Mini-Reviews of Books Read, October 2011

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month.  This time, all three books are
   non-fiction: one on business, one ostensibly on running, and another on
   poetry.  All are recommended.


   1. "Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning"
      by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
     <http://www.amazon.com/Good-Business/dp/014200409X>

   This book describes how the concept of "Flow" can be applied to running
   businesses.  I reviewed the seminal book on the subject, "Flow: The
   Psychology of Optimal Experience", in August.  In general, the concepts
   that apply to the individual can be applied to business leaders and the
   people who work in the organisations they manage to create meaningful,
   satisfying and enriching work environments.

   Part 1 contains a review of the author's previous research into "flow".
   Since work makes up a large part of our lives, it's important that
   leaders and employees feel their work has meaning.  More engaged and
   fulfilled workers should help produce better products and services.
   Part 2 looks at why "flow" is missing at work and how to build it into
   the organisation.  Part 3 considers bigger picture concepts: the "soul"
   of business, creating flow in life, and the future of business.  The
   author argues that "flow" helps create good businesses.  Last month I
   read "Drive", which also discussed the importance of "flow" among
   employees as a way to promote engagement and help them achieve mastery.

   In addition to research findings, this book includes quotes from
   interviews with prominent business leaders who have successfully
   applied "flow" to their organisations.  It's a self-contained book, so
   there's no need to read the author's earlier work to fully understand
   the concepts.  A worthwhile read, not only for current or aspiring
   business leaders, but anyone interested in work with meaning.


   2. "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami
     <http://www.amazon.com/What-About-Running/dp/0307389839>

   This is a memoir of sorts by Haruki Murakami, whose novels I've enjoyed
   reading in the past couple of years.  Murakami is also an amateur
   marathon runner, and his career as a novelist parallels his distance
   running: the two activities go hand in hand in framing his life from
   his thirties onward.  He briefly describes his life before running,
   culminating in being owner/manager of a successful jazz night club.
   When he decided to become a professional writer, he overhauled his
   lifestyle completely.  This included selling his business, giving up
   smoking, and living healthier.

   He doesn't think much about writing when he's running, but rather on
   more immediate concerns like preparing for marathons and getting
   through the exhaustion and pain.  This does have relevance to writing,
   because that too requires perseverance.  Murakami's goal is to run one
   marathon per year, which he has been able to achieve until recently.
   With advancing age he finds it a struggle to beat his previous times,
   and so motivation drops.  To mix things up, he started doing triathlons,
   which required learning new skills and mastering new tactics.

   I enjoyed reading this book, presented as a series of diary entries and
   reflections between 2005 and 2007.  It provides insights into what makes
   Murakami tick.  Sprinkled throughout are bits of advice for budding
   writers too, not just runners.  Some parts are even inspirational.


   3. "This Craft of Verse" by Jorge Luis Borges
     <http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Verse/dp/0674008200>

   This book comprises the text of series of lectures presented by a
   renowned Argentinian author of short stories.  When Borges was in his
   late sixties he was invited to give a series of lectures at Harvard.
   In six lectures he discusses the "riddle of poetry", the use of
   metaphors and story telling.

   His style is humble, almost self-deprecatory.  He draws on examples from
   many works in various languages, not just his native Spanish, but also
   English (his maternal grandparents were originally from England),
   Ancient Greek and Old English.  I found the lecture on metaphors
   particularly interesting.  Words evolve in meaning over time, so that in
   many cases words originated as metaphors.  For example: "threat" is Old
   English for an "angry mob".  Another lecture I found particularly
   interesting was on the often controversial topic of translation.  For
   example, should translations be strictly literal, or should the
   translator be allowed more freedom when choosing words to convey the
   underlying poetry or meaning of the text?

   This book also acts as a general introduction to literature, albeit
   with an emphasis on poetry.  It also provides glimpses into Borges,
   particularly the last lecture where he discusses his "poet's creed".
   For example, he reveals why he wrote only short stories and not novels:
   firstly, he was lazy, and secondly (more likely) he felt it best to be
   economical with words.  Writing long novels would require padding out
   with content that could clutter the story.  He also used to attribute
   his own attempts at verse to made-up authors, and included these in
   his short stories.

   Overall, I found this book provided great insight into both the "craft
   of verse" and Borges the writer.  You can listen to audio recording of
   the lectures online, at:
     <http://ubu.com/sound/borges.html>

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, September 2011

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month.  Only one novel, but it's a
   classic.  The non-fiction books include a couple on writers and writing.


   1. "Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert
     <http://www.amazon.com/Madame-Bovary/dp/0670022071>

   This is justifiably regarded as a classic novel from the mid 19th
   century.  Set in provincial France, the central character is Emma
   Bovary, beautiful second wife of inept rural doctor, Charles Bovary.
   Emma is actually the third "Madame Bovary" of the novel, the first
   being her mother-in-law, and the second being her husband's short-
   lived first wife.

   The main plot takes place when Charles and Emma move to Yonville.
   Charles had hoped the change of scenery would cure Emma's boredom.
   But, even after the birth of their daughter, Emma remained disappointed
   and disillusioned with her life.  She was lost in romantic delusion,
   born from the novels of her youth.  She consoles herself with
   extravagant purchases and ultimately adultery, in the vain hope of
   obtaining fulfilment.

