Task #13: Read a nonfiction book about technology.

[Lisa]

Elyse wrote: "Would Elon Musk: Inventing the Future count? This genre is not my forte. lol"

Yup! That's what I read for the challenge. It was readable and interesting and non-fiction is not my forte either.

[Bonnie G.]

Shawn wrote: "The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

I might use this one. Thanks!

Also considering [book:The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic ..."

Ooh, Poisoner's Handbook sounds great. Thanks!

[Jamie]

Would Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari count? I just started and he has so far talked mostly about how technology has changed dating/relationships over time.

[Stuart]

what do we think about "a history of the world in 12 maps?"

[Shawn]

This may be a bit of a stretch but I am going to read A Pirate of Exquisite Mind: Explorer, Naturalist, and Buccaneer: The Life of William Dampier.

[Kirsten]

Miss Leavitt's Stars: The Untold Story Of The Woman Who Discovered How To Measure The Universe by George Johnson

I read this book years ago and it's an exceptional story about the woman who figured out the red shift way to figure out how far stars were.

[Kate]

I mentioned Longitude earlier, but almost anything Dava Sobel would work.

[Steph]

Is work for this section, please ?

[Rainey]

Yes this one works. I was thinking of reading this one as well.

[Steph]

Cool ! Thanks !

I had issues to find a good one in french ;)

[Y_M_A]

Chris wrote: "I think I'm going to try The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future for this one."

That's a good one, Chris. I may do that one.

What about Thank You For Being Late. Does anyone think that one works for this task?

[Vani]

I'm thinking of reading The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan for this task and it has the added benefit of being suitable for Task #14:Read a book about war as well.

[Ashley]

I'm torn on if Awakenings by Oliver Sachs will fit this category or not. It's case histories of post-encephalitic patients and their "awakenings"/medical reactions/side affects after being administered L-DOPA. Thoughts?

[Elyse]

Ashley wrote: "I'm torn on if Awakenings by Oliver Sachs will fit this category or not. It's case histories of post-encephalitic patients and their "awakenings"/medical reactions/side affects after b..."

I'm not sure but it is an amazing book and movie!

[Bonnie G.]

Elyse wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I'm torn on if Awakenings by Oliver Sachs will fit this category or not. It's case histories of post-encephalitic patients and their "awakenings"/medical reactions/side ..."

I don't really see this as a book about technology. L-Dopa is a naturally occurring amino acid.

[Yrinsyde]

I've just started reading The Hidden Web: Finding Quality Information on the Net for this challenge. I feel like it's sort of cheating as I am a librarian and this is what I would read for work. Have realised that it is already outdated too! Hehehehehe

I was going to mention Ada Lovelace - that's a good pick. I've also got a book about Mendel and his experiments with peas that grew to be the science of genetics. But that might be a bit of a stretch ...

[Rosie]

Would this one count? It's about video games!

https://www.amazon.com/Tetris-Games-P...

[Ashley]

Bonnie wrote: "Elyse wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I'm torn on if Awakenings by Oliver Sachs will fit this category or not. It's case histories of post-encephalitic patients and their "awakenings"/medical r..."

Yeah, after conversations with several friends and getting further into the book myself, I agree that it doesn't count, although it's a fascinating science book. Technology? Nope. I was just hoping to use a book I was already reading, but now I just get to read another book!

[Renee]

I double dipped, again.I used Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. It's about the great Galveston Hurricane,and dealt.with what the beginnings oh our weather service. It flows like a novel

[Teresa]

I read Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary
Typhoid Mary was a real person. Can you imagine that moniker being how you are remembered by history?

It takes place mostly in New York state during the early 1900's. The Dept of Health, various doctors, and a civil/sanitation engineer use new microscopic technologies to find the bacteria in rivers, wells, ice cream, and other locations. Many old, new and experimental medical treatments were tried on Mary. Water filtration systems from European technologies were installed in numerous cities.

This book kept me engaged. The author skillfully showed the different perspectives of the government, the medical community, Mary, and the victims and their families.

[Elyse]

Teresa wrote: "I read Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary
Typhoid Mary was a real person. Can you imagine that moniker being how you are remembered by history?

It takes place mostly in New ..."

Such an interesting story. I read Fever a few years ago. It was really good.

[Megan]

Renee wrote: "I double dipped, again.I used Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. It's about the great Galveston Hurricane,and dealt.with what the beginnings oh our weather service. It flows like a novel"

I'm reading that now! It's amazing how human fallacy can cause so much trouble.

