I saw an author talking about his book on Book TV. It sounds fascinating and one that people on AVC might like. It’s called The Violinist’s Thumb, with the subtitle: And Other Tales of Love, War anHd Genius as Written by our Genetic Code, by Sam Kean, a physicist.
From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes more incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as told by our own DNA.
In The Disappearing Spoon, bestselling author Sam Kean unlocked the mysteries of the periodic table. In THE VIOLINIST’S THUMB, he explores the wonders of the magical building block of life: DNA.
There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, why other people have no fingerprints, and why some people survive nuclear bombs. Genes illuminate everything from JFK’s bronze skin (it wasn’t a tan) to Einstein’s genius. They prove that Neanderthals and humans bred thousands of years more recently than any of us would feel comfortable thinking. They can even allow some people, because of the exceptional flexibility of their thumbs and fingers, to become truly singular violinists.
Kean’s vibrant storytelling once again makes science entertaining, explaining human history and whimsy while showing how DNA will influence our species’ future.
I notice that the Book TV segment where Sam Kean, author of The Violinist’s Thumb, speaks about his book should be on again at 9PM Pacific Time, today, May 18th, on CSPAN 2, though it’s hard to say exactly when he’ll be on since it says this segment will be on from 9 PM to 5 AM! (Someone on the channel said it would be on at midnight, whatever that means in terms of time zones). Worth seeing, though, if you can catch it. It’s on the segment filmed at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.
Lois
I just finished that book. Not my normal reading but my dad sent it to me. It’s broken into several different stories of history, and science.
Kind of reads like a cross between Ripley’s Believe it or Not and a History textbook.
For me personally, it was ok…I found myself skimming in places. It’s that kind of book…It doesn’t have to be read from front to back.
I’d give it a 3 out of 5.
I just finished listening to a very interesting audiobook. Not sure if I liked t so much because it hit on two key interests of mine ( space flight and figuring out how to fix things and solve problems) but I thought I would post it here. Its called “The Martian” by Andy Weir. Without giving too much away its a story about an astronaut who gets left behind on the third Mars mission and how he uses his head plus the available tools and materials to stay alive.
Its not so much a science fiction novel as it is a science “what if” since most of the technology discussed is stuff we already have. Its like a cross between Survivorman, Apollo 13, and Macgyver ( OK there’s a little nepotism there) on steroids.
What’s really fun about this book is that they don’t just show you the solution they show you how he works through it right down to the calculations and the science behind his ingenious solutions but with a sense of humor that makes you forget the drudgery of the brief number crunching. If you’re not into the math you can tune out for the 30 seconds it takes to go over it and not miss anything but for those who find it interesting its there.
I found it very educational ( should I ever land on Mars) and entertaining at the same time. Its demonstrates that no matter how much you plan you can’t anticipate every possible problem but if you recognize that fact you can prepare for failures in a way that allows you the chance to survive them. Cool stuff.
I enjoy most of what we call “science fiction”, but I think that we should call most of it “science fantasy”’ as it is generally, based on projections of what we might know or what could happen too far out into the future. Fiction that is based on what we do know now and on current cutting edge technology, IMO, could more correctly be called “science fiction”. I certainly wouldn’t mind if this part of the genre became more popular and prevalent.
I just finished listening to a very interesting audiobook. Not sure if I liked t so much because it hit on two key interests of mine ( space flight and figuring out how to fix things and solve problems) but I thought I would post it here. Its called "The Martian" by Andy Weir. Without giving too much away its a story about an astronaut who gets left behind on the third Mars mission and how he uses his head plus the available tools and materials to stay alive.
Its not so much a science fiction novel as it is a science "what if" since most of the technology discussed is stuff we already have. Its like a cross between Survivorman, Apollo 13, and Macgyver ( OK there's a little nepotism there) on steroids.
What's really fun about this book is that they don't just show you the solution they show you how he works through it right down to the calculations and the science behind his ingenious solutions but with a sense of humor that makes you forget the drudgery of the brief number crunching. If you're not into the math you can tune out for the 30 seconds it takes to go over it and not miss anything but for those who find it interesting its there.
I found it very educational ( should I ever land on Mars) and entertaining at the same time. Its demonstrates that no matter how much you plan you can't anticipate every possible problem but if you recognize that fact you can prepare for failures in a way that allows you the chance to survive them. Cool stuff.
I just finished this book, and its the bee's knees, IMHO. Reads like early Heinlein, only with more swearing, but that only adds to the realism, since if you're in that kind of situation, you're probably going to be doing a lot of swearing. A dead tree version is due out next year, for those who might be interested in reading it. Hopefully, someone like Christopher Nolan will pick up the film rights and turn it into a decent movie.
I just finished listening to a very interesting audiobook. Not sure if I liked t so much because it hit on two key interests of mine ( space flight and figuring out how to fix things and solve problems) but I thought I would post it here. Its called "The Martian" by Andy Weir. Without giving too much away its a story about an astronaut who gets left behind on the third Mars mission and how he uses his head plus the available tools and materials to stay alive.
Its not so much a science fiction novel as it is a science "what if" since most of the technology discussed is stuff we already have. Its like a cross between Survivorman, Apollo 13, and Macgyver ( OK there's a little nepotism there) on steroids.
