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My review of "The Road to Wisdom" by Dr. Francis Collins, the former director of the National Institute of Health for the last three presidents, and the director of the Human Genome Project before that. He's also a Christian. The book discusses truth, science, faith, and trust.
I've been following Dr. Francis Collins for quite a while since he's the founder of BioLogos, a foundation dedicated to helping Christians understand faith and science. He was also the director of the National Institute of Health under Presidents Biden, Trump, and Obama, and prior to that he was the director of the Human Genome Project, discovering what each one of the genes in our bodies does. He's also the author of The Language of God, a memoir about how he went from atheism to faith in medical school, and why he believes there is reasonable evidence to have faith in a Creator.
The Road to Wisdom is a different kind of book. It's more his reflection on truth, science, faith, and trust, different kinds of truth, where we find truth, how we determine what is true, and most importantly - how we have difficult conversations about what is true and what isn't. As part of that, he discusses his experiences with Braver Angels, an organization dedicated to helping depolarize America by bringing people of opposing viewpoints together for dialogue. As one of the major figures who devised America's response to the Covid pandemic (he was Dr. Fauci's boss), he also discusses what he got right, what he got wrong, and what he wished he'd done better.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I've always been interested in things like metacognition - thinking about how we think - and he spends a fair chunk of the book breaking that down in a very accessible way, although he doesn't use that term. He writes,
>The premise of this book is that by reclaiming the solid ground of truth, science, faith, and trust, we can find ourselves back on the road to wisdom - that ability to bring together experience, knowledge, and good judgment to allow wise personal and professional decisions for ourselves, our families, and our society.
He discusses some of the philosophical underpinnings of truth, as well as different areas of knowledge, arranged in concentric circles outward:
Necessary truth - 2+2=4, the value of pi, etc.
Firmly established facts - (DNA is the hereditary material of humans, HIV causes AIDS, the earth is a slightly elliptical spheroid, gravity is related to mass, the accelerating rate of warming on the Earth, Germany and France share a border, and so on.) He differentiates these two categories by saying, "These statements are all essentially settled scientific facts. Unlike 2+2=4, these firmly established truths might have turned out otherwise in a different universe (hence, philosophers call these contingent truths) but in this one we have compelling evidence they are correct."
Uncertainty - claims that are potentially true but there is insufficient evidence to move them towards firmly established facts. For instance, cosmologists believe that there is something missing in the composition of the universe, but we don't have enough evidence yet to identify what they are. Currently we call them things like "dark matter" and "dark energy". Another uncertain claim would be life on other planets. Maybe there is, maybe there isn't, but we don't have enough data to say yet.
Opinion - areas where facts and evidence are scanty, or irrelevant. Dogs are better than cats, tattoos are cool or not cool, the Red Sox are the best baseball team, Taylor Swift is the best artist, etc.
He spends a little bit of time decrying postmodernism and its claims of nothing being really true, but I had to quibble with that, since I've not really (personally, at least) seen that postmodernism is interested in tearing down scientific claims - it's much more about deconstructing social, cultural, and personal ideas, and examining them
Halfway through Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice, and wanted to share my thoughts on it!
Uhmmm, where do I even begin?? How does she do it?? Never really read any Vampire Fiction at all in my life, and man oh man, subverted expectations have entered the dialogue! Rich eloquent prose, deeply rooted philosophical messaging and very homoerotic(It does not bother me at all!).
Never before had I thought this book would keep my attention! Any one else here read this book and deeply enthralled by it? It’s shaping up to be my only second 5-Star read of the year!!
https://redd.it/1hczsjp
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Just finished reading Into Thin Air in 6 hrs
I think this is the only book that I have read in literally one sitting. It got delivered at 6 PM, and by 12:30 I finished ravaging the book. Now I just feel like crying 😭😭
I went online and got a sense of all the controversies around the difference in what happened. But to me they are irrelevant.
What wrenched my heart is the way the author has captured the struggle of mankind braving the harshest elements in nature. Maybe in 1997 there was a different motive for the book but now in 2024, when people everywhere are trying to solve complex social problems in a tweet or two, it is proof that human psyche and our interactions with this world are both extremely complex. It's one thing to ponder the moral questions sitting in comfort, but faced with the realities of nature, there's no absolute morality, everyone has to bow down to the will of Providence.
