re: Reading Challenge 2019

12 Books and 12 Great Courses

Books read:

1. Celtic Myths - Quick read. Reminded me of young reader books I used to read. Interesting stories. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend except as an intro to the topic.

2. How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman. I enjoyed most of this book. I liked the background history, the discussion of Hume, Smith, et al, and some of the diaspora stories. Obviously the title is a bit overstated but it is interesting to consider the influence of Scotland given where it was in 1600 or so. Perhaps more interesting to me as someone with Scottish ancestors.

3. Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Ongoing.

4. The One Thing. Completed but still processing. Will likely go back to outline. May try to put some of the program into action at work. Also need to discuss it with the friend who recommended it. Not a difficult read. Some internal inconsistencies. I also disagreed with some of his criticism of Aristotle.

5. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. I’m 99% certain this is a reread but it’s been a long while. Never watched much of his shows. Maybe an episode here or there. Great read, particularly if you’ve spent any time in a kitchen or love food. Kind of a melancholy read after his death.

6. Dunkirk: The History Behund the Major Motion Picture by Joshua Levine. Easy quick read using a fair amount of interviews and historical record to provide details of participants’ experiences. I enjoyed it. Will probably watch the movie now and maybe check out more of the author’s work.

7. Energy by Richard Rhodes. Detailed history of humanity’s use and development of various energy sources since the Elizabethan age. Lots of discussion of the steam engine, use and search for coal, etc. Ends with a pitch for nuclear as the most likely source to best serve humanity.

8. Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson. Ongoing.

9.

Great Courses

1. The Iliad. Six hours of lecture by Prof. Elizabeth Vandiver. Very enjoyable.

2. The Odyssey. Six hours of lecture by Prof. Elizabeth Vandiver. Enjoyable. Preferred the discussion of the Iliad.

3. The Aeneid of Virgil. Six hours of lecture by Prof. Elizabeth Vandiver.

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By the way, I have a lot of Great Courses cds. If anyone would like to borrow a course or two, let me know.