[Andy]

Chessa wrote: "Would Mary Roach's Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void work for this? Because I've been meaning read Mary Roach."I can't imagine how it wouldn't work.

[Jessica]

Jamie wrote: "Would Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari count? I just started and he has so far talked mostly about how technology has changed dating/relationships over time."

I think it would count. I might read it for this challenge too!

[Kerris]

Im currently reading This Will Change Everything: Ideas That Will Shape the Future, by John Brockman. A collection of short essays.

"What game-changing scientific ideas and developments do you expect to live to see?"
This is the question John Brockman, publisher of Edge.org, posed to more than 100 of the world's most influential minds.

1/4 of the way through and would recommend so far

[Veronica]

I don't remember where I stumbled upon this, but as I grew up in this part of New Mexico, Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb really appealed to me, so I chose it for this task. After reading the first two books in the March series, I was also interested to read another non-fiction graphic history. It's a pretty good overview of the science behind the atomic bomb, but it also delves into the ethics of this type of scientific advancement. I'd recommend it for most ages and it would be a particularly great read for kids learning about World War II. Full review here.

[Char]

I enjoy archaeology and am considering a book on clovis stone tools to complete this challenge. Stone tools are not technology as we generally think about it. Would a book like this fill the challenge?

[Chinook]

I totally think it would.

[Kirsten]

I agree with Chinook, Char. Clovis stone tools were CUTTING EDGE technology once upon a time. I would think it would be comparable to the development of the wheel. Clovis tools are one of the hinge points for discussing the social development of man.

[Nikki]

this might be a good option

[Teresa]

Char, I also agree. My book was about the technology used to find and control the Typhoid Mary outbreaks in the 1800's. At the time, it was brand new, untried technology.
Also, how awesome is it seeing the many different interests we each have in interpreting this task?

[Jenny]

Teresa...could you name the Typhoid Mary book please? Thanks...

[Teresa]

Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary

[Jenny]

Thanks very much Teresa...

[Teresa]

You're welcome. I'd like to hear your opinion if you read it.

[Jenny]

Will keep you posted Teresa...

[Chinook]

I decided to slot in Brave New World Revisited for this. It's not a perfect fit, so I may come back and read another book as well for this category.

[Jessica]

I read Modern Romance for this task. I love Aziz Ansari's humor, and enjoyed his research into modern technology and dating. As a married person who missed the window for online dating, it was a fascinating read for me.

[Elyse]

Jessica wrote: "I read Modern Romance for this task. I love Aziz Ansari's humor, and enjoyed his research into modern technology and dating. As a married person who missed the window for online dat..."

I'm certainly not upset I missed that window! lol

[Michelle]

I just finished Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space by Margot Lee Shetterly, although not for this challenge, and very much enjoyed it if anyone is looking for options in this category! I thought maybe I ruined the book by seeing the movie first since it's non fiction, but the movie only focuses on a small part of the book.

[Bonnie G.]

Michelle wrote: "I just finished Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation Into Space by Margot Lee Shetterly, although not for this challenge..."

Oh, that is good to know! If the book covers more I am in!

[Elizabeth]

I just finished Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other by Sherry Turkle. While the book contains a great deal of food for thought, overall I thought it was too long and somewhat nostalgic in its assessments of technology and the current state of human affairs.

[Laura]

I'm going to do Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars for this one!

[Yrinsyde]

I have almost finished reading The Hidden Web. I found it a bit of a slog to read as it isn't meant to be read cover to cover. The bulk of the resources listed a now defunct - that is the problem with this sort of book.

[Britany]

Finished by Margot Lee Shetterly-- 1 star

This one was just not for me.

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Marie]

I finished reading So You've Been Publicly Shamed - about the new face of public shaming, mostly through social media. It was terrific - funny and informative. It really made me think about the concept of shame - how it affects my life and how I might have inflicted it on others.

[Y_M_A]

Do you all think Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide To Thriving In The Age of Accelerations qualifies for this task?

Thank you!

[Thegirlintheafternoon]

For this task, I read an ARC of the book Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are. It was pretty interesting and also pretty broad, so if you're looking for an easy read in this category that emphasizes breadth versus depth, this could be a good pick for you!

[Kirsten]

I read Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime by Val McDermid for this one.

[Stina]

Kirsten *Make Margaret Atwood Fiction Again!" wrote: "I read Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime by Val McDermid for this one."

Oooh, that sounds interesting!