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Gabriel's Moon by William Boyd: The ideal thriller novel to give as a Christmas gift.
I recently got this book through NetGalley, and I'm excited to share my thoughts on it. It's a great thriller with a strong focus on espionage, keeping the genre's mysterious and suspenseful elements alive.
The story follows Gabriel, a 30-year-old writer with a troubled past. He was orphaned at the age of six after his mother, who was an alcoholic, died in a fire. Fast forward a few years, and Gabriel's life takes an unexpected turn as he becomes involved in the world of espionage.
I thought it was great to see so many strong female characters in Gabriel's life. They're not just background characters; they influence his decisions, challenge him, and guide his journey in meaningful ways. There's also a subplot about his family history that's woven really well into the narrative, which gives readers a deeper understanding of his struggles and motivations.
What really stood out to me was the author’s ability to create characters that feel so real and relatable. It’s easy to connect with them and become invested in their stories. Combine that with a plot full of twists and turns, and you have a novel that’s impossible to put down. The way the story builds tension and unravels its secrets kept me hooked until the very end.
This is easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves mystery or espionage. It’s also a great Christmas gift idea for thriller fans who enjoy gripping stories with complex characters!
https://redd.it/1hcnfid
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Help me choose which book next to read
The immortal life of henrietta lacks
Wuthering heights
On earth we're briefly gorgeous
Crying in h-mart
The martian
Project hail mary
The vanishing half
World war z
Lessons in chemistry
Red white and royal blue
Seven husbands of evelyn hugo
I'm glad my mom died
All the light we cannot see
Beneath a scarlet sky
Circe
Ender's game
Flowers of algernon
https://redd.it/1hckx95
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'Delay, Deny, Defend' book that inspired Luigi Mangione soars to top of Amazon bestsellers
https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/delay-deny-defend-book-ceo-34292818
https://redd.it/1hci4ri
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Does reading ”trash” books rewire your brain?
I recently started reading {Parable of the Sower} and been having a difficult time finishing it. I keep getting bored, and even though logically I know it’s a promising read, I struggle to even finish a chapter.
I have never had this problem, I’ve read a lot of books similar to this, example {Beyond good and evil}. HOWEVER as of late I’ve been reading “garbage” like ACOTAR and fourth wing, and realized that I cannot for the love of me read anything that doesn’t produce fast dopamine.
Has anybody else struggled with this? I have so many great books that I want to read, like {Wuthering Heights} but I’m experiencing brain rot from all the romantasy books.
https://redd.it/1hc5n1c
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Fahrenheit 451 and Martial Law in South Korea
Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favorite books. Different people have different thoughts on what it's about. Is it about censorship? Is it a critique of Television? What makes it great is how versatile it is.
One of the things that I think gets missed sometimes is what it can tell us about the nature of authoritarianism. First, however, I want to talk about some key scenes.
On the second page of the story, Montag is heading home and we're told that he "let the escalator waft him into the still night air." Later, Mildred is listening to music through her "tamped-shut ears, and her eye all glass, and breath going in and out, softly, faintly, in and out her nostrils, and her not caring whether it came or went, went or came."
In each of these early scenes, air plays an important role in characterizing both Montag and Mildred. In Montag's case, him being wafted up the escalator shows his lack of agency. Later we learn he only even became a fireman because someone suggested he should be one. He didn't actually choose for himself. This is where he is at the beginning of the story, a man who isn't even aware of his lack of agency. I think many of us living in the world as it is feel similarly. It's easy to say, what can I do to make a difference? Why even bother trying? The more we think like this, the less we assert our agency, the less we're able to utilize our free will.
In Mildred's case, this air imagery conveys her apathy. She can't be bothered to breathe because she is so bored and discontent. She knows something is wrong but can't put her finger on it, and that's why she takes too many sleeping pills and has to have her stomach pumped.
Both of these scenes serve to show the impact living in an authoritarian, dystopian hellscape can have on people. It hollows you out and leaves you stuck, unable to pinpoint what's wrong and even less able to do something about it if you could.
Here's where it ties into authoritarianism and tyranny. Fire is the symbol of authoritarian power in this world/story. The firemen are the enforcers, they're meant to be feared and respected. When the power of authoritarian rule makes itself felt on any citizen deemed problematic, that power is manifested through fire.
So what Bradbury is saying is that the flame of authoritarianism/tyranny is sustained on the air of apathy and lack of agency.
