This is the January 2021 ballot for our next round of reading. the next round of reading. By February 15, please send Chris Boyd your completed ballot.
Below are the nominations listed alphabetically, neglecting “The”, with descriptions. We had 5 carryover nominations from last election and 30 new nominations for a total of 35 nominations, four more than last election. It is nice to have even more great options. Thanks for all your nominations!
I would like to take the top 12 for our new list and have 5 carryovers, giving all books a little better chance. The book list includes page counts and publication dates at the bottom of each listing. The ballot is below the book list with directions. Please fill it out, cut and paste to email, and send to me by February 15. Please mail ballots to me directly only, and not to the group.
Analogia: The Emergence of Technology Beyond Programmable Control by George Dyson
In 1716, the philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz spent eight days taking the cure with Peter the Great at Bad Pyrmont in Saxony, trying to persuade the tsar to launch a voyage of discovery from Russia to America and to adopt digital computing as the foundation for a remaking of life on earth. Dyson enlists a startling cast of characters, from the time of Catherine the Great to the age of machine intelligence, and draws heavily on his own experiences at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, and onward to the rain forest of the Northwest Coast to argue his point: we are entering a new epoch in human history, one driven by a generation of machines whose powers are no longer under programmable control. p. 304 Pub 2020
This book was removed from our list. Dyson is the son of two scientists, but is an historian. Analogia was mostly history and personal anecdotes, not much material for discussion.
Arrival of the Fittest: How Nature Innovates by Andreas Wagner
Renowned evolutionary biologist Andreas Wagner draws on over fifteen years of research to present the missing piece in Darwin's theory. Using experimental and computational technologies that were heretofore unimagined, he has found that adaptations are not just driven by chance, but by a set of laws that allow nature to discover new molecules and mechanisms in a fraction of the time that random variation would take. Meticulously researched, carefully argued, evocatively written, and full of fascinating examples from the animal kingdom, Arrival of the Fittest offers up the final puzzle piece in the mystery of life’s rich diversity. p 304 Pub 2015
At the Edge of Time: Exploring the Mysteries of Our Universe’s First Seconds by Dan Hooper
Scientists in the past few decades have made crucial discoveries about how our cosmos evolved over the past 13.8 billion years. But there remains a critical gap in our knowledge: we still know very little about what happened in the first seconds after the Big Bang. At the Edge of Time focuses on what we have recently learned and are still striving to understand about this most essential and mysterious period of time at the beginning of cosmic history. p. 248 Pub 2019
The Brain-The Story of You by David Eagleman
In the course of his investigations, Eagleman guides us through the world of extreme sports, criminal justice, facial expressions, genocide, brain surgery, gut feelings, robotics, and the search for immortality. Strap in for a whistle-stop tour into the inner cosmos. In the infinitely dense tangle of billions of brain cells and their trillions of connections, something emerges that you might not have expected to see in there: you. This is the story of how your life shapes your brain, and how your brain shapes your life. p. 218 Pub 2015
Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World by Carol Bergstrom and Jevin West
Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news abound and it’s increasingly difficult to know what’s true. Our media environment has become hyperpartisan. Science is conducted by press release. Startup culture elevates bullshit to high art. We are fairly well equipped to spot the sort of old-school bullshit that is based in fancy rhetoric and weasel words, but most of us don’t feel qualified to challenge the avalanche of new-school bullshit presented in the language of math, science, or statistics. In Calling Bullshit, Professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West give us a set of powerful tools to cut through the most intimidating data. p. 314 Pub 2020
Dance to the Tune of Life: Biological Relativity by Denis Noble
Drawing on his pioneering work in the mathematical physics of biology, Denis Noble formulates the theory of biological relativity, emphasising that living organisms operate at multiple levels of complexity and must therefore be analysed from a multi-scale, relativistic perspective. The interactive nature of these fundamental processes is at the core of biological relativity and, as such, challenges simplified molecular reductionism. This humanistic, holistic approach challenges the common gene-centred view held by many in modern biology and culture. p. 302 Pub 2017
Dark Matter and Dinosaurs by Lisa Randall: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe by Lisa Randall
In this brilliant exploration of our cosmic environment Lisa Randall uses her research into dark matter to illuminate the startling connections between the furthest reaches of space and life here on Earth. Randall tells a breathtaking story that weaves together the cosmos’ history and our own, illuminating the deep relationships that are critical to our world and the astonishing beauty inherent in the most familiar things. p. 432 Pub 2016
The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack
