[9 Mar 2024] This was an interesting mono-history of the element phosphorus, which is very important to modern agriculture and our ability to feed the [9 Mar 2024] This was an interesting mono-history of the element phosphorus, which is very important to modern agriculture and our ability to feed the billions of people on earth. However, indiscriminate use has a couple times caused dangerous problems for the environment, specifically by enabling toxic algal blooms in critical waterways. The first time, in the mid 20th century, it was overused as an additive to laundry detergent, but the government was able to reduce that and mitigate the algae problem for a while. But not long after that it became one of the most important agricultural fertilizers and the algae problem resurfaced.
It's a short book and pretty well written. Filled with history about the development and production of phosphorus. There are also many stories of individual people involved in that history or impacted by the algal blooms. The final chapter describes some of the ongoing efforts to reverse the dangerous phosphate pollution of our waterways. The primary method appears to be replacing the industrial mining of phosphorus from rocks with processed human waste. The author seems to be confident that this will be effective to prevent our running out of phosphorus any time soon, but he doesn't mention how it will affect the issue of runoff. It's an interesting book and worth reading, but I think maybe a little too short and missing some depth....more
[19 Jan 2024] This book claims that many of the features of humans that distinguish us from other species evolved in order to meet the needs of the fem[19 Jan 2024] This book claims that many of the features of humans that distinguish us from other species evolved in order to meet the needs of the female body. I don't have the ability to judge the accuracy of these claims, but most of it seems to make sense to me.
Bohannon is not a scientist. She's an author. And this is her first book, though she has apparently written a lot of articles for a variety of publications. Again I'm not able to judge her qualifications but she does write well. Clearly. Understandably. With humor and occasional snark. The only time I could not fully follow her arguments was in her discussion of how we changed from a matrilineal species to a patriarchy. I found that confusing, but it was a small part of the last chapter.
Her arguments do seem to be supported by a lot of scientific evidence that she references often. Until the last chapter where she discusses love, sex, monogamy, and sexism. All interesting topics, but her discussion seems to be primarily opinion and speculation, and emotion, rather than based on concrete evidence. I have no problem agreeing with her conclusions, but again that's opinion and emotion on my part. And it's a little unfortunate that she stoops to that level when the rest of the book seems so solid scientifically.
However, it's still a very interesting book. Worthy of discussion. And I recommend it....more
[6 Aug 2023] Sherrod Brown, a current Senator from Ohio, provides short biographies of eight progressive Senators who all sat at Desk 88 as Brown does.[6 Aug 2023] Sherrod Brown, a current Senator from Ohio, provides short biographies of eight progressive Senators who all sat at Desk 88 as Brown does. He focuses on their accomplishments while they served but usually includes a brief overview of the whole of their careers. I don't have the knowledge to judge his historiography, but it seems to be based largely on other books about these people, as well as a lot of timely media reports. In addition, he includes many anecdotes based on personal conversations he has had with these Senators and, more often, others who knew them.
In between the bios, Brown includes brief discussions of current progressive politics.
This is obviously a political book, but it's not an attack piece. Brown is unapologetically liberal and this book explains most of his political opinions. Since I share his bias, I enjoyed the book, but I think others could also benefit from reading it with an open mind. ...more
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