currently reading?

[ceramic'cow]

I am currently reading this, which I got for my birthday the other day, basically because I have a huge hard-on for evolution, but also because I've always been fascinated to know how the man himself felt about the importance of his work, and the significance of publishing a book which basically undermined one of the Christian faith's major claims to validity.

It's very well written, so I'm ploughing through it at quite a pace, but it's definitely focussed on his life rather than his science, so I think I'll definitely look out a more scientific-based account in the near future.

[Deckard]

Originally Posted by ceramic'cow

I am currently reading this, which I got for my birthday the other day, basically because I have a huge hard-on for evolution, but also because I've always been fascinated to know how the man himself felt about the importance of his work, and the significance of publishing a book which basically undermined one of the Christian faith's major claims to validity.

It's very well written, so I'm ploughing through it at quite a pace, but it's definitely focussed on his life rather than his science, so I think I'll definitely look out a more scientific-based account in the near future.

That one looks v interesting, I might have to get hold of it.

I've just started reading The Ancestor's Tale (Dawkins' pilgrimage through 3 billion years of life on earth).

As someone with absolutely no scientific background whatsoever (and who dropped those subjects as quickly as possible at school in favour of art-based subjects) I'm hoping it won't become too much for me. Certainly Unweaving the Rainbow was both fascinating and well written, and aside from a tangent on DNA, I found it accessible enough (ugh, hate using that word!) for a layman like me.

And besides, at least the Ancestor's Tale can't be as tough as Chaucer's original, which I studied at school and found tedious in the extreme!

[ceramic'cow]

Hmmm. I've sort of got Ancestor's Tale on the go as well. I've got some scientific background, and I think it does get a bit heavy going at times. But I'm never sure if that's just Dawkins' writing style. I raced through God Delusion, but get him on to genetics and I find him harder going.

I love Steve Jones' writing though. I've just recently finished Almost Like a Whale, his re-working of Origin of Species, but everything I've read of his has been really enjoyable. His sense of humour tends to shine through, which is unusual, in my experience, for Science writers. Anyway, his The Single Helix is a good introduction to his style; a collection of short essays about science - not just biology, but astronomy, chemistry, and all sorts of related stuff too.

[froopy seal]

Tad Williams - Otherland, Volume Two: River of Blue Fire.

The first part (City of Golden Shadow) had its lengths. Part two starts off very energetic. I agree with the critics that the characters are well-drawn. Also, I like the casual way of introducing/mentioning technologies and science - short and comprehensible, neither self-indulgent nor arrogant.

[Caprice]

The Art of Happiness

[Rog]

High rise - J.G.Ballard ....................very interesting read

[holden]

"What is the What" by Dave Eggers, based on the life story of Valentino Achak Deng.
http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/
Wonderful mix of biography/fiction and history.

[ceramic'cow]

Originally Posted by ceramic'cow

Hmmm. I've sort of got Ancestor's Tale on the go as well. I've got some scientific background, and I think it does get a bit heavy going at times. But I'm never sure if that's just Dawkins' writing style. I raced through God Delusion, but get him on to genetics and I find him harder going.

I'm going to have to make a bit of a U-Turn here. I've dived back into Ancestor's Tale and I'm racing through it now. I think it was all the early-human stuff that I got bogged down in. Australopithecus this, proto-hominid that Sahelanthropus the other . . .


But since then, it's been really good. I'm still on mammals, which is kind of my area, I guess, but it's definitely been much easier going once out of the Human evolution stuff.

[Deckard]

^^ That's good to know.

If my memory serves, I'm sure Adam (does he still frequent these boards?) had good things to say about it as well.