   The scandalous subject of adultery made this a very controversial novel
   in its day.  The nascent feminism and the debate between faith and
   reason give the novel historical significance.  That said, it took a
   while for me to get into it, and it didn't quite work for me.  Flaubert
   was meticulous with his language, taking five years to write "Madame
   Bovary", so something may have been lost through this ("new") English
   translation.  It didn't help that I found it hard to relate to any of
   the characters.  The author had a dim view of bourgeoisie, and this
   shows in the way the characters are portrayed.

   I couldn't help compare Emma's plight with that of the title character
   in Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina".  These two tragic fictional women have
   much in common, as well as some important differences.  I felt more
   sympathetic to Anna than Emma.  The supporting characters in "Anna
   Karenina" were also better defined, some having deeper philosophical
   convictions.  These reasons may explain why I enjoyed "Anna Karenina"
   more than "Madame Bovary".  Both are worth reading.


   2. "On Writing" by Stephen King
     <http://www.amazon.com/On-Writing/dp/1439156816>

   King is a prolific author of popular suspense, horror and fantasy
   novels.  The first section of the book is a brief memoir, covering
   King's development as a writer from his childhood days to his early
   breakthroughs.  His father left when he was two, so King and his older
   brother were raised by his mother.  He had health problems when he was
   young, but found he loved writing.  Years of constant practice, and
   persistence in the face of rejection, finally brought success.

   The second section of the book provides practical advice to aspiring
   writers.  For example, the Great Commandment is to "read a lot, write
   a lot".  There's also advice on drafts and revisions.  King reiterates
   the difficult advice of "killing your darlings" to help pacing.  He
   also suggests avoiding adverbs.  Throughout the book he reveals how he
   comes up with some of the ideas for his stories.  Often it was a case
   of bringing together two or more concepts to form an original scenario.

   Since I don't usually read horror or fantasy, I haven't read any of
   King's work.  However, over the years I've seen many films based on his
   novels and short stories, including: "Carrie", "Christine", "Misery",
   "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Shining" and "Stand By Me".  I might
   check out some of his novels one day, such as "The Stand" .


   3. "Just My Type" by Simon Garfield
     <http://www.amazon.com/Just-My-Type/dp/1592406521>

   This book provides an overview of printing and typography, from
   Gutenberg to the computer age.  In covers basics like the difference
   between "serif" and "sans serif".  It describes the origins of many of
   the fonts in use today, including the ever-present Helvetica (and its
   clones), the newsworthy Times New Roman, the cinematic Trajan, and the
   gimmicky Comic Sans.

   There are chapters on font design, legibility versus readability, and
   even a countdown of the "worst fonts in the world".  Mini chapters
   called "fontbreaks" focus on specific fonts, many of which you may see
   regularly without knowing.  For example, Optima has become associated
   with perfumes and cosmetics.

   Warning: after reading this book, you might become type-obsessed, unable
   to resist "fontspotting".  The book helps out there too, referencing a
   web site and an iPhone app called "What The Font" that help identify
   fonts:
     <http://new.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/>
   You can also check out YouTube for movies dedicated to fonts and
   typography, as well as the trailer for a film about the most widely use
   font, "Helvetica".

   Having only a passing interest in typography, I intended to just flip
   through this book.  But I found it so interesting and easy to read that
   I ended up reading the whole thing.


   4. "Hermit in Paris" by Italo Calvino
     <http://www.amazon.com/Hermit-Paris/dp/037571426X>

   This is a posthumous collection of autobiographical pieces by my
   favourite writer, Italo Calvino.  He was born in Cuba in 1923, to
   Italian scientist parents.  The family moved back to San Remo, Italy
   in 1925.  Calvino joined the Partisans and fought against the Fascists
   in World War II.  Having a passion for literature, after the War he
   started working at a publishing house in Turin and eventually became
   a writer.  His principle mentor was Cesare Pavese.

   An "American Diary" is the single biggest section, covering Calvino's
   sponsored trip to the US in 1959/1960.  He was working for Einaudi
   publishers at the time.  After a few weeks in New York, he visited
   Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Texas,
   Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia.  Some entries are interesting, and
   show Calvino's gradual warming to the US.  The style of the entries
   is quite frank, intended for his colleagues back in Italy rather than
   for publication.  There are occasional interesting meditations and
   observations, prefiguring those in "Palomar" and other novels, such
   as one about the enormous tailfins of American cars of that era.

   The title lead me to expect more details about the time Calvino spent
   in Paris with his wife and daughter.  It was during his Paris years
   that he wrote the novels I enjoyed most, but unfortunately the title
   essay was too brief.  There was no discussion of the books written in
   this period, and no mention of Oulipo (a loose gathering of experimental
   writers).  Instead, the majority of the remaining pieces focus on his
   political views.  Calvino was staunchly pro-Communism in his formative
   years.  He gradually became disillusioned with Communism during the
   1950s as he (along with many others) came to terms with the true nature
   of Stalinism.

   Overall, this is a rather patchy collection.  Fortunately, Calvino
   wrote other autobiographical pieces, such as some memoirs collected in
   "The Road to San Giovanni".  He also wrote about literature and writing
   in "Six Memos for the Next Millennium", "The Uses of Literature" and
   "Why Read the Classics?"


   5. "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us"
      by Daniel H. Pink
     <http://www.amazon.com/Drive/dp/1594484805>

   The author argues that there's a gap between the science and practice
   of motivation.  Businesses still seem to manage people based on outdated
   "carrot and stick" techniques, suited to a time when work was boring and
   repetitive.  Creative or knowledge work requires a new approach, one
   that promotes autonomy, mastery and purpose.  Research has consistently
   shown that old motivation techniques can actually do more harm when
   applied to the wrong circumstances.  Quoting Edward Deci: "When money
   is used as an external reward for some activity, the subject loses
   intrinsic interest for the activity".

