danielestes
Johnson County Library
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danielestes's rating:
Added Aug 28, 2023
The Blood of HeroesThe Blood of Heroes, BookThe 13-day Struggle for the Alamo-- and the Sacrifice That Forged A Nation
by Donovan, JimBook - 2012 | 1st ed.Book, 2012. 1st ed.
danielestes's rating:
Added Jul 03, 2023
Comment:
The story of the last stand at the Alamo is a prime example of history being written by the winners.
Obviously, the doomed defenders didn't win, but in time Texas did. As did the United States. I love this story because it's one of the great real life Greek tragedies of American history, but let's not ignore the fact that if we switched the POV, if in fact Mexico had prevailed and retained control of Texas, it's unlikely they'd be celebrating this assault as anything more than a senseless slaughter of misguided insurrectionists.
Another reason I prefer James Donovan's examination of The Alamo is because I tire of media pundits, and far too many armchair non-historians, who prefer their history to be more storybook and less reality. The battle of the Alamo in 1836 was the result of the Texas settlers' desire for independence coming into conflict with the Mexican government's desire for sovereignty. The battle was bloody and often senseless, though let's not forget that history is full of skirmishes like this. Maybe many of the Texans fortified there acted heroically or maybe not? Or maybe it was both? Let's ask these questions and not insist the outcome be glorified or condemned by our shifting standards of hindsight. Though I concede it's possible, because we're only human, history will always be a story and never be real.
Lastly, one of my favorite accounts from the story of the Alamo, also unverifiable to this day, is the story of Louis "Moses" Rose. He was among a group of likely volunteers, but not soldiers, who on the eve of battle were given a chance by the battle commander to stay and fight or leave. Moses was the only one who chose to go. He escaped passed the Mexican garrison and eventually made his way about 300 miles away to Nacogdoches, Texas. There the old grump set up a butcher's shop and reportedly lived a couple more decades. The story goes, when asked about the Alamo he would reply, unashamed, that yes, he was there and that yes, he left when offered the choice. "My god, I just wasn't ready to die."The story of the last stand at the Alamo is a prime example of history being written by the winners.
Obviously, the doomed defenders didn't win, but in time Texas did. As did the United States. I love this story because it's one of the great real…
Bury My Heart at Wounded KneeBury My Heart at Wounded Knee, BookAn Indian History of the American West
by Brown, DeeBook - 2007Book, 2007
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 29, 2023
Comment:
The decline of the American Indian is one of the great tragedies in modern history. Equally as tragic was its apparent inevitability. And I don't arrive at this conclusion easily. History is replete with example after horrific example of one group asserting its will over another. The Euro American settlers of the 19th century benefitted from a power imbalance over the American Indians. Their colonial incentives were too tempting, and obviously the country was still generations away from having laws in place to guard against such atrocities. It's arguable we Americans wouldn't try something similar in the 21st century if presented with the chance.The decline of the American Indian is one of the great tragedies in modern history. Equally as tragic was its apparent inevitability. And I don't arrive at this conclusion easily. History is replete with example after horrific example of one group…
Out of OfficeOut of Office, Downloadable AudiobookThe Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home
by Warzel, Charlie • Petersen, Anne HelenDownloadable Audiobook - 2021Downloadable Audiobook, 2021
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 28, 2023
Comment:
Out of Office is the most comprehensive study of what working is like in 2021 I've ever read. With the broad shift to remote work just a year earlier due to COVID, the evolving reality of *where* one works is now very much a part of the conversation. This disruption is still new, and raw, and 10 years from now things might look quite different. Though I'm not convinced *how* we work will change all that quickly because, well, we're only human.
The authors refrained from taking sides in the WFH vs In-Office debate, and instead they discussed the realities of both arrangements. And it's clear there are no easy answers here. More so because everything is new and evolving. The goal ultimately is to lift up worker satisfaction along with productivity, two metrics that are difficult to correlate. But that's the crux of it I believe. Everything else is a discussion or an argument in service of that goal.Out of Office is the most comprehensive study of what working is like in 2021 I've ever read. With the broad shift to remote work just a year earlier due to COVID, the evolving reality of *where* one works is now very much a part of the…
The Invention of NatureThe Invention of Nature, BookAlexander Von Humboldt's New World
by Wulf, AndreaBook - 2015 | First American edition.Book, 2015. First American edition.
