This is what Science fiction should be. If you're tired of the post-apocalyptic bullshit that comes out every other day, this should be a breath of frThis is what Science fiction should be. If you're tired of the post-apocalyptic bullshit that comes out every other day, this should be a breath of fresh air.
This book gives me Hope. Hope about the human condition. Hope about Existentialism/Absurdism. Hope about Artificial Intelligence. Hope about Enlightenment/Nirvana. Hope about theoretical physics and it's pursuits to understand the Universe. And perhaps most importantly, hope about the genre of Science Fiction.
Sure, there's less character build up and less depth to the characters than one would expect. But that's not the point of the genre. The point of science fiction is to transcend current culture/morality and weave a future of higher ethics, one that would be in-line with the practical development of technology and philosophical understanding that new science may bring. This book does exactly that.
Without giving away the plot, I will tell you this. The author plays with the idea that a Self comes into being as long as it's coherent and has no internal inconsistencies. In that sense, our consciousness can be mapped to a computer simulation and we wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Taking this a step further, as long as a string of information is coherent and has no internal inconsistencies, the Self will always form, even if the information is scattered throughout Time and Space. The information will always find itself, and the concept of "you" will always be there. With or without a computer to simulate it. Enlightened yet? But wait, there's more. The Universe itself is a Self. As long as the laws of physics are coherent and has no internal inconsistencies, Time and Space will find itself and create itself. A universe out of nothing. We are here because we can.
Cellular automation and artificial life, artificial universes with its own laws of physics, virtual realities and computing power economies, "Solophist Nations", speculations about general relativity, immortality, death, rebirth, transcending physical emotion, there are so many ideas that the book plays with, it's impossible not to have your jaw dropped while reading some of the chapters.
The book comes with a very high recommendation. Go and read it! ...more
This is one of those books you have to read without expectations. If you do that, you will get a lot out of it. I think the problem that many people hThis is one of those books you have to read without expectations. If you do that, you will get a lot out of it. I think the problem that many people have with this book is that they expect it to be a guide for improving their memory. Nope "the art and science of remembering everything" is not a manual for increasing your memory. It points you in the right direction, gives you examples of what needs to be done; but it is not a guidebook for memory enhancement. Also, this book is not a "science" book. The author is not a scientist, and therefore he goes on an empirical evidence search down memory lane, rather than a scientific approach to the subject.
The book however is a remarkable and personal tale of journalist who covered the US and World memory championships, trained himself and eventually become a memory Grand Master himself. It is quintessentially the American Dream. The dream that if we put enough effort, we will achieve our goals. The dream that you can achieve the seemingly impossible with proper training, and perhaps (in)adequate sleep. The dream that no mountain is too high to climb if you take it one step at a time. The book also gives you an inside look at how the world of memory champions. At least for myself, I no longer see memory champions as "out of the ordinary". They are just people, like me and you, trying to bring out the best in themselves.
The book flows effortlessly from personal narrative to the techniques of memory enhancement and back again to interviews with savants and others the author met on his conquest to find out the inner workings of memory. What I really like about his personal narrative is that the amount of humility that the man has. If you've ever read books like the "The China Study" you know how authors can be so full of themselves. Joshua is definitely an exception to the rule.
The memory enhancement techniques don't take up much of the text, but they give an adequate description, and if you've ever read a pop-science book on neuroscience you can see how these techniques become effective. You're essentially building associations. Making the brain work and activating the senses. You give meaning to otherwise meaningless numbers, cards and words, and in doing so they become engraved in your mind. Simple as that. I think somewhere in the middle, the author talks about "OK plateaus", and how most people don't go the extra-mile because they are OK with where they are. I thought that was a pretty neat explanation.
Anyways, bottom line: The book is definitely worth reading. It is not a science book, nor is it a step-by-step guide to improving your memory. It is however a book about human achievement, about what makes the outliers different from the rest, and a man's remarkable journey into understanding the often misunderstood world of memory championships. ...more
Five stars because it broadened my perspective on life.
This is not a full review of the book, but a glimpse of what the author has to say. What the bFive stars because it broadened my perspective on life.
This is not a full review of the book, but a glimpse of what the author has to say. What the book describes is far more important to be buried down a criticism of literature.