I think in light of how the people of South Korea stood together and said "fuck this shit," and how quickly they organized and how immediate their success was, it's worth pointing out this subtle, easily missed, nugget of wisdom from Bradbury. We need to remember that people who strive to erect an authoritarian, tyrannical government designed for their own benefit depend on the indifference of the masses.
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Swiss Family Robinson Rereading this book as a modern reader was WILD
Disclaimer: I've not read too many "classics" for most of my life, the only other exception aside from this book is Dracula, most of the time I read nonfiction. Please pardon if I'm not too familiar with the "genre conventions".
Back when I was about 10 or 12 years old, I had a copy of Swiss Family Robinson that eventually got ruined by me spilling a glass of milk on it. I have always been fascinated by survival stories of various kinds and had a fascination with zoology, so young me (as much as I could recollect) absolutely loved the book. Anyways, three weeks ago I decided to purchase a copy to see if it has held up after all these years.
Oh boy.
For the most part, despite being influenced by Robinson Crusoe with its castaway and survival setting, it really stood out to me the sheer lack of *strife* the family experienced. Aside from the initial event of the shipwreck and having to survive on an exotic tropical landscape, the family for the most part lives very comfortable lives as the island itself seems to spawn whatever kind of flora and fauna that would help them live comfortable lives. In the edition that I read, there are kangaroos, buffaloes, hippopotamus and a whole bunch more on a single island.
What was even more darkly hilarious is that the characters never once lampshade on how weird this was, rather opting to shoot and consume any animals they come across (understandable given the context but lmao). A constant barrage of "see new animal, shoot animal because we own this island now and we can do it".
The family themselves were "interesting". I'm gonna be honest, the dad was what I could only described as the "platonic ideal" of what a M A N should be. Not only he was so religiously devoted that he could quote the Bible rivaling that of a senior clergyman, but knows about every plants and animals, their uses and can build practically anything. The children were well, just there, mostly to make things happen by running around doing shenanigans. The mother meanwhile was barely a character, mostly there to smooth out whichever things that stumps the father. Overall though, there was a distinct lack of character arcs for any of them, no new revelations about each other, no one gets changed by anything that happened. They got stuck on that island for years, and left it none the worse for wear.
Ultimately, I'd say that the online reviews I read before reading the book really was correct, it TRULY FELT like a product of its time. The specifics are too much for a post, but the overall constant occurrence of overt religious theming of the family's mass exploitation of nature because god gave them dominion of it and the whole "ideal parental figures" as I've mentioned above. For me, it encapsulates quite a fair bit of the common worldview at the time it is written, but there were points where it felt like quasi-absurdist humor at times. In conclusion for those that wants to read/reread it, it was a fun read but be prepared for some occasional "weirdness".
Tl;dr: People weren't kidding about it being "a product of its time"
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Is Malazan meant to be so confusing?
After the large amount of recommendations from this sub, I decided to order Gardens of the Moon from my library. I just started chapter six, and wanted to know if I’m supposed to keep track of all those different names for people/places/gods. I like the story so far but there’s too much for me to remember and wanted to know if I’m fine and just gotta keep reading?
Ps. No spoilers please
https://redd.it/1hbu6nh
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Tbr reading challenge ideas?
My local library inspired me this year to do my own tbr challenge and reduce my shelf by half. They did a prize after a certain number of books. I liked that idea but I might spend too long thinking of prizes. Another idea is to fill a jar with money or something like buttons I guess. I was going to get a bookmark to track my reading or make one.
January is approaching and I haven't thought it through. I like the idea of treats to keep me motivated. Any ideas?
https://redd.it/1hbpqg9
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Duma Key by Stephen King
Read 300 pages of this on vacation this past weekend and I’m blown away. It’s very unsettling and at times doesn’t feel like the King I’ve read in the past. Wireman and Elizabeth are incredible characters. Maybe I’m alone in my praises and I’ll feel differently after finishing, but it’s been an engaging read. Interested to hear of anyone else has read recently.
https://redd.it/1hbd7i7
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What drives Nobel Prize winner Han Kang to write?
https://www.dw.com/en/what-drives-nobel-prize-winner-han-kang-to-write/a-70452211
https://redd.it/1hbbyxq
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Society of Authors calls for celebrity memoir ghostwriters to be credited
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/dec/10/writers-union-society-of-authors-calls-for-celebrity-memoir-ghostwriters
https://redd.it/1hb969w
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Why is Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince, seen as controversial?