What happens to the universe at the end of the story? And what does it mean for us now? With lively wit and humor, Dr. Katie Mack takes us on a mind-bending tour through five of the cosmos’s possible finales: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, Vacuum Decay (the one that could happen at any moment!), and the Bounce. Guiding us through cutting-edge science and major concepts in quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory, and much more, The End of Everything is a wildly fun, surprisingly upbeat ride to the farthest reaches of all that we know. p. 240 Pub 2020
Energy Myths and Realities: Bringing Science to the Energy Policy Debate by Vaclav Smil
Vaclav Smil advises the public to be wary of exaggerated claims and impossible promises concerning energy. The global energy transition will be prolonged and expensive―and hinges on the development of an extensive new infrastructure. Established technologies and traditional energy sources are persistent and adaptable enough to see the world through that transition. Before we can create sound energy policies for the future, we must renounce the popular myths that cloud our judgment and impede true progress. p. 232 Pub 2010
The Everything Store by Brad Stone
Jeff Bezos wanted Amazon to become the everything store, offering limitless selection and seductive convenience at disruptively low prices. To do so, he developed a corporate culture of relentless ambition and secrecy that's never been cracked. Until now. Brad Stone enjoyed unprecedented access to current and former Amazon employees. Bezos stands out for his restless pursuit of new markets, leading Amazon into risky new ventures like the Kindle and cloud computing, and transforming retail in the same way Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing. p. 386 Pub 2013
Explaining Humans by Camilla Pang
From the Royal Society--Through a set of scientific principles, this book examines life's everyday interactions including: decisions and the route we take to make them; conflict and how we can avoid it; relationships and how we establish them; etiquette and how we conform to it. Explaining Humans is an original and incisive exploration of human nature and the strangeness of social norms, written from the outside looking in. Camilla's unique perspective of the world, in turn, tells us so much about ourselves - about who we are and why we do it - and is a fascinating guide on how to lead a more connected, happier life. p. 256 Pub 2020
From Darwin to Derrida: Selfish Genes, Social Selves, and the Meanings of Life by David Haig, forward by Daniel Dennett
David Haig explains how a physical world of matter in motion gave rise to a living world of purpose and meaning. Natural selection, a process without purpose, gives rise to purposeful beings who find meaning in the world. The key to this, Haig proposes, is the origin of mutable “texts”—genes—that preserve a record of what has worked in the world. These texts become the specifications for the intricate mechanisms of living beings. Meaning, Haig argues, is the output of a process of interpretation; there is a continuum from the very simplest forms of interpretation, instantiated in single RNA molecules near the origins of life, to the most sophisticated. Life is interpretation—the use of information in choice. p. 512 Pub 2020
Fundamentals: Ten keys to Reality by Frank Wilczek
Synthesizing basic questions, facts, and dazzling speculations, Wilczek investigates the ideas that form our understanding of the universe: time, space, matter, energy, complexity, and complementarity. He excavates the history of fundamental science, exploring what we know and how we know it, while journeying to the horizons of the scientific world to give us a glimpse of what we may soon discover. p. 272 Pub 2021
Future Shock by Alvin Toffler
Future Shock is about the present(1984). Future Shock is about what is happening today to people and groups who are overwhelmed by change. Change affects our products, communities, organizations—even our patterns of friendship and love. Future Shock vividly describes the emerging global civilization: tomorrow’s family life, the rise of new businesses, subcultures, life-styles, and human relationships—all of them temporary. Future Shock illuminates the world of tomorrow by exploding countless clichés about today. Future Shock will intrigue, provoke, frighten, encourage, and, above all, change everyone who reads it. p. 480 Pub 1984
The Grand Biocentric Design: How Life Creates Reality by Robert Lanza, Matej Pavsic, Bob Berman
Robert Lanza is joined by theoretical physicist Matej Pavšic and astronomer Bob Berman to shed light on the big picture that has long eluded philosophers and scientists alike. This engaging, mind-stretching exposition of how the history of physics has led us to Biocentrism—the idea that life creates reality-takes readers on a step-by-step adventure into the great science breakthroughs of the past centuries, from Newton to the weirdness of quantum theory, culminating in recent revelations that will challenge everything you think you know about our role in the universe. p. 280 Pub 202
Infinity and the Mind by Rudy Rucker
Using cartoons, puzzles, and quotations to enliven his text, Rucker acquaints us with staggeringly advanced levels of infinity, delves into the depths beneath daily awareness, and explains Kurt Gödel’s belief in the possibility of robot consciousness. In the realm of infinity, mathematics, science, and logic merge with the fantastic. By closely examining the paradoxes that arise, we gain profound insights into the human mind, its powers, and its limitations. p. 376 Pub 2019
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
From government policy and medical research, to technology, workplaces, and the media. Invisible Women reveals how in a world built for and by men we are systematically ignoring half of the population, often with disastrous consequences. Caroline Criado Perez brings together for the first time an impressive range of case studies, stories and new research from across the world that illustrate the hidden ways in which women are forgotten, and the profound impact this has on us all. p. 410 Pub 2019
