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Tuesday, February 5
Wednesday, March 16
Book or Movie?
The internet has spoken: the book is almost always better than the
movie:
<http://www.vocativ.com/news/245040/the-book-is-better-than-the-movie/>
'Vocativ analyzed Goodreads and IMDb ratings for 800 books and their
movie adaptations ranging from "Harry Potter" to "Hannibal" and
discovered that the book had a higher rating 74 percent of the time. In
fact, books are considered "much better" on our scale than their movie
adaptations in 51.8 percent of cases.'
I recently watched "The Martian", and I agree that the book is much
better than the movie. While I enjoyed the movie, time constraints meant
a lot of the story had to be left out. For me, the major attraction of
the book was all the geeking out on chemistry, botany, physics and
orbital mechanics. The rescue story was a given. The movie did geek out
at times, but I accept that the general public would prefer more visual
effects. Another issue with movies is the baggage associated with major
stars. Personally, I don't have a problem with Matt Damon playing the
lead character. But when reading the book, I would not have had him in
mind. So, should you read the book or watch the movie? I'm going to make
an exception in this case and only recommend the book to readers who
like plenty of scientific details and the process of problem solving.
For everyone else, the movie is good enough.
For another movie, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", I saw the movie first
and read the novelisation later. I would rate the movie much higher than
the book. In such cases, where the movie is always intended to be the
primary and canonical medium for a story, you would hope that the movie
is better. If a novelisation turns out better, then the movie has
clearly been botched. This is especially true if the director was also
involved in writing the original screenplay. Knowing this, why would
anyone bother reading the novelisation? In my case, as a long-time Star
Wars tragic, I wanted to get additional background information, which
the book successfully delivered.
Related Links:
* "6 Reasons The Book Is (Almost Always) Better Than The Movie"
<http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/6-reasons-the-book-is-almost-always-better-than-the-movie/>
* Love Reading: "Books Vs Films" infographic
<http://visual.ly/books-vs-hollywood>
Wednesday, March 9
Adelaide Writers' Week 2016
Being a keen book reader, I've always been curious about Writers' Week.
Unfortunately, work and other commitments have usually prevented me from
attending. This year my schedule was clear and I was able to go to six
sessions. This post provides a brief overview, with some notes and
observations of the sessions I attended last week.
<http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2016/writers_week/Adelaide_Writers_Week_2016>
1. Overview
Writers' Week 2016 spanned six days, with fourteen hour-long sessions
per day. It was held in the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden, between
Government House and Victoria Drive. All sessions were free and open to
the public. Most of the sessions covered one or two books, with the
authors on stage answering questions from an interviewer/facilitator.
Authors gave a brief reading from their book. Some sessions were more
general in nature, covering various aspects and styles of writing.
Towards the end of each session, audience members were invited to ask
questions. After the session, authors were available to sign books
brought by attendees or purchased on site.
Attendance was high for most of the sessions. Despite its name, the vast
majority of attendees were not writers at all. Personally, I think
"Adelaide Book Week" better reflects the nature of the event.
Overall, I found all the sessions interesting and worthwhile. Lots of
topics were covered, and all the panelists did a good job. I picked up
suggestions for at least three books to read, and I reevaluated my
opinion of a book I read last year.
2. Sessions Attended
Here are some observations and notes from the six sessions I attended. I
didn't take any formal notes, so I'm relying on my memory when
attributing the notes to the sessions.
"New Worlds"
<http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2016/adelaide_writers_week/New_Worlds>
The panel featured two overseas authors whose latest books were about
20th Century migrants.
* Stories are often based on actual events, with one or more elements
embellished/tweaked and taken from there.
* Extensive research can lead to comprehensive backstories, most of
which never makes it to the finished novel (in one author's case, he
ritualistically destroyed those original drafts).
* For marketing purposes, publishers want to start promoting a book long
before it is finished; experienced writers learn how to manage info flow
to hide lack of progress or prevent being locked into specifics too
early.
"Fairy Tale"
<http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2016/adelaide_writers_week/Fairy_Tale>
The panel featured two overseas authors whose latest books incorporate
some elements of fairy tales.
* Authors don't always start out with a specific theme in mind, and nor
do they always set out to preach.
* Novels can incorporate genre elements to connect characters and to
help with storytelling.
* Can't rely on inspiration alone; in fact, most stories grow
organically.
"The Making of a Writer"
<http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2016/adelaide_writers_week/The_Making_of_a_Writer>
The panel covered the general topic of how one becomes a writer.
* The panelists re-emphasised the point that writers are readers first,
and should continue reading as widely as possible to get new
perspectives and refine their own writing.
* Writers can be very superstitious, which is reflected in their work.
* Even successful authors fill in time by working "day jobs", such as
editing or teaching creative writing.
"Undermajordomo Minor"
<http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2016/adelaide_writers_week/Undermajordomo_Minor>
A Canadian author was interviewed about his third and latest book.
* A book can have multiple editors, in different regions or for
different publishers.
* Editors of the featured book asked for ending to be rewritten, and the
author agreed.
* The author finished writing, but didn't have a title; one of the
editors ended up suggesting the title.
* Writing is often a very isolating endeavour.
* One audience question was about a controversial scene in the book,
which the author knew could be divisive but he ultimately decided to
leave it in.
"Telling Tales"
<http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2016/adelaide_writers_week/Telling_Tales>
The panel featured two female Aussie authors discussing their recent
collections of short stories.
* Authors can tire of their own characters; some characters can sustain
author's interest for a short story, but not an entire novel.
* Some promising stories hit the wall, while others may start appear
unpromising, but can grow steadily to novel-length.
* Reiterated that stories are not usually meticulously pre-planned in
advance.
* Some creative writing courses, particularly in the US, churn out
writers having the same unoriginal and formulaic styles.
"Under Cover"
<http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2016/adelaide_writers_week/Under_Cover>
A veteran editor provides some behind-the-scenes anecdotes about
writers' festivals, authors and publishing.
* Publishers can be sloppy, with the interviewee describing how a whole
chapter was left out of a novel by a popular author (Peter Carey) and
nobody noticed until months after the book was published.
* Patience is required, as it can take many years to get a book written
and published.
* Even experienced editors need to have their books and chapters
restructured.
Monday, March 7
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
"'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' is a half-hour satirical look at
the week in news, politics and current events."
<http://www.hbo.com/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver>
The show is hosted by a UK expat comedian/actor, now living in the US.
HBO posts the shows to a YouTube channel after they're broadcast:
<https://www.youtube.com/user/LastWeekTonight>
A recent show applied a blowtorch to Donald Drumpf/Trump. Unfortunately,
for viewers outside the US, there is a delay before shows become
available. You might be able to find unofficial uploads if you search
for it on YouTube ;)
Here's a selection of videos from last year...
* Daylight Saving Time - How Is This Still A Thing?
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br0NW9ufUUw>
I agree, it should be abolished.
* Nuclear Weapons
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1ya-yF35g>
Cold War kids may have thought the collapse of Communism in the USSR and
its satellite states made the world safer. Perhaps not so much. This
piece is both funny and scary at the same time.
* Drones
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4NRJoCNHIs>
* Miss America Pageant
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDPCmmZifE8>
Wednesday, March 2
Piano Illuminato + Qatsi Trilogy
1. Piano Illuminato
Last week I went to see and hear "Piano Illuminato", an audio-visual
concert featuring Adelaide-based pianist and composer, Rich Batsford:
<http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/whats-on/event/piano-illuminato>
"... a unique fusion of live music and dynamic, visual art exploring
themes of peace, love, truth and beauty with take the stage on Thursday
25 February. In collaboration with Zero, one of Illuminart's animators &
visual artists 'Piano Illuminato' is a one off audio/visual experience
featuring performances of original music along with selections of the
wonderfully melodic music of perhaps the world's most famous pianist
composer, Ludovico Einaudi."
The obvious attraction for me was the opportunity to listen to Einaudi's
music, albeit performed by someone else. As it turned out, only three of
the fifteen pieces played were Einaudi compositions, with the rest being
original instrumental pieces written by the performer. Fortunately, I
enjoyed those minimalist and jazz pieces as well. After the show I
bought a copy of one of Batsford's CDs, "Valentine Court".
The other drawcard was the visual component. Images were projected
behind the pianist onto the back wall of the room, pre-programmed by a
member of Illuminart. This is the team responsible for lighting up the
faces of various buildings on North Terrace during the Adelaide Fringe:
<https://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/news/fringe-illuminations>
The imagery and lighting complemented the music quite well. This
included kaleidoscopic elements, oversaturated photography, plus other
pictures and effects in keeping with the themes and mood of the music.
2. Qatsi Trilogy
The combination of images with the minimalist style of the music in
"Piano Illuminato" reminded me at times of the experimental documentary
films of Godfrey Reggio, in particular, the "Qatsi" trilogy, which all
featured soundtracks composed by Philip Glass.
