August Books

Nice to see the titles I'd impulsively ordered over the last four months waiting for me at home. They filled up the better part of a duffel bag. Sadly, I've forgotten why many of them stirred me to action, but, hopefully, that's something to be rediscovered. 

Quizzically, a long period of vacation did not spur me to read more than usual. I spent my time visiting friends and family, weeding my herb garden and helping the Gs get ready for school.

The Damned Yard and Other Stories

by Ivo Andrić, Celia Hawkesworth (Editor)

Birthday gift from colleagues. Beautifully written stories with a touch of the absurd that accentuates the challenges of life.

Stubborn Attachments: A  Vision for a Society of Free, Prosperous, and Responsible Individuals

by Tyler Cowen

Inchoate thoughts about government and society from my favorite economist. This work-in-progress was a throw-in as an incentive for pre-ordering his new book, which is out in February. Always interesting, if not quite yet coherent.

Conversation with Goya

by Ivo Andrić

Birthday gift. Part of anthology of three stories, the third of which, Signs by the Roadside, was a collection of short thoughts about life, the universe and everything. This should have been the lead, as it was far better than the story for which the book is titled, which I found a little too cute, in a Field of Dreams sort of way.

The Age of Innocence

by Edith Wharton,

From local bookstore. Heart-wrenching story set in a very interesting time for NYC that is of considerable interest to me. The insights into proper behavior are perfect on many levels.

Ragtime

by E.L. Doctorow

Picked this off the shelf at the cottage to reread after the OG told me about the musical. Didn't enjoy it as much as the first time (though that was decades ago, so who knows) but the interspersed historical characters enliven the story, and the time period is of particular interest to me lately.

Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human

by Richard W. Wrangham

Fascinating analysis of how decreasing the effort required to consume and process food led to quantum leaps in human development. And of course, subsequently, obesity. Believable hypothesis, credibly argued.

July Books

Something for everyone this month. Social science, fitness, British and Japanese fiction. Cannot wait to get home and rediscover the books I've ordered over the last eight months.



Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging 
by Sebastian Junger

Recommended by Tyler Cowen. Fascinating look about how social interaction shapes who we are. A pet theory that the author researched thoroughly and developed into an excellent book.

Strong Medicine: How to Conquer Chronic Disease and Achieve Your Full Athletic Potential

by Chris Hardy, Marty Gallagher

Straight dope science-based advice from a military doctor and my first strength coach (via the Washington Post). I e-mailed Marty to ask what he thought about my current regimen of bodyweight exercises. He responded, as always, promptly and succinctly: "Need weights."

The Remains of the Day

by Kazuo Ishiguro

From the local bookstore. Beautiful book about Britain and the end of an era. Enjoyed nearly every word.

The Silent Cry by Kenzaburō Ōe,  Birthday gift from colleague. Reminiscent of Dostoyevsky at times, but without that Russian passion, and the actions of certain characters perplexed me. But I know nothing of Japan. A Book About Love by Jonah Lehrer Recommended by David Brooks. A good writer strives for redemption by collecting his thoughts and research on a subject of interest to all. Enjoyed it.

June Books

Good month. Exactly the kind of balance I'm looking for. Kapuscinski is the discovery of the year so far, and I thank Pat for that.

Imperium

by Ryszard Kapuściński,

From Amazon. Not as good as I'd hoped, but after Shah of Shahs, I had set the bar exceptionally high. The long view, after Gorbacev, at the end, is one of the best I've read, and the story of crossing into the USSR at the border with China in  is amazing.

Mindware: Tools for Smart Thinking

by Richard E. Nisbett

From Farnam Street recommendation. Nice summary of useful approaches to help in problem solving. Not a lot was new to me, but it was concise and well written, and I did learn a few things.

Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio

by Amara Lakhous

From G Lo. Colorful cross-section of today's Rome, but the characters were cardboard and the protagonist beloved by all struck me as a little too perfectly drawn.

American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers

by Nancy Jo Sales

From NYT Review. Social media turns girls into insecure approval seekers, and the consequences won't be known for awhile. But the stories are horrifying for parents.

Specialization and Trade: A Re-introduction to Economics

by Arnold Kling

Regular reader of his blog. Clear writing from my favorite curmudgeon. Convinced me that a lot of the science underpinning current economic thinking is bunk.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

by James Thurber

From Delfi, the bookstore near my office, which has a couple of hundred titles, mostly classics and pulp.. Enjoyed these very much. Great stories, economically written in a distinctive voice. Of a time.