   Throughout the book, the author cites numerous studies to support a
   new approach.  For example, Deci and Ryan point out the importance of
   autonomy in self-determination theory.  And the research of Mihaly
   Csikszentmihalyi shows how engagement and "flow" promote mastery.
   Fortunately, there are some employers which have been paying attention
   to the science.  For example, the book cites Google's "20% time" (an
   idea borrowed from 3M's "15% time" in the 1950s) as a positive example
   of modern motivation.  However, Google seems to remain influenced by
   old ideas, as evidenced by tying annual bonuses to its "social"
   initiative.

   For the time-challenged, Dan Pink has given a TED talk on motivation:
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html>
   There's also a clever RSA Animated clip for "Drive":
     <http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/2010/04/08/rsa-animate-drive/>

TED Talk Picks 2

   Another selection of interesting TED talks...

   1. "Rory Sutherland: Life lessons from an ad man"
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/rory_sutherland_life_lessons_from_an_ad_man.html>
   "Advertising adds value to a product by changing our perception, rather
   than the product itself. Rory Sutherland makes the daring assertion that
   a change in perceived value can be just as satisfying as what we consider
   'real' value -- and his conclusion has interesting consequences for how
   we look at life."

   2. "William Ury: The walk from 'no' to 'yes'"
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/william_ury.html>
   "William Ury, author of 'Getting to Yes', offers an elegant, simple (but
   not easy) way to create agreement in even the most difficult situations
   -- from family conflict to, perhaps, the Middle East."

   3. "Martin Seligman on positive psychology"
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology.html>
   "Martin Seligman talks about psychology -- as a field of study and as it
   works one-on-one with each patient and each practitioner. As it moves
   beyond a focus on disease, what can modern psychology help us to
   become?"

   4. "Mark Pagel: How language transformed humanity"
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_pagel_how_language_transformed_humanity.html>
   "Biologist Mark Pagel shares an intriguing theory about why humans
   evolved our complex system of language. He suggests that language is a
   piece of "social technology" that allowed early human tribes to access
   a powerful new tool: cooperation."

   5. "Eli Pariser: Beware online 'filter bubbles'"
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html>
   "As web companies strive to tailor their services (including news and
   search results) to our personal tastes, there's a dangerous unintended
   consequence: We get trapped in a 'filter bubble' and don't get exposed
   to information that could challenge or broaden our worldview. Eli
   Pariser argues powerfully that this will ultimately prove to be bad for
   us and bad for democracy."

   6. "Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world"
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_slavin_how_algorithms_shape_our_world.html>
   "Kevin Slavin argues that we're living in a world designed for -- and
   increasingly controlled by -- algorithms. In this riveting talk from
   TEDGlobal, he shows how these complex computer programs determine:
   espionage tactics, stock prices, movie scripts, and architecture. And
   he warns that we are writing code we can't understand, with implications
   we can't control."

   7. "Robert Lang folds way-new origami"
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_lang_folds_way_new_origami.html>
   "Robert Lang is a pioneer of the newest kind of origami -- using math
   and engineering principles to fold mind-blowingly intricate designs that
   are beautiful and, sometimes, very useful."


   About TED:
     <http://www.ted.com/pages/about>
   "TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out
   (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds:
   Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever
   broader."

   Previous TED Talk Picks:
     <http://b-list.blogspot.com/2011/05/ted-talk-picks.html>

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, August 2011

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month: three novels and one non-
   fiction.  All quite solid, though nothing stands out as must-read.


   1. "Suttree" by Cormac McCarthy
     <http://www.amazon.com/Suttree/dp/0679736328>

   This rather epic novel is set in the 1950s, in and around Knoxville,
   Tennessee.  The title character, Cornelius Suttree, has turned his back
   on a life of privilege.  Instead he's chosen a hand-to-mouth existence
   as a fisherman, living in a houseboat on the Tennessee River.  Suttree
   spends his days with down-and-outs: drifters, petty thieves, prostitutes
   and other fringe-dwellers.  This leads to colourful situations, but not
   without risks.  For example, one night he goes out with friends, gets
   drunk and falls asleep in the car.  Some of the group decide to do a
   robbery, but they get caught and sent to the workhouse (a low security
   prison where inmates do manual labour).

   While this is a rather gritty, almost depressing novel, there are some
   lighter moments.  One of the recurring characters, Gene Harrogate, is a
   youth who gets himself arrested for performing indecent acts with water-
   melons.  He gets sent to the workhouse, where he meets Suttree.  After
   his release he hatches some harebrained schemes.  For example, when he
   hears about a bounty for potentially rabid bats, he baits a colony of
   bats hoping to claim a sizeable reward.  Another scheme involves
   tunnelling through a series of caves under the city in the hope of
   reaching the bank.

   Comparisons with other novels are often made.  Descriptions of daily
   struggles for the basics like food and shelter make it feel like a
   Steinbeck Depression-era novel.  The depictions of characters and
   capers along the Tennessee River are reminiscent of Twain's "Adventures
   of Huckleberry Finn".  And the denseness of prose recalls Joyce's
   "Ulysses" (a book I haven't dared tackle yet).  Some reviewers and
   critics argue that this semi-autobiographical novel is McCarthy's best
   work.  Unfortunately, I'm not inclined to agree.  While the language is
   often poetic, the novel's length and looseness in structure make it a
   bit heavy going.  Maybe I need more time for reflection?  For anyone
   wanting to dip their toes into McCarthy's work, I'd recommend starting
   with "The Road" and "No Country For Old Men".


