euthanasia are also foreshadowed.

   This was an interesting view of the future.  The author's utopian tone
   is probably reflective of the optimism of the late 1800s, and contrasts
   with the preference for dystopian novels in the 20th Century.


   3. "The City & the City" by China MiƩville
     <http://www.amazon.com/The-City/dp/033053419X>

   This is a bizarre tale of two cities.  To the outside observer, BesÅŗel
   and Ul Qoma share exactly the same geographic location on the edge of
   Eastern Europe.  But culturally and politically the two city-states are
   very different, and both governments want it to remain that way.  Some
   regions are solely BesÅŗel or Ul Qoma, but there exist so-called cross-
   hatched streets and other areas that technically belong to both,
   depending on who is observing.  By consensus, citizens of one city are
   not allowed to see those of the other.  It also their responsibility to
   "unsee" buildings, cars and any other objects from the other city.
   There are no physical barriers between the cities, but rather there's
   a virtual border.  Enforcing this political and social separation is a
   powerful and secretive organisation known as "Breach".

   The narrator and chief protagonist is Tyador BorlĆŗ, an inspector with
   the BesÅŗ Extreme Crime Squad.  A young woman, a PhD student from Canada,
   is found murdered in the back streets of BesÅŗ.  She's officially a
   resident of Ul Qoma, so this appears to be a cross-border violation
   case for Breach.  But surveillance footage materialises, showing the
   van her body was found in had passed through the only official crossing
   point between the two cities.  This means no breach had occurred,
   leaving it to the BesÅŗ police to find the killer.  After investigating
   locally, BorlĆŗ goes through an indoctrination program before he can
   visit Ul Qoma to continue the investigation.  It appears the woman had
   strong and dangerous ideas regarding the origin of the two cities.  She
   also believed in the existence of Orciny, a third city between BesÅŗel
   and Ul Qoma.  Add ultra-nationalists from both cities, unificationists,
   foreign interests, and the spectre of Breach to the mix, the plot soon
   develops into an intriguing web of conspiracy theories and subterfuge.

   Described as "weird" fiction, it was joint winner of the 2010 Hugo
   Award for best sci-fi novel.  The dual nature of the cities takes a
   while to understand and accept, but it makes for an interesting take
   on the standard murder mystery.  An enjoyable read.


   4. "Quiet Your Mind" by John Selby
     <http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Your-Mind/dp/1930722311>

   This is a book that tries to help the reader relax.  It's subtitle
   is "how to calm upsetting thoughts and regain harmony".  It describes
   the inner workings of the brain, from the primitive "lizard" brain to
   the higher cognitive functions and beyond.  The explanations range from
   the scientific to the metaphysical.  Depending on your views, some
   sections may need to be taken with a grain of salt.  But the core of
   the book makes some solid arguments that our thinking can get us into
   trouble.  Judging, worrying, stress in the home and at work, poor diet,
   drugs and the lack of exercise can impair our reasoning.  Insomnia,
   anxiety, depression and other problems can develop.  By understanding
   better how we think, and through the use of meditation, we can
   overcome such problems.

   Overall, an interesting look into the workings of the mind.  In
   particular, I found the meditation techniques quite effective.  They
   have helped me cope with tinnitus and to sleep better.


   5. "Metaprogramming Ruby" by Paolo Perrotta
     <http://www.amazon.com/Metaprogramming-Ruby/dp/1934356476>

   I read this book in my ongoing quest to become a better Ruby programmer.
   It covers some of the same ground as "Eloquent Ruby", which I reviewed
   last month.  As the title suggests, the emphasis is on metaprogramming:
   writing code that writes and modifies itself dynamically.  This ability
   helps make Ruby more expressive and flexible than other languages
   (e.g. Java).

   The book is divided into two major parts.  Part I is structured as a
   week-long induction where you, as the new hire, are paired with an
   experienced Ruby coder.  Together you look at the basic Ruby constructs:
   objects, methods, blocks and classes.  Then it describes metaprogramming
   in more detail.  Part II delves into the source of a prominent exponent
   of metaprogramming in Ruby, the Rails web framework.  In particular, it
   describes how the ActiveRecord class tracks attributes, does validation,
   manages relationships and persists data.  Programmers new to Rails often
   describe these features as "magical".  But in reality, Rails has well
   executed examples of metaprogramming.

   Appendices complete the book: common idioms, domain-specific languages,
   and a summary of the magical metaprogramming "spells" covered throughout
   the book.  Overall, an entertaining and thorough description of what
   makes Ruby so powerful, expressive and fun.

Sunday, March 4

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, February 2012

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month: this time a mix of fiction and
   non-fiction.  Listening to episodes of The Incomparable podcast prompted
   me to get back into science fiction, so this month I read books by a
   couple of new young authors in the genre.  I also read a collection of
   short stories by Richard Yates.  The two non-fiction books were about
   achieving excellence and Ruby programming.


   1. "Talent Is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin
     <http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Overrated/dp/1591842948>

   This book examines the usual explanations given for why certain people
   achieve excellence in their chosen fields.  Hard work is one factor, but
   many people work hard without distinguishing themselves.  Innate talent
   is another common reason cited, but the author shows that particular
   natural ability is not enough to achieve consistent high performance.
   Even several years of experience does not always guarantee good results.
   Each of these factors helps, but something more is required.  The book's
   subtitle is "what really separates world-class performers from everybody
   else".