<http://www.qatsi.org/films/film.php>
Here's a selection of iconic clips from those documentaries:
* Koyaanisqatsi: The Grid (Part 3)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwPDFeXEMs4>
* Koyaanisqatsi: Finale
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJrtROuQFfk>
* Powaqqatsi: Video Dream
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbK9U0jFDJI>
* Naqoyqatsi: Opening
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgM46I-ZryM>
* Naqoyqatsi: New World
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PalrLLffceI>
Thursday, February 25
PSA - Google knows my phone number (and probably know yours as well)
TLDR: If you log into any Google service, but don't want Google to know
your phone number, you're so out of luck.
I recently logged into my Google account and was presented with a web
page showing my mobile phone number. I was being asked if I wanted to
enable login verification using that number. The problem is, I don't
ever remember giving Google my phone number. Initially I was puzzled and
shocked: did I voluntarily give Google my phone number? I doubt it,
given my general mistrust of Google. Then I got angry. How was it
possible for Google get my phone number?
Turns out, there's a clause in Google's so-called "privacy" policy which
boasts about the right to collect user information, without explicit
consent. See:
<https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/#infocollect>
Specifically, under "Device information":
"We collect device-specific information (such as your hardware model,
operating system version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network
information including phone number). Google may associate your device
identifiers or phone number with your Google Account."
So, if you use a mobile phone to log into any Google service (including
YouTube), Google has the ability to get your phone number and other
identifying data from the mobile network. Maybe I should also thank
Telstra for this breach of privacy? Then Google obviously did link this
data with my Google Account, again without my permission.
Google makes its money from advertising, so its goals are aligned more
closely with the advertising industry than with the users of its
services. Free comes at a price. One of the reasons I've never
considered using an Android phone is specifically to limit my exposure
to the advertising industry. Here's a very recent article which confirms
my concerns about Google, Android and advertisers:
"Georgia Tech Discovers How Mobile Ads Leak Personal Data"
<http://www.news.gatech.edu/2016/02/22/georgia-tech-discovers-how-mobile-ads-leak-personal-data>
"The personal information of millions of smartphone users is at risk due
to in-app advertising that can leak potentially sensitive user
information between ad networks and mobile app developers, according to
a new study by the School of Computer Science at the Georgia Institute
of Technology."
That's Android, but, given Google's vast reach, even using an iPhone
cannot stop it from gathering private data from users. My trust in
Google has reached a new all-time low.
Tuesday, February 23
Huw Parkinson's "Winter is Trumping"
Huw Parkinson creates amusing video mashups combining current politics
with pop culture references. His work can be seen on the ABC (Insiders
and replayed elsewhere). 2016 kicks off with Donald Trump's quest to win
the Game of Thrones, in "Winter is Trumping":
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DI0tE6T-ecmg>
Selected highlights from last year:
* Star Wars : Fixed (with Christopher Pyne)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DjWa0WmMo-1Y>
* Star Wars : Episode II : Return of the Fixer (with Christopher Pyne)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DEvi4OpC0RN0>
* Indiana Abbott and the Last Crusade
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dg4CuGsP7MVo>
* Seinfeld in Parliament
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DfuDTMmxGStE>
Thursday, February 11
Pick of Podcasts Listened to in 2015
I enjoy listening to people talk about interesting stuff. In the old
days, I often had to rely on luck or timing to catch intelligent
discussions on radio or television. Nowadays, there are podcasts:
"Podcasts are episodes of a program available on the Internet.
Podcasts are usually original audio or video recordings, but can also be
recorded broadcasts of a television or radio program, a lecture, a
performance, or other event. ... For podcast listeners, podcasts are a
way to enjoy great content from around the world for free. For podcast
publishers, podcasts are a great way to reach a wide audience."
<https://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/fanfaq.html>
Podcasts can be professional, broadcast-quality content like radio
programs, from established sources such as the BBC, the ABC (Aus) and
NPR. At the other end of the spectrum are more informal discussions
produced by amateurs and fans, bringing passion and enthusiasm.
I usually listen to podcasts as a background activity, e.g. when I'm
getting ready in the morning, doing housework, walking and eating.
Most podcasts publish episodes weekly or fortnightly. I use iTunes to
manage subscriptions, and the stock Apple podcast apps to play the
latest episodes on various devices. Podcasts can of course be played on
other platforms, or directly in a browser.
Here are some of my favourite podcasts, grouped by category.
1. Tech News and Analysis
* The Critical Path
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-critical-path/id442816705>
<http://5by5.tv/criticalpath>
"The Critical Path is a talk show contemplating the causality of success
and failure in the evolving story of mobile computing and related
industries. Using Apple as a lens to look at existing and emerging tech
markets, we try to understand what it means to be great."
Horace Dediu obsesses over the details, and always has interesting
analysis, ideas and opinions.
* Exponent
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/exponent/id826420969>
<http://exponent.fm>
"Exponent is a podcast about tech and society hosted by Ben Thompson and
James Allworth"
Similar approach and subject matter to The Critical Path, sometimes
reaching different conclusions.
* Clockwise
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/clockwise/id665964031>
<https://www.relay.fm/clockwise>
"Clockwise is a rapid-fire discussion of current technology issues
hosted by Jason Snell and Dan Moren and featuring two special guests
each week. Four people, four topics--and because we're always watching
the clock, no episode is longer than 30 minutes."
This effectively replaces a handful of discussion shows, thanks to
having a variety of panelists and its brevity.
* EasyApple
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/easyapple/id523499126>
<http://www.easypodcast.it/show/easyapple/>
"Non accontentarti di ci=C3=B2 che sai gi=C3=A0 fare con il tuo iPhone,
iPad o Mac: c=E2=80=99=C3=A8 tanto altro da scoprire. Noi siamo qui per
questo."
I mostly listen to this because it's in Italian, which helps expand my
vocabulary. The hosts have some fun, and unlike many other tech-related
podcasts, they don't ramble on too much.
2. Popular Culture
* The Incomparable
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-incomparable/id388887532>
<https://www.theincomparable.com>
"A collection of pop culture podcasts full of smart, funny people who
love talking about TV, movies, books, comics, games, and much more."
Started out as a small group of friends talking about geeky topics, has
now grown into a whole network of shows. Too many shows to listen to
them all, so I usually stick to book, movie and TV discussions, as well
as episodes of "The Incomparable Radio Theater", "Game Show", and "Robot
or Not?".
* TV Talk Machine
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tv-talk-machine/id920985248>
<https://www.theincomparable.com/tvtm/>
"Tim Goodman, chief television critic for The Hollywood Reporter, talks
regularly with Jason Snell about what=E2=80=99s going on in television,
what shows to watch, and what shows to skip."
This show has lived up to its description. Goodman also teaches about
the writing and structure of TV shows.
* Good Job, Brain!
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/good-job-brain/id507938401>
<http://www.goodjobbrain.com>
"Good Job, Brain! is a free weekly clean* audio podcast that's part quiz
show & part offbeat news. It's the ultimate nutrition for your brain. So
eat up!"
Fun quiz and trivia show, and I don't mind their quirky ad reads.
3. Engineering and Science
* Debug
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/debug/id578812394>
<http://www.imore.com/debug>
"Debug is a conversational interview show about developing software and
services, primarily for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and gaming."
This one will appeal mostly to programmers. The guests are almost always
excellent, many providing anecdotes about what it's like working at
Apple and other tech companies.
* Pragmatic
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pragmatic/id765842433>
<http://engineered.network/pragmatic>
"Pragmatic is a discussion show contemplating the practical application
of technology. Exploring the real world trade offs we look at how great
ideas are transformed into products and services that can change our
lives. Nothing is as simple as it seems."
An Aussie engineer talks with guests about tech-related topics.
Thoroughly researched and very informative.
* Dr Karl on triplej
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-karl-on-triplej/id73331325>
<http://www.abc.net.au/science/drkarl/scienceontriplej/>
"Dr Karl's famous triplej mission is to bring science to the peeps! Join
host Zan Rowe, her guests, and a bunch of curious triplej listeners for
a weekly injection of science, myth-bashing and answers!"
I used to listen to Dr Karl's show on the radio in the 90s, but had to
give it up when I started working in an office. Recently I got back into
it thanks to episodes being available on demand.
* Radiolab
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110>
<http://www.radiolab.org>
"Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and
the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience."
Long-running and popular show covering a wide range of topics.
4. Psychology
* You Are Not So Smart
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/you-are-not-so-smart/id521594713>
<http://youarenotsosmart.com/podcast/>
"You Are Not So Smart is a celebration of self delusion that explores
topics related to cognitive biases, heuristics, and logical fallacies.
