Michael's Updates en-US Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:04:24 -0700 60 Michael's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg GroupUser14271434 Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:04:24 -0700 <![CDATA[<GroupUser user_id=75989884 group_id=58575>]]> ReadStatus8201694522 Thu, 25 Jul 2024 06:06:12 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael finished reading 'ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS: The Undercover Alien’s Handbook on Successful Infiltration']]> /review/show/6479212877 ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS by Michael  Sender Michael finished reading ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS: The Undercover Alien’s Handbook on Successful Infiltration by Michael Sender
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ReadStatus8124664264 Sat, 06 Jul 2024 09:14:05 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael finished reading 'ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS: The Undercover Alien’s Handbook on Successful Infiltration']]> /review/show/6479212877 ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS by Michael  Sender Michael finished reading ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS: The Undercover Alien’s Handbook on Successful Infiltration by Michael Sender
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Review6485800435 Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:33:38 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael added '3zekiel']]> /review/show/6485800435 3zekiel by Peter Cawdron Michael gave 5 stars to 3zekiel (Kindle Edition) by Peter Cawdron
bookshelves: entertaining, innovative, sci-fi
An engaging plot with an unusual approach to the ever-thrilling concept of alien encounters that got me completely engulfed and submerged in the odd setting where an advanced interstellar rendezvous takes place in the most primitive terrestrial environment of subequatorial jungle. Peter Cawdron builds up scenes, characters and dialogues in an engaging and entertaining way, allowing the cosmic to meet the earthly in a naturally fluent manner, without exaggerated solemnity and with a touch of humour, while preserving the thrill of the monumental and unknown. A brilliantly written work! ]]>
Rating745156563 Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:32:20 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael Sender liked a review]]> /
ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS by Michael  Sender
"As one of the liaisons between human beings and undercover alien guests on Earth, I was given an ARC of this handbook. Apparently, we humans are a little bit difficult to comprehend. This manual helped me greatly to understand why many aspects of our life and culture(s) could be considered paradoxical, simpletonish and all in all laughable.
That was why I enjoyed reading it immensely and even laughed on so many occasions. Although the author/translator assured me that it shouldn't have been funny and I should have made an effort or two to learn something from it.
Speaking of the author/translator, I still don't know if he is the big boss of us liaisons or himself an undercover infiltrator from the beautiful planet of Eastiokalamadifelantafes? Anyone knows?
I should go and read it again. There will be tests very soon if I want to keep my job."
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Rating738903568 Sun, 16 Jun 2024 08:43:42 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael Sender liked a review]]> /
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
"The universe is a joke.

Even before I was shown the meaning of life in a dream at 17 (then promptly forgot it because I thought I smelled pancakes), I knew this to be true--and yet, I have always felt a need to search for the truth, that nebulous, ill-treated creature. Adams has always been, to me, to be a welcome companion in that journey.

Between the search for meaning and the recognition that it's all a joke in poor taste lies Douglas Adams, and, luckily for us, he doesn't seem to mind if you lie there with him. He's a tall guy, but he'll make room.

For all his crazed unpredictability, Adams is a powerful rationalist. His humor comes from his attempts to really think through all the things we take for granted. It turns out it takes little more than a moment's questioning to burst our preconceptions at the seams, yet rarely does this stop us from treating the most ludicrous things as if they were perfectly reasonable.

It is no surprise that famed atheist Richard Dawkins found a friend and ally in Adams. What is surprising is that people often fail to see the rather consistent and reasonable philosophy laid out by Adams' quips and absurdities. His approach is much more personable (and less embittered) than Dawkins', which is why I think of Adams as a better face for rational materialism (which is a polite was of saying 'atheism').

Reading his books, it's not hard to see that Dawkins is tired of arguing with uninformed idiots who can't even recognize when a point has actually been made. Adams' humanism, however, stretched much further than the contention between those who believe, and those who don't.

We see it from his protagonists, who are not elitist intellectuals--they're not even especially bright--but damn it, they're trying. By showing a universe that makes no sense and having his characters constantly question it, Adams is subtly hinting that this is the natural human state, and the fact that we laugh and sympathize shows that it must be true.

It's all a joke, it's all ridiculous. The absurdists might find this depressing, but they're just a bunch of narcissists, anyhow. Demanding the world make sense and give you purpose is rather self centered when it already contains toasted paninis, attractive people in bathing suits, and Euler's Identity. I say let's sit down at the bar with the rabbi, the priest, and the frog and try to get a song going. Or at least recognize that it's okay to laugh at ourselves now and again. It's not the end of the world.

It's just is a joke, but some of us are in on it."
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Rating738232885 Fri, 14 Jun 2024 02:46:35 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael Sender liked a review]]> /
ALIENS ABOUT HUMANS by Michael  Sender
"Fermi Paradox solved - NASA can stop SETI!

The ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the question why no aliens have yet made contact with humanity become secondary as soon as you read this book. This hilarious look at humanity from the outside teaches us a lot about ourselves and leads to the question if home sapiens really is sapient. I was enjoying „Aliens about Humans� on Twitter for a long time already when I got the chance to read this book that contains so much more insight. And if you are not a seasoned infiltrator that has to operate undercover this book may be for you too. If you are feeling alienated in this world it will show you that you are not alone.
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AuthorFollowing101775416 Sat, 18 May 2024 04:03:03 -0700 <![CDATA[<AuthorFollowing id=101775416 user_id=75989884 author_id=5252525>]]> Review6485901403 Mon, 06 May 2024 15:24:01 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael added 'A Study in Scarlet']]> /review/show/6485901403 A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle Michael gave 5 stars to A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes, #1) by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Review6485899927 Mon, 06 May 2024 15:23:18 -0700 <![CDATA[Michael added 'The Master and Margarita']]> /review/show/6485899927 The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov Michael gave 5 stars to The Master and Margarita (Paperback) by Mikhail Bulgakov
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