Blink, by Malcom Gladwell (published in 2005, 254 pages)
Following in the pattern of The Tipping Point, this popular science book
stitches together several interesting subject areas and sheds a light on them
from a peculiar angle. Although Mr. Gladwell has invented new terms to
popularize ideas that would normally go by different names in their fields of
study, his recasting of the material in this manner breathes new life into the
subjects and allows him to more easily draw interesting connections between
them. His entertaining and varied case studies are all interesting by
themselves, but together they form an argument that sneaks up on the final
two-fold claim that racial prejudices are understandable, but nonetheless
controllable (with proper training). His final conclusion is insightful and
inspirational; hopefully formal studies will prove out his theory.
The Tipping Point, by Malcom Gladwell (published in 2000, 280 pages)
A fast easy read wherein Gladwell espouses his views on how epidemics "tip",
going from unnoticed to pervasive in the seeming blink of an eye. He describes
what he calls the "three rules of epidemics": The Law of the Few, The
Stickiness Factor, and The Power of Context. His Law of the Few claims that
three types of people are responsible for causing epidemics to tip:
Connectors, Mavens, and Salespeople. The Stickiness Factor is concerned with
how some epidemics have content that sticks well and which can therefore
succeed even when the medium is interrupted. One good example regarding the
Power of Context is that people act differently in different situations, and
sometimes even wildly differently. In this case he uses the famous and
controversial assertion that crime in New York City was reduced because the
context of the subway and other public areas was changed: graffiti was
reduced, fare beating was suppressed, etc. Unfortunately much of what Gladwell
claims is unsubstantiated by reference to scientific investigation, and in
fact much of what he discusses is really better understood through the study
of the meme. However, there are lots of fascinating case studies that make
this book well worthwhile.
Mind, Matter and Quantum Mechanics, Second Edition, by Henry P. Stapp (published in 2004, 277 pages)
Once I finish a seminal work like this I often feel that it's the best and
most important book that I've ever read, and this case is no
different. Stapp's theory of consciousness is the first I've encountered that
provides a complete and compelling explanation rooted in concrete physics. In
contrast, other authors like Dennett
and Hofstadter
discuss important aspects of the question of consciousness without actually
going so far as to provide an explanation or a testable theory. This book is a
collection of essays prepared for different audiences and different contexts,
so there is some redundancy, but this is welcome because it sheds light on the
theory from different angles. Some of the articles delve into the technical
details of the quantum physics involved, others relate the theory to the field
of psychology, and others investigate the deep philosophical aspects. This is
a very challenging book, but well worth the effort. The ramifications of the
book go far beyond the "mere" explanation of consciousness, and present the
case for reforming the popular conception of our selves and free will. Public
policy and popular conception of man's place in the universe are still rooted
in inaccurate and out-dated classical physics, and Stapp's updated vision
provides a clear understanding of our selves, our potential, and our
responsibilities. If this understanding were widespread it would bring hope
for a better future for all.
Grant, by Jean Edward Smith (published in 2002, 628 pages)
A gripping and insightful biography of Ulysses S. Grant. A phenomenal General
and an inspirational leader, Grant won the civil war for the Union, and then
went on to serve two terms as president of the United States. His tendency to
keep his plans to himself served him well during the war, but in politics this
didn't help pave the way for politically controversial decisions. Nevertheless
his leadership and apolitical background were key to maintaining
reconstructionism, remaking the Bureau of Indian Affairs into something less
corrupt and more effective, and to keeping the peace in the south and
protecting the freed slaves.
Connoisseur's Guide to the Mind, by Roger Schank (published in 1991, 263 pages, out of print)
If you like food and you like thinking about how the brain works, you'll enjoy this book. Polymath Dr. Schank is a gourmand and a thinker about thinking, and his book leads the reader through a series of stories about eating that illuminate some of the workings of the mind. The book is structured that way not only because it makes things more interesting, but also because stories are easier to remember. His book may violate your expectations about how books on thinking should unfold, but that's good too, because it's through violated expectations that we notice new things and learn. If you believe that understanding the mind is important to you, then you should make it a goal to read this book and learn about why beliefs lead to goals, which lead to plans, which lead to actions. If you're not interested in fine food, then you might want to skip this book because when we encounter something completely foreign we don't have any scripts at hand to modify in order to be able to recall any details about what we've encountered. Incidentally, gourmands uninterested in the machinations of the mind will still benefit by learning scripts for obtaining free wine at fine restaurants, and vintage wines at bargain prices. This is not a dense book, but it's a fun read with some interesting perspectives. Why do you suppose I'm reminded of Richard Feynman's writings? Favorite quote from Connoisseur's Guide to the Mind: "Questions are the important thing, answers are less important. Learning to ask a good question is the heart of intelligence. Learning the answer--well, answers are for students. Questions are for thinkers."