David McRaney interviews scientists about their research into how the
mind works, and then he eats a cookie."
The host is the author of a couple of good intro books on thinking. The
show features some interesting guests.
* Invisibilia
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/invisibilia/id953290300>
<http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibilia>
"Invisibilia (Latin for all the invisible things) is about the invisible
forces that control human behavior =E2=80=93 ideas, beliefs, assumptions
and emotions. Co-hosted by Lulu Miller and Alix Spiegel, Invisibilia
interweaves narrative storytelling with scientific research that will
ultimately make you see your own life differently."
Had a short initial run, but I enjoyed each episode.
5. Economics
* Freakonomics Radio
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519>
<http://freakonomics.com>
"Freakonomics Radio is a top-rated weekly podcast with more than 7
million monthly downloads and a public radio program that airs
nationally. Each week host Stephen Dubner has surprising conversations
that explore the riddles of everyday life and the weird wrinkles of
human nature=E2=80=94from cheating and crime to parenting and sports.
Dubner talks with Nobel laureates and provocateurs, social scientists
and entrepreneurs =E2=80=94 and his Freakonomics co-author Steve
Levitt."
I liked the books, and the podcast covers some interesting issues as
well.
* Planet Money
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428>
<http://www.npr.org/sections/money/>
"Money makes the world go around, faster and faster every day. On NPR's
Planet Money, you'll meet high rollers, brainy economists and regular
folks =E2=80=94 all trying to make sense of our rapidly changing global
economy."
Short and informative episodes about current topics in the world of
business and finance.
6. Humour
* Welcome to Night Vale
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-night-vale/id536258179>
<http://www.welcometonightvale.com>
"Welcome to Night Vale is a twice-monthly podcast in the style of
community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring
local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police,
mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable
powers, and cultural events."
This is an amusing radio serial chronicling a fictitious community. I'm
keen to check out the recent novelisation.
* Judge John Hodgman
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/judge-john-hodgman/id337713843>
<http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/judge-john-hodgman>
"Have your pressing issues decided by Famous Minor Television
Personality John Hodgman, Certified Judge."
Not an actual judge, but in fact a wry comedian. Amusing "cases" and
"rulings" get me in a good mood.
* The Flop House
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flop-house/id263585537>
<http://www.flophousepodcast.com>
"Elliott Kalan, Dan McCoy, and Stuart Wellington are friends who=E2=80=99v=
e decided to express that friendship not by doing productive or
enjoyable things, but instead by watching critical or commercial flops,
and then discussing those terrible movies for you to enjoy in your
ear-holes. Although, honestly, most of the time they just talk about
random bull$!t."
The hosts are professional comedy writers, and they apply the blowtorch
to mostly bad movies they've watched. Only caveat is that sometimes they
talk a little blue.
That's a lot of podcasts. I haven't even included those that I only
listen to occasionally, depending on the topic. But many of these
podcasts' episodes are around 30 to 45 minutes long. Over the past year
I've actually increased the diversity of subjects by abandoning some
shows I used to like. Common problems with these podcasts:
* Too long - e.g. "The Talk Show with John Gruber" may have a
semi-famous host and impressive guests, but 2+ hours per episode!?
* Straying too far off-topic - I'm not interested in what comic book the
hosts are reading.
* Too much speculation - I don't want to hear people ramble on about
rumours.
* Tedious testimonial-style ad reads, often for things not even
available outside the US.
Tuesday, February 9
Pick of Television Shows Watched in 2015
I have a confession. I watch a fair bit of TV, two to three hours per
night. In my defence, most of this is planned viewing, not just whatever
happens to be on. I also avoid ads, thanks to DVDs, streaming services
and a PVR.
Why do I prefer TV shows over movies these days? A quality TV series has
pacing and complexity similar to a good novel. And just like reading a
novel, watching a series over days or weeks provides the opportunity to
reflect and develop some perspective. Movies, which are really like
short stories in visual form, can be unduly influenced by the viewer's
mood or state of mind for a specific block of time. The declining
quality of Hollywood movies doesn't help.
The recent trend of TV shows having self-contained, season-long arcs has
helped give viewers confidence to invest time. This is an improvement
over the old practice of open-ended shows spanning multiple seasons,
running the risk of cancellation before reaching any satisfactory
conclusion. The reduced importance of ratings and the emergence of
on-demand services have helped usher in a "platinum age of television":
<https://www.yahoo.com/movies/tca-journal-no-6-welcome-platinum-age-television-234103395.html>
1. Current 2015 Shows
Here are some shows which had strong seasons last year.
* Fargo
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802850>
"Various chronicles of deception, intrigue and murder in and around
frozen Minnesota."
Fans of the original movie from 1996 will probably enjoy this TV series.
Quirkiness and dark humour help take the edge off the crime-based
storylines. The characters are compelling, and the scenery is bleak.
Like many people, I was a bit hesitant when I first heard about the
show, but season one was consistently good, and season two was arguably
even better. Each season is self-contained with a mostly new cast, which
keeps things fresh.
* Mr. Robot
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4158110>
"Follows a young computer programmer who suffers from social anxiety
disorder and forms connections through hacking. He's recruited by a
mysterious anarchist, who calls himself Mr. Robot."
I'm clearly in the target market for this show. Technology and hacking
are portrayed plausibly, and the show works both at the personal and
society level. I'm looking forward to see where the show goes in its
second season.
* Mad Men
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804503>
"A drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the
beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious
but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper."
The seventh and final season brings to a satisfactory close this
decade-long examination of the golden era of advertising. The show
captured many of the key moments and trends of the 1960s, highlighting
the excesses, preoccupations and inequality of the times. Complex and
relatable characters face difficult choices in their professional
careers and personal lives.
* Better Call Saul
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3032476>
"The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer, Saul Goodman, in the
time leading up to establishing his strip-mall law office in
Albuquerque, New Mexico."
A prequel to the critically-acclaimed "Breaking Bad", this show examines
the gradual transformation of Jimmy McGill, the wild but reformed kid
brother of a respected lawyer, into Saul Goodman, counsel for petty and
mid-level criminals. Another show I had misplaced hesitation about. The
main and supporting characters were interesting, and the storyline was
solid. My only complaint is that the pace was a little slow.
* Humans
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4122068>
"In a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy
family is a 'Synth' - a highly-developed robotic servant that's so
similar to a real human it's transforming the way we live."
This show examines how we might interact with humanoid robots which were
initially meant to be servants. What happens if they become self-aware?
Would we treat them like equals or as slaves? Should they have "human"
rights? Or will we feel threatened by them?
* Broadchurch
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2249364>
"The murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media
frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart."
Realistic characters, with solid acting and great scenery. There's the
standard misdirection and plot twists until the case is solved. Season
one focusses on the investigation, and worked better than season two,
which covers the trial and its consequences.
* Rectify
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2183404>
"Daniel Holden must put his life back together after serving 19 years on
Georgia's Death Row before DNA evidence calls his conviction into
question."
Simple but enjoyable drama, set in a small community rife with suspicion
and ulterior motives. Authorities seemingly more concerned with
protecting their pride or advancing their careers than finding out what
really happened all those years ago.
* Doctor Who
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992>
"The further adventures of the time traveling alien adventurer and his
companions."
This rebooted show hit a higher gear in 2015. I watched several episodes
twice to catch all the little details. Peter Capaldi again proves his
great range as an actor. The penultimate episode, "Heaven Sent", was a
highlight.
* Justified
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1489428>
"Old-school U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is reassigned from Miami to his
childhood home in the poor, rural coal-mining towns in Eastern
Kentucky."
The opening scene of the pilot made it clear how close to the line the
main character will go to in the name of justice. He seems obsessed with
getting out of the dark shadow of his father, a small-time criminal. His
old friend, Boyd Crowder, has become a white supremacist and wannabe
criminal kingpin. When the Dixie Mafia wants to exact revenge on Raylan
for what he did in Miami, the frenemies Raylan and Boyd have to
sometimes swallow their pride and work together.
* Orange is the New Black
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2372162>
"The story of Piper Chapman, a woman in her thirties who is sentenced to
fifteen months in prison after being convicted of a decade-old crime of
transporting money to her drug-dealing girlfriend."
Set in a womens' prison, this show manages to get you to empathise with
the characters, notwithstanding their past crimes and misbehaviour.
Interestingly, little attempt is made to glorify the central character.
* Brooklyn Nine-Nine
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2467372>
"Jake Peralta, an immature but talented NYPD detective in Brooklyn's
99th Precinct, comes into immediate conflict with his new commanding
officer, the serious and stern Captain Ray Holt."
Surprisingly amusing comedy with a great ensemble cast.
Honourable mentions:
* Orphan Black: Latest season was ok, but needs to start resolving
storylines.=20
* New Girl: Fun time-filler.
