Finished reading: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson 📚

Finally finished this book. It was ok. There are some weird tangents that sort of explain some of the ideas in the book. Unfortunately it’s sort of like the author came up with this great concept, began to develop it in a story, and then midway through explained himself so you would get it, and then rambled on for a bit with a mish mash of scenes that are difficult to follow and finally wrapped everything up with epic explosions.

I’ve only read one other Stephenson book, Seveneves. I had a similar reaction to the end of that book. It felt rushed and almost like the publisher just had a different writer finish the book because the first got so caught up in explaining the finest of details.

Finished reading: Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger 📚

This book lives up to its reputation. I enjoyed, as much as one can, this book because it got me more interested in World War I. WWI is a subject that I never spent much time learning about. I have always been more interested in WWII and the American Civil War. This book gave me a much better glimpse of the daily life and experiences of not only combat in WWI, but it is given from the perspective of - to an American - the enemy.

I’ll work on a little more of a write up in the coming days.

Currently reading: Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger, Michael Hofmann (translator) 📚

This is a continuation on the war theme that I started a couple months ago by reading Slaughterhouse-Five. It also serves as a contrast to learning about the life and work of Gandhi.

Currently reading: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (kindle version) 📚

Finished reading: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 📚

I became aware of this book via this video by Sean Tucker. The book presents the relatively mundane and repetitive daily activities of peregrine falcons in a beautifully poetic story. It’s a testament to what one can accomplish through creativity but more importantly what they can see by focusing with great intent on their task. Over the course of the book the author sees himself transforming in to a peregrine and translating the world of the peregrine to something humans can appreciate.

The writing is among the most vivid and eloquent that I think I’ve ever read, but I couldn’t help thinking that everything was being repeated. But that repetitive variety kept drawing me back. Baker’s relentless pursuit of the birds emphasized his dedication to knowing the birds. The result of this intense focus is a wonderfully crafted journal of the daily activities of a wild hunter that operates with unapologetic intent and efficiency.

I have actually had the opportunity to see peregrine falcons in flight on a couple of occasions. These have all been at work. Throughout our region there are a few peregrine nesting sites. The birds tend to occupy one nest for a long time and actually form couples that will stay together throughout their lives. Some of the sites are high atop bridge piers. In the spring our state conservation department tags the baby birds and we offer assistance with our bridge crane. They are fiercely defensive of their territory and their young and cause quite a ruckus with frequent swoops at the rangers performing the tagging. I’m not much of a birdwatcher, but I have found great deal of interest, respect and awe for the peregrine falcon.

Link to the book: The Peregrine by J.A. Baker

Finished reading: The Last Taxi Driver by Lee Durkee 📚

Not bad. I enjoyed it. It delivered on the darkness but not overly dark, more like: This is life. It can be dark.

Currently reading: The Last Taxi Driver by Lee Durkee 📚

This should be a little more casual compared to the last few books I’ve read. I found it on a recommended reading list somewhere and figured I’d give it a shot.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve started to read autobiographies of famous people to try understanding them a little better. So far I’ve enjoyed learning about Benjamin Franklin and Johnny Cash. Earlier this year I decided to start reading Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mohandas K. Gandhi and I’m just about wrapped up.

While I managed to get through it and learn quite a bit about the man, I struggled with it for a few reasons. First, it was difficult to wrap my head around the timeline and the state of the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I don’t have a great understanding of the breadth and influence of the British monarch during this time period. Basically, I know that the sun never set on the British Empire and that India and South Africa were a part of that empire. Second, while I think the book is generally chronological, I had trouble figuring out precisely when some of the events were occurring. Third, the writing style isn’t that of a book but more like a well written diary. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I would need a mountain of footnotes to really get a good grasp of the timeline and how the events fit in to the world around him.

I think the best part was the glimpse he gave from his childhood to becoming a mature adult. It was interesting to see how he developed through his education in England, his various experiments with diets and fasting, and the early work he undertook in South Africa. I was particularly interested in the lengths that he went in learning about and trying to understand various religions. While I was raised Catholic, I haven’t considered myself Catholic for many years. I don’t really consider myself any religion at this point. But I have also spent some time reading various religious texts, specifically The Bhagavad Gita. A cherished favorite of Gandhi.

The concept of “ahimsa” is really important to understanding the philosophical ideas championed by Gandhi. To him ahimsa was the idea that even if you may vehemently oppose someone’s ideas or actions, you should never take away an individual’s humanity. He writes, “…the doer of the deed, whether good or wicked, always deserves respect or pity as the case may be. ‘Hate the sin and not the sinner’ is a precept which, though easy enough to understand, is rarely practiced, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world.” Ahimsa was the foundation upon which Gandhi built all of his life’s endeavors.

I plan to get a more general biography about Gandhi as well as a book specifically containing some of his writings. I think the first will give me a bit more context as his work relates to the era and the second should provide a more refined view of Gandhi’s philosophy.

And yeah, I’m all over the place with who I choose to read about. Once I move on from Gandhi, I’m looking forward to Nikola Tesla and Buddy Holly.

Links to each book on Goodreads:

1. Mohandas K. Gandhi, Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth
2. Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World
3. The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas
4. The Bhagavad Gita

Finished reading: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut 📚

My biggest take away for now is the concept of being “unstuck in time.” It’s changed my perspective on memories and reminiscing.

Currently reading: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut 📚

So far, this book has been a fantastic read. I can’t imagine how I have made it this far in life with out reading it. #mbnov

I finished reading The Richest Man in Babylon the other day. I enjoyed it and learned a bit, but I think it is definitely a book that should be gifted to young adults. While there is nothing puzzling about the advice, developing the discipline to apply the advice is key. #mbnov