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 28, 2023
Comment:
Come and read the biography of one of history's most influential scientists that you've likely never heard of. Alexander von Humboldt, the 18th century Prussian-born Renaissance scientist explorer, was the inspirational hero for many of history's greats such as Simón Bolívar, Charles Darwin, Henry David Thoreau, George Perkins Marsh, Ernst Haeckel, and John Muir. Humboldt set the standard for seeing the interconnected beauty of the entire world—and by the end of his life the entire cosmos—through the eyes of scientific wonder. He traveled abroad far and wide building his worldview, but the one place he felt most at home was in Paris, France collaborating and debating with his contemporaries. This had a far-reaching effect for the young rising star because Paris was the hub of Renaissance thought at the time. And throughout his life, he never stopped gathering data, writing, and asking questions. He never ceased being a scientist.
By the 1850s, or late in Humboldt's life, an American journalist claimed, "Ask any schoolboy who Humboldt is, and the answer will be given." And by 1859, the year Humboldt died, his celebrity was world renowned. This is surprising to me because as influential as Humboldt's contributions were to all of science, he's barely remembered anymore. The epilogue offers a reasonable answer to this conundrum: It's because he was German. From the time of Humboldt's death and into the next century, public sentiment towards all things Germany took a downward turn as a result of the World Wars. Patriotism overruled classroom instruction over subsequent generations and many, if not all, distinguished German elites were scrubbed from history.
If this book is any indication, I fully expect Alexander von Humboldt to find a new celebrity again in the 21st century. His contributions to the annals of history are too important to be forever forgotten due to the sins of successor generations.
"As long as there were scientists and artists, there was no need for priests and cathedrals." - Ernst Haeckel, founder of the field of ecology, whose contributions were borne from the inspiration of his scientific heroes, Charles Darwin and Alexander von Humboldt.Come and read the biography of one of history's most influential scientists that you've likely never heard of. Alexander von Humboldt, the 18th century Prussian-born Renaissance scientist explorer, was the inspirational hero for many of history's…
Apollo's ArrowApollo's Arrow, Downloadable AudiobookThe Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live
by Christakis, Nicholas A.Downloadable Audiobook - 2020Downloadable Audiobook, 2020
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 27, 2023
Comment:
The COVID-19 pandemic came on so suddenly and with such relative ferocity that one can be forgiven for being confused by all the misinformation floating around in the first few months after March 2020. However, epidemiologists did know how to predict and prepare for what was happening, but unfortunately this was also at a time when public trust in experts and institutions was down. Warnings from scientists and top officials weren't granted any special consideration in the minds of the populace. Also, people were scared and scared people love to turn to pseudoscience for answers.
Nicholas Christakis' Apollo's Arrow is an informed review of what happened before, during, and after the worst global pandemic in 100 years. It's also a forecast of what to expect for the next pandemic, which surprisingly would be different if it happened in 20 or 30 years (our collective memory of 2020 remains intact) versus in 100 years (no collective memory).
The biggest revelation for me was how much epidemiologists DO know about viruses and how they move about a population. What looks like an impossible web of contract tracing is a much tighter science than would otherwise seem. However, little of this matters if the public doesn't believe the evidence presented. Humans survived this 'dress rehearsal' COVID-19 pandemic but barely and at great cost. How are we going to respond to the next one?The COVID-19 pandemic came on so suddenly and with such relative ferocity that one can be forgiven for being confused by all the misinformation floating around in the first few months after March 2020. However, epidemiologists did know how to…
No Cure for Being HumanNo Cure for Being Human, Downloadable Audiobook(And Other Truths I Need to Hear)
by Bowler, KateDownloadable Audiobook - 2021Downloadable Audiobook, 2021
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 26, 2023
Comment:
No Cure for Being Human is author Kate Bowler's true-life account of her confrontation with dying while in the prime of her life, and all the struggle, regret, and ultimately revelatory truths that come with it.
I recommend this one in conjunction with another book on the same broader topic of dying, A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death. The latter is more of a how-to guide while No Cure for Being Human is a memoir. Which is to say it's more story-driven and more, well, human.