* unREAL: What producing reality TV is really like?
Current shows not caught up on yet:
* The Americans (season 3)
* Silicon Valley (season 2)
* True Detective (season 2)
* Parks and Recreation (final season)
Overrated:
* House of Cards (US): The UK version was better and more focussed. West
Wing covered US politics more realistically. Veep is more fun.
* Game of Thrones: Feels like a brutal soap opera/reality elimination
contest at times. I recently started watching Vikings, which is more
respectful of its viewers and is at least based on historical events.
2. Classic Shows from Past Years
Limited time and availability mean I sometimes don't get to complete
watching shows until years after they end. Here are some classic shows
that I caught up with last year.
* Breaking Bad
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747>
"A chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal lung cancer teams up with
his former student to cook and sell crystal meth."
Anti-heroes are all the rage nowadays, and this show really tested my
ability to keep watching as I grew to despise Walter White. I almost
gave up at the end of season two, but I'm glad I stuck with it.
* The Wire
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306414>
"Baltimore drug scene, seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law
enforcement."
Not what I'm usually interested in, but it's critically acclaimed, so I
gave it a go. I found the warts and all, quasi-documentary depiction of
the lesser-seen America very compelling and informative.
* Deadwood
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348914>
"A show set in the late 1800s, revolving around the characters of
Deadwood, South Dakota; a town of deep corruption and crime."
The colourful language always makes me smile. It's loosely based on
historical events, so there's that.
* Luther
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1474684>
"A crime drama series starring Idris Elba as a near-genius murder
detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous
violence of his passions."
Flawed cop who gets results. A bit like Sherlock from the wrong side of
the tracks.
* Boardwalk Empire
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0979432>
"An Atlantic City politician plays both sides of the law, conspiring
with gangsters during the Prohibition era."
I initially gave up on this series after the first season due to the
violence, but returned to it. Overall, pretty solid.
* Derek
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2616280>
"Derek is a loyal nursing home care assistant who sees only the good in
his quirky co-workers as they struggle against prejudice and shrinking
budgets to care for their elderly residents."
Ricky Gervais is not everyone's cup of tea, but this shows is both
touching and amusing. Features music by Ludovico Einaudi, which is a
bonus.
* Freaks and Geeks
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0193676>
"A high school mathlete starts hanging out with a group of burnouts
while her younger brother navigates his freshman year."
Great comedy series that only ran one season. Launched the careers of
several name actors.
Thursday, February 4
Pick of Games Played in 2015
Playing games is still considered a guilty pleasure. This is a shame,
because research seems to show some games are actually good for our
mental health and general well-being:
* "7 health benefits of playing video games"
<http://theweek.com/articles/466852/7-health-benefits-playing-video-games>
* "Your brain on video games"
<http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb07/yourbrain.aspx>
1. Games Played in 2015
I didn't have much time for games last year, but I did enjoy playing a
handful of "casual" games.
* Alto's Adventure
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/altos-adventure>
"Above the placid ivory snow lies a sleepy mountain village, brimming
with the promise of adventure."
An endless runner (in this case, you play a snowboarder), which is not
the type of game I usually like. It won me over with its simple yet
well-done graphics, and the ability to do backflips, grinds and other
thrilling tricks and combos.
* The Bridge
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-bridge>
"The Bridge is a 2D logic puzzle game that forces the player to
reevaluate their preconceptions of physics and perspective."
This game should appeal to fans of Escher-like impossible architecture.
* Prune
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/prune>
"With a swipe of a finger, grow and shape your tree into the sunlight
while avoiding the dangers of a hostile world. Bring life to a forgotten
landscape, and uncover a story hidden deep beneath the soil."
Simple and almost meditative casual game.
* Bonza
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/bonza-word-puzzle>
Developed by an Australian company, this is a pleasing little word
puzzle game. The free daily puzzles are great for filling five minutes
or so of idle time. Puzzle packs can be earned or bought in-game.
2. Playing Soon
Here are some recent releases I'm hoping to tackle this year.
* StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/starcraft-ii-legacy-of-the-void>
"StarCraft II continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg.
These three distinct and powerful races clash once again in the
fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original,
StarCraft."
* The Stanley Parable
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-stanley-parable>
"It is a first person exploration game. You will play as Stanley, and
you will not play as Stanley. You will follow a story, you will not
follow a story. You will have a choice, you will have no choice. The
game will end, the game will never end."
* The Room Three
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/the-room-three>
"Welcome to The Room Three, a physical puzzle game within a beautifully
tactile world."
3. Other Recommendations
Here are some of my favourite games played in prior years.
* Monument Valley
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/monument-valley>
"In Monument Valley you will manipulate impossible architecture and
guide a silent princess through a beautiful world. Monument Valley is a
surreal exploration through fantastical architecture and impossible
geometry. Guide the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments,
uncovering hidden paths, unfolding optical illusions and outsmarting the
enigmatic Crow People."
* Fez
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/fez>
"In Fez, you play as Gomez, a 2D creature living in what he believes is
a 2D world. Until a strange and powerful artifact reveals to him the
existence of a mysterious third dimension!"
* The Room and The Room Two
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-room>
<http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/the-room-two>
Tuesday, February 2
Pick of Music Listened to in 2015
Music is arguably the greatest human achievement. Even animals can
appreciate our music, unlike most other things we make. Every day I
listen to music from my ever-growing collection, and sample new stuff
via streaming services and the radio. Vocals can be distracting when I'm
working on something tricky, learning new stuff or reading, so in recent
years I've been getting more into instrumental music: classical,
post-rock, soundtrack, contemporary and light jazz. My selections
reflect this trend.
1. New Releases in 2015
Here are my favourite new releases from last year, roughly ranked
starting with what I've enjoyed the most.
* "Elements" by Ludovico Einaudi
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/elements/id1027176835>
Another masterpiece of contemporary classical music. Still too early to
say where it fits into his canon, but an instant buy.
* "The Chopin Project" by Ólafur Arnalds & Alice Sara Ott
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/chopin-project/id962009544>
Some of Chopin's best known pieces rearranged by this contemporary
Icelandic composer, and performed along with a renowned German-Japanese
classical pianist.
* "Currents" by Tame Impala
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/currents/id988638228>
Latest album of psych grooves by this West Australian band. One of the
rare cases where my current tastes intersect with Triple J listeners.
* "Taranta Project" by Ludovico Einaudi
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/taranta-project/id978310441>
This folk/classical crossover collaboration grew out of Einaudi's recent
curation of the annual Italian folk music festival called "La Notte
della Taranta". World music with a Southern Italian accent. Einaudi has
had a busy year.
* "Courting the Squall" by Guy Garvey
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/courting-the-squall/id1038861936>
Debut solo album from the frontman on UK alternative rock stalwarts,
Elbow. A bit more intimate than his main band's usual work.
* "The 12th Room" by Ezio Bosso
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/the-12th-room/id1054461669>
Reworkings and new pieces from this minimalist classical and soundtrack
composer.
* "Risveglio" by Alessandro Cortini
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/risveglio/id1021738695>
Pleasing industrial/electronic sounds from this Nine Inch Nails
collaborator.
* "What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World" by The Decemberists
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/what-terrible-world-what-beautiful/id939658531>
Another collection of folky pop songs from this seasoned US band.
* "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful" by Florence + the Machine
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/how-big-how-blue-how-beautiful/id964546448>
Third album from Florence Welch and band. I really liked their debut,
"Lung" from 2009, so subsequent releases have come with high
expectations to meet. May need a few more listens.
2. Back Cataloguing (Pre-2015 Releases)
Here's a selection of other artists whose back catalogue I've listened
to and enjoyed in 2015.
* Ólafur Arnalds
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/olafur-arnalds/id265425550>
* Max Richter
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/max-richter/id54782697>
* Nils Frahm
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/nils-frahm/id86250605>
* Brian Eno
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/brian-eno/id38124>
* Harold Budd
<https://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/harold-budd/id165411>
I'm always keen to listen to new sounds, so let me know if there's
anything else I should check out.
Thursday, January 28
Pick of Movies Watched in 2015
I don't seem to watch as many movies as I used to. I only saw one movie
on the big screen in the whole of 2015. Until recently, I would borrow
and watch at least one movie on DVD a week, but lately it's more like
one or two a month. And I don't often watch movies broadcast on TV
either. That's in part because I've found TV shows in this so-called
"platinum" age of television more interesting and satisfying. I'll say
more about that in a future post.
Anyway, there were some movies I did enjoy watching for the first time
in 2015.
1. New Releases
* "Inside Out"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inside_out_2015/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/>
"After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San
Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness -
conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school."
A solid return to form for Pixar. Most of the studio's movies are
technically excellent, but this one had a great and touching story as
well.