Livewired--The Inside Story of the Ever Changing Brain by David Eagleman
What does drug withdrawal have in common with a broken heart? Why is the enemy of memory not time but other memories? How can a blind person learn to see with her tongue, or a deaf person learn to hear with his skin? Why did many people in the 1980s mistakenly perceive book pages to be slightly red in color? Why is the world’s best archer armless? Might we someday control a robot with our thoughts, just as we do our fingers and toes? Why do we dream at night, and what does that have to do with the rotation of the Earth? In Livewired, you will surf the leading edge of neuroscience and new discoveries from Eagleman’s own laboratory, from synesthesia to dreaming to wearable neurotech devices that revolutionize how we think about the senses. p. 320 Pub 2020
Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life by Zena Hitz
Zena Hitz writes that few experiences are so fulfilling as the inner life, whether that of a bookworm, an amateur astronomer, a birdwatcher, or someone who takes a deep interest in one of countless other subjects. Today, when even the humanities are often defended only for their economic or political usefulness, Hitz says our intellectual lives are valuable not despite but because of their practical uselessness. Reminding us of who we once were and who we might become, Lost in Thought is a moving account of why renewing our inner lives is fundamental to preserving our humanity. p. 240 Pub 2020
The Mathematics Lover’s Companion: Masterpieces for Everyone by Edward R. Scheinerman
Edward Scheinerman, an accomplished mathematician and enthusiastic educator, answers many quantitative questions in a collection of mathematical masterworks. In bite-sized chapters that require only high school algebra, he invites readers to try their hands at solving mathematical puzzles and provides an engaging and friendly tour of numbers, shapes, and uncertainty. The result is an unforgettable introduction to the fundamentals and pleasures of thinking mathematically. p. 296 Pub 2015
The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli
We think of time as uniform and universal, moving steadily from past to future, measured by clocks. Rovelli tears down assumptions about time one by one, revealing a strange universe where at the most fundamental level time disappears. He explains how the theory of quantum gravity attempts to understand and give meaning to the resulting extreme landscape of this timeless world. Weaving together ideas from philosophy, science and literature, he suggests that our perception of the flow of time depends on our perspective, better understood starting from the structure of our brain and emotions than from the physical universe. p. 256 Pub 2018
The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing by Merve Emre
First conceived in the 1920s by the mother-daughter team of Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, a pair of devoted homemakers, novelists, and amateur psychoanalysts, Myers-Briggs was designed to bring the gospel of Carl Jung to the masses. Drawing from original reporting and never-before-published documents, The Personality Brokers takes a critical look at the personality indicator that became a cultural icon. Along the way it examines nothing less than the definition of the self--our attempts to grasp, categorize, and quantify our personalities. Surprising and absorbing, the book, like the test at its heart, considers the timeless question: What makes you, you? p. 336 Pub 2018
QBism-The Future of Quantum Physics by Hans and Lili von Baeyer
The deeper meaning of quantum mechanics remains controversial almost a century after its invention. Providing a way past quantum theory’s paradoxes and puzzles, QBism offers a strikingly new interpretation that opens up for the nonspecialist reader the profound implications of quantum mechanics for how we understand and interact with the world. Using straightforward language without equations, Hans Christian von Baeyer clarifies the meaning of quantum mechanics in a commonsense way that suggests a new approach to physics in general. p. 272 Pub 2016
The Reality Bubble: Blind Spots, Hidden Truths, and the Dangerous Illusions that Shape Our World by Ziya Tong
We are blind in comparison to the X-rays that peer through skin, the mass spectrometers that detect the dead inside the living, or the high-tech surveillance systems that see with artificial intelligence. And we are blind compared to the animals that can see in infrared, or ultraviolet, or in 360-degree vision. These animals live in the same world we do, but they see something quite different when they look around. With all of the curiosity and flair that drives her broadcasting, Ziya Tong illuminates this hidden world, and takes us on a journey to examine ten of humanity's blind spots. p. 361 Pub 2019
The Remarkable Life of the Skin by Monty Lyman
Monty Lyman has written a revelatory book exploring our outer surface that will surprise and enlighten in equal measure. Through the lenses of science, sociology, and history―on topics as diverse as the mechanics and magic of touch (how much goes on in the simple act of taking keys out of a pocket and unlocking a door is astounding), the close connection between the skin and the gut, what happens instantly when one gets a paper cut, and how a midnight snack can lead to sunburn―Lyman leads us on a journey across our most underrated and unexplored organ and reveals how our skin is far stranger, more wondrous, and more complex than we have ever imagined. p. 304 Pub 2020
The Road to Intelligent Machines by Michael Wooldridge