I'm not the Christian true believer Kate Bowler is, far from it, so how she and I think about dying comes from different starting points. But ultimately the fear and vulnerability she shares reminds me that we're not all that different. We're both biological beings who are on this Earth for a tiny fraction of its universal existence, and in that time we do our best to survive and thrive with the circumstances we've been given.No Cure for Being Human is author Kate Bowler's true-life account of her confrontation with dying while in the prime of her life, and all the struggle, regret, and ultimately revelatory truths that come with it.
I recommend this one in conjunction…
AmericanonAmericanon, BookAn Unexpected U.S. History in Thirteen Bestselling Books
by McHugh, JessBook - 2021Book, 2021
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 26, 2023
Comment:
Starting this book, I had the expectation that Americanon: An Unexpected History in Thirteen Bestselling Books would feature classics by renowned American authors such as Mark Twain and John Steinbeck, but then my expectations were dashed. But I should add they were delightfully dashed. Because the "unexpected" in the subtitle should have been my clue that the theme would be something else entirely.
I'm forever fascinated by how things really are as opposed to how we wish them to be, but seeing the world this way takes a lot of practice and courage to accept. And expectations are not an easy thing to let go. Case in point, the America we want to see is an international standard-bearer of freedom and liberty. However, the real America of the 18th, 19th and 20th century, as indicated by its best-selling books, was perhaps more the land of opportunism, might-makes-right, and a "fake it 'till you make it" sense of optimism. Oh sure, the foundations of a good democracy were there but those foundations were certainly aided by a fortunate synergy of its people, its geography, and being at an ideal moment in history. Which is to say the American experiment was far from inevitable.
And as for what makes up the "real" America, or in other words the difference between a car's shiny paint job vs what's actually powering things under the hood, McHugh indirectly though brilliantly illuminates this in a historical review of some of America's best-selling books. From more obvious ones like Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography and The Old Farmer's Almanac to far less obvious ones like How to Win Friends and Influence People, Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book, and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask). Your attention while reading is sure to go from "Why this particular book?" to "Ah, I see it now." Highly recommended.Starting this book, I had the expectation that Americanon: An Unexpected History in Thirteen Bestselling Books would feature classics by renowned American authors such as Mark Twain and John Steinbeck, but then my expectations were dashed. But I…
Last Best HopeLast Best Hope, Downloadable AudiobookAmerica in Crisis and Renewal
by Packer, GeorgeDownloadable Audiobook - 2021Downloadable Audiobook, 2021
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2023
Comment:
Americans have a short collective memory when it comes to political upheaval. It's one thing to learn about and study cultural disruptions from a historical point of view. In something else entirely to have lived through them. In Last Best Hope George Packer is writing from within one of those moments of disruptive change It's the same moment I'm living through right now, circa the third decade of the 21st century. We're still too close to current events to fully appreciate the long view, but history shows us that these events are inevitable from time to time. But at the same time, we've never been at *this* particular moment in time, with all its digital and global influences, so trying to forecast the outcome is nearly impossible.
America is going through a crisis. The whole world is by a similar measure if we're being honestly inclusive. This is a topic I've been fascinated about since before Donald Trump entered the international stage. The rise of Trump told me there were factors in play that I didn't understand. And then COVID-19 hit and accelerated ALL problems, possibly bringing them to a head far sooner than they otherwise would have. To say we live in interesting times would be a massive understatement.
George Packer's Last Best Hope is an stunning look back at the core principles of America and democracy in an effort to see past, and maybe resolve, the country's current political and cultural divides. A brighter tomorrow isn't inevitable, but it certainly isn't impossible.Americans have a short collective memory when it comes to political upheaval. It's one thing to learn about and study cultural disruptions from a historical point of view. In something else entirely to have lived through them. In Last Best Hope…
The Lost City of ZThe Lost City of Z, BookA Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
by Grann, DavidBook - 2009 | 1st ed.Book, 2009. 1st ed.