   2. "After Dark" by Haruki Murakami
     <http://www.amazon.com/After-Dark/dp/0307278735>

   This novel is set in the early hours of a single morning in downtown
   Tokyo.  While most of the city sleeps, an interesting and diverse
   collection of characters get involved in some drama.  Mari, a student,
   is hanging out at an all-night restaurant to avoid going home.  She
   feels guilt for not being very close to her older sister, Eri, who
   sleeps for days at a time.  In fact, Eri sleeps so deeply that she's
   dubbed "Sleeping Beauty".  Takahashi, a uni student and amateur
   trombonist, is taking a break from late night band practice.  He
   recognises Mari from high school when they hung out once.

   Meanwhile, IT worker Shirokawa prefers to pull all-nighters at the
   office rather than be at home with his wife and kids.  Sometimes he
   takes time out, picks up a call girl and visits the Hotel Alphaville,
   a "love hotel" managed by Kaoru, a retired female wrestler.  On the
   night in question, Shirokawa beats up his "date", a young Chinese woman
   and illegal immigrant.  Takahashi knows Kaoru, and often drops by the
   Alphaville which is close to where his band practises.  Takahashi
   happens to visit shortly after the Chinese girl is found unconscious.
   He remembers that Mari speaks Chinese, so he returns to the restaurant
   to ask her to help translate.

   The story is broken up into short chapters which follow parallel story
   lines.  The chapters describing Eri's sleep are a little surreal.  I
   found the characters intriguing, but I felt something was missing.  The
   coincidences made the plot appear a bit too contrived.  Perhaps it was
   too short, not allowing the characters enough room to develop?  While
   not my favourite Murakami novel, it's still worth reading.


   3. "Un borghese piccolo piccolo" by Vincenzo Cerami
     <http://www.amazon.it/borghese-piccolo-piccolo/dp/8811685443>

   The title of this short novel literally translates as "a lower lower
   middle-class man".  It's the story of Giovanni Vivaldi (no relation to
   the Baroque composer).  Over the years he's managed to progress from a
   peasant farmer in Abruzzi to a job as a government bureaucrat in Rome.
   When the novel begins he's approaching retirement.  His only son, Mario
   has just completed his Accounting degree.  He is eager to give his son's
   career off to a good start.  One obstacle remains, namely the entrance
   exam for the Ministry.  Giovanni is willing to go so far as join the
   Masons if that can help his son.

   Halfway through the novel something happens to dramatically upset
   Giovanni's careful plans.  A rather bizarre chain of events follows,
   both tragic and comic.  The novel was made into a film not long after
   the book was published in the late 1970s.  The film stars Alberto Sordi,
   and goes by the English title "A Very Little Man".


   4. "Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions"
      by Guy Kawasaki
     <http://www.amazon.com/Enchantment/dp/1591843790>

   This book by 1980s Apple marketing evangelist Guy Kawasaki tries to
   explain what it is about certain people and products that enchants us.
   In some ways, it's an updated version of Dale Carnegie's "How to Win
   Friends and Influence People", but goes beyond personal factors to
   products and services.

   It should be noted that the emphasis here is to enchant people, not
   manipulate them.  A product or cause must be noble for enchantment to
   be long-lasting.  It's possible to use the advice provided in the book
   to sell questionable products, but customers aren't likely to be fooled
   again.  The book covers a lot of ground in short order, with the main
   points being: likability, trustworthiness and a valid cause.  It also
   looks at how the latest communication technology can help enchant
   customers.

   Given the author's background, Apple is mentioned quite a bit throughout
   the book.  Everyone who knows me knows I've been a Apple fan for years.
   But that wasn't always the case.  Back in the 1980s I actually loathed
   Apple, believing the company overcharged for inferior products.  All
   that changed in the early 1990s when I used a Mac for more than a few
   minutes.  There was such attention to detail that I'd never experienced
   with any computer I'd used before.  Apple enchanted me then and
   continues to enchant me.  Well, mostly.  Apple mice are a bit ordinary,
   but everything else is great.  Meanwhile virtually every other
   manufacturer has disappointed me or let me down, with a wide range of
   products: e.g. VCRs, DVD players, printers, mobile phones and toasters.

   The book is aimed mostly at entrepreneurs, but there's good advice for
   employees too.  There's even a chapter on how to resist enchantment.

Mogwai - A Rough Guide

   According to Wikipedia:
   "Mogwai are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The
   band typically compose lengthy guitar-based instrumental pieces that
   feature dynamic contrast, melodic bass guitar lines, and heavy use of
   distortion and effects. The band is named after the creatures from the
   film Gremlins, although guitarist Stuart Braithwaite comments that 'it
   has no significant meaning and we always intended on getting a better
   one, but like a lot of other things we never got round to it'. 'Mogwai'
   means 'evil spirit' or 'devil' in Cantonese."
     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogwai>

   I started listening to Mogwai after reading that the band was similar in
   style to Sigur Rós (featured in an earlier rough guide).  Mogwai's music
   ranges from slow, majestic pieces to harder-edged, rock-out tracks.  The
   band's album and track titles may appear morbid, but I think this is
   largely tongue-in-cheek.

   The band's official website:
     <http://www.mogwai.co.uk/>

   The links in the guide below are to YouTube movies.  If the links are
   blocked, try searching for tracks on SoundCloud:
     <http://soundcloud.com/search?q%5bfulltext%5d=mogwai>

   Now, the "rough guide" ...