I read a poor translation of it 16 years ago, while in high school, and basically took nothing away from it.
I recently bought a new copy, with a different translation, and reread it with a more adult perspective, and I'm both more and less confused than ever.
Less confused, because as a lover of history, I understand that Machiavelli was "subtly" throwing shade at quite a few people in Italy's ruling class, but more confused because there's nothing in there that should be deemed controversial by modern readers.
Aside from actual military advice, like the relevance of fortress cities like Pistoia, the stockpiling of military equipment, and supplies, the rest of the book is very basic in its advice.
Treat your friends graciously, pay special attention to allies who may become enemies, and ensure you keep them on your good side.
Be good to your people.
Try to be charismatic.
Know the value of those around you, and leverage it.
Don't be a dick for no reason.
Don't let people walk over you.
"Speak softly but carry a big stick" (be a good diplomat, but be ready to go to war if you need to).
If you need to deal with opposition, make sure it's dealt with decisively so they don't harbour resentment and come back later to try and harm you again.
Basically, the majority of the book is either advice your parents should have given you in high school, or advice you learn watching children's cartoons. I mean there's literally a part in there about being crafty like a fox, and strong as a lion... you could put that into a child's storybook, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone did.
Maybe this translation isn't very good as well, but nothing in it seems particularly "Machiavellian" despite the book literally being where we get the word from.
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“Tom Sawyer” is making me realize that writing can be beautiful outside of Speculative Fiction.
Hello all.
I’m about halfway through “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and I’m absolutely adoring it. I just recently finished The Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb and it left me with a severe case of post-book depression; online it said that in order to alleviate this feeling I should read something completely different.
Enter Mark Twain.
I thought it was witty and charming throughout the first few chapters but what really started to grow on me was the atmosphere of the book. Twain has a way of putting you right in Missouri to the point where I feel as if I’ve been there before. I’ve met Tom and Huck; Aunt Polly and Sid. I’ve been to that church or schoolhouse. I can practically smell the air wafting off the Mississippi.
The characters are simple and charming. Tom is a dramatic and mischievous kid, prone to curiosity and trouble. Sid is exactly like my own little brother — a little tattle-telling goody-two-shoes. Becky Thatcher is the girl that we all had a crush on simply cause she was pretty. It’s a very nostalgic book.
I was under the impression that only speculative fiction — specifically fantasy — could leave this much of an impression on me. I’ve only read speculative fiction…for years now. I feel like my eyes are being opened to whole new walks of reading
Have you ever had a similar experience with reading ???
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Radicalized by Cory Doctorow - a story about health care and desperation - has been republished for reasons that will become clear if you read it
https://prospect.org/culture/books/2024-12-09-radicalized-cory-doctorow-story-health-care/
https://redd.it/1hcxc0l
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Hundreds of bookstore staffers receive holiday bonuses from author James Patterson: Staffers at Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama, San Francisco’s City Lights Books and The Nook in Cedar Falls, Iowa, are among 600 booksellers receiving $500 holiday bonuses from James Patterson
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/hundreds-bookstore-staffers-receive-holiday-bonuses-author-james-116630992
https://redd.it/1hcskov
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Books with Ninjas: December 2024
Welcome readers,
December 8 is the Day of the Ninja and, to celebrate, we're discussing our favorite books with ninjas!
If you'd like to read our previous weekly discussions of fiction and nonfiction please visit the suggested reading section of our wiki.
Thank you and enjoy!
https://redd.it/1hckl49
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From the Baillie Gifford to the Giller: can literary prizes survive protests against sponsors?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/dec/11/literary-prizes--protests-against-sponsors-giller-prize-baillie-gifford
https://redd.it/1hcjjvn
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‘These are magic books’: bringing imaginary works of literature to life
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/dec/11/imaginary-books-exhibition-byron-shakespeare
https://redd.it/1hc6ir9
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1980s Dad Lit
If you were a dad in the 1980s, you could expect two things for Christmas: a bottle of Old Spice and whatever the latest Michener was. Or Ken Follett. Or Robert Ludlum. In the '90s, it was likely Crichton or Grisham (John, not his brother Kevin, who wrote The Rural Juror and Urban Fervor).