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2023
Comment:
"The rain forest was not a garden of easy abundance, but precisely the opposite. Its quiet, shaded halls of leafy opulence were not a sanctuary, but rather the greatest natural battlefield anywhere on the planet, hosting an unremitting and remorseless fight for survival that occupied every single one of its inhabitants, every minute of every day." — Candace Miller, The River of Doubt
"Explorers are not, perhaps, the most promising people with whom to build a society. Indeed, some might say that explorers become explorers precisely because they have a streak of unsociability and a need to remove themselves at regular intervals as far as possible from their fellow men."
The above quotes, both from this adventurous and heartbreaking book, illuminate a bit of the obsessive personality of Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett, the early 20th century British explorer who was determined, at seemingly any cost, to find the City of Z. As he financed and led multiple expeditions to the jungles of South America, the more evidence he found of a vast civilization that existed there long ago. Over time, what initially piqued his interest turned into an unrelenting pursuit. And note this was also during a time in history when the remainder of the world's unexplored areas were rapidly becoming known. This clash of modernity, paradoxically, only intensified Colonel Fawcett's belief in the existence of Z."The rain forest was not a garden of easy abundance, but precisely the opposite. Its quiet, shaded halls of leafy opulence were not a sanctuary, but rather the greatest natural battlefield anywhere on the planet, hosting an unremitting and…
A Beginner's Guide to the EndA Beginner's Guide to the End, BookPractical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death
by Miller, Bruce J.Book - 2019 | First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.Book, 2019. First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2023
Comment:
When reading A Beginner's Guide to the End know that there's a heavy emphasis on the word 'Practical' in the subtitle. This book has everything, and I mean nearly everything, you need to know about the end-of-life. And the information here is for any of the potential roles one will inevitably find themselves in now or in the future—a caregiver, a surviving family member or friend, or even the one who's dying.
The book is cleverly arranged in a chronological layout. The beginning chapters discuss seemingly far-off considerations such as wills and estate planning while the end chapters discuss oft-neglected considerations in the days, months and years after death has occurred.When reading A Beginner's Guide to the End know that there's a heavy emphasis on the word 'Practical' in the subtitle. This book has everything, and I mean nearly everything, you need to know about the end-of-life. And the information here is for…
The Extended MindThe Extended Mind, Audiobook CDThe Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
by Paul, Annie MurphyAudiobook CD - 2021 | Unabridged.Audiobook CD, 2021. Unabridged.
danielestes's rating:
Added Jun 23, 2023
Comment:
Based on the "Thinking Outside the Brain" subtitle alone this could've easily been some schlocky corporate fad book. Thankfully, I heard about The Extended Mind via a recommendation so I was prepared for its thesis to be so much more. And it was.
To my delight, I learned that I naturally developed some of these "thinking" habits over the course of my adult life. One of my preferred methods, also outlined here and much to the annoyance of my wife, is that when I disagree with someone I don't try to win the argument but instead try to understand the logic of their argument. I do this by asking question after question after question. If this hypothetical person does not enjoy debate, then my method may not be ideal. But it's a remarkable way to see the argument from a different point of view.
The book also employs a subtle push towards embracing the realities of our interconnected digital world. We no longer live in small communities isolated by distance. Our ability to connect with one another around the world, instantly, has contributed to all manner of good and bad outcomes that wouldn't have been possible in our pre-connected world. Given this reality, and given the rise of smarter machines invading our lives, it's become more imperative than ever to supplement how we think using methods outside of our minds.Based on the "Thinking Outside the Brain" subtitle alone this could've easily been some schlocky corporate fad book. Thankfully, I heard about The Extended Mind via a recommendation so I was prepared for its thesis to be so much more. And it…
The Great Cholesterol MythThe Great Cholesterol Myth, BookWhy Lowering your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease-- and the Statin-free Plan That Will
by Bowden, JonnyBook - 2012Book, 2012
danielestes's rating:
Added May 17, 2023
Comment:
Yes, thank you. This book helped me make sense of the many, seemingly contradictory follow-up comments I received from my doctor and lab results about watching my cholesterol. My health wasn't poor in the least, and I didn't know what to make of a few of the cholesterol indicators being too "high" whatever that meant. The Great Cholesterol Myth was an education and it helped me sort out not just what the numbers mean but it was also a short history of why this subject is fraught with conflicting information. I recommend this book to anyone who eats and ages—which is, well, everybody—because there's almost no escaping having to deal with the effects of eating processed food at some point.
