David’s Comments (group member since Dec 13, 2009)

David’s comments from the Science and Inquiry group.

I enjoyed this book very much. The book is twenty years old now, and considerably out of date with all the recent scientific progress. Nevertheless, it is fascinating, and probably worth reading. Here is my review.

Kim wrote: "Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3..."

Kim, please read message #4 above.

I listened to the audiobook version and I think it is wonderful! It is filled with stories that make the concepts come to life. Here is my review.

Pedro wrote: ""Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character"

That was our book of the month during November, 2012.

I am reminded by this discussion, of a recent book I read, titled Red November: Inside the Secret U.S.-Soviet Submarine War. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Soviets sent four diesel submarines that surrounded Cuba. Each of the submarines carried a nuclear-tipped torpedo. The captains had orders to fire these torpedoes under certain circumstances. And because the submarines were being hounded non-stop by the American Navy, those circumstances did arise. Independently, on each of the submarines (which had no communications among themselves) they were within a minute of launching their torpedoes. Luckily the Soviet officers had cooler heads, and even though they were under intense pressure, they did not give the order to fire. We were very close to a nuclear war.

Nancy wrote: "... Yes, I loved that quote too! By the way, there was a quote late in the book from a "scholarly contribution to the world's most pressing challenge:
'Glaciers, Gender and Science: A Feminist Glaciology Framework for Global Environmental Change Research ...."

Yes, there are some amazing people out there!

I read this book last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is my seventh book that I have read by Pinker. My favorite quote from the book:
"In 1976, Mao single-handedly and dramatically changed the direction of global poverty with one simple act: he died."
Here is my review of the book.

I remember that moment so clearly. That day my sister and I had gone sailing with my aunt and uncle. We came home, and watched the event on a small black-and-white TV set in the kitchen. The very same TV set that we used to watch the Watergate hearings!

Welcome to our group, Darrin! I see you've been reading a lot of interesting science books!

I just finished the book. It is so long--but quite enjoyable due to Carl Zimmer's ability to tell interesting stories which he sprinkles liberally throughout the book. Here is my review.

I recently finished reading Paleofantasy: What Evolution Really Tells Us about Sex, Diet, and How We Live by Marlene Zuk. The book explains why there is no need to mimic the diets of prehistoric hunter-gatherers by eating lots of meat. They probably ate mostly plant food, occasionally supplemented with meat, and in addition, humans have actually evolved since the agricultural revolution. Here is my review.

Anoop wrote: "Little Science, Big Science... and Beyond

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4..."

I don't think that this book is generally available. (My local library does not carry it, and the price at Amazon is not in my price bracket.)

Peter wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3..."

Through Two Doors at Once: The Elegant Experiment That Captures the Enigma of Our Quantum Reality

Welcome to our group, Shira. Please feel free to tell us about your research, and good books you have read recently.

I am also about halfway through the book. It is a long book, and I am enjoying it.

JZ wrote: "I still largely just lurk here, because I'm not a scientist and I came in on way too much talk about the Atom Bomb and physics, from my point of view. But, I like to watch.

It has struck my while ..."

JZ, thanks for your post! Please do not feel intimidated because you are not a scientist. You have an inquiring mind, and that's all that matters.

And, please don't just lurk--please post on whatever related topic comes to mind.

Other Minds is an excellent book, but we read it in September, 2018.

The book by John Carreyou looks very interesting, but it doesn't fit into the theme of Science and Inquiry.

We already read The Invention of Nature in May, 2016.

Try bookbub.com -- they seem to have deals on certain books. You select book categories, and when there are good deals on those categories, they show up on the front web page. Most of the books there are $2 or $3. Of course, the selection of good deals is limited.