1.) We overcompensate our efforts in work, and under-compensate our efforts in our leisure lives. 2.) If you fine tune your life's challenges so that they are sufficient to keep you from being bored, and not limited to ensure minimal stress and anxiety, you are ready to achieve "Flow" 3.) Flow can be achieved in all areas in life: work, thought, music, sex, food, exercise, friendship, marriage and even casual conversation. 4.) Flow is not necessarily moral. It is however, very efficient state of mind. 5.) The concept of entropy of the mind. How the mind can wander if it's not subject by external controls or internal ambitions. 6.) Why solitude is perhaps the most Mental Entropy inducing agent in our lives. This is why even though "Hell is other people", we constantly seek the company of other humans. 7.) How television and drugs can temporarily decrease mental entropy. 8.) The importance of non-self-conscious self assuredness in achieving flow. And the "Autotelic" personality. 9.) The importance of setting achievable goals and going through with them. - Basically the Absurdist philosophy of life.
In terms of readability, the book is okay. There's quite a bit of redundancy but it has it's own "flow" to it (pardon the pun). The author could have done a bit more with it though, by connecting modern psychological studies and philosophy rather than giving anecdotal examples. But he got the point across, and it did change how I look at things quite a bit. So thumbs up! ...more
This book is more for the policy maker than for the fitness enthusiast. If you've already established an exercise regime, you might feel that the authThis book is more for the policy maker than for the fitness enthusiast. If you've already established an exercise regime, you might feel that the author could've done a bit more. For example, which types of exercises increase what type of neurotransmitters, or perhaps what type of training regiment would you want to focus on if you have a certain ailment? But if you're a teacher, parent, or an education policymaker this might be the book for you.
As with most brain-based non-fiction books in the market today, Spark goes through various empirical examples to drive the point in. How the Naperville school district managed to get the best results consecutively for years by incorporating an innovative physical-ed class before tough classes is hammered to death in several chapters. And the inquisitive reader is left with the question "well that's a nice correlation, but do you have a conclusive theory that has been tested and that can be used to analyze and treat my condition?" Maybe the science isn't there yet, maybe the author didn't do enough research, maybe it's impossible to formulate a general physiological theory of exercise that fits most humans? Whatever the reason, the book doesn't convey it clearly.
But if you can get past that expectation, this is actually a pretty nice read. What the book repeatedly says is that exercise is good for you. And not just exercise alone, but also exercise that incorporates the social aspect (like dancing or yoga) and also how to maintain the incentive for exercise by incorporating challenges like beating your own records etc.
The book touches on how exercise increases the human growth hormone (BDNF) and GABA- the natural calming agent of the brain. It also contains anecdotal evidence that exercise can decrease depression without the use of anti-depressants and their notorious side-effects. The examples on how a parent made significant strides in a custody battle by starting to exercise regularly and how a man regained his enthusiasm for his relationships and life are uplifting real life personal examples that the author draws upon. They give enough fuel to make you want to go out and exercise right now than. But again, it's a guide for those who need convincing to stop sitting around and do some exercise, than an actual scientific reference that you can rely on to change the way you exercise. ...more
Disclaimer: This is NOT a critique of Haidt. This is a critique of the ideas that Haidt brings up in the "The Righteous Mind" book. It is not a condemDisclaimer: This is NOT a critique of Haidt. This is a critique of the ideas that Haidt brings up in the "The Righteous Mind" book. It is not a condemnation but (what I hope is) constructive criticism. Haidt has done more rigorous work on social media's influences on the adolescent mind which is worth reading (see more at )
I had great expectations for this book after watching the author give an introduction in the Colbert report. However, the book didn't hold up to it's namesake. These are some of grudges I have against this book:
1.) The author doesn't tackle conservative vs. progressive morals in the philosophical sense. He tackles left wing vs. right wing morals.
To illustrate what I mean; in America, conservatives fight for free markets, the freedom to bare arms, and less government intervention. However in countries that have not embraced capitalism as much, the liberals (or progressives) are the ones who fight for free markets, less government intervention and individualist ideals such as the right to bare arms and freedom of speech.
It would've made much more sense in a philosophical context if the argument was about progressives (who want change) and conservatives (who want the things the way they are). But Haidt's main goal seems like to bridge the gap between the American Right and American Left. Unfortunately this caters to the "enlightened centrists"; which brings me to the second point.
2.) The author tries too hard to stay on the "middle ground".
Have you ever witnessed fights where you absolutely know that one party is being unreasonable, and someone comes along and tries to be "fair" to both parties? Obviously the unreasonable party profits and the reasonable party loses because the negotiations were trying to be "fair" to both parties. It's a simple case of the "Anchoring effect."; whoever anchors the furthest from the truth, wins.
3.) The author's epiphany comes from his visit to India, where he associated conservatism with likeable people. He probably didn't stay long enough to see the dark side of the culture.