* "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_vii_the_force_awakens/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2488496/>
"Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat
arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag
group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance."
Like many fans, I was a bit nervous about Episode VII. I went to see it
at the cinema with a longtime friend and fellow Star Wars tragic. After
the less-than stellar prequels, we were both very satisfied with the
first release of the Disney era. Echoes of the classic trilogy are
definitely present, but it was original enough, held together well
(ignoring the questionable physics), and some cool new characters were
introduced.
* "Ex Machina"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ex_machina/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/>
"A young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking
experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities
of a breath-taking humanoid A.I."
That premise was always going to grab my attention, and overall, this
relatively low-budget movie delivered. I enjoyed it enough to re-watch
it to see if I could catch any tells.
2. Past Year Releases
* "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_grand_budapest_hotel/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/>
"The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel
from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second
World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most
trusted friend."
Inspired by the writings of Stefan Zweig, this Wes Anderson-directed
comedy entertained me. I really enjoyed the fable-like qualities.
* "Coherence"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coherence_2013/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2866360/>
"Strange things begin to happen when a group of friends gather for a
dinner party on an evening when a comet is passing overhead."
When I heard about this very low budget ($50,000!) parallel worlds
sci-fi/thriller, I was intrigued. I don't buy the comet tie-in with
quantum theory, but what really matters is the characters react to the
situation. At only 90 minutes long, I had no qualms re-watching
immediately to better grasp the intricate plot.
* "Gone Girl"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gone_girl/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998/>
"With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense
media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected
that he may not be innocent."
I held off watching this, but caved due to my crush on Rosamund Pike,
and the fittingly edgy soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. I
haven't read the book, and probably won't since it's all about the
twist. It held my interest throughout.
* "The Wolf of Wall Street"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wolf_of_wall_street_2013/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/>
"Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy
stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime,
corruption and the federal government."
I'd probably watch traffic directed by Martin Scorsese. I also enjoy
seeing the shenanigans and excesses of the financial world being played
out. Overall, worth watching despite the long playing time.
* "Certified Copy"
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/certified_copy/>
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020773/>
"In Tuscany to promote his latest book, a middle-aged British writer
meets a French woman who leads him to the village of Lucignano. While
there, a chance question reveals something deeper."
They had me at Tuscany, but it wasn't just the scenery and architecture
that kept me watching. It was almost like a two-person play, with the
action mostly taking place over a single day. Solid acting and complex
characters that required a repeat viewing to fully appreciate. It's
probably not for everyone, though.
3. New Releases NOT seen yet:
* "The Martian"
I've read and enjoyed the book (see earlier post), and will definitely
catch the movie on DVD soon.
* "Mad Max: Fury Road"
After hearing lots of positive responses, I was tempted to go watch this
on the big screen. Will also have to wait for the DVD.
Feel free to suggest anything else I should check out.
Tuesday, January 26
Pick of Books Read in 2015
After a lengthy hiatus, I'm going to reboot the B-List with a series of
posts listing some of my personal entertainment highlights of 2015.
First up, books.
1. Fiction
In retrospect, 2015 turned out to be a resurgence of quality
speculative/science fiction for me. Twenty of the 53 novels I read last
year were broadly-speaking sci-fi, and eight of those made it into my
ten favourites.
* "The Three-Body Problem" by Cixin Liu
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20518872-the-three-body-problem>
Lots of interesting ideas: astronomy, mind-bending physics, some
information theory and contact with an alien civilisation. All this
starting with the Chinese Cultural Revolution as a historical prologue.
It's the first book in a trilogy, and after the initial contact produces
an unexpected response, humanity is left with a long and anxious wait
for the arrival of the alien fleet.
* "The Martian" by Andy Weir
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18007564-the-martian>
When a mission to Mars goes wrong, the crew is ordered to evacuate and
leave behind a critically injured astronaut. He survives and has access
to food and other supplies, but faces a long wait until the next
scheduled mission. There's lots of detailed science-based problem
solving, with dashes of humour as he deals with a hostile environment.
* "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/334176.The_Sparrow>
Astronomers discover what appears to be evidence of intelligent life on
a planet orbiting a nearby star. With the help of its financial and
scientific supporters, the Jesuits beat the rest of the world in
launching an exploratory mission. When they get there, they struggle to
reconcile their humanity and faith with the realities of the alien
societies they encounter.
* "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" by Mary Wollstonecraft
Shelley
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18490.Frankenstein>
This is a classic, and arguably the first modern science fiction story.
It holds up well, despite being written almost 200 years ago.
* "Narcissus and Goldmund" by Hermann Hesse
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5954.Narcissus_and_Goldmund>
This novel describes contrasting life journeys of two former residents
of a monastery in Medieval Germany. Narcissus is a dedicated and
knowledgable monk who devotes his life to teaching. Goldmund is a former
pupil who abandons monastic life in search of passion and adventure.
Weighty themes are covered, such as true friendship, discipline, and
finding one's life purpose and meaning.
* "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18373.Flowers_for_Algernon>
After successfully increasing the intelligence of a mouse (Algernon),
scientists experiment on a mentally challenged man in an attempt to make
him "normal". Early results are encouraging, and the beneficial effects
of the treatment continue. Soon Charlie's IQ goes beyond genius level.
He also starts remembering and understanding his childhood for the first
time. Old relationships are re-evaluated and new ones develop. But when
Algernon's condition unexpectedly deteriorates, Charlie fears the worst.
* "A Hero of Our Time" by Mikhail Lermontov
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/226378.A_Hero_of_Our_Time>
A classic from one of the pioneers of Russian Romanticism. The
adventures and stories of a not-so-loveable rogue, recounting abduction,
drunkenness, cheating and duelling in and around the Caucasus during the
1800s.
* "Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17333324-ancillary-justice>
Following an act of treason destroys a starship, the artificial
intelligence controlling that vessel inhabits one of the soldiers in its
crew (Breq). S/he (gender is neutral in this advanced culture) joins
with other survivors and tries to find those responsible, and uncovers a
plot to overthrow the Radch Empire. First instalment of a trilogy, the
followup wasn't as impressive. Hopefully the concluding book is better.
* "Annihilation" by Jeff VanderMeer
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17934530-annihilation>
Area X has long been isolated from the rest of civilisation. Many
expeditions have been sent there, but few of participants return. Those
who do return suffer fatal mental or physical problems. The latest
expedition is sent with the names of the members intentionally
suppressed. They refer to each other only by their roles. Will this help
them deal with the psychological challenges of the mission? Also the
start of trilogy, but I didn't find the remaining two books as
satisfying.
* "The Water Knife" by Paolo Bacigalupi
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23209924-the-water-knife>
In the near future, access to water in south-western USA becomes a legal
and political minefield, attracting criminals. When various interested
parties get wind of a "game-changing" document in Phoenix, ruthless
types converge on the surrounding area, endangering the lives of its
struggling and unsuspecting inhabitants. Another competent eco-thriller
from the author.
See Goodreads for ratings.
2. Non-fiction
Last year wasn't such a memorable year for non-fiction: of the sixteen
books read, only a few left a lasting impression.
* "Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life"
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66321.Finding_Flow>
This book argues that by doing something challenging yet achievable
given your skills and ability, you can attain a state of mind which
leaves you fully engaged. More than mere happiness, consistently
entering this "flow" state when working, playing and engaged in other
activities provides a sense of fulfillment. The author uses extensive
real-world studies to support his case.
* "Collection of Sand" by Italo Calvino
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18222747-collection-of-sand>
This is a collection of essays and articles on a wide-range of topics.
Calvino is my favourite Italian author, and he always manages to find
interesting angles and observations on any subject, from Japanese
gardens and temples, to the collection of sand referred to in the title.
* "How to Find Fulfilling Work" by Roman Krznaric
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14059030-how-to-find-fulfilling-work>
Perhaps unsurprisingly, most people hate their job. Since we spend
arguably the best hours of our weekdays at work, you'd think it would be
worth spending a bit of time trying to find a job we actually like
doing. This book aims to help readers do that.
* "Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep"
by David K. Randall
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13629711-dreamland>
This book looks at another activity which occupies about a third of our
lives: sleep. It features research studies and anecdotes, covering the
various stages of sleep, historical references, sleep-related
conditions. A couple of controversial findings: "high-quality"
mattresses don't materially improve sleep, and sleeping alone apparently
does.
See Goodreads for ratings.
Monday, October 6
Micro-Reviews of Books Read, September 2014
Reviews of books read last month: two novels and a non-fiction book
about the benefits of using technology.
