This book is tells a world war 2 era story where a military personnel taking a joyride over the jungles of new guinea crash into the forbidding landsc...moreThis book is tells a world war 2 era story where a military personnel taking a joyride over the jungles of new guinea crash into the forbidding landscape. A page turner, albeit a bit too long for the sort of story it tells.(less)
Witty, engaging and lucid - not the adjectives you'd typically associate with a popular science book, but this highly readable tome makes light a fair...moreWitty, engaging and lucid - not the adjectives you'd typically associate with a popular science book, but this highly readable tome makes light a fairly involved and complicated subject matter - physics. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone! (less)
A world without ice is a depressing book. It's depressing mostly because it's true. The book demystifies and make approachable climate science. It des...moreA world without ice is a depressing book. It's depressing mostly because it's true. The book demystifies and make approachable climate science. It describes how generations of unappreciated and hardy "cinderella" scientists working away at their remote posts are uncovering trends. It describes various trends in ice, geology and ecosystems that are in motion in the arctic and the antarctic. It describes various possible scenarios that'll we'll have to adapt depending on if and what actions we take to mitigate the climate problem. In short - it's a must read for anyone who is concerned about the planet he/she lives on!(less)
I read this book while I was traveling in Bhutan. I really enjoyed it. While Bhutan has advanced a lot since the time Jamie wrote this book, it still...moreI read this book while I was traveling in Bhutan. I really enjoyed it. While Bhutan has advanced a lot since the time Jamie wrote this book, it still retains many of its endearing qualities that she describes. Jamie at a very young age leaves her cozy existence in the west and moves to Bhutan to take up a teaching job. What ensues is total immersion in a very unique culture in an achingly beautiful natural setting. A fascinating read!(less)
This is a sort of anti-self-help book. Self help books concern themselves with recipes for happiness while this books turns around and asks why the th...moreThis is a sort of anti-self-help book. Self help books concern themselves with recipes for happiness while this books turns around and asks why the things we think will make us happy don't. It goes into reasons why imagination fails to predict how we will feel at a particular situation and how our expectations color how we felt in the past. Fascinating read and recommended. (less)
This is what a book would look like if you took a subject fit for a fantastic essay and then stretch out to make a dreary book. 4% of westerners lack...moreThis is what a book would look like if you took a subject fit for a fantastic essay and then stretch out to make a dreary book. 4% of westerners lack a conscience. The author seems to keep repeating this "fact" over and over. But nowhere is a study to prove it forthcoming. The author also seems to confound a variety of concepts. For example, did Stanley miller demonstrate that people will obey authorities 6 of 10 times? If so why does the author use the prison guards in concentration camps (who are, in most cases, justifying their actions by delegating the responsibility to their superiors who issue orders) as examples of sociopaths?
There are also passages that come across as preachy. What's worse the examples border on being cheesy and made-up sociopaths are almost comically unreal. Would've made a great essay - alas, the author made it a book. (less)
I could list several defects of the book. You can peruse other reviews of this book to see them. These include long winded descriptions, passages of s...moreI could list several defects of the book. You can peruse other reviews of this book to see them. These include long winded descriptions, passages of self aggrandizement and passages patronizing local characters et al that may have benefited from good level-headed editing. But such a list won't take away the fact that this book is a masterpiece. I wouldn't have finished a 900+ page book if it wasn't. I won't give you the plot summary here. Many people have done an excellent job of it already. What I will say is that the book really does take you and immerse you into the wild and interesting "shantaram" world, just as the author had immersed himself in the chaos of Mumbai in particular and India in general.(less)
Democratic republic of Congo is perhaps one of the worst fated countries in the world. This book is a story of the two wars that wracked this nation i...moreDemocratic republic of Congo is perhaps one of the worst fated countries in the world. This book is a story of the two wars that wracked this nation in the recent past. If you want to understand the tragedy this nation has gone through, this is an excellent book to pick up. If you want to get a historical perspective of the nation prior to its independence, I can recommend "King Leopold's Ghost".