   So what else does it take to excel consistently?  In addition to
   persistence, talent and a supportive environment, the author emphasises
   the importance of "deliberate practice".  It's not necessarily the
   quantity of practice: merely repeating the same thing is not enough.
   Instead, continuous improvement comes from the quality of practice, from
   always challenging ourselves.  A virtuous cycle can develop:
     talent -> encouragement -> practice -> improvement -> practice etc.
   The concept of "flow" (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi), can also play a part.

   The book includes several examples of great achievers who have
   exemplified deliberate practice.  Benjamin Franklin wanted to be a good
   writer.  As a boy he kicked off a process of continuous improvement
   lasting years, building steadily from the basics of writing and using
   high quality benchmarks of writing as a guide for his development.  The
   book also looks at why many workplaces fail to provide environments that
   allow their employees to excel.

   Overall, a useful book for anyone wishing to get better at something, as
   well as for parents and managers.


   2. "Eleven Kinds of Loneliness" by Richard Yates
     <http://www.amazon.com/Eleven-Kinds-Loneliness/dp/0679722211>

   This is a collection of short stories by the author of "Revolutionary
   Road".  As the collection's title suggests, each story examines some
   aspect or form of loneliness.  The stories are set in or around New
   York, and were written in the 1950s.  Yates specialised in writing
   critically about the American Dream.

   Despite outward appearances of happiness and prosperity, many of the
   characters are struggling within: something is missing.  An office girl
   is on her last day of work before getting married; an ageing, tough,
   by-the-book boot camp sergeant is facing reassignment; a cabbie is
   looking for someone to help write and publish his anecdotes; an orphan
   is trying to fit in at a new school.  Each of these everyday characters'
   story is moving and poignant.

   It would be interesting to read what Yates would have written about our
   current, always-connected society.  Would he conclude that we are even
   more "alone together"?  While there is obvious melancholy in the
   stories, they are well written and provide insights into the human
   condition.


   3. "How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe" by Charles Yu
     <http://www.amazon.com/Live-Safely-Science-Fictional-Universe/dp/0307739457>

   This is a story about a chronogrammatical time machine repairman, who
   happens to have the same name as the author.  He's spent a decade
   travelling through time, ostensibly helping repair other people's time
   machines when they get themselves stuck in the past.  But mostly he
   stays in the "Present Indefinite" or visits alternate versions of
   himself.  He's fallen in love with his time machine's AI operating
   system, TAMMY, and has an imaginary dog called Ed.  One day, when he
   makes a routine trip back to the present, he sees and shoots a future
   version of himself.  He's now stuck in a time loop, forever, unless he
   can find a solution in the book that his future self was carrying.

   That book happens to be called "How to Live Safely in a Science
   Fictional Universe", and our hero is simultaneously writing it and
   reading it while he's in the time loop.  Are you confused yet?  We
   also learn the story of how Yu's father discovered the science behind
   grammar-driven time travel, but fails to get the credit.  Disappointed,
   he runs away and hides in some alternate reality.  Meanwhile, Yu's
   mother chooses to perpetually relive a specific happy dinner in her own
   time loop.

   According to an interview, the author only intended his name to be a
   placeholder for the central character's name, but decided not to
   change it.  In some ways the book's inventiveness reminded me a bit of
   Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series.  The self-referencing title and
   inclusion of excerpts of the book-within-the-book reminded me of Douglas
   Adams's "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".  But, while I mostly enjoyed
   this book, it didn't quite match the standard of those works.


   4. "Stories of Your Life and Others" by Ted Chiang
     <http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Your-Life-Others/dp/1931520720>

   This is a collection of short science fiction stories.  They are pretty
   philosophical and thought-provoking in nature, posing hypothetical
   situations and taking them to logical extremes.  I enjoyed most of the
   stories, but a couple required considerable suspension of disbelief.

   The first story is a clever retelling of the biblical "Tower of Babel"
   story from the viewpoint of some workers building the Tower.  The
   interesting "Story of Your Life" tells how the interaction between
   humans and aliens leads the narrator to adopt a non-linear memory
   consistent with the alien's view of time and science.  Another highlight
   was the last story, "Liking What You See: A Documentary".  It's about a
   treatment called calliagnosia which removes the ability to distinguish
   beautiful faces from "ordinary" ones.  This supposedly removes
   prejudices, and spares students the need to spend time and energy on
   appearance so they focus on their education.  A college wants to impose
   mandatory calliagnosia, on its student body.  The story presents with
   the opinions and arguments of various students, parents, faculty members
   and other interested parties.


   5. "Eloquent Ruby" by Russ Olsen
     <http://www.amazon.com/Eloquent-Ruby/dp/0321584104>

   This book is aimed at intermediate-level Ruby programmers.  It begins by
   going over the basics of the Ruby language and outlining the current
   accepted practices regarding structure and layout of Ruby programs.
   Part II delves deeper into the language: classes, modules and blocks.
   Part III looks at metaprogramming, the concept of writing programs that
   modify themselves dynamically.  This is one of the real strengths of
   Ruby, and underlies the power and flexibility of the Ruby on Rails
   framework.  The final part looks at more advanced concepts like building
   domain specific languages and packaging gems.

   Overall, an interesting and well-written book.  It gives Ruby
   programmers a better understanding of some of the "magic" behind the
   language, and should help improve their programming.