How Brains Think, by William H. Calvin (published in 1997, 163 pages)
How do we think? What makes us so fundamentally different from the rest of the animals? How Brains Think is an accessible and successful
exploration of this age-old question. It begins with a quick sketch of neurophysiology, and then moves on to the author's theories. He compellingly argues for language emergence as the wellspring
for the distinguishing characteristics of human intelligence, and provides evidence from brain damage and elective
electrostimulation studies to support the theory that various apparently unrelated aspects of intelligence (performing novel
motion sequences, composing music, etc.) can be attributed to language processing neural areas. He goes on to sketch a theory that
explains these modes of thought as being driven by evolutionary pressures in the brain, where thoughts reproduce in the cortex
and compete for space with each other. The author provides clear sketches of his theories and evidence to support them.
Readers of Daniel Dennet's Consciousness
Explained will recognize Dennet's Joycean Machine. Although Calvin studiously avoids the "C" word, his explanations of the
inner machinery of the human mind and the distinguishing characteristics of that machinery are the best I've seen yet. This is a
must read for anyone interested in the subject.
An Anthropologist on Mars, by Oliver Sacks (published in 1995, 296 pages)
Sub-titled Seven Paradoxical Tales. Several fascinating profiles of people with unusual brains. Oliver Sacks makes you
feel like you understand the people you meet through his writing, and from that you gain broader insight into the human
condition and the potentials of the human brain.
Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card
Since you're reading this page, and especially if you're at all interested in strategy and tactics, or if you like a good yarn,
you will probably like Ender's Game. Nine years after the award winning Ender's Game, Card presented that same
timeline from another character's point of view. If you liked Ender's Game, you'll love Ender's Shadow. If you
thought Ender was smart, wait till you get behind Bean's eyeballs.
Where Does the Weirdness Go?, by David Lindley
Subtitled Why Quantum Mechanics is Strange, but not as Strange as You Think, this is an excellent survey of the basic
principles of quantum mechanics. Lindley begins by explaining Bohr's strict Copenhagen interpretation, namely: if you choose to make one measurement
(e.g. which slit did the photon go through) you give up any knowledge associated with any other measurement (e.g. what is the
distribution of the photons beyond the two slits). Also covered are weak vs. strong objectivity in science, various attempts to get around the
Copenhagen interpretation to get at the underlying "objective reality", and the manner in which classical behaviors arise from
quantum systems as a result of decoherence.
Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
What can I say? If you already know about this book, you've probably read it. If you don't know about it yet, then you're probably not enough of a nerd to enjoy it.
The Wild Birds, by Wendell Berry
Several short stories of the "Port William membership". Powerful stories on family and community. Berry provides an inestimable
connection to a way of being that has all but disappeared from society today.
The Age of Spiritual Machines, by Ray Kurzweil
Inspirational but frightening vision and prediction of a future where machines are fantastically more intelligent than humans,
and where humans evolve and merge with those machines or are left behind. Grab your umbrella--the eschaton is at hand!
A Natural History of the Senses, by Diane Ackerman
A mixture of history, folklore, subjective observation, and scientific anecdotes; a very entertaining exploration of the human senses.
The Body Artist, by Don DeLillo
Brilliant insights into the minutiae of human experience, conveyed in a unique style that you probably haven't encountered before.
The Selfish Gene (new edition), by Richard Dawkins
Dawkins clearly describes evolutionary forces in terms of the fundamental unit of evolution--the gene. He argues that genes
compete to drive evolution, not individuals, and not groups of individuals. His arguments are very compelling and his theory
explains many mysteries. The new edition contains copious educational end notes that describe changes in thinking and recent
discoveries since the seminal 1976 work was originally published.
Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
How to avoid the entropy of undirected life by creating a string of challenging but reachable goals with an overarching
purpose. Through this we can create happiness and meaning in virtually every life experience. Now, if I could just remember to
keep doing this...
Books by Patrick O'Brian
Each of the 20 Aubrey/Maturin historical novels by Patrick
O'Brian is a captivating trip to the British naval world of the early 1800's. The
writing is amazingly detailed and consistent, the characters are lovingly crafted, the humor is subtle yet sometimes explosive, and the
battle descriptions put you on the edge of your seat. Genius storytelling for anyone interested in sailing, military history, spy stories, or the Age of Exploration.
Consciousness Explained, by Daniel Dennett
A somewhat long-winded but extraordinarily brilliant sketch of a theory of consciousness that dispels all of the "common-sense"
baggage that prevents one from properly attacking the problem. As a result, Dennett's ideas reveal a much simpler explanation
than expected, one with important and hopeful ramifications for many of the ethical issues facing society. The book is a seminal
work in the field, and required reading for anyone interested in the subject.
Gödel, Echer, Bach, an Eternal Golden Braid, by Douglas Hofstadter
A 700 page nerdvana of self-reference and self-reproduction in mathematics, art, music, language, molecular biology, physics,
logic, and dialogue as preparation to discussing chaotic systems that arise from deterministic substrates in an effort to
illuminate the questions "what are intelligence and conciousness?", and in particular, "can machines be made to think?". Yes,
it's long, but worth the effort.