Stearns has done his research. He lists evidence for all the claims he makes. There are interviews with actual people who were key to the incidents. There are UN reports and independent monitors' reports and interviews with the lay people. It is also lucidly written. It isn't a light read, mostly because of its content and the genocidal tragedies it describes. But I believe it is a must-read, for it gives you a perspective of the poor and the suffering in one of the most ignored tragedies of the modern world.(less)
While we've all heard of the six million Jews killed in the holocaust, we seldom hear about the 10 million killed and unknown number mutilated in the...moreWhile we've all heard of the six million Jews killed in the holocaust, we seldom hear about the 10 million killed and unknown number mutilated in the "Congo free state" or for that 4 million killed in Bengal by British induced famine. This is a not surprising given that victors write history and they tend to forget their own atrocities. The western, democratic, liberal societies of today have had a lot of blood on their hands in the past.
This book is one such account. It's a complete narrative of how one Monarch, pretty much acting on his own, acquired and, without ever stepping on it, exploited a colony eighty times the size of his own country. It's very thorough, well researched and well written. It's a very sad account with not a very happy ending. It's not a light read. But I believe everyone who believes that the modern west is the pinnacle of civilization must read it!(less)
Of all the frauds perpetrated against the Indian public, this is perhaps one of the bigger ones. Mother Teresa is thoroughly exposed as a demagogue, a...moreOf all the frauds perpetrated against the Indian public, this is perhaps one of the bigger ones. Mother Teresa is thoroughly exposed as a demagogue, a very political person (with connections with despots and tyrants) and presumably a swindler (vast amounts of cash collected while people with terminal cancer die without analgesics in her "house of the dying"). Eye opener! (less)
I've been reading books on behavioral economics recently and I read this book in the midst. It's fantastic. Tim describes in detail how while irration...moreI've been reading books on behavioral economics recently and I read this book in the midst. It's fantastic. Tim describes in detail how while irrational behaviors can be seen by amateurs and in isolated incidents, in aggregate and in general an expert's behavior tends to approximate the most rational. He also goes on to describe that this does not necessarily mean that what's rational at individual level translate to what's rational for a group or a society. Recommended.(less)
First off, I'm not in the target audience intended by the author, as I understand this book is written for women. However, my approach to this book wa...moreFirst off, I'm not in the target audience intended by the author, as I understand this book is written for women. However, my approach to this book was to understand any scientific advances in the field of biology that finds interesting difference between the sexes. In this regard, I think the book fails. Firstly, it constantly talks about proximate rather than distal causes as in "estrogen triggers this circuit during this time that causes this". This perhaps is interesting to a clinician, but to the average reader why such a behavior came about (as with evolutionary pressures) is perhaps more interesting. Secondly, I found that the references were scant and when studies were mentioned they seemed to be generalizations of rodent studies. Thirdly, I found a lot of passages to be a little preachy. There were also generalizations made from the the author's own experience with her patients. I would think that has little value insofar as anecdotal evidence versus statistical evidence is considered in science. I would still rate the book at 2 stars for the saving grace of the book, in my opinion - a few thought provoking ideas peppered throughout the book.(less)
This book felt like a poorly made sequel of the sex lives of cannibals. It felt like the author is trying too hard to get the same level of humor that...moreThis book felt like a poorly made sequel of the sex lives of cannibals. It felt like the author is trying too hard to get the same level of humor that flowed naturally in the other book. (less)
This book is definitely one of the most hilarious books I've read. Troost is a self-confessed slacker who moves to Kiribati, which is possibly the mos...moreThis book is definitely one of the most hilarious books I've read. Troost is a self-confessed slacker who moves to Kiribati, which is possibly the most remote nation comprising of a set of islands in the pacific, because his girlfriend finds a job there. What ensues is hilarity through and through. A must read - 5 stars!
P.S: the tile is a total misnomer, the only cannibals in the story are dogs and the sex lives described are of, again, dogs - very briefly. I don't know why this was chosen as the title.(less)
If only more popular science books were as engagingly written, or witty! I was barely able to put this book down to go attend a new year's party.
Most...moreIf only more popular science books were as engagingly written, or witty! I was barely able to put this book down to go attend a new year's party.
Most of us are aware that everyone's beloved oddball planet, Pluto, was demoted from being a full blown planet to something strange called "dwarf planet". Well the of author of this book, Mike, was to blame! He narrates the entire story from a very personal point of view. The story of the discovery of something bigger than Pluto is so closely entwined with the birth of his daughter. There is also some conspiracy about planet stealing to boot! Overall - highly recommended!(less)
This book presents a look into the enigmatic kingdom of Saudi Arabia. That too from the point of view of a woman. From my limited understanding of the...moreThis book presents a look into the enigmatic kingdom of Saudi Arabia. That too from the point of view of a woman. From my limited understanding of the kingdom before I read the book, women were the most oppressed. All these factors made me pick up and read the book. What's good about the book? Well, it deals with fascinating subject and is written in a engaging style.