   1. "Summer"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj9ckk-Wxls>
   This is one of the band's early singles.  It was later re-recorded for
   the band's first studio album.  A notable difference between this and
   the album version is the use of a glockenspiel to play the melody line.
   This makes for a more dynamic contrast with the heavily distorted
   guitars that crash in at various points in the song.  The original
   version is available on a compilation of early singles and b-sides,
   called "Ten Rapid".

   2. "Tracy"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opn8riUNygM>
   After a couple of singles and EPs, the band's debut album "Mogwai Young
   Team" was released in 1997.  It gained many favourable reviews.  "Tracy"
   is a great example of a dreamy instrumental soundscape that is typical
   of the band's repertoire.  It starts softly, gradually building in
   intensity towards the middle, before receding back into the distance.
   The song is bookended with excerpts from phone conversations between
   band members.  This is not an official video.

   Other highlights from the debut album include the short piano piece
   "Radar Maker", and the sprawling epics "Like Herod" and "Mogwai Fear
   Satan".

   The band's second album, "Come On Die Young" was released in 1999.  It
   wasn't that well received by critics.  I haven't listened to the whole
   album, so I can't comment.  Interestingly, one track, "Cody", actually
   has normal-sounding lyrics.

   3. "Sine Wave"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxkB_SMPFkY>
   In 2001 the band's third studio album, "Rock Action" was released.  This
   is the opening track.  Various instruments are used, including a spacey
   synth, glockenspiel, heavily distorted percussion (I think) and vocals.
   Lots of weird and wonderful sonic textures.

   4. "Dial: Revenge"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efUTCMd9Do8>
   This track has Welsh vocals, written and sung by Gruff Rhys of Super
   Furry Animals.  This is a video of a live version.

   Possibly in response to the "play by numbers" criticism of the previous
   album, the overall sound was more experimental on "Rock Action".  Other
   highlights include "Take Me Somewhere Nice" and "2 Rights Make 1 Wrong",
   which both feature lush string and horn arrangements.

   5. "Hunted By A Freak"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgIp5gqo40s>
   The band's fourth album, "Happy Songs for Happy People", was released in
   2003.  This is the official video of the great opening track.  I like
   the use of the cello in the middle.  Don't take the opening titles on
   the video seriously.  This is just the band's black humour, and is
   possibly an homage to "Happy Tree Friends" cartoons.

   6. "Ratts Of The Capital"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnsid5xVWzU>
   This is the album's epic centrepiece.  It has the band's characteristic
   slow-build, intense middle-section and gradual fade-out style.  But it
   still manages to sound fresh thanks to the use of different sounds and
   textures.

   7. "I Know You Are, But What Am I?"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0dORHW9Cg4>
   The minimalist piano that underpins the song reminds me a little of the
   "dripping" piano line from Chopin's "Raindrop" prelude, albeit greatly
   slowed down.

   Other highlights from the album include ominous-sounding "Kids Will Be
   Skeletons", and "Golden Porsche" with its mellow piano and bass.
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKOTYb9Yqo>

   8. "Auto Rock"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zei_wnNZ1mo>
   This track opens the band's fifth studio album, "Mr Beast", released in
   2006.  It used the trademark Mogwai structure, this time using a piano
   riff to provide the main melody line.  Apparently the song has been used
   in TV's Top Gear.

   9. "Friend Of The Night"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC_3alnTE9g>
   This was the only single released from "Mr Beast".  Another piano-
   centric piece.  The band was starting to get noticed commercially, this
   track being the band's first UK Top 40 single.  I don't know what's
   going on in the video, something to do with vampires maybe, but the song
   is great.

   Another piano-based highlight is "Team Handed".  Other standout tracks
   on the album, like "Glasgow Mega-Snake", and "We're No Here", have a
   more raucous edge thanks to the use of distorted guitars.

   10. "Batcat"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMDCM5OAOaE>
   This quasi-metal workout was the first single from the band's sixth
   album, "The Hawk Is Howling", released in 2008.  The official video is a
   bit scary too.

   11. "Danphe And The Brain"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xII7ku6t3uQ>
   A softer, more melodic piece from "The Hawk Is Howling".

   Other highlights include the wonderfully titled "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm
   Dead" and "The Sun Smells Too Loud" (I want to sneak in a reference to
   synesthesia into this guide).  "Scotland's Shame" is another
   characteristic slow-building epic.

   Mogwai released its first official live album, "Special Moves", in 2010.
   Check out the mogwaiTV YouTube Channel for excerpts from the
   accompanying tour film:
     <http://www.youtube.com/user/mogwaiTV?blend=5&ob=5>

   12. "Mexican Grand Prix"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jv64uhCIrU>
   Mogwai's seventh studio album, "Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will"
   was released in 2011.  This single is one of the very rare Mogwai tracks
   to feature vocals.  As such, it sounds more like a typical rock song,
   reminiscent of late era Primal Scream.

   13. "San Pedro"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVNYm9Qncyc>
   Another great rocking instrumental.

   14. "Death Rays"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amvD_7i3SH4>
   This spine-tingling track is built around a great organ melody.

   Overall, another solid effort.  Other strong tracks include "White
   Noise", "Letters to the Metro" and "Too Raging to Cheers".

Assorted Maps and Modes of Transport

   1. "Points of Departure"
     <http://www.ge.com/thegeshow/future-flight/points-of-departure.html>
   A nice mashup of airports and geo-located photos.  Pick from 6,000
   popular and obscure airports, from preset lists, by entering airport
   codes or the random option.

