The title for Global Weirdness: Severe Storms, Deadly Heat Waves, Relentless Drought, Rising Seas and the Weather of the Future could just have well b...moreThe title for Global Weirdness: Severe Storms, Deadly Heat Waves, Relentless Drought, Rising Seas and the Weather of the Future could just have well been Climate Change for Dummies in that it’s a clear and simple summary of the current state of climate science in language that a 6th grader could comprehend. It lays out in step-by-step fashion: 1. Why we know the climate is warming in a way that is unprecedented. 2. Why carbon dioxide (CO2) is the culprit. 3. How we know that human activity is the cause of the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. 4. Feedback mechanisms that could accelerate or dampen rising temperatures. 5. Some of the effects that climate change is having, and will have on the planet in the future. 6. What we can do about it.
The book also does not shy away from uncertainties in the science. Climate science is immensely complex with a number of interrelated variables that will effect both the magnitude of the temperature rise as well as the effect that it will have on the planet. But just because we don’t know everything about the science, does not mean we do not know anything. An immense amount of evidence culled from a variety of scientific disciplines exists today that overwhelmingly points to the fact that: 1. Global warming is real. 2. It is caused by humans. 3. It will have a negative effect on many species of life on the planet (not the least of which is us humans). 4. The longer we wait to address it, the worse off we will be.
Given the broad scientific consensus we’ve long since passed the point where denialism could be considered intellectually tenable.
Unfortunately this will not stop the merchants of doubt (whose bottom line could be effected by efforts to reduce emissions) and their lackeys from attempting to sow misinformation and confusion among regulators, pundits and general public because they know that this tried and true strategy works every single time. You’d think that the general public would eventually tire of playing the chump to the manufactured consent of moneyed interests. But their tolerance of manipulation by those who put their own financial interests above those of the planet and its inhabitants appears to be boundless.
For the rest, who would like to better understand global warming including what is known and how we know it, Global Weirdness is a good place to start. The book provides an excellent overview of climate change in clear, uncomplicated language that anyone (with the exception of those whose minds have already been closed to the facts by ideology) could understand. (less)
I couldn’t finish the book, the level of misinformation was intolerable. Looking into the claims of just one of Brockway’s examples, that a geneticall...moreI couldn’t finish the book, the level of misinformation was intolerable. Looking into the claims of just one of Brockway’s examples, that a genetically modified form of the bacteria K. Planticola almost escaped from the lab and killed every living plant on earth (and consequently, every living animal as well), reveals that the claim is rubbish. However, a quick review of the incident illustrates how certain pseudo-scientific claims are propagated.
In 1992 Dr. Elaine Ingham and her graduate student, working with the US EPA, did a study on the effects of a modified form of K. Planticola. At the end of the study they came out with the hyperbolic claim that: "If that (a release of the modified bacteria) had occurred, the genetically engineered KP could have colonized the entire planet over the course of several years, turning all of the soil where it grew into barren dirt." Scary eh?
Anti-GM (genetically modified) food advocates took the story and ran with it (as one might expect).
EPA considered the research to be deeply flawed and rejected the Ingham’s claims. It should be noted that other similar forms of the bacteria already exist in nature (and have yet to destroy the planet). EPA’s position is also bolstered by the fact that no peer reviewed scientific paper was ever published (always a red flag when it comes to outrageous claims). In addition, three scientists in New Zealand examined every aspect of Ingham's assertions and found them to lack merit . Of course Ingham charges that this is all a conspiracy by big-agro to suppress the truth. It should also be noted that Ingham works for The Rodale Institute (a non-profit promoting organic farming), which lends itself to a conflict of interest.
The story follows a standard trajectory: - Scientist makes outrageous claim, but fail to follow traditional scientific publication procedures. - Story gets a lot of press, particularly with certain partisan groups. - Other scientists soundly refute claims. - Claims of scientific suppression by big ______ (fill in the blank). - Media do a poor job reporting the story and the public is left ill-informed.
Cold fusion, claims of the discovery of bigfoot, the NASA arsenic eating bacteria study all follow this formula … and they are all bullshit.
Regardless of how you feel about GMO foods (and there are real reasons for concern) you have to wonder whether Brockway is just a lazy journalist or a partisan hack. Fortunately, the question is answered in the very next chapter in which Brockway insists that, while we’re safe from the K. Planticola bacteria for now, genetically modified food will ultimately kill us all anyway.
As you might expect from the title, Oliver Sacks’ new book is about the many causes and symptoms of hallucinations, which he defines (reasonably enoug...moreAs you might expect from the title, Oliver Sacks’ new book is about the many causes and symptoms of hallucinations, which he defines (reasonably enough) as a sensory experience of something that does not exist outside the mind. Most people would typically attribute psychosis or drugs as the primary causes of hallucinations, and as a result, people that may experience them for other reasons are often hesitant to report their symptoms. However, there are other common medical conditions that can produce hallucinations including brain disease or injury, delirium, sensory deprivation, stroke, migraine, hypnogogic or hypnopompic states (which occur when falling asleep or waking up), loss of a limb (phantom limb syndrome) or epilepsy. They can also result from side effects of prescription medications. These illusionary experiences are often visual or auditory in nature, but somewhat more rarely can also be olfactory or sensory.
Like other books that Sacks has written, he relies heavily on anecdote for the content of much of the text, although he does include information drawn from neuroscience and history. Patients he has treated report a wide variety of experiences from mild to severe, amusing to terrifying, intermittent to continuous, and miserable to sublime. I think what surprised me most was just how pleasant many of the people report their hallucinations to be given the standard portrayal of an individual who see things as a raving psychopath who’s dog convinces him to kill his family by injecting them with bleach.
The experiences that Sacks describes are really quite unique and can appear as vivid and real to an individual as anything experienced of the actual world. This should come as no surprise since everything that we see, smell, hear and feel occurs as a result of our brain’s interpretation of electrical signals from the body. If these electrical signals arise for another reason, the brain interprets them as actual events. As a result, hallucinations can be completely genuine to the individual experiencing them (and in a way, they are).