Are there "Dad" books any more? My sense is that:
(a) in general, the population isn't reading as much;
(b) men (outside of this sub) are reading even less than the general public; and
(c) television has taken the place of reading.
If you have a dad whom you could ask: what is he reading? What are any dads reading? Do they have an author from whom they buy the latest book when it's published?
Or is that way of looking at writers "old fashioned," as it were?
https://redd.it/1hc0ghq
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The fear of running out of something to read is called Abibliophobia.
Have you ever felt a sudden sense of panic at the thought of finishing your last unread book and having nothing left to dive into? If so, you might be experiencing something called Abibliophobia—the fear of running out of things to read.
Is that even possible? I only know people who have a huge pile of books to read and who long for more time to read! I think it may also be due to the overwhelming amount of books being published, so it's not a fear of not having anything to read, but of not being able to choose, or of not having anything that feeds the mood.
Have any of you ever experienced something like abibliophobia? I'm just curious, and if so, how does it work for you?
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Rare book with handwritten notes by Adam Smith to go on display
https://news.stv.tv/north/rare-book-with-handwritten-notes-by-adam-smith-to-go-on-display
https://redd.it/1hbud5n
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Literature of Malta: December 2024
Merħba readers,
This is our monthly discussion of the literature of the world! Every Wednesday, we'll post a new country or culture for you to recommend literature from, with the caveat that it must have been written by someone from that there (i.e. Shogun by James Clavell is a great book but wouldn't be included in Japanese literature).
December 13 was Republic Day in Malta and to celebrate, we're discussing Maltese literature! Please use this thread to discuss your favorite Maltese literature and authors.
If you'd like to read our previous discussions of the literature of the world please visit the literature of the world section of our wiki.
Grazzi and enjoy!
https://redd.it/1hbsxut
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Average Books Read Per Year by Country 2024
As an Italian, I’ve grown accustomed to hearing a common lament: “No one reads anymore.” It's a phrase that echoes through discussions about cultural habits, often paired with reports of dwindling readership statistics. So you can imagine my surprise when I recently stumbled upon a report claiming that Italy ranks fifth in the world for readership. Naturally, this raised a mix of curiosity and skepticism—can such a claim be trusted, or is it an anomaly amidst the usual narrative? While I remain cautious about the source, it did prompt me to reflect on the broader landscape of reading habits.
I’d love to hear from you: in your country, do you also sense a decline in readership, or perhaps a shift in the way people engage with books? Is there a growing preference for digital formats, or are traditional books still holding their ground? I find this topic fascinating, especially since it speaks not only to our personal habits but to the cultural and educational priorities of our societies. What’s your perception?
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-books-read-per-year-by-country
https://redd.it/1hbkj9r
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Are adults forgetting how to read? One-fifth of people aged 16 to 65 in the OECD read at a primary school level or lower
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/12/10/are-adults-forgetting-how-to-read
https://redd.it/1hbeiij
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Should I Have Been Allowed to Read That?
What was the most inappropriate thing you had read by the time you were 15 or 16? Some things I had read by that age include the following:
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)
- Flowers in the Attic
- Interview with a Vampire (which my science teacher asked to borrow after I was done?)
- Almost everything Stephen King had written up through 1987
- The Happy Hooker
(It doesn't fit in with scandalous list above, but I was also obsessed with Erma Bombeck starting around age 11 or 12. I desperately wanted to be seen as the world-wearied housewife and mother of two that I, a pre-teen boy, apparently so identified with.)
So, tell me what yours are:
Do you remember what it felt like reading the book?
Did you feel like you were getting away with anything?
Did you feel as if you had to keep this reading secret?
Or were you reading this stuff openly?
Do you get the sense that your parents also maybe had a list of books they had access to at too young an age? (If so, I'd love to hear what those are, too.)
https://redd.it/1hb8zzp
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Is this true?
I read today that "The UK is the world's bookiest nation (no other country published as many books per capita). And I thought this might spark an interesting debate: which nations are the most literary? And how would we define the criteria?
I've come up with the following as a starter for ten:
Books published per capita
Number of libraries per capita
The state of the newspaper industry
Literary traditions
Number of books
What countries would you nominate and why? And what criteria do you use when making your nomination?
https://redd.it/1hb79yv
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New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries
https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-ban-on-book-bans-269234b5f19dcdbbc21a6cf658b760db
https://redd.it/1hb3kmk
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