What's bad? There were a couple of things I did not like about the book. Firstly - the editing. It was pretty bad at places. Secondly - some of the incidents in the book seemed too contrived - as if the occasions were tailor made for the author to make a point. It seemed unlikely to happen in real life.
Overall, I'd still rate it at 4 stars. Definitely something you should read if the subject interests you.(less)
A novel style page turner about the story of Thad Roberts, who stole moon rocks from NASA. What impressed me about it is the fast paced narration, tho...moreA novel style page turner about the story of Thad Roberts, who stole moon rocks from NASA. What impressed me about it is the fast paced narration, though it was sometimes cliched and cheap novel like. What I didn't like about it was that it was clearly written from a single point of view. The whole story looks a little one-dimensional.(less)
Most of the issues broached in this book wasn't very new to me. The reason for this is very easy to fathom: I'm a long time listener to the SETI insti...moreMost of the issues broached in this book wasn't very new to me. The reason for this is very easy to fathom: I'm a long time listener to the SETI institute podcast that Seth coshosts, "Big Picture Science" aka "Are we alone?". Nevertheless, I found this book very enjoyable. I like Seth's style and wit, but more importantly, the book is written in a engaging fashion about such interesting topics as the history and future of search for aliens in the context of modern astronomy and the current rapid march of technology. Of course, if you've picked up this book, you can be assumed to have an interest in SETI or astronomy in general. In such a case, this book can't be recommended highly enough.(less)
Having recently visited the land described in this book, I really enjoyed reading it. Bryson's dry wit and lucid prose agrees exceedingly well for the...moreHaving recently visited the land described in this book, I really enjoyed reading it. Bryson's dry wit and lucid prose agrees exceedingly well for the topic in question: the strangeness of the land down under. It's definitely not a travel guide nor is it meant to be a tome of reference. But if you take it for what it is - one man's account of what he saw in Australia, this is a magnificent book!(less)
Well, to paraphrase my review of the first book of this trilogy. Ask yourself this: would you have read this book if you replaced all the names of kno...moreWell, to paraphrase my review of the first book of this trilogy. Ask yourself this: would you have read this book if you replaced all the names of known Hindu gods with random non-descript names? This would truly evaluate the story as opposed to exploiting hindu mythology to best sellers. In my case the answer would be no. I'll say it again: missed opportunity by the author to create a masterpiece.(less)
Radical book about the health effects of non-vegan diets. It's a bit hard to swallow (no pun intended). I'm not a scientist, nor am I a nutritionist....moreRadical book about the health effects of non-vegan diets. It's a bit hard to swallow (no pun intended). I'm not a scientist, nor am I a nutritionist. But to a layman, the experiments involved seem to be too narrowly defined to warrant such broad extrapolations. The author seems to back his arguments up with lots of experiments but lab rodents are hardly the same as homo sapiens as critters go. There is other anecdotal evidences, but they are shaky by their very premise. Also, I would guess that there would be several hundred factors that differ between Caucasian cubicle dwellers and Chinese farmers and it'd probably be hard to separate the factors in a broad based study as opposed to a controlled experiment. Further to the point, a well known group of people in southern India who are sworn vegetarians (and whose animal protein or fat intake in the form of dairy in not that high) are in a high risk category for heart diseases, more so than a lot of other people who are far more carnivorous. Now, I'm not suggesting you draw any conclusions from this. It's just that it is possible that I'm confounding lots of factors in this statement that are not readily discernible. There are also other phenomena that go quite contrary to the premise of this book, such as the "Inuit paradox". Overall, while I'd not radically change my diet based on the advice in this book, although I give 4 stars for some very thought provoking ideas.(less)
That the book is a fascinating read that weaves mythological characters in a fast read or that I read it one sitting does not take away its many flaws...moreThat the book is a fascinating read that weaves mythological characters in a fast read or that I read it one sitting does not take away its many flaws. Use of words like Tibetan in the midst of other ancient names, use of free radicals as an explanation for aging or a metaphor that uses solar system all seem out of place and take away from the realism of the story. Some obvious Bollywood like clichéd moments made me cringe. My verdict - it's definitely an interesting read, but perhaps a missed opportunity for Amish to create a masterpiece. (less)
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