Overall the book is decent and I appreciate the fact that Sacks, as a scientist, relies on naturalistic explanations for these phenomenon (if you have a conversation with an angel, it’s a result of something going on in your brain, as opposed to an actual conversation with an angel, and you should probably seek medical attention). I will say that the book suffers (like others he’s written) from an overabundance of anecdotal stories. The repetitive descriptions of weird stuff people see becomes tiresome after a while and I was glad to see the book come to an end (or maybe I only imagined I saw the book come to an end … eh?).(less)
Born in Africa provides a decent high-level overview of the work that paleoanthropologists (a discipline that combines paleontology and physical anthr...moreBorn in Africa provides a decent high-level overview of the work that paleoanthropologists (a discipline that combines paleontology and physical anthropology) have done to uncover the evolutionary lineages of modern humans (homo sapiens). The book is divided into two parts with the first section detailing (in chronological order) the fossil discoveries by paleontologists and their evolving interpretations of the evidence. The second describes physical characteristics of our hominid ancestors as well as what has been learned of their behavior, culture and technology.
I took away two main points from the book. First, that paleoanthropologists appear to be a group of vainglorious, back-biting, treacherous, sniping, disloyal self-promoters who would eagerly sell out their saintly grandmother if they thought it would bring them the slightest advantage. If you meet a paleoanthropologist check their hand thoroughly before shaking it, or better yet, make them pass through a metal detector first. I would also urge you to never … ever turn your back on one. Somewhat more seriously, there’s no doubt that science can be a full contact sport as individuals battle vigorously over competing ideas. Even so, paleoanthropologists appear to be in a class unto themselves.
Second, that the evolutionary path leading to homo sapiens is complicated and messy with branchings and dead ends, conflicting evidence and clues, and where scientific misinterpretations can derail the field for decades. Like reality itself, our evolutionary heritage does not present itself in a neat and tidy package.
The book is well-written and interesting but is also fairly short, meaning that Meredith breezes very quickly through a lot of human history. I would also say, that Meredith gives rather too much credence to certain theories than they deserve. One such example is Niles Eldredge’s and Stephen Jay Gould’s theory of punctuated equilibrium, which has not received broad scientific support and at most would only be responsible for explaining a few minor and infrequent events in the fossil record (as Richard Dawkins has stated it is an "interesting but minor wrinkle on the surface of neo-Darwinian theory"). (less)
In The Ragged Edge of the World Eugene Linden (writer and correspondent for Time and National Geographic magazines, among others) describes his travel...moreIn The Ragged Edge of the World Eugene Linden (writer and correspondent for Time and National Geographic magazines, among others) describes his travels to remote corners of the globe and his encounters with environmental degradation, habitat destruction, species loss and the pressures of cultural homogenization on traditional populations. The topics are familiar ones for environmentalists: global warming, wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone, the ozone hole, sea ice disintegration and the plight of polar bears to name a few. In additional Linden writes, somewhat less convincingly, about cultural extinction among native tribes throughout the world.
The stories are anecdotal in nature, but Linden ties his experiences in with descriptions of the broader scientific consensus of the topics. Taken as a whole one is faced with a bleak picture of a world in which the relentless pressures of short term economic interests has taken precedence over ecological sustainability and long term survival of endangered species. Simply put, the natural world is losing its battle with modernity. Unfortunately, humans appear to have forgotten that they too are a product of nature.
Though there’s nothing wrong with Linden’s writing, I found his approach to environmental issues to be rather conventional. By far the most interesting part of the book involved Linden’s anecdotes of his travels. Whether it was the difficulties he encountered traveling in Africa, his experience with clever orangutans in Borneo, or his travels to the nature preserves of Cuba, these personal accounts revealed all too clearly the difficulties humans face in overcoming their inherent shortcomings, particularly where it comes to protecting the environment on which our survival depends.
Linden also describes the loss of native culture and indigenous languages that is occurring as traditional societies are absorbed into the broader culture of the state. He argues that this trend is tragic because the detailed knowledge about the environment that these cultures have acquired in order to survive is being lost. There’s some truth to this claim, but I think it is limited. First, these traditional societies lack knowledge of the scientific method and as a result, their knowledge of the natural world contains a mish-mash of truth, anecdote, hear-say and superstition. While there may be something to learn, it would not be without considerable effort to weed out the truth from fiction. Secondly, it’s easy to romanticize these traditional lifestyles if you don’t have to live in them yourself. When a temporary drought brings famine and starvation, a small cut brings the potential for infection and disease and inter-tribal conflict results in high levels of mortality it’s easy to see why these people may be willing to abandon aspects of their culture in exchange for the benefits of modern society. It is not possible, in fact it would be immoral, to force them to do otherwise.
Finally, I have to take issue with Linden’s flirtation with the superstitious woo-woo of traditional healers and shaman. The rites he describe are those you’d expect from a two-bit vaudeville magician. While these so-called ‘healing’ rituals may result in some benefit due to the placebo effect, they may also produce immeasurable damage by causing truly sick individuals to avoid seeking actual medical care. That western scientific medicine is eliminating the charlatanism of the traditional shaman should be applauded rather than treated as cause for regret. (less)
The Future isn’t so much about the future as it is an analysis of the trends taking place today (which you will not be surprised to learn are economic...moreThe Future isn’t so much about the future as it is an analysis of the trends taking place today (which you will not be surprised to learn are economic, geo-political, social, environmental and technological) that will influence on the future.
Al Gore is an astute individual. He has the ability to analyze global trends from a wide variety of disciplines and use them to gain insight into events in the US and around the world. And he does so in the professorial, reasoned manner he made famous in his earlier books and in An Inconvenient Truth. While fact-dense, the information is presented in a logical manner that is easy to understand.
Though Gore is a liberal the book is non-partisan, largely taking its conclusions from scientific evidence and an impartial observation of the facts (the exception being, in my opinion, his opposition to genetic engineering, which holds immense potential to alleviate suffering). Unfortunately, the right will dismiss many of the books conclusions, such as those regarding the damaging effects of income inequality, the degraded nature of democracy in the US due to the political influence of moneyed interests, the effects of hyper-consumerism on the environment, and of course … global warming, as partisan simply because of the background of the author. Yet it is this closed-minded, knee-jerk, dismissal of evidence that has led to the breakdown of democracy and that leaves the country incapable of addressing its most pressing problems. Theoretically this could be addressed at the ballot box, but unfortunately (and deliberately) the US lacks the informed citizenry that could make this change a reality.
