Mick West has far more patience than I do for those trapped in the conspiracy rabbit holes. I've had to end several friendships because of endless conMick West has far more patience than I do for those trapped in the conspiracy rabbit holes. I've had to end several friendships because of endless conspiracy nonsense, in additional to general bad behavior. A big point of this book is that it takes time, potentially huge amounts of time. I've found it necessary to do some kind of triage to determine who is worth spending on time, and who isn't because I have limited time, just like anyone else. I'm glad there are people like West out there fighting the good fight. I just have to pick my battles....more
This book delivers pretty much everything I like from a general-interest popular science book. Clear explanations of scientific concepts, in this caseThis book delivers pretty much everything I like from a general-interest popular science book. Clear explanations of scientific concepts, in this case about physics, and how those ideas connect to impact peoples' lives. I thought the organization of the book was done very well, and liked how Czerski tied disparate threads together. I particularly liked the explanation of how snails use their slime for moving around, and for navigating seemingly impossible routes, all due to the physics of mucus which behaves like a solid or a liquid depending on the forces acting upon it. This book was packed full of fascinating departures into subjects that might not seem at first to have anything to do with physics, but time and again the author demonstrated how an understanding of science enriches the amazing beauty of the world. the final chapter taking perspective from three different levels of viewpoint was an excellent way to close the book....more
Mary Beard has a way of bringing the stories of ancient Rome to life. If that were all, this would just be a 4 star book for me, but on top of that, sMary Beard has a way of bringing the stories of ancient Rome to life. If that were all, this would just be a 4 star book for me, but on top of that, she goes into depth about a related topic that interests me, how do we know what we know. This isn't just a presentation of the facts, but includes details about how evidence is gathered, curated, and interpreted. She covers the conflicting ideas, and explains their likelihood relative to each other. She details the limits of our knowledge, and uncovers the inherent biases generated by the fact the rich left more long-lasting evidence of their existence than did the poor. Even if I don't remember all the details of the history itself, I feel a much deeper understanding because of the power of Beard's approach, and the clarity of her writing....more
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