Mark Reynolds > Recent Status Updates

I'm not sure I like Gould's writing style. He's very erudite, but much of the time he's too erudite. It feels like he's showing off. There's no need to use a fancy word when a simple word will do. I'm a physicist, so I read a lot of technical writing, and most of it needs to be technical. Gould seems to be unable to write for a "normal" person and continues to write for his scientific colleagues.

Sack’s writing is clear and enlightening and a joy. I would like to read more of his work. The fact that he lived in LA and Venice and worked at UCLA makes him that much more intriguing. Also his work with l-dopa was very adventurous. I know that did not end up being the wonder drug for Parkinson’s that was hoped for. But his scientific integrity made sure that it’s advantages and disadvantages were clear.

Move by move explanation of each choice by both Black and White. To show the inexhaustibility of chess, Mednis claims that White has 5 “perfect” first moves, and Black has seven perfect replies to each of those moves, resulting in 35 different positions after just one move by each side. After just 4 moves by each side, there about one million good possibilities!

While I love listening to books on CD, depending on the reader of course, it’s frustrating when the CD from the library is in such poor shape that some tracks won’t play. I guess that means I need to get the actual book to read that section. 😢

My first book-of-the-month for the "Historical Fictionistas" group, and I'm liking it alot. There is so much battle and gore, but I suppose if you were with the "Great Heathen Army" as they conquered England in the 9th century, you would see lots of it. And the Danes' indifference to life is a little disturbing, but again, it was different times.