On the whole, the book is very good and contains a great deal of excellent information. I would especially like to highlight the fact that Gore acknowledges the problems of population growth, an issue many environmentalists and people on the left are loath to take on, despite the fact that virtually every single environmental problem is exacerbated by high fertility rates. A few things could be improved, however, and in the spirit of constructive criticism, I offer the following: 1. Gore, like most liberal intellectuals, believes that it is possible to change someone’s mind by demonstrating through facts and reasoned argument that his position is correct. He feels that evidence and logic, presented in a step-wise fashion leading to an incontrovertible conclusion will, by extension, prove the point and change hearts and minds. If only this were so. The problem is that psychological studies have shown it just doesn’t work that way … particularly when it comes to the republican predisposition for motivated reasoning (see the The Republican Brain by Chris Mooney or Think Like an Elephant by George Lakeoff). Gore would be a better communicator if he did a better job framing his conclusions in ways that resonate with human ideals and emotions. 2. The book is a litany of depressing news (fishery die-offs, runaway population growth, global warming, population displacement, desertification, pandemics, sea level rise, water shortages, topsoil erosion, pollution, disease, death and destruction). Leaders need to inspire as well as educate. Inspiration is hard to come if you first submerge your readers in a pit of despair. 3. While long on explanation, the book is relatively light on solutions. Yes … it would help if the accounting practices used to compute GDP took such things as environmental degradation, resource depletion, pollution, and poverty into account, but this proposal is not enough. It needs to be accompanied by a detailed plan with concrete goals that outline a clear path for putting the concept into practice. Gore proposed this same notion back in 1992 in his book Earth in the Balance and after two decades it remains no closer to realization. (less)
How It Ends cheerily describes the way things meet their demise, including you and I, the human species, the earth itself, the milky way galaxy and ul...moreHow It Ends cheerily describes the way things meet their demise, including you and I, the human species, the earth itself, the milky way galaxy and ultimately, the entire universe. Within this framework Impey digresses into other interesting scientific topics including among others: terraforming, human life-extension, suspended animation, black holes and the likelihood of extraterrestrial species.
Although Impey doesn’t delve very deeply into any one subject, he covers a broad range of topics in an interesting and entertaining way.
Overall I found the book to be quite enjoyable, though I did have two minor criticisms. First, I thought he gave a bit too much credibility to fringe theories such as the duality of the mind, James Lovelock’s Gaia concept, and Ray Kurzweil’s idea of the singularity and human immortality. Although Impey does not say whether he agrees with these ideas, he gives them more prominence than they deserve based on the evidence. Second, in his discussion of human death, Impey was rather timid in his conclusion regarding an afterlife. He indicates that there is no evidence for near death or out-of-body experiences, but stops short of the conclusion that life after death is infinitely more likely to be the product of wishful thinking than reality. We know that consciousness is a product of our brains and that our brains die when we die. If his purported aim is to scientifically investigate the end of things then the only conclusion one can come to is that death represents our own end. There’s really no need to beat around the bush. (less)
Gulp is Mary Roach’s latest book and focusses on the Alimentary Canal (better known as the gastrointestinal tract). The main purpose of organs involve...moreGulp is Mary Roach’s latest book and focusses on the Alimentary Canal (better known as the gastrointestinal tract). The main purpose of organs involved in the alimentary system are digestion and waste elimination. But, if you’re familiar at all with Roach’s juvenile preoccupation with toilet humor, you know exactly what she’ll choose to focus on: puking, spitting, shitting, farting, and of course … the butthole (what comes out of it, and things you can put into it).
Like a precocious tike who received coo’s of adoration and approval after finger painting the living room wall then grows up to become a teenage vandal arrested for spray painting graffiti all over the high school gym, Roach’s shtick has ceased to be cute. The use of an occasional fart joke can be amusing, but when you can speak of nothing else, you become a parody of yourself … and I’m afraid that’s the position Roach finds herself in.(less)
Cats Behaving Badly is a book about cat behavior and methods for correcting unwanted behaviors. I picked up the book from the library on a whim, not b...moreCats Behaving Badly is a book about cat behavior and methods for correcting unwanted behaviors. I picked up the book from the library on a whim, not because my cats are bad, but because I wanted a photo of them attempting to gnaw on the book (I thought that would be pretty funny). With that said, I did learn a few things about feline behavior although I have two criticisms. 1) Haddon advocates that all cats be outdoor animals and implies that your pet lives are significantly diminished by being kept indoors. Many reputable organizations, including the American Humane Society, approve of house-bound cats and there are environmental and health reasons that support keeping your pet indoors. 2) Haddon mentions the commercial synthetic cat pheromone Feliway about a hundred times throughout the book. I’m not sure if she is affiliated with the company or a paid spokesperson, but much of the book reads like a advertisement for the product. (less)
Within a relatively short timeframe humans have gone from living as hunter/gatherers in small tribes of a few hundred individuals, to agrarian communi...moreWithin a relatively short timeframe humans have gone from living as hunter/gatherers in small tribes of a few hundred individuals, to agrarian communities comprised of thousands, to city-states of many millions with a broad division of labor and a representative form of government. This change in the structure of society has resulted in a dramatic alterations in lifestyle. While many of these changes have been positive (we live longer, are subject to less violence and have access to many goods and services that were unavailable to our ancestors), some of them are less so (epidemics of obesity and diabetes, and incidents of isolation). In The World Until Yesterday Jared Diamond examines traditional societies and the ways in which we may be able to learn from them in our era of sedentary desk jobs and virtual, on-line lives.
Diamond examines such topics as: trade, conflict resolution, treatment of children and the elderly, risk, religion, language and diet. Although not an anthropologist by training, Diamond is known as a polymath and has spent quite a bit of time with tribes in New Guinea. His experiences lend anecdotal support to the conclusions he draws from anthropological research.
Are there some overarching themes as to what we might learn from studies of tradition people? Well, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Traditional lifestyles tend to be both dangerous and violent. Inter-tribal conflicts result in a higher proportion of violent death (relative to population size) than is found in state-run societies and the incidence of genocide and infanticide are more prevalent. Traditional societies are generally unfamiliar with the scientific method and instead form supernatural explanations of natural events (yes .. we have Pat Robertson, but rational individuals look to science for answers). Finally, many of the activities that surround their daily life are dictated by fear. Whether it’s the lion that may be lurking in the grass or a shift in alliances that make interactions with the tribe next door uncertain, life is stressful and requires one to adopt a paranoid mindset (Diamond refers to this as “constructive paranoia”) in order to survive.
With that said, there are some aspects of these cultures that we could learn from. In traditional societies, conflict resolution is often performed through a mediator whose goal may include both compensation and emotional closure for the victim. States resolve conflict through a court system which often provides little consolation for those that were harmed. Another area is in our treatment of children and the elderly. Some traditional groups give their children considerable freedom and revere their elders for their experience and knowledge. In state societies these demographics tend to be segregated from the larger population by age, leading to social isolation and little inter-generational learning. Finally, a quick glance at a cross section of our general population makes it abundantly clear that we have become soft, fat and unhealthy. Traditional populations had to work to survive and they only ate what they were able to collect, catch or grow. A sedentary lifestyle coupled with a diet high in fat, salt and sugar has led to a rise in heart disease, stroke and cancer. A return to a diet and active lifestyle that more closely resembles that of our ancestors could result in significant improvements in health.