   2. "Rorschmap"
     <http://rorschmap.com/>
   Another Google Maps mashup, this one creates a kaleidoscopic effect.
   More info at:
     <http://booktwo.org/notebook/rorschmap/>

   3. "Postcards from Google Earth, Bridges"
     <http://clementvalla.com/index.php?/work/bridges/>
   The distorted wonders of Google Earth.

   4. "Visualizing The Traffic Of Rome, Paris, And Tel Aviv"
     <http://www.fastcompany.com/1769694/visualizing-the-traffic-
        of-rome-paris-and-tel-aviv>

   5. "The World's 18 Strangest Elevators"
     <http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/engineering/gonzo/
        worlds-18-strangest-elevators>

   6. "10 Modes of Transportation that Never Got Into Gear"
     <http://www.neatorama.com/2011/03/24/10-modes-of-transportation-
        that-never-got-into-gear/>

   7. "Future Thinking from the Past: Pneumatic Tube Transport Systems"
     <http://www.core77.com/blog/transportation/future_thinking_from_
        the_past_pneumatic_tube_transport_systems_20006.asp>

   8. "Photo Collection: German Futurist Predictions"
     <http://history.icanhascheezburger.com/2011/07/13/funny-pictures-
        history-german-futurist-predictions/>

Mini-Reviews of Books Read, July 2011

   Mini-reviews of books I read last month.  My fiction recommendation is
   without hesitation "To Kill a Mockingbird".  My non-fiction pick is
   "Flow".  I'll probably explore the concept of flow further by reading
   books about its application, and writing about specific examples.


   1. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
     <http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Mockingbird/dp/0061205699>

   You probably know that this is a novel about racial injustice and
   prejudice set in Alabama in the mid 1930s.  I'd put off reading it,
   thinking it might be too preachy.  But I needn't have worried.  Written
   from the relatively innocent viewpoint of a young girl, the concepts of
   racial segregation, class hierarchies and general prejudice come across
   as rather puzzling to her.

   In the first half of the novel we're given a description of the simple,
   almost idyllic lives of the narrator, the young tomboyish Jean Louise
   Finch ("Scout"), her older brother Jeremy ("Jem"), and their summer-time
   friend "Dill".  Scout's father is Atticus Finch, a widower and middle-
   aged lawyer.  We are introduced to the attitudes and customs of the good
   people of Maycomb, Alabama.  While Scout is an avid reader, she doesn't
   like school much.  She's fearless, but even she's wary of their
   mysterious and reclusive neighbour, Boo Radley.  The court case that
   brings the race issue to a head doesn't happen until the second half of
   the novel.

   For a more detailed analysis of the plot and themes, see Wikipedia:
     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird>

   You can read many of the over 2000 generally effusive reviews on Amazon.
   I can only add that this novel is indeed worthy of the labels "classic"
   and "must read".


   2. "La gente" ("People") by Vincenzo Cerami
     <http://www.amazon.it/gente/dp/8804581034>

   This is an interesting collection of short stories about the lives of
   various people.  Each self-contained vignette is set in Italy, at
   different times during the post-war period.  The characters experience
   the growing pains of Italian society.

   Many of the stories are enjoyable, with several having ironic twists.
   For example, a painter has a strange condition where bright light makes
   him sick.  He spends his days indoors and underground, venturing
   outdoors only before dawn or after dusk.  His black and white paintings
   earn him some financial independence.  Then one day his sensitivity to
   daylight goes away, and he begins to appreciate colour.  He starts
   painting more vivid and colourful scenes, but these no longer interest
   his patrons.

   Cerami also writes screenplays, such as "Life is Beautiful", which he
   cowrote with Roberto Benigni.


   3. "Practical Wisdom" by Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe
     <http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Wisdom/dp/1594487839>

   The authors of this book aim to promote the idea that the world would be
   a better place if everyone exercised "practical wisdom".  This is an
   ancient ideal from Aristotle which seems to have fallen out of favour
   these days.  Instead, we seem to have advocates of two extremes: no-
   rules anarchy (free-market theory, everything open); and explicit and
   inflexible rules for everyone with no exceptions.  The authors suggest
   that incentives and rules have their place, but we need to take a
   pragmatic approach to enforcement.  As per the book's subtitle, it's
   about learning "the right way to do the right thing", one person at a
   time if necessary.

   The book quotes research and cites many individual cases that support
   the notion that a new approach is needed to achieve positive results in
   such important fields as education, justice, medicine and business.
   Rigid rules can be as damaging as no rules at all, especially if they
   remove discretion, or reduce engagement and purpose.  The recent turmoil
   in financial markets demonstrate how incentivised organisations and
   individuals can severely damage the systems they were meant to serve.

   If you can't find time to read the book, you can watch a recent TED talk
   by Schwartz, "Using our practical wisdom":
    <http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_using_our_practical_wisdom.html>


   4. "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
    <http://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience/dp/0061339202>

   Years ago I remember an sportsman saying he was "in the zone" when he
   was playing well.  Other people have described being in the zone when
   writing, programming, playing music and even cooking.  These are also
   examples of "flow".  If you have the necessary skill to do well at an
   activity that is challenging, requires concentration and provides quick
   feedback, then you can achieve flow.  You lose awareness of not only the
   sense of time, but even your own ego.