1. "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38447.The_Handmaid_s_Tale>
<http://www.amazon.com/The-Handmaids-Tale/dp/038549081X>
This dystopian novel was published in 1986 and is set in the near
future. Religious fundamentalists have staged a coup in the United
States, forming the Republic of Gilead. The new regime introduced
an extreme patriarchal society, overturning many of the rights
gained by women. There has been a dramatic reduction in births, so
leaders of the regime are assigned "handmaids" if their wives are
unable to have children. Before the coup, the narrator used to be
an working woman with a husband and daughter. She was forcibly
separated from her family, and assigned as a handmaid to a Commander
in the regime. Her name was changed to "Offred", signifying her
relationship to her master. She describes her daily life as a
handmaid, which affords her some specific privileges, she has very
few freedoms compared to her previous life. As long as she has the
ability to conceive and stays out of trouble, she can at least
avoid getting banished to work in the colonies and be branded an
"unwoman".
Dystopian novels can be heavy going, and not everyone's cup of tea.
I seem to like reading cautionary tales like this one, which reminds
us to be vigilant against the reactionary rhetoric of our political
leaders.
2. "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9969571-ready-player-one>
<http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One/dp/0307887448>
Thirty years in the future, the real world has become a bleak and
rundown place. Mounting debts have weakened governments and
corporations, making conditions difficult for ordinary people.
Fortunately, the infrastructure of the information age has remained
mostly intact. Children can get an education online, and it's
usually safer to do so than in the real world. More generally,
people can escape the drudgery of everyday life by logging into
OASIS, a massively multiplayer online virtual reality environment.
An added incentive is that the founder of OASIS, James Halliday,
left some "Easter eggs" in the system, and whoever finds all of
them will inherit his vast fortune. But this provides an opportunity
for Halliday's bitter corporate rival, Innovative Online Industries
(IOI), to send its own agents into the system and to try to usurp
Halliday's business. Halliday was a child of the Eighties, so the
egg hunters ("gunters") believe there are clues in cultural
artifacts of that era. "Anorak's Almanac", an electronic book that
compiles Halliday's interests, is the go-to guide for the gunters.
This novel delves deeply into the computer games, music, movies and
television of the 1980s. Readers unfamiliar with these nostalgic
cultural references may find the story harder to follow and
appreciate. Most of the action takes place in the virtual world, so
in-game avatars can provide alternative insights into the real-life
characters. Overall, I found this an enjoyable page turner.
3. "Smarter Than You Think" by Clive Thompson
<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17707600-smarter-than-you-think>
<http://www.amazon.com/Smarter-Than-You-Think/dp/0143125826>
The author of this book challenges the view that over-reliance on
technology is reducing our powers of thought and making us less
intelligent. For example, tailored search results can lead to filter
bubbles, where we are only present with information that confirms our
biases. Easy access to search engines can lead us to rely less on our
own memory. Multitasking and highly distracting social media can lead
us to be "shallow". The author acknowledges that technology is not
always positive. However, he argues that, when applied wisely, it can
make us smarter. We can use technology as "outboard memory", freeing
up our minds to concentrate on the actual problems at hand. Technology
provides the ability to quickly search and cross-reference large
collections of data. It facilitates increased collaboration across
cultures and national boundaries. Computers can be used to do a lot
of the low-level calculations necessary to work on complex problems.
The use of technology has been an area of debate and controversy
throughout history. For example, Socrates lamented that, compared to
interactive conversation, books were an inferior medium to conduct
intelligent debate. The author does a reasonable job of explaining
how technology can take a load off our minds so we can work on big-
picture problems. But we should remember that technology can make
constant surveillance, creepy advertising and other invasions of
privacy easier.
Sunday, September 14
Micro-Reviews of Books Read, August 2014
Reviews of books read last month: two novels and two non-fiction books
on how our minds play tricks on us.
1. "Tigerman" by Nick Harkaway
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19322249-tigerman>
<http://www.amazon.com/Tigerman/dp/0385352417>
Mancreu is a former island colony of Britain facing an environment
catastrophe. The island is a formerly dormant volcano, which has
started discharging toxic vapours. Black marketeers, drug pushers
and other shady types are taking advantage of the island's remoteness
and precarious state. Middle-aged Sergeant Lester Ferris has been
appointed to look after British interests, with a brief to merely
observe and report. The brutal murder of Shola, his friend and local
businessman, spurs Lester to defy his orders to "sit tight". With the
aid of a street-smart and comic-obsessed local boy, he decides to
find out why Shola was killed. Inspired by the boy's love of comic
book heroes, Lester even wears a costume and takes on a superhero
identity, Tigerman. The boy makes clever use of the internet to
spread the mystique of Tigerman around the world.
As I've come to expect from this author, some clever things going on
here. The villains and supporting characters spice things up. While
I did find the story interesting, it didn't quite work as well for me
as the author's earlier novels. Maybe comic fans would enjoy this
book more?
2. "Lexicon" by Max Barry
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16158596-lexicon>
<http://www.amazon.com/Lexicon/dp/0143125427>
In the near-future, almost the entire population of Broken Hill is
wiped out by a mysterious incident. There are lots of conspiracy
theories, but few people know what really happened. The lone survivor,
Wil Parke, has been living in the US for a a couple of years. A secret
society, who call themselves the Poets, has located him and want to
interrogate him so they can find out what happened. The members of
this society have learned how to use words as weapons. Certain words
go beyond persuasion and can actually kill. Emily Ruff is also on the
run from the Poets. She was one of the brightest alumni of the Poet
training program, but she chose love over a career as a secret agent.
This is another novel with some interesting ideas, but which didn't
follow through in my opinion. If the writing style had included more
humour, as in the style of Jasper Fforde or Douglas Adams, I may have
been better able to suspend my disbelief. "The Rook" by another
Australian author, Daniel O'Malley, did a better job of portraying a
supernatural secret society.
3. "You Are Now Less Dumb" by David McRaney
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101143-you-are-now-less-dumb>
<http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Now-Less-Dumb/dp/1592408796>
The author continues his examination of cognitive biases and self-
delusion. Research studies and historical anecdotes are used to
describe psychological phenomena such as the halo effect (your
overall impression of someone impacts your feelings and thoughts
about that person), the Ben Franklin effect (doing a favour for a
rival makes you like them more), why hard to change minds of others
(the backfire effect), ego depletion (self-control and willpower can
run down, leading to lapses), enclothed cognition (the clothes you
wear affects how you think and act).
A worthy follow-up book to "You Are Not So Smart". By accepting our
susceptibility to biases and self-delusion, we can learn how to
overcome them. If this subject matter interests you, check out the
author's blog and podcasts at:
<http://youarenotsosmart.com/all-posts/>
4. "Mind Over Mind" by Chris Berdik
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13588409-mind-over-mind>
<http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Over-Mind/dp/1591846579>
Research shows how expectations, assumptions and predictions can
play a large part in shaping what happens to us, both good and bad.
The placebo effect was observed in medicine as early as WW2, when a
shortage of morphine lead doctors to give some injured soldiers
shots of saline instead. By making these patients believe their
pain would subside, the onset of potentially fatal shock was
prevented for many of them. There are various factors which
determine whether or not placebos work. The book also looks at
several other facets of life, including penalty kicks, wine tasting,
phantom limbs, economic bubbles and gambling addiction. For example,
being convinced that food is high in calories (when it actually
isn't) can make our bodies respond as if we've eaten something
fattening - in effect, food can have "placebo calories".
I found this a very eye-opening and though-provoking book. By taking
into account the importance of expectations, we can find new
approaches to deal with problems and challenges.
Sunday, August 3
Micro-Reviews of Books Read, July 2014
Reviews of books read last month: two short novels, two books on
economics, and a book about the man who recovered the manuscript
that allegedly launched the Renaissance.
1. "Whatever" by Michel Houellebecq
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58372.Whatever>
<http://www.amazon.com/Whatever/dp/1846687845>
This short novel is set in the 1990s in France. The narrator is a 30
year-old IT worker. He's single, and unhappy with both his job and
life in general. He doesn't have a lot of nice things to say about
his co-workers or his clients, either. Mid-way through the novel he
confesses: "I don't like this world ... The society in which I live
disgusts me; advertising sickens me; computers make me puke."
Unfortunately, he does not seem to provide any alternatives.
Described as "L'Etranger for the info generation", this is a book
you'll either love or hate. I'm afraid I fall into the latter
category. I had hoped it would at least provide a glimpse at what
it's like to work in IT. Alas, no. It could really be about any
clerical/office work, in any era.
2. "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12930.Messenger>
<http://www.amazon.com/Messenger/dp/0440239125>
This is the third book in "The Giver" Quartet, which are all set in
a post-apocalyptic future. This story picks up a few years after
"Gathering Blue", and describes life in the Village where outcasts
from other places have been welcomed and appear to thrive despite
their disabilities. Unfortunately, this idyll is falling apart due
to the greed, vanity and selfishness of some of the villagers. The
central character, Matty, is now a teenager and acts as messenger
between the Village and nearby towns. Until recently the living
Forest allowed him free passage, but that seems to be changing.