One area where I take issue with Diamond is with regards to language. There are currently in the neighborhood of 7,000 languages in the world and Diamond predicts that most will have vanished or be well on their way to having become so by the year 2100. He bemoans this loss and urges that heroic measures be taken to preserve them. While I agree with Diamond that language can help preserve a groups cultural identity in the face of the homogenizing influence exerted by the state, I just don’t see the loss of a language as a particularly tragic event. It is certainly a people’s right to keep their native language alive, and failing that, linguists are certainly welcome to do their best to preserve them if they so choose, but the fact is that most are fading through simple neglect. Young people don’t want to learn them and old people that retain these skills are dying. Perhaps it’s my lack of sentimentality, but I do not believe it’s a tragedy to let nature run its course. All languages change over time. It is active, engaged bodies that keep a language vibrant and alive. A language on life-support that people have forgotten how to speak is not a language at all but a museum piece.
Diamond is one of the few scientists who can write well and explain his subject matter to a lay audience in an way that is interesting. Although the lessons he draws aren’t particularly novel or surprising (in fact, most are banal) the information about the various cultures he examines is interesting. Many of the conclusions regarding violence also dovetail nicely with those drawn by Steven Pinker in The Better Angels of Our Nature. It was a happy coincidence that I read them back to back. I will say, however, that the book went on rather too long and becomes overly repetitive towards the end (I get it, our western diet sucks and we should eat more broccoli … thanks mom). (less)
As one might expect from the title, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking is about introversion and how introverts adapt a...moreAs one might expect from the title, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking is about introversion and how introverts adapt and can thrive in a culture that values loud-mouths ... er … extroverts. The terms introversion and extroversion were first popularized by Carl Jung, though his definition involved the focus of mental (or psychic) energies with introvert focusing on inner thoughts and feelings, and the extrovert on the outside world. Today we are more likely to use the terms to characterize people in terms of their personality or behavior. We describe introverts as being reserved, quiet, and shy and extroverts as outgoing, energetic and talkative.
Cain writes in an easy conversational style that is pleasant to read. The book is at its best when discussing psychological experiments and the science of personality. Studies show that certain character traits are hardwired into us, shaping many aspects of personality. It’s just worth keeping in mind that as a rather soft science, psychological conclusions are necessarily tentatively drawn and that actual behavior tends to fall within a fairly broad range rather than being absolute.
On the downside, Cain seems to conflate introversion with a poor self-image, a lack of confidence and behaviors such as stage fright and a fear of public speaking (traits that are not inextricably linked). And this is where the book dips rather precariously into the self-help genre. Cain acts as cheerleader for the painfully shy, praising their talents while gently prodding her readers to make an effort to play with the other kids. To this end she spends considerable time profiling famous introverts and their successes, with the take-away message being that the shy reader is not alone, and that they can become highly successful too without compromising their character. But here’s the thing, being an introvert doesn’t make you thoughtful, smart, creative or interesting. It doesn’t make you anything other than introverted. Bill Gates didn’t become the richest man in the world because he was shy and his introversion didn’t make him smart, hardworking, creative or lucky. Being introverted doesn’t necessarily doom you to a life of failure and loneliness, but it doesn't mean you have the potential to be as successful as Bill Gates either.
In one of the book’s odder moments, Cain uses the biblical figure Moses as an example of an introvert who overcame his shyness to lead a successful life. Given that all historical evidence points to the fact that the Moses story is a literary invention, I’m surprised she didn’t choose to go down the list of other imaginary characters to profile. After all, Porky Pig’s stutter made him rather awkward in social situations, but he’s gone on to become a pretty big star.
With that said, this feel good message was a very wise business move and is probably largely responsible for not only the book’s success (self-help sells far better than science), but for Cain's secondary career as a paid public speaker as well. (less)
What Einstein Told His Barber has nothing to do with Einstein or barbers (I suspect marketing research shows that slapping “Einstein” on any cover mak...moreWhat Einstein Told His Barber has nothing to do with Einstein or barbers (I suspect marketing research shows that slapping “Einstein” on any cover makes the book appear smart and boosts sales), it’s really just a collection of scientific explanations of things we encounter every day. The book is structured in the form of question and answer, and is grouped into chapters with themes such as motion, light, heat and gravity.
Wolke writes in a way that is entertaining and easy to understand and attempts to interject nerdy humor throughout that will likely cause more eye rolling than laughing. I learned a few things reading it, but many of the topics were rather basic and will already be familiar to folks with a general science background. (less)
The 20th century has been characterized by four developments of great importance: the growth of political democracy, the growth of online democracy, t...moreThe 20th century has been characterized by four developments of great importance: the growth of political democracy, the growth of online democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.
- Alex Carey
As former Vice President of corporate communications at CIGNA as well as a former journalist, Wendell Potter is in a unique position to expose the practices of the medical insurance industry and the work that they’ve done to influence the public and lawmakers to prevent legislation that would hurt corporate profits. This behavior might be warranted if the U.S. health care system provided the best care in the world at the lowest cost, but in fact the U.S. is ranked 37th overall by the World Health Association, we’re 34th in terms of infant mortality, and 38th in terms of life expectancy. It is also more expensive than any other developed country.
As a country that prides itself on its exceptionalism, why do we settle for such lousy and costly healthcare? Answer: Because we don’t want government intervening in our crappy coverage … we’d prefer that free market driven, private, for-profit corporations, and health care executives who pull in seven or even eight figure salaries be the ones to deny doctor recommended medical procedures instead. It’s the American way, and uniquely so in the developed world.
In Deadly Spin Potter outlines the ways in which insurance companies deny care, raise premiums, cancel policies of the sick and use their massive profits to fund a public relations machine to convince us that we have the best healthcare in the world despite the available evidence. And by every measure they’ve been remarkably successful at sowing confusion and misinformation. Thus we have: - A doctor’s reasonable discussions with their patient about personal end of life decisions is turned into rants about “death panels”. - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) which ensures affordable private health care coverage for millions of Americans is billed as “a government takeover of healthcare” (a focus group tested phrase that has been used again and again to thwart reforms). - Coordinated attacks to discredit and demonize Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko”, which dared to compare the highly profitable American health care industry to that in other nations. - Astro-turf organizations featuring angry mobs of people in tricorn hats with tea bags hanging from all three corners with signs reading “Keep the guvmint out of my medicare”. It would almost be funny, except for the fact that denial of care has real world implications including suffering and death.