Unlike the author, I was born in the East. And I can tell you first hand that the morals which seem to paint a pretty picture of eastern culture, is just a pretty picture - nothing more, nothing less. Hiding behind that pretty picture is a culture of corruption, a culture where shame and guilt are the driving forces of society and a culture where an individual is judged by his/her group (race, creed, school, hometown etc). A culture where you must bow down to someone just because they are older than you, or are in a higher paygrade than you.
Having said all that, the book is a good read. It's written beautifully with a style commonly found in most best selling non-fiction books these days. It get's you thinking, even if it's in the wrong direction. And it does point towards why there's a rift between left-wing and right-wing American political groups. I agree with the author that a lot of left-wing supporters just go with the tide and need to realize where the right-wing groups are coming from. What I don't agree is placing the philosophical ideal of conservatism on the same ground as the philosophical ideal of progressivism. ...more
I read this book a week before facing to a stressful interview. So I really had an incentive to learn. I practiced the technThis is a practical book.
I read this book a week before facing to a stressful interview. So I really had an incentive to learn. I practiced the techniques on total strangers I met the street as well as on people at work. The results were immediate, amazing and they turned out to be some of the most memorable interactions that I've had with anyone, ever. (I apologize for using that over-used american superlative, but it really is true.) A week later, I faced the interview, breezed through it, and felt really good about myself. I'm sure I left an impression on the interviewers, but more than that I left a lasting impression on myself.
Do yourself a favor. Get this book. Read it, but more importantly, practice the things in it. Your interactions with others will change by orders of a magnitude. ...more
I wouldn't have picked this up if it wasn't for its Science Fiction component. I usually hate books that emphasize gender roles and racial quirks. WriI wouldn't have picked this up if it wasn't for its Science Fiction component. I usually hate books that emphasize gender roles and racial quirks. Written by Nalo Hopkinson, an African-American woman, this book ranks high on the list of books that overemphasize race and gender.
But if you can ignore that part, it's a rather sad and endearing story about a girl lost in a distant foreign land, learning to stand up by herself and trying to keep it together.
I wouldn't recommend this book. There are many others in its genre that offer richer environments, multi-faceted characters, and better storylines....more
The book did a good job of changing my view of the world. The writing style of Taleb is better suited for a newspaper feature article, rather than a bThe book did a good job of changing my view of the world. The writing style of Taleb is better suited for a newspaper feature article, rather than a book. But hey, it got the job done.
The only grudge I have about this book is that the author uses a lot of political examples to prove his point. Politics and history can easily be misinterpreted and attributed to the wrong reasons because there are so many variable at play. Having said that, Taleb still manages to make a point, so this book comes with a very high recommendation. ...more
There's a lot of hate out there for this book, and I can understand why. Riding the holocaust wave, the torture and violence added in the book just foThere's a lot of hate out there for this book, and I can understand why. Riding the holocaust wave, the torture and violence added in the book just for the shock value, the morbid sexuality and the various rape scenarios, are all good reasons to never touch this book.
However, if you do: you're missing a good story. A story about a boy coming of age. A child trying to survive whilst taking effort to make sense of the nonsensical world. An adolescent trying to find meaning with the limited experience that he's had of the world. You'll be missing a book that tries to look at how morality is constructed in a young human, without trying to sugarcoat the whole deal.
Perhaps the thing I like the most about the book is that the protagonist is not a white knight or a saint. He does various horrific deeds not realizing the harm he is doing to himself and others. There is no regret in his mind because his perspective of the world is skewed. The book doesn't stop to show remorse or regret, and in that sense the Painted Bird is so much more mature than the typical "Hero's Tale."
Bottom line: If you think you can handle and perhaps overlook the extreme violence in this book, by all means go ahead and read it. If you're not comfortable with the morbid reality of human savagery, or if you're not comfortable with the subtle nature in which the moral fabric is woven in the mind of a child, I highly recommend my little pony. ...more
The thing about fear is that it's a rather straightforward and simple subject when you're not afraid. However, when fear takes over your mind, it's anThe thing about fear is that it's a rather straightforward and simple subject when you're not afraid. However, when fear takes over your mind, it's another story. Hence the science behind fear might seem trivial, but it is very real, and is extremely practical. In this context, the science that's described in the book might seem trivial, yet it adds so much practical value that this book might end up being the best thing you'll read.
The book is loosely categorized into chapters that from the first glance doesn't make sense. But the author ties them up into a story that builds up as it goes so it's rather fun to read. He starts by emphasizing that fear is an emotional response and it cannot be put out by rational thought. He describes how fear has been a powerful conditioner that's helped us learn lessons that has saved our lives and how fears are 'embodied in our DNA'. But he also describes why fear should not be used as a 'learning tool' or a memory enhancer.