When the Villagers decide to close themselves off from everyone
else, Matty decides to get her friend Kira to come to the Village
to be reunited with her father before it's too late.
The series is aimed at younger readers, and that probably made the
plot a bit simple and predictable. But I still found it enjoyable.
3. "The Swerve: How the Renaissance Began" by Stephen Greenblatt
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10954979-the-swerve>
<http://www.amazon.com/Swerve/dp/0393343405>
Poggio Bracciolini was an ex-Vatican official who became a successful
book hunter in the 15th century. A colourful character, he served as
an official for seven popes, eventually rising to the post of papal
secretary. Mid-way through his career, power struggles in the papacy
forced him into temporary exile. He embarked on a search for ancient
manuscripts scattered in various remote monastery libraries around
Europe. He is credited with recovering many classical Latin
manuscripts. The author argues that one manuscript in particular,
"De rerum natura" by Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius, was the
key to the development of Humanism. Its rediscovery kick-started the
Renaissance, and influenced French rationalism, the American Founding
Fathers, and our modern world.
I mostly enjoyed reading about the book hunters of the early
Renaissance. Poggio comes across as a bit of an Indiana Jones type
of guy. Unfortunately, the author's strong anti-religious sentiment
somewhat distorts his argument. He focuses on the negatives without
giving credit for the positive influence of the Church on art, for
example. Other reviewers question the validity of the author's
thesis, in light of the findings of other historians.
4. "The Undercover Economist Strikes Back: How to Run - or Ruin -
an Economy" by Tim Harford
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19311677-the-undercover-economist-strikes-back>
<http://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Economist-Strikes-Back/dp/1594631409>
This book looks at economics at the macro or national level. It is
written in a conversational manner, answering questions from a typical
person-in-the-street. It guides the reader through monetary policy
(money and interest rates) and fiscal policy (taxes, spending and
welfare). It examines effect of policies on unemployment, productivity
and growth. These are heavy and complex topics, which the author
manages to explain in an accessible way.
This book should should appeal to anyone with an open mind and an
interest in the various approaches to managing economies. It should
also make readers wary of any politicians who claim to have a simple
solution for a country's economic problems. The author has written
other good books on economics, and recently released a series of
short podcasts, "Pop-Up Ideas":
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/thpop>
5. "Think Like a Freak" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17331349-think-like-a-freak>
<http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Freak/dp/0062218336>
This is another book about economics, but with a focus on the micro
level: how individuals make decisions in their everyday lives about
things such as money, work, love, crime and education. This book
expands on the themes of the authors' previous books, Freakonomics
and SuperFreakonomics. Key ideas include making sure the right costs
are considered (forget sunk costs but acknowledge opportunity costs),
how to frame incentives, applying game theory, and accepting that
it's okay to say "I don't know" or think like a child.
The authors use entertaining case studies backed up by relevant
research to provide advice on how to "think smarter about almost
everything". Many of the topics have been covered in their
Freakonomics podcast:
<http://freakonomics.com/radio/>
Sunday, July 6
Micro-Reviews of Books Read, June 2014
Reviews of books read last month: two collections of short stories,
two science fiction novels, a book about the impact of noise on
history, and a book about creativity.
1. "Into the War" by Italo Calvino
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/493434.L_entrata_in_guerra>
This is a collection of three of the author's early short stories.
The protagonists are mostly youths living in northern Italy during
WW2, something the author experienced himself. There's building
tension between supporters of the government and its war, and those
who are less convinced. Either way, everyone tries to live their
lives as best they can.
These stories show many of the traits of Calvino's writing style
that I've admired in his later, major works: clarity, humour and
intelligence.
2. "Solaris" by Stanislaw Lem
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95558.Solaris>
<http://www.amazon.com/Solaris/dp/0156027607>
Kris Kelvin has just arrived at a space station in orbit around
the planet Solaris. There are signs of an unusual intelligence in
the planet's ocean, which has triggered much debate back on Earth
in the decades since Solaris was discovered. But, instead of
encountering the aliens directly, it appears that whatever life
exists on the planet is choosing to "make contact" by making
manifest the memories, dreams and fears of the visitors.
This story gets quite philosophical and psychological at times
about sentience and life. It's been made into movies, firstly by
Tarkovsky in the USSR, and more recently by Hollywood. Not an
easy book to read, but definitely thought-provoking.
3. "More Tales of the Unexpected" by Roald Dahl
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/183381.More_Tales_Of_The_Unexpected>
<http://www.amazon.com/More-Tales-Unexpected/dp/0140056068>
While the author is mostly known for his novels aimed at children,
he also wrote many short stories with a twist for older audiences.
This collection is a bit uneven, but still delivers good
entertainment value. If you haven't read them already, try the
original "Tales of the Unexpected" collection first.
4. "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12936.Gathering_Blue>
<http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Blue/dp/0547904142>
This short novel is set in a post-apocalyptic future where technology
is primitive. Kira is a crippled teenage girl with a talent for
weaving and embroidery. Having already lost her father, her future
becomes shaky when her mother dies. Everyone is struggling to survive,
and there's not a lot of sentimentality in the village. Normally,
those who can't fend for themselves are cast out. But Kira's talent
saves her, and she is taken in by one of the village leaders. At her
new home, she finds another adoptee, Thomas, a talented carver who
also lost his parents. However, there is something sinister about
their village leadership and its plans for Kira, Thomas and other
talented orphans.
This type of story seems popular these days (e.g. "The Hunger Games").
The author's earlier novella, "The Giver", will be released as a movie
this year.
5. "Noise: A Human History of Sound and Listening" by David Hendy
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17213951-noise?>
<http://www.amazon.com/Noise/dp/0062283073>
This is a companion book to a BBC Radio 4 series about the history
of sound and its importance to civilisation. It covers many aspects
of sound and noise, from cave dwellers to the 21st century. The world
is a noisy place, and the sounds of speech, music, machinery,
weaponry, bells and nature can all touch, affect and even control us.
According to the author: "In a very real sense, being within earshot
of a sound was what made you a citizen or subject. With radio, the
distances involved were dramatically transformed". Improved
communications technology helps keep people in touch, but has a
downside of making the spread of propaganda easier.
6. "Creativity, Inc." by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077903-creativity-inc>
<http://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc/dp/0812993012>
Written by a founder and executive of Pixar Animation (one of Steve
Jobs's other tech startups), this book provides advice on how to
foster creativity in the workplace. Catmull draws on his somewhat
accidental 30 year career as an animation studio chief executive.
In the conclusion he argues: "Unleashing creativity requires that
we loosen the controls, accept risk, trust our colleagues, work to
clear the path for them, and pay attention to anything that creates
fear. Doing all these things won't necessarily make the job of
managing a creative culture easier. But ease isn't the goal;
excellence is."
This is not the typical business book, and much of the advice extends
to anyone who wants to work in a creative environment. In a touching
afterword, he provides a personal view of the Steve Jobs he knew and
worked with for three decades.
Sunday, June 1
Micro-Reviews of Books Read, May 2014
Reviews of books read last month: a spy novel, two collections of
short stories, and an unofficial biography of Apple's lead designer.
1. "The Secret Agent" by Joseph Conrad
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86658.The_Secret_Agent>
<http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Agent/dp/0141441585>
This novel was written in the early 20th century. Verloc is a French
emigre runs a little shop/newsagency with his wife. The shop seems to
be a front for selling dubious material. Verloc has delusions of being
a revolutionary, and associates with anarchists and foreign officials.
So far, his activities have been mostly harmless, such as spreading
propaganda through his shop. But his handler at the foreign embassy
demands more than just talk to justify his retainer: blow up the
Greenwich Observatory. Unfortunately, things don't go quite to plan,
resulting in the accidental death of Verloc's mentally retarded
brother-in-law. It doesn't take long for Chief Inspector Heat to
suspect Verloc.
This was a short novel, but I found it overly verbose at times. The
plot was interesting, but the characters were too dark and unlikeable.
It wasn't until the last few chapters that the story started to grab
me - too late. Generally, I've been underwhelmed by Conrad's writing.
My disappointment with this book could be that it suffered in
comparison with G. K. Chesterton's "The Man Who Was Thursday", which
has similar settings and themes, but was much more enjoyable.
2. "Armageddon in Retrospect" by Kurt Vonnegut
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2024223.Armageddon_in_Retrospect>
<http://www.amazon.com/Armageddon-Retrospect/dp/0425226891>
This is a collection of short stories and other writings, released
posthumously. They all share the themes of war and peace. The author
was himself a prisoner of the Germans in WW2, and was in Dresden when
the allies firebombed the city into the Stone Age. This experience
obviously left a mark on the young American (with a German name), as
most of his work contains strong anti-war sentiments.
