I took a break from The Black Swan to read The Men Who Stare At Goats. A great read, which manages to be both hilarious and disturbing, and difficult to put down.
The book investigates stories of military research to develop a new type of "psychic warrior" who were capable of various supernatural feats. The title comes from a persistent rumor that one of these men demonstrated the ability to kill a goat by simply looking at it.
In trying to verify this story, the author meets with psychics, Special Forces operatives, and martial artists. His story takes him from Special Forces training to detainee interrogations at Gitmo, and even into the CIA MK-ULTRA experiments with LSD and mind control.
A highly entertaining account and a fascinating look into the world of secret military research.
Showing posts with label recommended reads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recommended reads. Show all posts
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
973: Wreckage
In The wrecking crew : how conservatives rule, Thomas Frank examines the new conservative movement that has risen to dominance in the Republican party over the last forty years.
Frank's thesis is simple: the new conservatives despise government, and seek to destroy it. They see themselves as outsiders, as rebels, as, dare I say it, mavericks. John McCain's position that he is running against the government in which he serves is nothing new.
Accordingly, when they gain control of government, they wreck it. They appoint industry insiders to regulatory groups and systematically drive out any civil servants that disagree with their beliefs. They deregulate and let businesses runs wild. And when it all comes crashing down, when businesses fail and must be bailed out, and rampant corruption sends politicians to jail, the conservatives see it as vindication. "See! We told you! Government just doesn't work! Look at how it corrupts everyone who goes there!"
The book is extremely well written. Frank admirably succeeds at keeping the tone positive and fun. He clearly disagrees with the conservative movement he is blasting, but he avoids turning the book into a vitriolic screed.
Frank's thesis is simple: the new conservatives despise government, and seek to destroy it. They see themselves as outsiders, as rebels, as, dare I say it, mavericks. John McCain's position that he is running against the government in which he serves is nothing new.
Accordingly, when they gain control of government, they wreck it. They appoint industry insiders to regulatory groups and systematically drive out any civil servants that disagree with their beliefs. They deregulate and let businesses runs wild. And when it all comes crashing down, when businesses fail and must be bailed out, and rampant corruption sends politicians to jail, the conservatives see it as vindication. "See! We told you! Government just doesn't work! Look at how it corrupts everyone who goes there!"
The book is extremely well written. Frank admirably succeeds at keeping the tone positive and fun. He clearly disagrees with the conservative movement he is blasting, but he avoids turning the book into a vitriolic screed.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
200: In the beginning
The great transformation : the beginning of our religious traditions, by Karen Armstrong, examines the growth of religious practices in four regions of Europe and Asia: Greece, Israel, India, and China.
The book is dense, and no wonder. She's moving through 1000 years of history, philosophy, religion, and cultural anthropology for four separate regions of the world. But the book is so well-written that it makes it very accessible. This is a book that is simply overflowing with information, and I learned something new on every page.
It makes for a fascinating read. The last chapter is absolutely fantastic, and pulls it all together, and puts it in context for the modern age.
The book is dense, and no wonder. She's moving through 1000 years of history, philosophy, religion, and cultural anthropology for four separate regions of the world. But the book is so well-written that it makes it very accessible. This is a book that is simply overflowing with information, and I learned something new on every page.
It makes for a fascinating read. The last chapter is absolutely fantastic, and pulls it all together, and puts it in context for the modern age.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
423: Murder and the OED
The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester tells the story of the making of the Oxford English Dictionary, perhaps the greatest reference work ever written on the English language. Wrapped around the story of the dictionary is the odd story of two men who were significantly involved in the project.
Professor James Murray was a scholar and linguist, and was selected by the Delegates of the Oxford University Press to take over the troubled OED project after the first attempt stalled under its own weight. He was given 10 years to complete the dictionary; it would ultimately take more than half a century, and he would die before the OED was finished.
Dr William Minor, an American Civil War veteran and surgeon, submitted more than ten thousand definitions, many of which were used in the final publication. He was also a murderer, and an inmate at an insane asylum.
The book succeeds in capturing the immensity of the task of creating a dictionary that defines every word in the English language, from everyday words like of to the obscure, regional or obsolete, such as the old Kentish word zykt (a local variant of the verb to see). The OED defined more than 400,000 words, using 1.8 million quotations to illustrate the correct usage of each.
The author slices through the myth and legend that has grown up around this story to find the true story, which is even stranger than the fiction. A highly recommended, very entertaining book.
Professor James Murray was a scholar and linguist, and was selected by the Delegates of the Oxford University Press to take over the troubled OED project after the first attempt stalled under its own weight. He was given 10 years to complete the dictionary; it would ultimately take more than half a century, and he would die before the OED was finished.
Dr William Minor, an American Civil War veteran and surgeon, submitted more than ten thousand definitions, many of which were used in the final publication. He was also a murderer, and an inmate at an insane asylum.
The book succeeds in capturing the immensity of the task of creating a dictionary that defines every word in the English language, from everyday words like of to the obscure, regional or obsolete, such as the old Kentish word zykt (a local variant of the verb to see). The OED defined more than 400,000 words, using 1.8 million quotations to illustrate the correct usage of each.
The author slices through the myth and legend that has grown up around this story to find the true story, which is even stranger than the fiction. A highly recommended, very entertaining book.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
612: Balance
Balance : in search of the lost sense by Scott McCredie has been a quick, enjoyable read. The book explains the vestibular system, how proprioception works, and the importance of balance in everyday life. The author explores the evolution and origin of balance, and how it provided an evolutionary advantage for primitive man.
Along the way, the author discusses balance in a very wide range of topics, from Van Gogh's ear to circus acrobats and even a possible explanation for the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. The writing is clear and informative, and the chapters are well organized.
The author has carefully documented his writing with actual studies and discussions with researchers in the field. Where the claims are more speculative, such as the possible links of the vestibular system with cognition and memory, he makes it very clear that it's just a theory, and a disputed one at that.
A fascinating read, and one that will benefit everyone from athletes to the elderly. Highly recommended.
Along the way, the author discusses balance in a very wide range of topics, from Van Gogh's ear to circus acrobats and even a possible explanation for the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. The writing is clear and informative, and the chapters are well organized.
The author has carefully documented his writing with actual studies and discussions with researchers in the field. Where the claims are more speculative, such as the possible links of the vestibular system with cognition and memory, he makes it very clear that it's just a theory, and a disputed one at that.
A fascinating read, and one that will benefit everyone from athletes to the elderly. Highly recommended.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