The book then takes you on a journey of hypercondriacs who fear about their health all the time, firefighters who take decisions without thinking, heroic veterans and civilians that seem superhuman but who are really afraid like the rest of us, baseball superstars who suddenly choke and have performance anxiety, a woman with short-term memory that remembers fear response but doesn't understand why and evil doctors who conditioned toddlers to fear fluffy animals. Together, these stories paint a picture of what fear really is.
Read this book. It may very well change your life, or at least the way you react to your own fears. ...more
For a semi-autobiographical novel, it's pretty raw - to say the least. Most people would throw this away as plain, bland misogynistic erotica. I know For a semi-autobiographical novel, it's pretty raw - to say the least. Most people would throw this away as plain, bland misogynistic erotica. I know I would have, if I read this 3 years ago. But the interesting thing is how many women tolerated the apathy, objectification and sadism. It's as if they couldn't love anyone who was gentle, kind or considerate.
Obviously not all women are like this. And not all men are like the protagonist. Yet it's interesting how many people do sub-consciously fall into similar relationships and end up frustrated, angry, sad and yet begging for more. ...more
Written by a married man, Going Solo was a pleasantly optimistic take on the rise of singledom throughout the world. I learnt a few interesting facts Written by a married man, Going Solo was a pleasantly optimistic take on the rise of singledom throughout the world. I learnt a few interesting facts in the first few chapters but the last chapters seem to be filled with anecdotes and what a bunch of people had to say about their experience with living alone. The problem with trying to build a thesis with this kind of evidence is that people tend to justifify how they live as a result of hindsight bias, there will be anchoring biases depending on which questions are asked first, there will be Focusing illusions due to the attention of events in life rather than non-events, and the list goes on.
The book could have gained much more appeal if there was more research done on the economics (how consumer markets have shifted due to the) rise of singledom.
The main take home point that I took from this book is that singledom, with the current ethical climate, is not going to be an accepted political force that easily. Even when they outnumber the married population. Why? I'll leave that for your imagination....more
[Warning: a few vague spoilers ahead, don't worry it won't spoil the story]
Quite easily one of the funniest books I've read. The story is about a midd[Warning: a few vague spoilers ahead, don't worry it won't spoil the story]
Quite easily one of the funniest books I've read. The story is about a middle-aged English Professor, which I have very little in common with, but I found myself easily drawn in to the character. What I like about this book is that it's not dramatic about dramatic events. It doesn't emphasize the acceptable social reactions to a given situation like freaking out when you find out your son-in-law is cheating on your daughter. The protagonist is actually happy when his best friend hits on his wife. And I don't think this a far fetched scenario either: when you're married to a woman whom you love for so long, insecure feelings like jealousy are bound to be irrelevant. The climax close to the end of the book which has something to do with his career, is a really metaphor for life's great question: do we really know what we want for ourselves?
I really don't know how to review fiction without spoilers, so rather than reviewing the book let me tell you how I felt after reading this. I felt awI really don't know how to review fiction without spoilers, so rather than reviewing the book let me tell you how I felt after reading this. I felt awake. I felt human. I felt at peace.
After coming to the US, I think I've been caught up with sensationalism inherent in American culture. I find myself constantly searching for something better, something new, even though my life is pretty damn great. Even the fiction that I've read here have larger than life plots, extravagant characters and a restlessness about them, that I've only come to realize after reading the Diving Pool.
The Diving Pool by the Japanese author Yoko Ogawa is quite in contrast to contemporary Western fiction. It strikes up the mundane, brings up the finer points in life, and is completely unashamed to dive into the raw physicality of the human emotions. It does not place women on a pedestal (which is quite common with popular literature which stems from the "women are wonderful" effect) and is not overly focused on trying to leave the reader with a message.
I definitely need to find more mature fiction like this. And stop reading books like "A thousand splendid suns" or "Shadow of the Wind". ...more
The book is a lengthy, self-conscious and a challenging read but highly recommended if you're interestHands down, one of the best books in its genre.
The book is a lengthy, self-conscious and a challenging read but highly recommended if you're interested in why human beings behave the way they behave. It's given me so much 'oh snap, so that's why we're so dumb' moments that at this point I don't even want to admit I'm a human to any space-time traveling race that comes in collision of 21st century Earth.
