Solid book/online course about cats; the most interesting parts (if you're already familiar with cats) is some of the research and science about cat-cSolid book/online course about cats; the most interesting parts (if you're already familiar with cats) is some of the research and science about cat-cat social interactions, studies of cat vs dog behavior, etc. Well-presented. (Free from Audible, too.)...more
(3.5) I was interested in the engineering and history of highways and interstates, but this focused a lot more on people, politics, and (toward the en(3.5) I was interested in the engineering and history of highways and interstates, but this focused a lot more on people, politics, and (toward the end) racial, environmental/mass transit, and urban-planning issues. I guess those are valid concerns, but not really interesting to me.
There were a few good stories in here, but it's so long...but transport infrastructure is important, and this seems to be well researched. I would have preferred a bit tighter editing and a more clear message, but still good....more
The core arguments of the book are solid, but it suffers from the standard advocacy book/popular nonfiction book problem: filler.
Solid analysis of gloThe core arguments of the book are solid, but it suffers from the standard advocacy book/popular nonfiction book problem: filler.
Solid analysis of global security situation facing the US/West, as well as how potential adversaries view the US -- essentially that the world changed around 2003 and we no longer were unrivaled hyperpower. Adversaries co-evolve, both the low end terrorist derived threats and the high end near-peer adversaries. The high-cost, low-casualty forces we have used for wars of occupation don't seem sustainable. In general, he argues for being much more selective in what wars we engage in, more cost-effective platforms, and better selected interventions....more
Good short story about climate change (surprisingly rare, usually preachy) and plausible consequences, the evolution of society, and just generally exGood short story about climate change (surprisingly rare, usually preachy) and plausible consequences, the evolution of society, and just generally excellent characters and writing....more
I read this book because the "Red Scare" podcast brought it up, and there was a question of if it was true or fiction (or somewhere in between). FooliI read this book because the "Red Scare" podcast brought it up, and there was a question of if it was true or fiction (or somewhere in between). Foolishly, I read/listened to it, thinking I could figure out the answer.
It's a horrifying tale-or-account of decades of sexual abuse of a girl by her father. Physical acts but also psychological manipulation and her response, and then her ongoing activities in life.
Ultimately, no idea where it falls on the truth vs fiction spectrum. It is utterly horrifying either way....more
Notes from a well-respected historian who took her own trips to China at the beginning of her career (in the 1930s) and then in the 1970s (on the firsNotes from a well-respected historian who took her own trips to China at the beginning of her career (in the 1930s) and then in the 1970s (on the first trip where Americans could visit again). Does a great job of putting the trip in historical context. The focus on how the Chinese Civil War and resolution of WW2 could have gone differently if different decisions had been made, the specific personnel involved, and why it's unlikely even with different personnel different decisions would have been made, as very insightful....more
Unbiased general overview of nuclear weapons. Nothing particularly novel or interesting if you've read much about the topic, and some of the more "opiUnbiased general overview of nuclear weapons. Nothing particularly novel or interesting if you've read much about the topic, and some of the more "opinionated" books like Command and Control are far more interesting, while still largely covering the basics incidentally. Still, this would be a good quick introduction for someone with little knowledge of the topic....more
Short summary of a part of 1930s US history which is mostly forgotten -- the pro-German and anti-semitic violence, along with Jewish mafia violence, oShort summary of a part of 1930s US history which is mostly forgotten -- the pro-German and anti-semitic violence, along with Jewish mafia violence, of the immediate prewar period. This book was about a local mafia/gangster and former boxer who basically engaged in illegal violence, largely opposed by the mainstream Jewish community, against German-American organizations which were often either thinly veiled or unveiled fronts for pro-Nazi organization (which were ironically disclaimed and disavowed by Hitler).
What's amazing is how thoroughly all of this has been scrubbed from mainstream history during and immediately after WW2 by all parties; it was to no one's benefit to show that pre-war, the US wasn't uniformly anti-Nazi....more
This is a history book, part of the Drama of American History series, mostly designed for teenagers. I was curious how neutral and informative it woulThis is a history book, part of the Drama of American History series, mostly designed for teenagers. I was curious how neutral and informative it would be, so I chose something I'd previously read a fair bit about. Overall -- it's a clearly presented, broadly neutral, and generally good history, and I believe the other books in the series are likely good as well....more
I didn't realize this was an intended-for-children book. It's sort of a riff on the Ender's Game model but missing everything interesting about that sI didn't realize this was an intended-for-children book. It's sort of a riff on the Ender's Game model but missing everything interesting about that story (morality, combat, character development, ...). This one also has various "modern" updates on childhood which I wouldn't consider particularly positive, and has a very abrupt ending. There were individual elements (even in a short story) which could potentially be good, but overall it just wasn't and didn't go anywhere. The audiobook (with an actual cast/production, more of an audio performance) was good, and better than the underlying story....more
More like 4.5/5. This is a good exploration of mortality and freedom in the context of the sci fi "generation ship" model -- the one lone awake-for-25More like 4.5/5. This is a good exploration of mortality and freedom in the context of the sci fi "generation ship" model -- the one lone awake-for-25-years man on board as he gets close to the end of his shift....more
This worked really well as a short story -- a post-apocalyptic world run by the Mormons, and a tale around morality and justice. The brief remarks aboThis worked really well as a short story -- a post-apocalyptic world run by the Mormons, and a tale around morality and justice. The brief remarks about the world itself were more interesting than the core story (I really like post-apocalyptic fiction); I wish it were expanded into a series of stories or a novel....more
An adequate short story but not what I’d expect from Greg Egan. Logically consistent plot twist was telegraphed hard the whole time, and none of the cAn adequate short story but not what I’d expect from Greg Egan. Logically consistent plot twist was telegraphed hard the whole time, and none of the characters were particularly compelling. I wish PKD had written this story, would have actually been entertaining.