   Money and status may provide short term happiness.  But multiple studies
   show that the returns start diminishing rapidly after a surprisingly low
   threshold.  What matters for long term happiness is the development of a
   personal sense of purpose.  Flow experiences have been shown to
   contribute to this.  "A person who rarely gets bored, who does not
   constantly need a favorable external environment to enjoy the moment,
   has passed the test for having achieved a creative life."  (p171)

   This may sound like a self-help book.  It is not.  While the book does
   describes the requirements and elements of flow in great detail, it
   can't tell you personally how to attain flow.  Everyone is different,
   and what may be a flow activity for one person may be unbearable for
   someone else.  Note also that flow should not to be confused with
   hedonism.  Some personal control must be maintained.

   The Zen-like nature of flow may lead some critics to dismiss flow as
   some kind of secular pseudo-religion.  While there can be some spiritual
   aspects to flow, and it may share some wisdom from various religions,
   the theory itself is based on empirical research.  The author cites many
   research studies where people have been able to achieve flow or "optimal
   experience".  Activities studied range from obvious fields like sport,
   arts, sciences and medicine, to the mundane.  A septuagenarian women
   living in the harsh Italian Alps, working sixteen-hour days on her
   little farm, considers everything she does enjoyable.

   The concept of flow really resonated with me.  It coincides with what
   I've experienced myself, both in work and everyday life.  A simple and
   obvious personal example is reading.  When I'm reading something
   interesting and challenging enough, I'm fully engaged.  Time flies.
   When I try reading something too challenging, as was the case when I
   started reading Italian novels, the struggle made progress difficult
   and enjoyment suffered.  With practice my Italian comprehension
   improved, and reading Italian became as satisfying as reading English.

   For the time-challenged, read the Wikipedia article on flow:
     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29>

   Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has also given a TED talk on flow:
     <http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html>


   5. "The Lost Art of Reading: Why Books Matter in a Distracted Time"
      by David L. Ulin
     <http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Art-Reading/dp/1570616701>

   This short book is essentially an extended essay about the role of books
   and reading in the present and near future.  The author, a former book
   review editor, fears that book reading is under threat in a distracted
   age of short attention spans.  As a result, individuals and society as
   a whole will miss out on the many benefits of reading.

   Throughout the book the author reveals his personal reading experiences
   and development.  He mentions various books and authors, some well known
   and others obscure.  He covers the joys and frustrations rereading "The
   Great Gatsby" at the same time his son is studying it for school.

   He admits that reading can be seen as anti-social, but maintains that it
   is an important part of a balanced and reflective perspective on life.
   While he is wary of the trend from the printed word to electronic
   formats, he doesn't condemn this change.  In fact, he sees opportunities
   where technology can enhance the reading experience.  Providing we can
   get past the distractions.

Artistic Odds and Ends, July 2011

   1. "Art That Speaks Volumes: 12 More Book Artists"
     <http://weburbanist.com/2011/06/27/art-that-speaks-volumes-12-more-
        book-artists/>
   Artists using old books to make new art. See also:
      "Literary Love: 12 Works of Book Art & Architecture"
     <http://weburbanist.com/2011/03/07/literary-love-12-works-of-book-
        art-architecture/>

   2. "ART ~ Map Illustrations"
     <http://ingriddabringer.wordpress.com/map-illustrations/>

   3. "Selected ~ 2011"
     <http://anothersight.com/Selected/gallery.html?Submit=Selected>
   Famous works of art with their subjects 'cut out'.

   4. "Art from Coins"
     <http://staceyleewebber.com/STACEY_LEE_WEBBER/HOME.html>

   5. "The Coolest Locksmith Shop in New York City"
     <http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=3534>

   6. "Micromachina"
     <http://www.behance.net/gallery/MICROMACHINA/1022673>
   Models of mechanised insects.

   7. "DRAWINGMACHINE"
     <http://www.eskerex.com/?p=464>
   Draws patterns using a pen connected to a couple of large swinging
   weights (aka pendula).

   8. "positioning systems I - falling objects"
     <http://vimeo.com/24491037>
   441 water drops arranged on omniphobic material.

   9. "Amazing Long Exposure Roomba Photography"
     <http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/amazing-long-exposureeee-roomba-
        photography>
   The illuminated trails of robot vacuum cleaners.

Brendan Benson - A Rough Guide

   From Wikipedia:
   "Brendan Benson is an American musician and songwriter. He sings and
   plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released four
   solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs".
     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_benson>

   According to AllMusic, Benson is "a Michigan-born songwriter who
   occupies the rockier end of the power pop spectrum (more indebted to
   the Who than the Raspberries, that is)".  Other influences include the
   Kinks, T. Rex, the Beatles, and Paul McCartney's solo work.  Read more
   at:
     <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brendan-benson-p182734/biography>

   I found his music via The Raconteurs (aka The Saboteurs), one of Jack
   White's side-projects (that's Jack White of The White Stripes).

   Benson's official website:
     <http://brendanbenson.com/>

   The links in the guide below are to YouTube movies and Soundcloud
   tracks.  Apologies for any ads that may appear during playback on
   YouTube.  If you can, I suggest installing ad-blocking software :)

   The "rough guide" ...

   1. "House in Virginia"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BGEHmFbwSA>

   Benson's debut album, "One Mississippi", was released in 1996.  It got
   positive reviews, but wasn't a commercial success.  I agree it was a
   promising debut.  Some songs perhaps are a bit too cute, but they all
   generally show potential.  Only one song, "Crosseyed", had an official
   video.  But I've chosen "House in Virginia" as my personal highlight.
   Other noteworthy tracks include "Tea", "Me Just Purely", "Emma J" and
   "Cherries".