The quick summary is that for far too long, due to a mix of bad PR, misinformation and misunderstanding, cholesterol took the blame for the rise in heart disease while countless studies for the past half century have demonstrably shown the real culprit to be inflammation which is caused by processed foods (bad carbs) and sugar.
When I'm asked about the specifics of the diet I put together as a result of reading this book along with many others, I say it's a mash-up of Atkins, Paleo and the Mediterranean diets. The trick for me was to find something that was backed by research, yielded measurable results for me in particular, and, most importantly, is one I could live with for the long term. I read food labels far more than I used to. I feel comfortable skipping 80% of the store while out grocery shopping. But I also allow cheat days, though I don't think of them as such. As long as those days are the exception and not the rule, then the benefits are sustained.Yes, thank you. This book helped me make sense of the many, seemingly contradictory follow-up comments I received from my doctor and lab results about watching my cholesterol. My health wasn't poor in the least, and I didn't know what to make of a…
Woke RacismWoke Racism, Downloadable AudiobookHow a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America
by McWhorter, JohnDownloadable Audiobook - 2021Downloadable Audiobook, 2021
All copies in use
Holds: 0 on 3 copies
Holds: 0 on 3 copies
danielestes's rating:
Added May 17, 2023
Comment:
Don't be triggered by the title—it's meant to be provocative—because this book, the latest by the brilliant John McWhorter, is one of the most elegantly worded arguments I've ever read. If McWhorter were to argue that I should eat more vegetables, even write a whole book on it, I might just be convinced.
The real issue at the core of Woke Racism is more serious, that there's a dangerous level of group think and 1984-like attempt to control information surrounding the issue of racial identify, specifically black vs white identity, in many of today's institutions. However, I would stress that it appears to be mostly confined to the institutions where Sayre's law is in effect. Sayre's law says, "The politics of the university are so intense because the stakes are so low." This could be academia, publishing, or even online discourse (Twitter). To someone like McWhorter this would effectively be his whole world so of course it would be all-encompassing and necessitate a response.Don't be triggered by the title—it's meant to be provocative—because this book, the latest by the brilliant John McWhorter, is one of the most elegantly worded arguments I've ever read. If McWhorter were to argue that I should eat more vegetables,…
Starry MessengerStarry Messenger, Downloadable AudiobookCosmic Perspectives on Civilization
by deGrasse Tyson, NeilDownloadable Audiobook - 2022Downloadable Audiobook, 2022
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added May 17, 2023
Comment:
Neil deGrasse Tyson's "cosmic" perspective in this book is far more down to Earth than you might think. And that's not a bad thing. Starry Messenger takes the long view and applies scientific thinking to the everyday issues we as a modern species struggle with. His reasoning makes perfect sense to me, but if our disagreements were easily resolved by thinking like scientists, then I doubt a book like this would even exist. The truth is people often don't think like scientists at all, far from it, and that causes us a lot of social grief. The personal feelings part of being human tends to get in the way.Neil deGrasse Tyson's "cosmic" perspective in this book is far more down to Earth than you might think. And that's not a bad thing. Starry Messenger takes the long view and applies scientific thinking to the everyday issues we as a modern species…
The Emerald MileThe Emerald Mile, BookThe Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
by Fedarko, KevinBook - 2013 | First Scribner hardcover edition.Book, 2013. First Scribner hardcover edition.
danielestes's rating:
Added Jan 09, 2023
Comment:
When I start a new book I make it a point to avoid knowing too much about it ahead of time. I prefer my reading to be pure discovery whenever possible. But this proved a bit of a stumbling block while reading The Emerald Mile, which is a thrilling and detailed work of non-fiction after a slow, detail-heavy buildup.
For starters, I didn't know what the Emerald Mile was. I initially thought it was some legendary section of the Colorado River, perhaps an area of especially dangerous rapids. But no, it's the name of a boat. And not just any boat. It was a rebuilt McKenzie River dory that a team of 3 expert enthusiasts raced to a Grand Canyon speed record back in 1983. And other than a non-descript introduction, the book doesn't mention the Emerald Mile until the halfway point.
