On Ask Metafilter, somebody asked a brilliant question: "What single book is the best introduction to your field for laypeople?"
People in all sorts of fields answered. Then the link got passed around, and it landed in my feed reader this morning. I checked out the link, saw that people in EE were recommending "Art of Electronics" and CS people were recommending the Wizard Book. I am now reassured. All the recommended books are going on my reading list, and this should keep me busy for the rest of the year. Yes!
Check out the full list.
Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts
Monday, April 07, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
On modern marriage
First, The Cato Institute publishes this issue on marriage. Do read, in particular, Stephanie Coontz's lead essay on the history of marriage.
Then comes this reaction essay reframing the history of marriage in economic terms. The authors then try to (briefly) address some of today's hot-button political issues.
For example: Divorce rates are climbing! False. They have, in fact, been falling in the US, and the authors present a logical economic explanation. If you buy this argument, you can also see why in societies that are in earlier stages of economic empowerment, it is reasonable to expect this pattern to repeat.
Then comes this reaction essay reframing the history of marriage in economic terms. The authors then try to (briefly) address some of today's hot-button political issues.
For example: Divorce rates are climbing! False. They have, in fact, been falling in the US, and the authors present a logical economic explanation. If you buy this argument, you can also see why in societies that are in earlier stages of economic empowerment, it is reasonable to expect this pattern to repeat.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Why do I read blogs?
Blogs are a great way to exchange views with others whose opinions I respect. I can find out what they are thinking, maybe leave a comment or two or (this happens rarely) write a post in response to something I read.
But equally importantly, a daily dose of well-written blogs has the advantage that they refer to other material - often something well worth reading that I wouldn't have found on my own. Here's a sample of what I read today because someone else thought it was worth writing about.
But equally importantly, a daily dose of well-written blogs has the advantage that they refer to other material - often something well worth reading that I wouldn't have found on my own. Here's a sample of what I read today because someone else thought it was worth writing about.
- Presentation Zen. Garr Reynolds on presentation lessons from recent TED talks
- Dean Kamen shows off the Luke arm at TED
- How Green Was My Valley. Glenn Kelman, founder of Redfin and resident of Seattle, criticizes Silicon Valley
- An Outsider's Flawed View of Silicon Valley. Michael Arrington of TechCrunch responds to Kelman
- Free Speech and Radical Islam. Very thoughtful op-ed piece on WSJ.
- Six Principles for Making New Things. Paul Graham.
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