Citing behavioral research studies, he's convinced me that human confidence is a measure of whether a person has built up a coherent story not that the person truly knows what she's doing. He's convinced me that the feeling of 'ease' is just cognitive familiarity. He's convinced me why first impressions matter more than we think due to the Halo effect. He's convinced me that the human mind doesn't understand non-events. We think we understand the past, but we really don't. We create coherency by attributing causality to events, but not to non-events. In other words we underestimate the role of luck or the role of unknown variables in a given situation. He has given me reason to believe that in low validity environments, it's better to use formula's than to listen to expert human judgment. For example, the stability of a marriage can be better predicted by a simple equation like [stability = frequency of love making - frequency of arguing] than an expert opinion.
But one of the most interesting hypothesis he builds up is the existence of two systems in the mind. System 1 is prone to cognitive biases described above, but it's also where morality comes from. Not to mention intuitive judgment and hueristic answers to life's everyday questions. Would you believe it? Morality is more of an intuitive thing than a logical and reasonable framework! And the funny thing is without system 1, we'd won't survive a day in the life. Not to mention we wouldn't act human. System 2 on the other hand is more introspective, rational and is capable of being aware of the cognitive biases created by System 1. If my understanding is correct then, we can replicate system 2 by a machine or artificial intelligence. But that machine will not have the same extent of morality that we have.... food for thought!
In later chapters of the book, he describes another variation of duality in the human mind. An Experiencing Self and a Remembering Self. With countless examples (both experimental and anecdotal) he vividly paints a picture of how humans have this notion of "I am my remembering self, and strangely my experiencing self is a stranger to me." We're actually okay with letting our Experiencing Self suffer for the good of the Remembering Self!! This ties in to the cognitive bias of "focusing Illusion" (Focalism) and how we tend to overestimate a certain aspect of life.
To put the icing on the cake he finalizes the book by analyzing how we appreciate, value and judge the quality of our lives with all these biases combined. And it's amazing how irrational we are in doing so. Not only have I realized from this book that I should stop worrying about societal standards (because they are mostly based on irrational biases) but that I should spend a significant amount of my time and effort to into creating a value structure ideally suited for myself. Now, only if I had bit more memory and cpu speed on System 2......more
Advocates the Atkins diet. Underlying theme is controlling insulin which acts to store fat in your body. The first few chapters seemed a bit repetitivAdvocates the Atkins diet. Underlying theme is controlling insulin which acts to store fat in your body. The first few chapters seemed a bit repetitive and is more of social critique than the answer to the topic in question. But the book has some interesting points, and forced me to change my diet. Good book, recommended. ...more
Arthur C. Clarke's Science is always relevant and way ahead of his time. But I found this story to be somewhat forced and rigid. It's like he had someArthur C. Clarke's Science is always relevant and way ahead of his time. But I found this story to be somewhat forced and rigid. It's like he had some heroic figures in history that he wanted to bring together and bam, he does it. No plot twists, no 'oh snap' moments, no dramatic change in perspective..I found the book to be rather bland. ...more
When I started reading this, I thought it was definitely going to be a masterpiece. The Buddha bringing down the gods and unveiling the treacheries ofWhen I started reading this, I thought it was definitely going to be a masterpiece. The Buddha bringing down the gods and unveiling the treacheries of heaven to mankind, the fall of class-system, and the dawning of the age of enlightenment - all set in a future of our own making; this is the stuff that legends can be made of. Yet, the author uses too much violence, too much hatred, too much blandness to paint Siddhartha's battle against heaven, it ends up being no interesting than a war fought by two ordinary mortals. Oh Roger, you could've so easily used Buddhist sub-text to make this a literary tribute to the concept of Nirvana, but you miss the mark by a couple of football fields. ...more
The premise of the book is ideal to make it into a philosophical masterpiece but the author falls short in following through. The story is about a manThe premise of the book is ideal to make it into a philosophical masterpiece but the author falls short in following through. The story is about a man who's lived for thousands of years and have fallen into the contemplation that life is no longer worth living: he has done all there is to be done. His ancestors (not as fortunate in terms as longevity as he is) tries desperately to make him fall in love with living again. With this, the book had the potential to dwell into how we give meaning to our lives (from existentialism to absurdism) and go through the various schools of philosophies with every life that the protaganist has. Imagine one man's journey through slave-trading meritocracies to the self-righteous democracies, how his morals change with shifting social tide. But alas, the only thing that the Author can think about is Love. Love as the meaning of Life! Oh the tragedy!
That being said, it isn't an unreadable book. I found the lack of inhibition for sexual taboos to be refreshing, although I can't say many of you will share my perspective. If you're turned off by consensual incest and open-relationships then skip this one. ...more
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