   2. "Tiny Spark"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hniX0LLSVak>

   After the release of his debut, Benson toured and performed with other
   bands for a few years.  Then in 2002 he got a new label and his second
   solo album, "Lapalco", was released.  This is the official video for
   the opening track from "Lapalco".  It's classic guitar pop.

   3. "Metarie"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kAqP5ZL4jE>

   The album's second track has a laid-back start, with Benson singing over
   an acoustic guitar and accompanied by occasional flourishes of
   atmospheric synth.  Eventually the chorus kicks in and the song builds
   to a full band piece.  There was an official video made, but as it uses
   a different mix of the track, I've picked a fan-made clip using the
   album version.

   4. "Folk Singer"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWXcSGLhOrk>

   Released as an EP, this uptempo song is fueled by distorted guitar.  It
   has a cool putdown line delivered girlfriend, "She said 'stop pretending,
   you're not John Lennon'".

   "Good to Me", "You're Quiet", "Eventually", and "Life In The D" are some
   of the other great tracks on this very solid album.  Like the debut,
   many of the songs were co-written and co-produced by Jason Falkner.
   Unfortunately, it wasn't a big commercial success either.

   5. "Spit It Out"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niwr1wOAaMA>

   Benson's third album, "The Alternative to Love", was released in 2005.
   The opening track, "Spit It Out" was released as the first single.
   Another slice of classic guitar pop, it was also his first song to chart
   in the UK.

   6. "Cold Hands (Warm Heart)"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYzzOkpRCHA>
     
   Another single and standout track from "The Alternative to Love".  A
   song about star-crossed love, it has great melodies.  The partially
   animated video incorporates some dark humour that matches the lyrics.

   7. "Flesh and Bone"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtE6h_mY1rI>

   Like "Metarie", this song starts out as a mellow acoustic guitar number
   which gets fleshed out at various times with strings, synth and vocal
   harmonies.  The track ends abruptly on the album, leading straight into
   the next one ...

   8. "Get It Together"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrRYOvhuxdk>
     
   This is a rocking, power pop song.  Overall, another solid album that
   critics appreciated.  But commercial success continued to elude the
   talented Benson.  Other highlights include "The Pledge", with its
   Spector-esque wall of sound, "Biggest Fan", and "Alternative To Love"
   (which reminded me a bit of Gomez).

   Around that time, Benson and long-time friend Jack White formed The
   Raconteurs.  The group's debut album, "Broken Boy Soldiers", was
   released in 2006.  I'll probably write more about The Raconteurs in a
   future Rough Guide.

   9. "A Whole Lot Better"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRjLF9IKZmU>

   Benson's fourth solo album, "My Old, Familiar Friend" was released in
   2009.  This time, he enlisted renowned British producer Gil Norton
   (Pixies, Foo Fighters, The Triffids).  The opening track is a straight-
   out retro-inspired rocker, and was the first single from the album.

   10. "Gonowhere"
     <http://soundcloud.com/brendanbenson/gonowhere>

   More retro pop, this time a slower tempo adding synths and piano.

   11. "You Make a Fool Out of Me"
     <http://soundcloud.com/brendanbenson/you-make-a-fool-out-of-me>

   A nice, McCartney-esque ballad, complete with strings.

   12. "Misery"
     <http://soundcloud.com/brendanbenson/misery>

   To wrap this guide up, my favourite track from the album.  It neatly
   encapsulates Benson's style of power pop, with its plaintive verses
   building seamlessly into singalong choruses.

   Another consistently good album.  Other great songs include the Motown-
   styled "Garbage Day", the reflective "Lesson Learned", and the upbeat
   and catchy "Poised and Ready".  Benson has posted most of the album's
   tracks to Soundcloud, so check them out at:
     <http://soundcloud.com/brendanbenson>

How TV Ruined Your Life

     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_TV_Ruined_Your_Life>

   A great six episode series which uses (mostly dark) humour to state the
   obvious: television has ruined our lives.  Be warned that Brooker's
   style of humour is described as "savage and profane, with surreal
   elements and a consistent satirical pessimism".  I particularly liked
   episode three, which among other things takes a swipe at reality shows
   and minor celebrities.

   Links to individual episodes on YouTube:
   1. "Fear"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q74PNnL4E8>
   From hysterical public information films to grisly crime dramas, terror
   spills out of almost every channel. As Charlie explores TV's approach to
   fear, you won't know whether to laugh or scream.

   2. "The Lifecycle"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wSbXEDzHHY>
   From kids shows to Countdown, TV has something to infuriate anyone of
   any age.

   3. "Aspiration"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP6L5S14ygY>
   From Dallas to Grand Designs, television continually rubs desirable
   lifestyles in your face, making you feel inadequate in the process.

   4. "Love"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjF932SFoCc>
   Charlie Brooker argues that TV has warped our expectations of romance
   with a toxic combination of Blind Date and rom-coms. Do 'soulmates' even
   exist?

   5. "Progress"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu06U0vr6mk>
   From the moon landings to Blake's 7 to CSI: Miami, Charlie Brooker
   argues that television has warped our relationship with technology.

   6. "Knowledge"
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBkIep88Cg8>
   Charlie Brooker traces how TV's notion of knowledge has changed from
   bespectacled experts to celebrity presenter drivel.

   You can watch them all one after the other, followed by some related
   pieces...
     <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q74PNnL4E8&playnext=1&list=PLC35092CD7C3F2ED2>