It also didn't help that I'm not really a boating guy. Nor am I all that familiar with the world of river rafting or the landscape of the Colorado River. Far too often early in the book I often felt out of my league, but I'm happy to report that author Kevin Fedarko brought every backstory and each the informational threads together for an emotionally satisfying climax.
This is the best kind of non-fiction. I was an outsider when it came to this particular subculture, and by the end I felt like I belonged.When I start a new book I make it a point to avoid knowing too much about it ahead of time. I prefer my reading to be pure discovery whenever possible. But this proved a bit of a stumbling block while reading The Emerald Mile, which is a thrilling…
Dreams of El DoradoDreams of El Dorado, Downloadable AudiobookA History of the American West
by Brands, H. W.Downloadable Audiobook - 2019Downloadable Audiobook, 2019
danielestes's rating:
Added Dec 18, 2022
Comment:
By now I've read enough American history to recognize I'm revisiting the same epochs of the westward expansion over and over again, from Lewis and Clark to Custer's Last Stand. It's not as lackluster as it sounds. What I didn't expect was how much I actually enjoy it. It's campfire storytelling at its best.
I visualize all of history as a giant tapestry in my mind and I'm systematically filling in the gaps of my knowledge. For example, hearing for the umpteenth time the story of the Gold Rush helps me connect it to other events. Did you know that California's Bear Flag Revolt (i.e. the origin story of the state's flag) and the infamous Donner party tragedy both happened in the same year (1846), in the same state, and just a few years before the Gold Rush? I knew about these events as separate events but multiple tellings helps me connect it all.
Dreams of El Dorado by H.W. Brands is a thoughtful and thrilling chronological journey hearing these familiar stories once again (and a few new ones, at least for me). I recommend it for any American history enthusiast.By now I've read enough American history to recognize I'm revisiting the same epochs of the westward expansion over and over again, from Lewis and Clark to Custer's Last Stand. It's not as lackluster as it sounds. What I didn't expect was how much I…
danielestes's rating:
Added Dec 10, 2022
Comment:
James McBride's Deacon King Kong is a charming story that manages to be both a light-hearted mystery thriller and a gut-wrenching commentary on life in the projects in greater NYC in the 1960's.
There's a delightful cast of characters to follow around, and the master of ceremonies throughout it all is the Forrest Gump/Chauncey Gardner-like character of Sportcoat, an older resident of the neighborhood who can be single-minded or simple-minded depending on the day. You wouldn't think it at first, but we need more Sportcoats in this world of ours.James McBride's Deacon King Kong is a charming story that manages to be both a light-hearted mystery thriller and a gut-wrenching commentary on life in the projects in greater NYC in the 1960's.
There's a delightful cast of characters to follow…
Short Nights of the Shadow CatcherShort Nights of the Shadow Catcher, Downloadable AudiobookThe Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis
by Egan, TimothyDownloadable Audiobook - 2012Downloadable Audiobook, 2012
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added Dec 01, 2022
Comment:
On the one hand, reading about the life of Edward Curtis one is transported back in time to what feels like a lost world in America. To a time before the steamroll of modernity transformed the land and its people. On the other hand, reading the finer details of Curtis' life, including the ups and downs with the family he was mostly apart from, I'm reminded that everyday life hasn't changed all that much in the past several hundred years. Sure, the scenery has changed, and the toys and tools we buy, sell, and make are much improved, but our hopes, dreams, worries and growing pains are eerily similar from one generation to the next.
Edward Curtis dreamed big, and was awarded a life of adventure and a legacy beyond his years, but he paid for it with an understandably troubled marriage and a lifetime of financial destitution.On the one hand, reading about the life of Edward Curtis one is transported back in time to what feels like a lost world in America. To a time before the steamroll of modernity transformed the land and its people. On the other hand, reading the…
The Antisocial NetworkThe Antisocial Network, BookThe GameStop Short Squeeze and the Ragtag Group of Amateur Traders That Brought Wall Street to Its Knees
by Mezrich, BenBook - 2021 | First edition.Book, 2021. First edition.
danielestes's rating:
Added Nov 30, 2022
Comment:
As I write this, coming up on the 2-year anniversary of the Superstonk event that Ben Mezrich's The Antisocial Network captures so thoroughly and beautifully, the internet presence of the GameStop superfans lives on. I don't have a sense of how big this group is after the national spotlight has mostly faded, but they are still active and their driving force appears to be some combination of wanting to recapture the short squeeze magic of January 2021, anger at the establishment towards the rigged financial markets, solidarity with other 'diamond hands' aligned in opposition, and undoubtedly those patient bag holders not wanting to sell their GameStop shares at a steep loss.