What's really fun about this book is that they don't just show you the solution they show you how he works through it right down to the calculations and the science behind his ingenious solutions but with a sense of humor that makes you forget the drudgery of the brief number crunching. If you're not into the math you can tune out for the 30 seconds it takes to go over it and not miss anything but for those who find it interesting its there.
I found it very educational ( should I ever land on Mars) and entertaining at the same time. Its demonstrates that no matter how much you plan you can't anticipate every possible problem but if you recognize that fact you can prepare for failures in a way that allows you the chance to survive them. Cool stuff.
The Violinist’s Thumb sounds interesting, Lois. It also sounds as if it vaidates much of what George has been saying about the power of genetics on our behavior as well as structure for quite a while.
Occam
I just finished listening to a very interesting audiobook. Not sure if I liked t so much because it hit on two key interests of mine ( space flight and figuring out how to fix things and solve problems) but I thought I would post it here. Its called "The Martian" by Andy Weir. Without giving too much away its a story about an astronaut who gets left behind on the third Mars mission and how he uses his head plus the available tools and materials to stay alive.
Its not so much a science fiction novel as it is a science "what if" since most of the technology discussed is stuff we already have. Its like a cross between Survivorman, Apollo 13, and Macgyver ( OK there's a little nepotism there) on steroids.
What's really fun about this book is that they don't just show you the solution they show you how he works through it right down to the calculations and the science behind his ingenious solutions but with a sense of humor that makes you forget the drudgery of the brief number crunching. If you're not into the math you can tune out for the 30 seconds it takes to go over it and not miss anything but for those who find it interesting its there.
I found it very educational ( should I ever land on Mars) and entertaining at the same time. Its demonstrates that no matter how much you plan you can't anticipate every possible problem but if you recognize that fact you can prepare for failures in a way that allows you the chance to survive them. Cool stuff.
[Professor Farnsworth] Good news, everyone! Ridley Scott's interested in directing! [/PF]] (Those of you familiar with Futurama will know that whenever the Professor says, "Good news!" there's always a catch. In this case, the catch is that he wants Matt Damon to star in the film.)
That's great assuming the "catch" doesn't get in the way of healing. Where did you see the news?
Thanks for the link CT. I’m looking forward to this. I just hope they don’t water down the science so much as to make the whole thing a silly adventure movie. Watney’s ingenuity and his command of the basic scientific principals are what made the book great.
I just finished this fascinating read on the leading edge thoughts in cosmology.
THE COSMIC COCKTAIL
Freese, Katherine (2014-05-04). The Cosmic Cocktail: Three Parts Dark Matter (Science Essentials). Princeton University Press. Kindle Edition.
An interesting read for those of you who follow such stuff
I have to be pretty Picky about what I buy, limited funds being an impediment, but this one sounds interesting CC. I'm definitely going to add it to my Kindle. I read a few reviews and an excerpt and liked what I saw, also checked out Hazen's bio. Impressive. Thanks for the tip.
Cap't Jack
I have to be pretty Picky about what I buy, limited funds being an impediment, but this one sounds interesting CC. I'm definitely going to add it to my Kindle. I read a few reviews and an excerpt and liked what I saw, also checked out Hazen's bio. Impressive. Thanks for the tip.
Me too. That's why I've become a regular at the library. :cheese:
Take care,
Derek
My problem with the local libraries, and I can visit them in three States, is their limited amount of science related books and almost no books on religion save Bible commentaries. They can do inter library loans but sometimes it’s a fairly long waiting period. I’m also a verrrry slow reader and hate time limits on reading materiel. We do have some excellent college libraries though and I can check out books for a full semester if I want.
Cap’t Jack
Good point. I generally tend toward getting fiction from the library. Although I’ve had pretty good luck finding books I’ve heard about through the various skeptic-related podcasts.
Take care,
Derek
My problem with the local libraries, and I can visit them in three States, is their limited amount of science related books and almost no books on religion save Bible commentaries. They can do inter library loans but sometimes it's a fairly long waiting period. I'm also a verrrry slow reader and hate time limits on reading materiel. We do have some excellent college libraries though and I can check out books for a full semester if I want.
Cap't Jack
What state do you live in? Somehow I'm thinking it's Texas. If so, that may be your problem. The Santa Monica, California library has an adequate supply of science books and the right kind of books on religion. A university library might help if you can join. (NOT Bob Jones, though.)
Lois
Lois is right about the Santa Monica library, and it’s been great as far back as I can remember. It was my main source of science and math books from my ninth to thirteenth year. Then we moved, and I switched to the Los Angeles library system which was also great until I was seventeen. From then on it was an even greater source of scientific and philsosophical information at the UCLA main, chemical, and medical libraries.
Occam
What state do you live in? Somehow I’m thinking it’s Texas. If so, that may be your problem. The Santa Monica, California library has an adequate supply of science books and the right kind of books on religion. A university library might help if you can join. (NOT Bob Jones, though.)
Sorry about the late reply Lois but while searching for CC's book recommendation I saw your query. I live in Southern Ohio, the land that Columbus forgets about BTW. Our county is the second least populated in the State and borders both Kentucky and West Virginia. So, the funds for a public library system are somewhat limited. We do have a branch campus of Ohio University just down the road and I was the assistant librarian and an adjunct there a few moons ago so I still have access to it. And hell no to Bob Jones and Liberty Baptist!
Cap't Jack