Potter also describes more generally how PR is used to influence the national dialog and manufacture consent. PR messaging is all around us, but many fail to recognize it as such and wind up parroting advertising agency-created, market research-driven talking points with the true sincerity of their most deeply held beliefs, never realizing that they are unwitting water carriers of moneyed interests.
Ask yourself … who stands to gain from global warming denial, repeal of the Affordable Care Act, less regulation, smaller government, and tort reform to reduce corporate liability? Who stands to lose from a patient’s bill of rights, environmental protections, equal pay for women, and universal healthcare? Republicans and corporations want smaller government for the same reason criminals want fewer police. The job of PR firms is to convince you that fewer police are in your best interest, and time and again the chumps echo the call. (less)
It’s impossible to review Jonah Lehrer’s book Imagine: How Creativity Works without first acknowledging the scandal in which Lehrer admitted to fabric...moreIt’s impossible to review Jonah Lehrer’s book Imagine: How Creativity Works without first acknowledging the scandal in which Lehrer admitted to fabricating quotes from Bob Dylan in the book and then lying that he did so. The fallout from the incident included Lehrer’s resignation as a staff reporter from The New Yorker and several distributors (including Barnes and Nobel and Amazon) pulling the book from their shelves. It’s not clear how much this mendacity affects the overall quality of the book, but it certainly taints it with an unsavory odor and should make one suspicious of the rest of the content as well.
With that out of the way, Imagine deals with the neuroscience of creativity and ways in which we can maximize our means of achieving insight. The book follows the well-trodden formula made popular by Malcolm Gladwell using anecdotes to illustrate the book’s principle interspersed with a description of our current understanding of the supporting science. Like Gladwell, Lehrer is a decent writer able to hold his reader’s interest. However I found his coverage of the subject matter to be similarly superficial and some of the examples used, such as 3M’s discovery of “post-it” notes, to be rather stale.
The examples of the types of things that increase creativity are those you’d imagine: dedicating time to daydreaming, interactions with individuals with differing viewpoints and ideas, approaching a problem from a different perspective, viewing things as an outsider, persistence and hard work etc. Most new ideas build off of old ideas or involve the combination of existing ideas in new ways, so anything that increases exposure to new ideas and experiences will increase creativity. No surprise there, and there really are no significant revelations to be found in the book.
In the end Imagine is a rather conventional and formulaic example of the pop-science genre, and hardly seems important enough to risk destroying ones career over, but there you have it.(less)
In Spillover author David Quammen examines the subject of zoonosis, infectious diseases that are transmitted between species from animals to humans. F...moreIn Spillover author David Quammen examines the subject of zoonosis, infectious diseases that are transmitted between species from animals to humans. Famous examples of zoonotic diseases include HIV, ebola, SARS, West Nile virus and every bout of influenza you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to suffer through. These diseases represent a serious health threat, HIV having killed more than 30 million people to date, and there are fears that a newly emergent disease could create a global pandemic. Remember the bird flu scare of 2006? Although it fizzled, the potential danger (had it become easily transmittable human to human) was all too real.
The reason we are increasingly experiencing these diseases is twofold: 1) Growing human populations are destroying the natural world. As humans invade every corner of the globe they are increasingly coming in to contact with new animal viruses. 2) Airline travel allows contagious viruses to spread across the globe in a matter of hours, making containment difficult or impossible.
Quammen focuses on a few of the more deadly diseases including Ebola, malaria, SARs and HIV, approaching each much like a detective following the trail of a serial killer. Except here, the case involves an animal reservoir, an intermediate animal host and its human victims. The book delves into the natural history of these diseases and the scientists who study them, Quammen having joined several on expeditions to their study areas.
I typically enjoy Quammen’s writing quite a bit, but found this book (at 520 pages) to be entirely too long and overly repetitive. Quammen joins an expedition, captures some animals, takes samples from the animals then talks to the scientist (repeat). After the first few iterations of this process there’s little new to be gained. The same goes for his descriptions of disease occurrences. An individual gets sick, passes it around then scientists attempt to track the outbreak back to the source. A few of these anecdotes would have been sufficient to illustrate the broader point of the mechanisms of transmission and the scientific techniques used to ferret out the facts.
I also found it odd that Quammen chose to focus so extensively on diseases like Ebola that, while scary and deadly, infect and kill only a handful of people, while ignoring influenza; a disease that infects millions and kills several hundred thousand each year. Perhaps his choice had to do with the fact that the animal reservoirs of these exotic diseases (civets, macaques, chimpanzees and bats) are far more interesting than the chickens that transmit the flu. Or perhaps it’s due to the salacious nature of describing a virulent and deadly disease. While each of these might be the case, it’s hard to justify his decision based on the disparity in human health effects.(less)
Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History is all about boobies (as one might expect from the title); including their evolution, function, and roll in c...moreBreasts: A Natural and Unnatural History is all about boobies (as one might expect from the title); including their evolution, function, and roll in culture. However, more than the above, the book is about breast illness and environmental toxins and how human exposure to new chemicals may be changing breast health and that of breast-feeding infants. The book is scientific in its approach and is not salacious in any way {all the same, I’d recommend that guys who read on the train or other public places get the e-reader version, so they don’t look like pervs holding a big book labeled “BREASTS” in front of their faces}.
Although an experienced writer, this is the first book by Florence Williams and overall she did a good job with her scientific research of the topics discussed. However, Williams stated purpose is to explore the link between environmental toxins, endocrine disrupters and breast illness, and in this I felt her conclusions went somewhat beyond what science is currently able to tell us. We know that certain pollutants accumulate in breast tissue and can also be found in breast milk, but science has not linked these low level contaminants to breast cancer or other diseases. It is not unreasonable to suspect that such a link exists, or to recommend that women avoid exposure of environmental contaminants where it is possible to do so, but the best science we have today has not demonstrated links between specific environmental pollutants and illness. Williams’ caveats in this regard were rather weak given her extensive coverage of the topic.
Williams also presents some statistics in ways that can be potentially misleading. For example, stating that certain chemical exposures can double a woman’s chance of contracting a particular disease sounds quite horrifying. However, if the change is from 1 in a trillion to 2 in a trillion, it’s a doubling of a risk that is so low as to be unworthy of notice. In the absence of actual numbers it is not possible to determine whether the risks described should be of actual concern (although in each of the cases discussed, her writing is biased in a way to suggest that they are).