With The Antisocial Network, the GameStop story gets personal as we hear the insider perspectives of a few everyday Johns and Janes, along with a handful of the hedge fund big wigs, who were all at the right time and moment. What remains unclear is whether the GameStop stock run was part of a larger revolution of the U.S. financial market or if it was simply an aberration caused by the general upheaval of the 2020 COVID pandemic.As I write this, coming up on the 2-year anniversary of the Superstonk event that Ben Mezrich's The Antisocial Network captures so thoroughly and beautifully, the internet presence of the GameStop superfans lives on. I don't have a sense of how big…
Lost GirlsLost Girls, Downloadable AudiobookAn Unsolved American Mystery
by Kolker, RobertDownloadable Audiobook - 2013Downloadable Audiobook, 2013
All copies in use
Holds: 1 on 5 copies
Holds: 1 on 5 copies
danielestes's rating:
Added Nov 28, 2022
Comment:
Once you're able to easily distinguish the narratives of the individual girls, whose soon-to-be-upended lives are unique except for their shared lower income background and their foray into the world of prostitution via the growing popularity of Craigslist, then the whole tragedy of Lost Girls comes into heartbreaking focus.
This is a story as old as time itself, but this difference this time is the medium is relatively new. These tragedies happened during a time when the perceived ease of getting paid for sex via online hookups was enticing for young women in difficult circumstances. It was also arguably just as easy for a sociopathic murderer to find his next victims using the same methods.
The book is better than the Netflix production, and the Netflix version is captivating. That's how good the book is.Once you're able to easily distinguish the narratives of the individual girls, whose soon-to-be-upended lives are unique except for their shared lower income background and their foray into the world of prostitution via the growing popularity of…
The End of the World Is Just the BeginningThe End of the World Is Just the Beginning, Audiobook CD[mapping the Collapse of Globalization]
by Zeihan, PeterAudiobook CD - 2022 | Unabridged.Audiobook CD, 2022. Unabridged.
danielestes's rating:
Added Nov 27, 2022
Comment:
10 years ago I read The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley. It's a examination of global trends which then concluded by saying things were likely to turn out okay for the people of Planet Earth. I like to think of Peter Zeihan's book as "The Rational Pessimist" only this time the obvious difference is I would give Ridley's book an Optimism rating of, let's say, 10 whereas I would give Zeihan's book a Pessimism rating of... uh... off the charts. This book might as well be called, "Get Ready For Some Pain."
The End of the World Is Just the Beginning is the most important book I've read in years. It's well-written, well-argued and is an utterly depressing look at the post-global world order. Helplessness is not a word I usually associate with great books but there's a silver lining simply being armed with the knowledge of what the near future may hold. I'm consistently losing sleep at night thinking about it.
Peter Zeihan's makes his case on the basis of two relatively immutable realities, political geography (i.e. natural resources) and demography (i.e. human resources). He also argues that the globalism boom of the last 70 years should be viewed as a lightning-in-a-bottle fluke and not as a new norm of modern life. One of the changing variables is America no longer has the incentive to patrol the world's oceans, and with the rise of other countries seeking their own influence and power the delicate trade balance seems poised to be disrupted in unknown ways. Add a diminishing world population, with each country disproportionately affected, and accelerate the timeline due to COVID, and the next 10 to 30 years is shaping up to be a rough ride. What a time to be alive, and I mean that in the best and worse sense of the phrase.
In the Epilogue, after all the doom and gloom and only the barest hint of possible solutions to our looming problems, the author makes his most incredulous claim yet. He says he's an optimist. And you know what? Despite having just read a thousand and one reasons to take up hard drinking, I think I understand what he means. And I'm somewhat in agreement.