The ultimate dream of AI is to build machines that are like us: conscious and self-aware. While this remains a remote possibility, rapid progress in AI is already transforming our world. Yet the public debate is still largely centred on unlikely prospects, from sentient machines to dystopian robot takeovers. In this myth-busting guide to AI past and present, one of the world's leading researchers shows why our fears for the future are misplaced. p. 256 Pub 2020
The Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom by Stephen M. Stigler
What gives statistics its unity as a science? Stephen Stigler sets forth the seven foundational ideas of statistics -- a scientific discipline related to but distinct from mathematics and computer science:
The Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom presents an original, unified account of statistical science that will fascinate the interested layperson and engage the professional statistician. p. 240 Pub 2016
Six Impossible Things: The Mystery of the Quantum World by John Gribbin
In this concise and engaging book, astrophysicist John Gribbin offers an overview of six of the leading interpretations of quantum mechanics. Gribbin presents Copenhagen, Pilot-Wave, Many Worlds, Decoherence, Ensemble, and Timeless Transactional Interpretations. All of these interpretations are crazy, Gribbin warns, and some are more crazy than others—but in the quantum world, being more crazy does not necessarily mean more wrong. p. 112 Pub 2019
Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy, by Robert H. Frank
In recent years, social scientists have discovered that chance plays a much larger role in important life outcomes than most people imagine. Robert Frank explores the surprising implications of those findings to show why the rich underestimate the importance of luck in success―and why that hurts everyone, even the wealthy. Compellingly readable, Success and Luck shows how a more accurate understanding of the role of chance in life could lead to better, richer, and fairer economies and societies. p. 208 Pub 2017
Successful Aging: a Neuroscientist Explores The Power and Potential of Our Lives by Daniel J Levitin
Successful Aging delivers powerful insights:
Throughout his exploration of what aging really means, using research from developmental neuroscience and the psychology of individual differences, Levitin reveals resilience strategies and practical, cognitive enhancing tricks everyone should do as they age. p. 400 Pub 2020
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
Adam Grant makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. He investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility, humility, and curiosity over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom. p.320 Pub 2021
The Tyranny of Merit-- What’s Become of the Common Good by Michael J. Sandal
Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the polarized politics of our time, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalisation and rising inequality. He highlights the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgement it imposes on those left behind. He offers an alternative way of thinking about success - more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility, and more hospitable to a politics of the common good. p. 268 Pub 2020
Until the End of Time by Brian Greene
Greene takes us on a journey from the big bang to the end of time, exploring how lasting structures formed, how life and mind emerged, and how we grapple with our existence through narrative, myth, religion, creative expression, science, the quest for truth, and a deep longing for the eternal. From particles to planets, consciousness to creativity, matter to meaning—Brian Greene allows us all to grasp and appreciate our fleeting but utterly exquisite moment in the cosmos. p. 448 Pub 2020
The Upswing by Robert D. Putnam
In a sweeping overview of more than a century of history, drawing on his inimitable combination of statistical analysis and storytelling, Robert Putnam analyzes a remarkable confluence of trends that brought us from an “I” society to a “We” society and then back again. He draws inspiring lessons for our time from an earlier era, when a dedicated group of reformers righted the ship, putting us on a path to becoming a society once again based on community. Engaging, revelatory, and timely, this is Putnam’s most ambitious work yet, a fitting capstone to a brilliant career. p. 343 Pub 2020
A User's Guide to the Universe: Surviving the Perils of Black Holes, Time Paradoxes, and Quantum Uncertainty by David Goldberg and Jeff Blomquist
With a large measure of humor and a minimum of math (one equation), physics professor Goldberg and engineer Blomquist delve into the fascinating physics topics that rarely make it into introductory classes, including time travel, extraterrestrials, and "quantum weirdness" to prove that physics' "reputation for being hard, impractical, and boring" is wrong by at least two-thirds: "Hard? Perhaps. Impractical? Definitely not... But boring? That's where we really take issue." Breaking up each topic into common sense questions the duo provides explanations in everyday language with helpful examples, analogies, and Blomquist's charmingly unpolished cartoons. p. 305 Pub 2010
We use the Borda system of voting. This means you give your favorite book, in this case, 35 points, your second favorite 34, your third 33, ... your least favorite 1. All books are assigned a number from 35 to 1, favorite to least favorite.
For new members, common mistakes:
When there are this many books one simple method I use is to select the top three, assign them 35, 34, 33. Take the next top three and then assign numbers 31, 30, 29, take the next three, etc. It is sort of a double filter that simplifies. You may have your own methods. There are only approximately 3 x 10^35 ways to sort these. So tree trimming simplifiers help. Any questions? Email me.
Please enclose your numbers in the brackets, then cut, paste and email to me. I hope to get all ballots back by February 15.