In popular science books, I’ve found that journalists tend to do a much better job writing for the general public than scientists. Journalists write in a more engaging manner, present the information in a way that is more understandable and are more enjoyable to read. However, in that they are not scientists, journalists face a responsibility to present the science in a way that is consistent with the best evidence around which a scientific consensus has formed, and to point out any uncertainties that exist along the edges. Williams writing measures up to the positive qualities of a good journalist, however, I think some of her conclusions could have been a little more carefully drawn (and I say this as someone who strongly supports cleaner technologies and more robust pollution prevention measures). (less)
In an age where every cell phone has a built in gps it's easy to forget how much time and energy was devoted in the past to figuring out where you wer...moreIn an age where every cell phone has a built in gps it's easy to forget how much time and energy was devoted in the past to figuring out where you were on the globe. Determining longitude was the key to the puzzle (latitude was comparatively easy to determine based on the length of the day).
Longitude describes the competing techniques developed to deal with the problem as well as the intrigues that are created when an amateur competes with the establishment.
Interesting and informative, and the author doesn't attempt to cram in unnecessary detail.(less)
Michael Mann is at the forefront of the climate debate, both as a researcher into the science of global warming and as a target of those who have poli...moreMichael Mann is at the forefront of the climate debate, both as a researcher into the science of global warming and as a target of those who have politicized the issue. Mann is a professor at Penn State University and directs the Penn State Earth System Science Center. The results of his research demonstrate not only that the earth is warming in a way that is unprecedented in the planet’s history, but that this warming is due to human activities (a view that is shared by the vast majority of the world’s climate scientists). Mann’s main contribution was the famous hockey stick graph (see below) showing the increasing global temperatures since the start of the industrial revolution. The gray shading represents the error associated with early data that was extrapolated from proxy data (such as tree rings, corals and ice cores).
Of course by producing such a visually compelling image, Mann’s research has put him in the cross-hairs of the climate denialists, a group that consists of fossil fuel and business interests, and political partisans with an anti-regulatory mindset. It should be noted that the few remaining skeptics with a scientific background obtain their funding from these same partisan interests, leading one to question their impartiality. As Upton Sinclair said: "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!"
Despite these moneyed interests who have been significantly motivated to not understanding, the graph has stood up to intense scrutiny and additional studies have only strengthened the conclusion that temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere during recent decades were the highest in the past 1,300 years! Of course, since the graph’s creation, things have only become worse with the temperatures reached during the summer of 2012 breaking new records around the world.
Mann himself lays out this evidence quite conclusively in the book and also goes into some detail about the depths to which the motivated reasoning interests have sunk to attack and smear when their efforts to sow scientific doubt have failed. Even though their tactics haven’t changed, the “thank you for smoking” crowd still seems to be effective despite a solid track record of being wrong, and wrong again (think asbestos, leaded gasoline, acid rain, the ozone hole, cigarettes, mercury and so on).
Mann’s e-mails were also stolen as part of the so-called climategate “scandal” in which denialists cherry picked certain phrases in order to manufacture the impression that scientists were fudging the data. Once again, Mann and his colleagues were vindicated by eight independent investigations that all found that there was no evidence of fraud or scientific misconduct.
Unfortunately, it’s far easier to raise questions and doubt than to do the hard work of gathering evidence, performing experiments and publishing papers in peer reviewed journals and these unscrupulous tactics continue to play with a scientifically illiterate public. The good news is that scientists are finally starting to fight back (as evidenced by this book) making it harder and harder for vested interests to continue to deny reality.(less)
Cheery topics within The Fate of the Species: Why the Human Race May Cause Its Own Extinction and How We Can Stop It, include such things as: a global...moreCheery topics within The Fate of the Species: Why the Human Race May Cause Its Own Extinction and How We Can Stop It, include such things as: a global pandemic caused by a newly evolved supervirus, global warming raising sea levels 20 feet - flooding cities and altering weather patterns, ecosystem collapse due to species extinction, a terrorist event using a bio-engineered virus (which is quite similar to a pandemic actually), and a computer virus that shuts down the electrical grid. Contrary to the book’s subtitle, however, exactly none of these things would result in the extinction of the humans species (leading one to believe that the hyperbolic text is more sales gimmick than descriptor), though they could certainly cause turmoil, death and destruction.
Through science, humans have gained increased power over the planet and its environment, although as we’ve seen time and again, the unintended consequences of progress tend to catch us by surprise in our headlong quest for new technologies. Aerosol sprays and refrigerants deplete the ozone layer, coal combustion produces acid rain, introduced species destroy natural ecosystems and the addition of lead to gasoline causes learning disabilities. You’d think by now that people would be tired of playing catch-up and learn to anticipate potential problems arising from technology ahead of time, but perhaps that’s too much to ask. “Cleverness is not wisdom.” as Euripides once wrote.
While I find the topic of technology gone awry of interest, there’s really nothing new to be found in The Fate of the Species, and I learned very little. Anyone who has followed the news in a peripheral fashion will already be familiar with global warming and pandemics. Environmental organizations have been raising warnings regarding ecosystem collapse and the dangers of mono-culture for years and Stuxnet (the computer virus aimed at Iran’s nuclear program) has received considerable press of late. In addition, there have been no technological or political changes that would warrant a re-evaluation of these issues or cause us to view them in a new light. Add to this the fact that Guterl’s coverage of these topics is entirely conventional, and all we are left with are the reheated leftovers of information that is available elsewhere.
The book also purportedly provides information as to “How We Can Stop” the complete annihilation of every last human, including you and everyone you know and love (something that might be considered to be of some importance). But, as is typical of the genre, a few trite and simplistic ‘solutions’ are tacked on to the end of the book as if as an afterthought.
Although the book is reasonably interesting and easy to understand, it is perplexing as to why Guterl bothered to write it given that he has so little to add to the conversation. (less)
How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is about Pluto’s fall from grace as the ninth planet of the solar system to that of 2nd largest dwarf plan...moreHow I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is about Pluto’s fall from grace as the ninth planet of the solar system to that of 2nd largest dwarf planet and member of the Kuiper belt. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) came to this decision in 2006 thanks, in no small part, to discoveries made by Brown and his colleagues of trans-Neptunian objects such as Quaoar, Sedna, Makemake and Eris (the latter of which is more massive than Pluto). These objects orbit the sun beyond Neptune and currently number more than 1,000.