Merged review:
An adequate short story but not what I’d expect from Greg Egan. Logically consistent plot twist was telegraphed hard the whole time, and none of the characters were particularly compelling. I wish PKD had written this story, would have actually been entertaining....more
This is probably more a 4.5 than a 5, but I like realistic nuclear war/survival novels, it's short (novella length), and generally well executed, so rThis is probably more a 4.5 than a 5, but I like realistic nuclear war/survival novels, it's short (novella length), and generally well executed, so rounding up.
The story of nuclear war survival in Southern California in a near-future limited strike. Does a little bit of the "how to, wrapped in a story" of "prepper" genre, but not too badly, and it's both a good story and some good information. Decent characters, plausible and interesting.
The audiobook version is machine-narrated; mostly good, although not as good as a good human reader, but better than a bad human reader....more
I'm very interested in the topic (nuclear war), but this is probably the least interesting or useful book about the topic -- "Command and Control: NucI'm very interested in the topic (nuclear war), but this is probably the least interesting or useful book about the topic -- "Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety" by Eric Schlosser is far better, and Ellsberg (yes, that one)'s Doomsday Machine is better as well. On specific topics, Badash's "A Nuclear Winter's Tale", etc. Still, it was a decent overview.
This was basically a summary of other sources and a single scenario, a scenario with several less than likely (but still plausible) elements. It shows how small mistakes can cascade, but if the generalization people take away from it is "all-out nuclear war is inevitable", it's not accurate. It also doesn't take into account the broad peace plausibly provided by nuclear weapons from 1945 to now (no WW3, yet), doubles down on the nuclear winter hypothesis....more
Ugh. I read this book because I'd seen the Gary Plauche video (famous on the Internet: the father who shot dead his son Jody's rapist in police custodUgh. I read this book because I'd seen the Gary Plauche video (famous on the Internet: the father who shot dead his son Jody's rapist in police custody at the airport) and wanted more information about the story. I don't know what I was expecting -- horrible things are, indeed, horrible, but this was a well-written book and piece of advocacy.
Jody goes into a bunch of information about child sexual abuse (from both the victim's perspective and what parents should do to prevent/detect/respond). Obviously very unpleasant to listen to, but informative. Also he seems surprisingly well adjusted as an adult (and the very mundane/practical details of his story before/during/after the abuse were shocking by how normal they were; things which seemed like they should be very significant weren't, and other things were.)
This is probably worth reading, particularly if you have children, but it's not going to be pleasant.
Useful takeaways: 1) "If someone touches my children, I'll kill the rapist" professions in advance can actually deter children from reporting abuse, since the abusers often groom/etc. the children. Jody, for instance, denied the abuse for days after the rapist was arrested, because he didn't want the rapist to become aware he'd betrayed him (!!!), only changing his story once physical evidence was presented. 2) (well known, but bears repeating) most offenders are known to the child/family, not stranger abduction 3) Victims are usually selected because of vulnerability (broken home, etc.) 4) even horrible things can be overcome (Jody, for instance, thinks abuse would be less damaging than losing a limb, years later). Lots of studies show people adjust to major objective setbacks far more successfully than they'd predict in advance 5) Children are often groomed by getting them to break the law/rules in some way first (sharing alcohol/drugs, etc.), so they're less likely to report any subsequent assault 6) Sexual assault, especially of boys, is particularly underreported ...more
As someone who both develops and uses secure computing platforms like privacy-focused cellphones, this was an amazing story -- information about multiAs someone who both develops and uses secure computing platforms like privacy-focused cellphones, this was an amazing story -- information about multiple law enforcement agencies going after niche secure phone networks (Phantom Secure, based on BlackBerry) and the huge sting where law enforcement largely ran a honeytrap secure cellphone (Anom, based on a fork of Android).
This book describes the technical and especially user and law enforcement landscape around these devices and the sting operation which ensued. It raises many legal issues (especially in the US, which actually has meaningful free speech protections, unlike most of the other nations involved), and many of these are still unresolved....more
This was pretty good as "speculative fiction", in that it literally took the premise ("What if Santa Were Real?") and gave a plausible story/descriptiThis was pretty good as "speculative fiction", in that it literally took the premise ("What if Santa Were Real?") and gave a plausible story/description on that basis. It managed to be a good story, not overly cheesy, somewhat inspirational, etc. despite having a fairly silly premise -- clearly a very good author. Enjoyable as a long-ish short story. The audiobook uses virtual voice, which isn't as good as human narrator (yet), but is surprisingly decent; better than the bottom 20% of human narrators....more
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