Not a lot in there that isn’t in her Letters. And it’s such a superficial race through history—she really sticks to her point—that I wanted her to stoNot a lot in there that isn’t in her Letters. And it’s such a superficial race through history—she really sticks to her point—that I wanted her to stop and say more about many topics. Good if you’ve never read her....more
Absolutely fascinating. She not only warns us about the threat to democracy that good journalism can illuminate, but it could be a warning about the dAbsolutely fascinating. She not only warns us about the threat to democracy that good journalism can illuminate, but it could be a warning about the dangers of losing local news coverage and, more important, the threat AI presents to journalism. Gannett tried replacing high school sports coverage with an AI and it went horribly wrong. But even if it got it exactly right, is it a good replacement for human reporters? Maybe sports is different enough. But imagine AI covering a war, or a coup, or a disinformation campaign intended to throw an election. She’s done it all. And who knew how important the Philippines are to modeling the flow of world events? What happens there happens here, she warns. And so it seems. Frightening. Makes me want to be more active. We are sleepwalking while our democracy burns. Which is exactly what they want. Eye opening on the power of social media algorithms to sway not only public opinion but also behavior. An amazing story....more
What an incredible story. Right up there with Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic adventure in unbelievability, yet true. A nice complement to A Train in WiWhat an incredible story. Right up there with Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic adventure in unbelievability, yet true. A nice complement to A Train in Winter and nice to read a story where the woman survives. I wanted to take notes on how to set up a resistance. I fear it will be needed....more
It was terrific! More than you ever imagined about owls and absolutely fascinating. And it’s amazing how much we are only now learning. I particularlyIt was terrific! More than you ever imagined about owls and absolutely fascinating. And it’s amazing how much we are only now learning. I particularly appreciated the section on their inner lives and how humans have misinterpreted their behavior—largely relevant to captive owls. Just because an animal is quiet and “calm,” doesn’t mean it isn’t “dying inside” from terror. ...more
Very good. It seems there’s been an explosion of research into the lives of animals, led probably by technology that lets us see these things we couldVery good. It seems there’s been an explosion of research into the lives of animals, led probably by technology that lets us see these things we couldn’t before and also by women entering the field. A glance through the bibliography shows a lot of women researchers. I feel like we’re achieving a kind of tipping point as I drive around and see many former lawns replaced with native wildflower gardens. Not enough yet, but it makes me hopeful. Writers like Lawson, Doug Tallamy, Heather Holm, Suzanne Simard, Robin Wall Kimmerer do a tremendous job of making the natural world relatable and share not only the urgency of changing our ways, but also the benefits and hope for a future that won’t be as bad as what I write fiction about....more
Ed Yong, so high expectations. I liked it, but the level of detail is numbing. But fascinating to think how all these microbes work together with our Ed Yong, so high expectations. I liked it, but the level of detail is numbing. But fascinating to think how all these microbes work together with our cells to keep us healthy. And how we muck it up with antibiotics and crappy food....more
Fascinating. Who knew beavers dug canals to join ponds? Or channels in the bottom of ponds to get around. Didn’t get to finish before it had to go bacFascinating. Who knew beavers dug canals to join ponds? Or channels in the bottom of ponds to get around. Didn’t get to finish before it had to go back to the library, so one to be continued....more
I'm a big fan of Lynn Margulis, but her books with Dorian Sagan are more readable. Important, but kind of a slog.I'm a big fan of Lynn Margulis, but her books with Dorian Sagan are more readable. Important, but kind of a slog....more
Fascinating, the history of Numbers (capitalized). Such a different world and different kind of Black experience from what we’re usually told. An illeFascinating, the history of Numbers (capitalized). Such a different world and different kind of Black experience from what we’re usually told. An illegal enterprise, but successful and, at least from the daughter’s POV, beneficial to the community. Parallel to the Mafia-controlled Numbers. Also a story of a family with secrets and how they form Bridgett’s life. There’s a lot exposed at the end that is ultimately very surprising, but she makes a good case for why and how the withholding of truth happens....more
A terrific book! But read it in summer because you’re going to want to go out and look at mosses. I so want to sit in on a conversation between her anA terrific book! But read it in summer because you’re going to want to go out and look at mosses. I so want to sit in on a conversation between her and Suzanne Simard!...more
This made me realize how little I knew about the Dust Bowl other than some famous photos. Unrelentingly grueling. The book gets repetitive, but overalThis made me realize how little I knew about the Dust Bowl other than some famous photos. Unrelentingly grueling. The book gets repetitive, but overall an absolute must read if you care about the environment and climate change and how to avoid mistakes of the past. About halfway through it, Nanci Griffith’s “Trouble in the Fields” popped into my head. With good reason!...more
I’ve done a lot of reading the last couple of years so much of this was not a surprise, except the sheer brutality and grueling details of how slaveryI’ve done a lot of reading the last couple of years so much of this was not a surprise, except the sheer brutality and grueling details of how slavery worked. Just calling plantations what they were, slave-labor camps, was a fresh shock. Of course. Enslaved people outnumbered their owners manyfold. They could have risen up and taken over. They did it in Haiti and tried it many times and elsewhere, just leading to more brutal treatment. Then to see how systems were set up, right from the Constitution, to accommodate slavery and that exist or have remnants into today. Our entire capitalist system was designed for slavery. Why am I this old learning all this? Only drawback to this compilation is that many of the essays repeat details that could have been streamlined, but that’s a minor point and does serve to embed the information better....more
I could have used a trigger warning. He gets really graphic with the sexual abuse and I don’t need that burned into my brain. Overall, I’m meh about tI could have used a trigger warning. He gets really graphic with the sexual abuse and I don’t need that burned into my brain. Overall, I’m meh about the book. He comes across as such a privileged guy, getting to jet around the world anytime he pleases just to follow a story. The essays feel overwritten. I loved his books when I was younger. Did he change as a writer or have I changed as a reader? Curious....more
I read this to help prepare for a reading I was giving for my new novel. Lots of terrific advice in here that could also apply for blogs or flash fictI read this to help prepare for a reading I was giving for my new novel. Lots of terrific advice in here that could also apply for blogs or flash fiction. How to write short and deep....more
These are New Yorker essays that appeared in the early 1980s. But so much good McPhee! The New Jersey biologist trapping bears for science was terrifiThese are New Yorker essays that appeared in the early 1980s. But so much good McPhee! The New Jersey biologist trapping bears for science was terrific. But as she misses her daughter’s performance, she laments that women should be at home. Argh! The last piece was the best! The other John McPhee, a Maine Warden pilot. It’s tempting to dismiss this collection as dated, since they are from the 1980s, but it never hurts to have a reality check of where we were (first bear caught in New Jersey) and how we got here. It made me want to Google the stories for updates....more
The book is crazy interesting (no pun intended). Incendiary toward psychiatry and the psychopharmaceutical industry. They literally know their drugs aThe book is crazy interesting (no pun intended). Incendiary toward psychiatry and the psychopharmaceutical industry. They literally know their drugs are causing more harm than good but don’t care because it makes them money. Shades of tobacco, oil, and the Sacklers. The profiles are fascinating. Caroline with her voices, Daniel’s depression, the author’s brother Bob....more
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