Faced with a choice of expanding our solar system to include hundreds of minor planets, the IAU instead formally defined the term “planet” to mean a celestial body which: 1) Is in orbit around the Sun. 2) Has sufficient mass to be spherical. 3) Has "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit of smaller objects. Since Pluto and the other trans-Neptunian objects fail to meet #3, they were thus excluded from the planetary club and our solar system went from 9 to 8 planets.
Despite what is really a somewhat arbitrary definition that has no bearing whatsoever on the true nature of these objects, many people (including some astronomers) were truly upset with Pluto’s demotion. Perhaps this is due to their close association with the Disney character of the same name, or maybe because some rigid individuals don’t respond well to having their “facts” changed. Regardless, in an attempt to pacify these people the IAU invented the terms “dwarf planet” and “plutoid” to help bolster Pluto’s sagging reputation. Yes … if it makes you feel better … instead of being the tiniest planet, please feel free to think of it as the second mightiest dwarf planet. Of course, if that fails to rouse you out of your doldrums, you may want to seek psychiatric counseling.
Unlike many scientists who seem to have difficulty writing for a popular audience, Brown has an engaging and personal style that is both easy to read and entertaining (though I wouldn’t have minded if the book had contained a bit more science). (less)
In Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think, author and X Prize founder Peter Diamandis makes his case that the standard of living of the bulk o...moreIn Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think, author and X Prize founder Peter Diamandis makes his case that the standard of living of the bulk of the world’s population can be raised to a level in which everyone’s basic needs are met within the next twenty-five years. How is this to be done you might ask given the many seemingly intractable problems that are present around the globe today? …. SCIENCE, the private sector and the largesse of billionaires!!
This might seem far-fetched, but you don’t have to look very far into the past for other visionaries whose dreams have come true. In the 1940s and 50s there were crazy prophets who envisioned a future of jet packs, hover cars, transporters, ray guns, robot servants, food pills, 4-hour workweeks, space elevators, cryogenic freezers that would bring us back from the dead, colonies on the moon, mars and in our oceans and an abundance of shiny unisex jumpsuits. In the post WWII years, these individuals were viewed as seers, eccentrics, and dreamers with unrealistic expectations, and yet, look at us now … with … uh … exactly none of that stuff. Ok, it’s a bit odd that they didn’t get any of it right and that they failed to anticipate the negative aspects of technology such as nuclear waste, massive species extinction, global warming, thalidomide, the formation of the ozone hole, toxic waste, fishery die-off and oceanic dead zones.
But that’s all in the past, and now we have a fresh breed of Utopians who portend to usher in a new era of prosperity through chemistry. Could they be right this time? Well … it’s a nice thought, but no one really knows. It’s not possible to predict the future and the road is littered with the failed attempts of those who have tried. Data shows that prosperity is rising in most third world countries and that this rise is driven in large part by new technologies (in particular computers and the internet). Barring some catastrophe (such as the worst case predictions of global climate models) it’s reasonable to assume that this trend will continue in the near term. In the long term, one can’t ignore the fact that rising prosperity also leads to increased consumption, environmental degradation and pollution.
I didn’t feel like the book provided a convincing argument, instead, the bulk of the text simply consists of a survey of some of the technologies that are presently under development and a description of the purportedly benign global benefits that they will bring … that is, assuming that they wind up being technologically viable, scalable, cost effective and adopted into broad public use (a huge assumption, given that most technologies fail to satisfy these requirements).
Unfortunately, there are many claims that Diamandis’ makes that I found to be flawed (here are but a few): 1. Diamandis claims that cell phones reduce consumption because they obviate the need for such thing as TVs , stereos, flashlights, tools, video games, computers and home entertainment systems. How many people own not just all of these items but multiple versions of each? Lots. Cell phones are just another consumer item that people purchase on top of many other consumer items. 2. He repeatedly uses the term “sustainable growth” a phrase which is, at best, meaningless and at worst a disingenuous marketing ploy. The term is most often used as a green veneer to allay the guilt of hyper-active consumers. More to the point though, the U.S. EPA stated in a 2007 report: “While much discussion and effort has gone into sustainability indicators, none of the resulting systems clearly tells us whether our society is sustainable.” In other words … nobody even knows what the term means or how to measure it. The phrase represents little more than empty rhetoric. 3. Diamandis is enamored of the robber barons (which is weird on its face … given the fact that they were, you know … first and foremost “robbers”) and believes their philanthropy will save the planet (Diamandis falls into this category and clearly likes to thinks of himself in heroic terms). Here’s the thing though, robber barons and philanthropists have been around as long as civilization has existed. Ignoring the oppression they engender for the moment, they've had more than enough time to solve the world's problems and have not come close to doing so. 4. Along with the above, he believes the private sector will offer all the solutions, ignoring any role of government. That’s fine, but completely ignores the fact that all of the fundamental research for the programs he discusses had their origin in publically funded programs. The internet, space program and human genome project among others would not have existed but for government funded research. Private companies do not engage in basic research because their motive is profit (as opposed to knowledge). 5. Diamandis spends an entire chapter arguing that those who disagree with him do so because of the inherent psychological underpinnings of the brain, which cause us to be unduly influenced by an innate pessimism and to place increased weight on negative arguments and evidence (and to ignore positive news and events in turn). Evidently, if you disagree with Diamandis’ point of view, it is not because he failed to provide convincing evidence, but because of your unconscious pathologically negative patterns of thought. Interesting idea, but as a rebuttal to criticism it’s intellectually dishonest.
But the biggest problem with the book is that Diamandis simply does not seem to understand human nature. Just as those who earn $1 per day wish to earn more to meet basic needs , so does the lower class want to become middle class, and the middle class to become millionaires, millionaires strive to become multi-millionaires, and multi-millionaires wish to become billionaires. Simply put, there is no such thing as 'enough' when it comes to human beings and their desires to acquire material wealth and possessions. Increased wealth begets increased consumption and as long as we continue to overlook the role of population, it will become increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that we live on a finite planet with finite resources. A far better solution than the ones Diamandis proposes, would be to put humane programs in place to systematically reduce human birth rates. The world is quite big enough to sustain many millions (as opposed to billions) of people in abundance, with plenty of room left over for other species and vibrant ecosystems. (less)
Monkeyluv is a collection of essays (previously published elsewhere) grouped around 3 broad themes:
Genes and their influence on behavior. This is the o...moreMonkeyluv is a collection of essays (previously published elsewhere) grouped around 3 broad themes:
Genes and their influence on behavior. This is the old nature/nurture debate. Are we the way we are because of our genes or the environment in which we are raised? Scientists figured out some time ago that it’s a combination of both, but identifying the source of specific behaviors is complicated.