Raging Bull: My Story

by Jake LaMotta, Peter Savage, Joseph Carter

From the used bookstore down the street. Great story of a sad, wonderful life and a flawed but remarkable man.

Around the World in Eighty Days

by Jules Verne

From the used bookstore down the street. Ripping yarn about the derring-do of an implacable Englishman. Had never read it, and am glad to put that in the past tense now. Fun read, although some of the stunds strech the bounds of credulity.

June Books

Good month. Exactly the kind of balance I'm looking for. Kapuscinski is the discovery of the year so far, and I thank Pat for that.

Imperium

by Ryszard Kapuściński,

From Amazon. Not as good as I'd hoped, but after Shah of Shahs, I had set the bar exceptionally high. The long view, after Gorbacev, at the end, is one of the best I've read, and the story of crossing into the USSR at the border with China in  is amazing.

Mindware: Tools for Smart Thinking

by Richard E. Nisbett

From Farnam Street recommendation. Nice summary of useful approaches to help in problem solving. Not a lot was new to me, but it was concise and well written, and I did learn a few things.

Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio

by Amara Lakhous

From G Lo. Colorful cross-section of today's Rome, but the characters were cardboard and the protagonist beloved by all struck me as a little too perfectly drawn.

American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers

by Nancy Jo Sales

From NYT Review. Social media turns girls into insecure approval seekers, and the consequences won't be known for awhile. But the stories are horrifying for parents.

Specialization and Trade: A Re-introduction to Economics

by Arnold Kling

Regular reader of his blog. Clear writing from my favorite curmudgeon. Convinced me that a lot of the science underpinning current economic thinking is bunk.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

by James Thurber

From Delfi, the bookstore near my office, which has a couple of hundred titles, mostly classics and pulp.. Enjoyed these very much. Great stories, economically written in a distinctive voice. Of a time.

Raging Bull: My Story

by Jake LaMotta, Peter Savage, Joseph Carter

From the used bookstore down the street. Great story of a sad, wonderful life and a flawed but remarkable man.

Around the World in Eighty Days

by Jules Verne

From the used bookstore down the street. Ripping yarn about the derring-do of an implacable Englishman. Had never read it, and am glad to put that in the past tense now. Fun read, although some of the stunds strech the bounds of credulity.

June Books

Good month. Exactly the kind of balance I'm looking for. Kapuscinski is the discovery of the year so far, and I thank Pat for that.

Imperium

by Ryszard Kapuściński,

From Amazon. Not as good as I'd hoped, but after Shah of Shahs, I had set the bar exceptionally high. The long view, after Gorbacev, at the end, is one of the best I've read, and the story of crossing into the USSR at the border with China in  is amazing.

Mindware: Tools for Smart Thinking

by Richard E. Nisbett

From Farnam Street recommendation. Nice summary of useful approaches to help in problem solving. Not a lot was new to me, but it was concise and well written, and I did learn a few things.

Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio

by Amara Lakhous

From G Lo. Colorful cross-section of today's Rome, but the characters were cardboard and the protagonist beloved by all struck me as a little too perfectly drawn.

American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers

by Nancy Jo Sales

From NYT Review. Social media turns girls into insecure approval seekers, and the consequences won't be known for awhile. But the stories are horrifying for parents.

Specialization and Trade: A Re-introduction to Economics

by Arnold Kling

Regular reader of his blog. Clear writing from my favorite curmudgeon. Convinced me that a lot of the science underpinning current economic thinking is bunk.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

by James Thurber

From Delfi, the bookstore near my office, which has a couple of hundred titles, mostly classics and pulp.. Enjoyed these very much. Great stories, economically written in a distinctive voice. Of a time.

Raging Bull: My Story

by Jake LaMotta, Peter Savage, Joseph Carter

From the used bookstore down the street. Great story of a sad, wonderful life and a flawed but remarkable man.

Around the World in Eighty Days

by Jules Verne

From the used bookstore down the street. Ripping yarn about the derring-do of an implacable Englishman. Had never read it, and am glad to put that in the past tense now. Fun read, although some of the stunds strech the bounds of credulity.