The hitchhicker's guide to the galaxy aka "the guide". One of those books that is brilliant and life-altering and a gateway to new friends in highscho...moreThe hitchhicker's guide to the galaxy aka "the guide". One of those books that is brilliant and life-altering and a gateway to new friends in highschool or college and a little lame sounding when you read it later. Eminently quotable, highly enjoyable and who can't like a trilogy in five parts? POssibly better written are the long dark teatime of the soul because the author was not hopped up on drugs.
A great little history about the english East India Company whose brave entrepeneurs & captains faces such bad odds from pesky things like the dut...moreA great little history about the english East India Company whose brave entrepeneurs & captains faces such bad odds from pesky things like the dutch, the weather, the dutch, their own incompetance, more Dutch and did we mention the Dutch. Strangely this historian comletely writes still from the english perspective and I was astonished to see a whole chapter on a 3 ship enlish expedition and then an offhand remark that in the same time 65 Dutch ships were dispatched to find/trade with the indies.
So as a historical academic work is patently crap, single-sided and not too well researched. Still this was highly amusing t hold against...say... my Dutch history book from highschool and see that nationalistic perspectives still very much prevail.
Wonder what the natives thought of all this....(less)
Good mantra. Simple and something I can get behind....now only if we can start a revolution with this as a...moreEat food*, not too much, mostly vegetables.
Good mantra. Simple and something I can get behind....now only if we can start a revolution with this as a slogan...
Hard to judge this book apart from the whole controversy. Then again how accurate can the memoirs of a druggie be anyway? It conveys the feel of a dru...moreHard to judge this book apart from the whole controversy. Then again how accurate can the memoirs of a druggie be anyway? It conveys the feel of a drugs habit very well so you can read it as some type of essential truth book.(less)
This is an excellent book. It demystifies the '300' at thermopylae. Tehy have become so much the soldiers of lore and story that reading about them as...moreThis is an excellent book. It demystifies the '300' at thermopylae. Tehy have become so much the soldiers of lore and story that reading about them as just people hanging on by their fingernails is a very good. It makes the story even better if possible. (less)
So I'm a scientist struggling (like we all are) to write clearly and succinctly. This books tackles everything that one needs to write well and gives...moreSo I'm a scientist struggling (like we all are) to write clearly and succinctly. This books tackles everything that one needs to write well and gives examples how to do so. Not one-liners that should fit all but good advice. Written with humor. (less)
For me this book was life-altering (like books are in highschool, they're also never the books your english teacher recommended). Combined with a visi...moreFor me this book was life-altering (like books are in highschool, they're also never the books your english teacher recommended). Combined with a visit to the campus, this book convinced me to go into astronomy. It's been a bumpy and interesting ride ever since. Well written, well paced and scientifically accurate. Not many writers manage all three...(less)
I did not see the twist in the story coming until the very end. Must have been the only reader that didn't expect something. Started it expecting some...moreI did not see the twist in the story coming until the very end. Must have been the only reader that didn't expect something. Started it expecting something sciency about the number PI, got into the trippy story and then had my mind blown about the implications.(less)
Very quotable and very enjoable. Sometimes spot on or at least very funny. Historically a bit shaky but as soon as you've accpeted it a s fiction -whi...moreVery quotable and very enjoable. Sometimes spot on or at least very funny. Historically a bit shaky but as soon as you've accpeted it a s fiction -which it is- it is a great read. Only non-textbook with a mathematical function in it...(less)