Our body’s influence on behavior. It should come as no surprise (except perhaps to extreme mind/body dualists) that brains are physical organs and are influenced by events that take place in the body and influence our bodies in return. Hormones released by the body effect the way we think and act (one of the reasons men are different from women) and fear (a mental phenomenon) causes gooseflesh (or a bottle-brush tail in the case of my cat) are two such examples.
The environment’s influence on behavior. The most interesting essay involved the broad differences in cultures that evolved in desert vs. jungle environments and how desert cultures tend to be monotheistic, militaristic, repressive and paternalistic, while jungle cultures are polytheistic and take a more free-wheeling approach to life (more like the tribes of Polynesia as opposed to the Yanomami I suppose). One could conclude that we are the unfortunate recipients of a desert culture that has spread globally (assuming you buy in to the precepts of this cultural anthropological explanation).
This is the first book I’ve read by Sapolsky, and I’m wondering how it took me so long to come around to him. He has a lively writing style and the ability to explain complex scientific subjects in an interesting manner to a layperson. He also has something that seems to be altogether lacking in most science writers … a wicked sense of humor. (less)
Nothing like a little light-hearted summer reading about cancer and cancer deaths to brighten your day. Although, given that 41% of Americans will get...moreNothing like a little light-hearted summer reading about cancer and cancer deaths to brighten your day. Although, given that 41% of Americans will get cancer at some point in their lives and that 1 in 4 will die from the disease, it’s probably not a bad subject to know a bit about.
The Emperor of All Maladies, like many science books written for a general audience, is largely a history book. In this case, it documents the history of cancer treatments from the barbaric and painful approaches of the past … to today’s modern, research driven, science-based treatments, which also happen to be both barbaric and painful. The book also investigates the discovery of causal factors and the way scientists discovered some of the cellular mechanisms involved with the disease.
While the information in the book is good and is presented in a way that is accessible to non-oncologists, I found the author’s writing style to be largely dry and disjointed at times. The book failed to hold my interest throughout.(less)
The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone--Especially Ourselves isn’t so much about lying, but about cheating. Who cheats, when and by...moreThe Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone--Especially Ourselves isn’t so much about lying, but about cheating. Who cheats, when and by how much, and factors that encourage and discourage cheating. Ariely, a Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University, describes the results of experiments that he and his colleagues have performed examining this topic.
In a typical example, a test subject will be exposed to some external factor that the experimenters wish to examine (such as the behavioral effect of signing an honor pledge) before taking a test for which they are paid in proportion to the number of correct answers. Except, and here’s how the experimenter’s evaluate honesty, the student is allowed to grade their own work. Ariely then measures the difference between the actual number of right answers and the number that student self-reports as correct. He then determines the affect that the factor had on the student’s honesty (in this case, signing the pledge reduced cheating).
Ariely writes in a lively manner and, unlike many academics, actually has a sense of humor. In addition, his results are interesting and in some instances non-intuitive. For example, people who wore sunglasses they were told were cheap knock-offs were found to cheat more than those who wore identical glasses but were told they were an expensive designer brand. Ariely hypothesizes that perpetration of a minor fraud (wearing knock-off sunglasses) may serve as a slippery slope to obloquy.
Although his results are interesting, I’m skeptical about some of Ariely’s conclusions as well as his suggestions for reducing cheating in the real world. As a soft science, behavioral studies must necessarily be taken with a grain of salt. Performance in a test lab doesn’t predict behaviors in the immeasurably more complex external world.
For example … Ariely says that people who are creative cheat more than those who are not. But “creativity” is a complex behavior, not a single characteristic of the brain that can be isolated and measured. Asking people whether they think of themselves as creative or circling adjectives that describe themselves as creative doesn’t mean they are creative. If his results bore out in reality we would expect our jails to quickly become overpopulated by artists, musicians and science fiction writers.
In another example, Ariely states that religious customs such as the Catholic confessional or recitation of prayer would reduce incidences of cheating. But this is belied by the evidence. Religious countries such as the US have far higher crime rates than non-religious countries such as Sweden. Even within the US, states within the bible belt have higher crime rates than other parts of the country. Finally, prisoners have a higher incident of religiosity than the US population as a whole.
It’s highly unlikely that easy answers exist to a problem as complex as the ethical code of an entire society. Ariely seems to think that a symbolic act, like swearing to tell the truth on a holy book, will have a magical influence on honesty (as if the courts haven’t tried this already). Reality just isn’t that simple. Hanging a motivational poster on the wall improves the productivity of a workforce about as much as a monument to the 10 commandments on the courthouse steps reduces an area’s crime rate (i.e. none at all). If such things were true we would indeed be living in a world far different from the one that exists today (though I’m not sure one populated by mechanistic simpletons would be in any way desirable). (less)
I don’t know how I came to read a series of books about human behavior all in a row, but my conclusion is that experimental psychology is quite the in...moreI don’t know how I came to read a series of books about human behavior all in a row, but my conclusion is that experimental psychology is quite the inbred discipline. Granted, my sampling is small, but they all seem to cite each other’s research, experiments and conclusions.
The Self Illusion is largely a recitation of research results roughly organized around the central theme of individual identity. The information is interesting and Hood writes well, but the book is hardly a compelling read and I suspect I’ll have a difficult time recalling any specifics a week from now. (less)
Feathers is a nicely written book about the natural history of feathers (their evolution and function) as well as the many uses to which humans have p...moreFeathers is a nicely written book about the natural history of feathers (their evolution and function) as well as the many uses to which humans have put them to use. Hanson does a good job with the subject matter, although I felt like the book rambled a bit near the end as he struggled to fulfill his contractual page count. The photos and illustrations do a decent job supporting the text, though it would have been improved through the use of color given that black and white really does not do feathers justice. (less)
Gas Smarts provides practical tips everyone can use to get the best gas mileage out of their vehicles. Some of the tips are good and will provide a me...moreGas Smarts provides practical tips everyone can use to get the best gas mileage out of their vehicles. Some of the tips are good and will provide a meaningful benefit, but many are silly and probably just included to pad out the book to achieve a desired page count. Carpooling, public transportation, good vehicle maintenance, and proper tire inflation will all help reduce gasoline consumption. Waxing your car so that the slick finish reduces air drag or removing the jack-in-the-box clown head from your radio antenna might save a drop over the life of the vehicle if you’re lucky.
With that said, Weiers does provide some decent suggestions for reducing fuel consumption as well as driving tips that would make the roads safer were more people to adopt them.(less)
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