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche10 years ago I read The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley. It's a examination of global trends which then concluded by saying things were likely to turn out okay for the people of Planet Earth. I like to think of Peter Zeihan's book as "The Rational…
This is the Year I Put My Financial Life in OrderThis is the Year I Put My Financial Life in Order, Downloadable Audiobook
by Schwartz, JohnDownloadable Audiobook - 2018Downloadable Audiobook, 2018
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added Nov 26, 2022
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There's a frustrating emotional hurdle to reckon with while reading John Schwartz's This Is the Year I Put My Financial Life in Order, and that is realizing your journey and the author's are likely going to be different. I definitely got the impression the author started his adult life from a reasonably decent financial position, not great but comparably livable, and he was still in an okay position some 30 years later when he decided to take more of an interest in his financial health. A comparison would be getting to your 50's and deciding to eat healthier because you're getting up there in years, but what isn't mentioned is that you had relatively good access to healthcare and a decent living in the decades leading up to your new initiative.
You may struggle a whole lot more with your personal finances for a myriad of reasons but try not to let that become an excuse to dismiss every point the author makes. There's a lot of good advice here. Take what you can and use it.There's a frustrating emotional hurdle to reckon with while reading John Schwartz's This Is the Year I Put My Financial Life in Order, and that is realizing your journey and the author's are likely going to be different. I definitely got the…
Us vs. ThemUs vs. Them, Downloadable AudiobookThe Failure of Globalism
by Bremmer, IanDownloadable Audiobook - 2018Downloadable Audiobook, 2018
Available
danielestes's rating:
Added Nov 26, 2022
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This book was a wild ride. I normally steer clear of alarmist-sounding arguments (or book titles for that matter) but I'm glad I kept reading because the arguments within Us vs. Them are grounded in fact, well presented, and have historical precedent. I also wasn't familiar with the author, Ian Bremmer, but now I consider myself a fan.
I feel like I've been saying this for 20 years, but it feels just as relevant now that we are at a crossroads in our Age of Globalism. Will we sort through all of the competing incentives threatening to undo our global progress, or will it all be undone regardless? It's difficult to predict but expanding on what I said above life since the start of the 21st century has been a wild ride.This book was a wild ride. I normally steer clear of alarmist-sounding arguments (or book titles for that matter) but I'm glad I kept reading because the arguments within Us vs. Them are grounded in fact, well presented, and have historical…
Language at the Speed of SightLanguage at the Speed of Sight, BookHow We Read, Why So Many Can't, and What Can Be Done About It
by Seidenberg, Mark S.Book - 2017Book, 2017
danielestes's rating:
Added Nov 16, 2022
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Now that I'm caught up on the science of reading thanks to Mark Seidenberg's Language at the Speed of Sight, I can say with confidence that the skill of learning how to read is both enormously complex and relatively straightforward. Fortunately, the complex part mostly happens behind the scenes in our brains so there isn't a lot to actively think about there. For example, there's a chart in the book showing the letter "A" but written in twenty different fonts. Each depiction is graphically different from the others, but each character is clearly an "A". Thank your brain for doing this visual heavy lifting for you. Similarly, it's possible to remove certain letters from words across entire paragraphs and still the paragraph is readable. It's all based on how we decode the context of what's being said. Again, your brain does this on the fly. But the letters matter and the context matters. Remove too much and it simply doesn't work.
The straightforward part of learning to read, while not easy, is to repeatedly practice reading using phonics. It'll take years for most people, and it's usually children who acquire this skill, but then they've got it. Unlike learning a language, which can be absorbed from simply existing in a culture, learning to read has to be specifically practiced. In other words, having someone read to you, and only reading to you, won't make you a reader. You need to do the coding work of reading yourself, i.e. applying meaning to the arbitrary pictographs on a page.
Overall, the book is informative but dense. But I wouldn't expect anything less from a science book about reading. I think the most surprising revelation for me is that speed reading is still scientifically unproven. If someone claims to be able to do this, chances are they are merely good skimmers. The fact is the eyes still need to scan the text—and to clarify, the eye movement more resembles darting than scanning—and the eyes can only go so fast. There's certainly a range where the exceptional readers do read faster than everyone else but go too fast and full comprehension will suffer.Now that I'm caught up on the science of reading thanks to Mark Seidenberg's Language at the Speed of Sight, I can say with confidence that the skill of learning how to read is both enormously complex and relatively straightforward. Fortunately, the…
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