This collection of stories, while inconsistent in quality, does have a
few gems. And the author's trademark satire and humour helped keep my
interest. Perhaps a better introduction to the author's work is his
breakthrough novel, "Slaughterhouse-Five".
3. "Strange Pilgrims" by Gabriel García Márquez
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22175.Strange_Pilgrims>
<http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Pilgrims/dp/1400034698>
This is a collection of short stories on the theme of Latin Americans
who find themselves in Europe: an ex-President in exile visiting a
Swiss hospital for an operation and being preyed upon by fellow
migrants, children on vacation in Sicily with their parents and being
looked after by a strange young German governess, and a Colombian man
who travels to Rome in the hope of having his sister declared a saint.
For me, the most memorable story was about a young woman, Maria, whose
car broke down outside Barcelona. No one stops to help her, except for
a bus driver, who lets her come on board. She just wants to be taken
somewhere so she can call her husband to let him know she'll be late.
As it happens, the bus is taking its passengers to a sanatorium. The
staff assume she is also a new inmate, so she finds herself admitted.
This collection was a bit uneven, but the author's trademark style
still shines through. It's a pretty good introduction to his work,
if you're not yet willing to tackle his classic novels.
4. "Jony Ive" by Leander Kahney
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17707768-jony-ive>
<http://www.amazon.com/Jony-Ive/dp/159184617X>
This is an unofficial biography of the head of Apple's design team,
Jony Ive. Born and educated in England, Ive had already established a
reputation for inspired and groundbreaking designs before moving to
the US. But it is at Apple where he made a name for himself, helping
develop a string of hit products: iMacs, iPods, iPhones and iPads.
He's generally described as mild-mannered and humble, but also
obsessed with craftsmanship and willing to stand by his principles.
The book also provides interesting insights into Apple's design
processes. A hallmark of the second Steve Jobs era as Apple CEO was
a shift in emphasis from design as an afterthought to the idea of
design and technical implementation going hand-in-hand to provide
simple and harmonious products. People can argue about the merits of
Apple's approach, but it does seem to be working. While the author
likes playing up the role of his fellow Englishman, reading this book
gives me the sense that Apple's success is the result of a talented
team of several highly motivated people. The book also suggests
Apple's obsession with perfection stops it from releasing concept
products. In contrast, I would argue, that companies such as Google
and Microsoft try to bolster their image with publicity stunts (e.g.
Google Glass, Nexus Q and self-driving cars).
The author based the book on interviews with many of Ive's former
colleagues, as well as other information in the public domain. While
the author has met with Ive, these were chance meetings. Hopefully,
we will someday be able to read official biographies of Ive and his
current colleagues. Until then, this book will have to do and readers
will need to take the contents with a grain of salt.
Sunday, May 4
Micro-Reviews of Books Read, April 2014
Reviews of books read last month: three great short novels by renowned
authors, a book advocating working away from traditional offices, and
a book about the development of the Italian language.
1. "Rosshalde" by Herman Hesse
<http://www.amazon.com/Rosshalde/dp/0312422296>
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10064.Rosshalde>
Johann Veraguth is a successful painter who lives in a country manor
(Rosshalde) with his wife and young son, Pierre. Another much older
son, Albert, is away at boarding school. Their marriage has been
loveless for a while, to the extent that Johann and his wife spend
most of their days in different parts of the estate. Young Pierre is
caught in the middle as the parents compete for his affection.
Johann's latest painting bluntly portrays the household situation:
Pierre in the centre, "tranquilly happy and without suspicion of the
cloud hanging over him", flanked by the parents sitting "in rigid
symmetry, severe sorrowful images of loneliness". After a brief visit
by a longtime friend, Johann decides he should accept an invitation
to take a spiritual adventure in India. He hopes this would at least
reduce the tension at Rosshalde. Before he can leave, tragedy
strikes, which temporarily brings unity to the family.
This is not an uplifting story, but it is thought-provoking and
poignant. I've read and enjoyed most of the author's other novels,
and found this one rewarding as well.
2. "The Quiet American" by Graham Greene
<http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-American/dp/0143039024>
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3698.The_Quiet_American>
This novel is set in the early 1950s in Vietnam. The narrator,
Thomas Fowler, is an English journalist covering the war between
the colonial French and the Viet Cong. He's escaping a failing
marriage, and has taken up a local girl, Phuong, as his lover.
This arrangement is soon complicated when a young American, Alden
Pyle, starts working at the so-called "American Economic Mission".
Pyle meets Phuong, whose sister works at the mission, and falls
for her. He bluntly but politely makes it clear to Fowler that
he intends to marry her. Soon we discover that Pyle is a supporter
of some rather naive foreign policy ideals. He is involved in some
intrigue, conspiring with a "Third Force" to break the deadlock
in the colonial war. Fowler becomes suspicious of Pyle's real
agenda in Vietnam, and wouldn't be too upset if his rival came
to a sticky end. The love triangle gets complicated when Pyle
risks his own life to save Fowler after a Viet Cong attack. Pyle
argues he wouldn't want to win the battle for Phuong's affection
by default. This creates an unusual bond between the two men.
Prescient at times, this controversial novel depicts the tense
and complex political situation in Vietnam at the time. I also
found the description of various cultural and religious traditions
in Vietnam interesting.
3. "Leaf Storm" by Gabriel García Márquez
<http://www.amazon.com/Leaf-Storm/dp/B00HVPSXT2>
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3038606-leaf-storm>
This novel is set in the early 20th century in a fictional Colombian
town of Macondo. The story is told from the viewpoints of three
different narrators: the "Colonel", his daughter Isabel, and her son.
This regular change in narrator, along with the use of several
flashbacks, can make the story difficult to follow. The main story
revolves around a mysterious retired French doctor who came to live
in the town. His actions over the years made him universally reviled
by the rest of the citizens of Macondo. He rented a room in the
Colonel's house and soon started an affair with the indigenous maid.
When she got pregnant, he performed an abortion secretly. He moved
into another house with her where they "lived in sin". When the
doctor refused to treat wounded soldiers, the townspeople would've
had him lynched had the Colonel not intervened. Years later, when
the doctor commits suicide, the Colonel stands up for him, taking
responsibility for his burial. The impending funeral is the focal
point of the three narrators: they are the only people from Macondo
in attendance. The Colonel in particular feels duty-bound to pay his
respects, in light of a key event from their past.
The author, one of the giants of Latin American literature, passed
away recently. Credited with popularising magical realism, he was
awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. I've read and recommend two
of his other classic novels: "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and
"Love in the Time of Cholera". By the way, the story's title is a
metaphor for how the banana company came to Macondo, bringing
temporary prosperity, only to depart a few years later, leaving its
discarded trash behind. Perhaps the the leaf storm metaphor also
applies to the doctor's stay in Macondo?
4. "Remote: Office Not Required" by Jason Fried and
David Heinemeier Hansson
<http://www.amazon.com/Remote/dp/0804137501>
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17316682-remote>
The goal of this book is to promote the benefits of allowing workers
to work off-site. It addresses the major complaints and arguments
that are often used against allowing remote workers. The authors are
two founders of a successful web development company, 37signals. They
practice what they preach: the head office is in Chicago, the main
developer lives and works in Denmark, and several other staff live
and work in other parts of the US and the world. Modern technology
can help collaboration: email, instant messaging, teleconferencing,
file sharing services, web-based project management tools. They argue
that traditional work environments and practices, including cubicles,
open plans, desk phones and status meetings, actually reduce
productivity. Remote workers can avoid unnecessary interruptions and
focus on their work. It has some advice dealing with feelings of
isolation, which is a problem when working away from clients and
colleagues.
Overall, this book presents a good case for allowing employees to
work remotely. Personally, I've had the opportunity to work off-
site, and agree that most times this is very effective for the
type of work I do. However, I can see how more extroverted or
socially-oriented managers and employees would not be as
comfortable with remote work.
5. "La Bella Lingua" by Dianne Hales
<http://www.amazon.com/La-Bella-Lingua/dp/0767927702>
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4951923-la-bella-lingua>
The author is an American journalist who decided to learn Italian,
and began what she calls her love affair with the language and
Italian culture. This book looks at the historical development of
the Italian language, which started out as a localised Tuscan
dialect of Latin. She examines the language's founding trio of
literary titans: Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarch. These writers
bucked the convention of the 14th century, preferring to write
their major works in the vernacular rather than the official Latin.
This entertaining book also looks at other influential aspects of
the Italian language: Renaissance artists, baroque and classical
musicians, Italian unification and culinary chroniclers of the
1800s, through to 20th century cinema.
This book should appeal to anyone interested in Italian history,
culture and the development of language. The writing style is light
and highly readable. There's even an amusing chapter on "irreverent
Italian", covering insults and swearing.
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