What are you reading?

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I've two I bought a few weeks ago after hearing them read as Book of the Week on Radio Four – but missing odd episodes. They are:

The Second Sleep – far-future dystopiae are everywhere but Robert Harris' novel is an unusual take on the theme .

Firstly, this is about a young priest being sent to investigate the death of a fellow clergyman in the fictitious but credibly-named village of Axford, evidently near the real Exeter in which some of the events occur.

Further, although this takes place 800 years hence, it is in a post-apocalypse English society that has become a Christian theocracy that has recovered in anything technical only about as far as perhaps the early-18C. We "see" artefacts from the late-20 to early-21C through puzzled 29C eyes – a neat touch that reinforces the drama. Why has that society stopped there, by what means, with what effects? How did the cleric die? What was the purpose of a massive, sealed concrete structure from ancient times, on what is now the local manor's land?

You will have to read it, won't you?

'

And…

'

The other book is very different, and factual.

Scientist and science journalist Adam Rutherford explores the nature of bigotry in his How To Argue With A Racist, showing the stereotypes and myths, of which not all are necessarily nasty, but which back up the false idea of races having specific characteristics that do not exist in reality.

For example, the idea that because many Indians are superb mathematicians or many Africans excel at athletics, they must have some genetic reason for it – no, he says, examine cultures, not biology.

He also shows how science, particularly modern developments in DNA testing and genetics, is being misused to bolster racism, such as on self-gratification web-sites devoted to the attitude.

As for those DNA testing companies that purport to tell you your geographical and racial origins… he exposes their reasoning as deeply flawed, by simple arithmetic that to be honest I find somewhat counter-intuitive. It goes like this:

Each organism takes half of its DNA information from one parent, half from the other. Each of them in turn… only a few generations shows the startling effect of that 1/2-exponent. As I understand it, even if any of us can trace our documented marital lineage over several 100 years, we cannot be anywhere near as sure of our biological hence ethnic origins. Rutherford goes on to explain how the DNA companies arrive at their results – basically, by bad statistics and generalising.

Why counter-intuitive? It made me think of a population decreasing by about [1 / ( 2^4) ] per century, not growing rapidly, but of course that forgets that most couples who have children, produce two or more; and the generations in each family overlap. (He types, having just learnt of becoming a great-uncle yet again!)

This is an interesting and more, a thought-provoking, work that ought be set in every school in the land – every land.

And next time I am faced with a tick-box list on an official form, asking my ' Ethnicity ' usually concatenated with nationality, I will tick the box labelled ' Errr…. '

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Been doing a lot of reading lately while weather has been too hot for shed work. Including the two joint 2019 Booker Prize Winners and a runner up:

"Girl, Woman, Other" by Bernadine Evaristo. Best book I have read for a long time. Each chapter is the life story of a different woman, often an immigrant from Africa or the Caribbean and their mothers back in the old country and their 21st century post-feminist daughters growing up in the UK. They all interweave in fascinating ways and all are amazing stories stunningly told. As a not particularly woke bloke, from the title I half expected it to be one of those dreary "literary" tomes banging a drum about gender and identity politics rah rah rah — but it's not. Those issues are there to some extent – shown warts and all, sometimes scathingly — but the book is at heart a tour de force of great storytelling. Heart-rending.

"The Testament" by Margaret Atwood. Joint Booker winner and sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale". Not as good a book as the above IMHO but still a good read. Basically a thriller, the plot seemed a little contrived and clunky and the tone a little overly preachy on the evils of patriarchal religious zealotry in North America. But kept me reading along anyway. Atwood is a great writer but for me this book is not her best.

"Quichotte" by Salman Rushdie. Shortlisted runner up. I really enjoyed this retelling of Cervantes' "Don Quixote" about an ageing Indian ("with a dot, not a feather" ) man journeying across America tilting at metaphorical windmills in a quest to rescue his daytime TV celebrity damsel in perceived distress. Blurs the lines between fact and fantasy in today's "post-truth" and "alternative-facts" world of unreliable narrators and crazy billionaires. A great romp but also very thought-provoking.

Also been reading the series of ME articles, downloaded from this site, by ET Westbury on building the Kiwi Mk2 IC engine. Bought the full size plans from Hemingway Kits and been scanning them with a view to buying the castings kit. But now the bottom has dropped out of both my stockmarket fund and the Aussie dollar against the Pound so trying to figure out just how much work it would be to machine it from the solid without CNC. Lots, by the look of it!

 

Edited By Hopper on 20/03/2020 06:31:38

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 20/03/2020 00:47:35:

He also shows how science, particularly modern developments in DNA testing and genetics, is being misused to bolster racism, such as on self-gratification web-sites devoted to the attitude.

Not just modern science. Darwin's theory of evolution very quickly gave rise to the "science" of race and eugenics that was hugely popular in 19th through early 20th century and taken up by the Nazis. Such misplaced racial chauvinism seems never to go away. Social media certainly has given it new wings.

The book sounds like a fascinating read. Must get it from the library — while they are still open. Not sure how all that is going to go in current times. I see France has declared bookshops an essential service to stay open along with supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations. Good on 'em.

[John MCParticipant @johnmc39344]

Recently finished Sir Miles Thomas's biography, BOAC chairman along with many other jobs, a good read remembering that he has written it himself.

Now reading "John Wilkinson, King of the Ironmasters". Disappointing so far. Nothing to say why he was the "King of the Ironmasters". I'm hoping there will be some explanation later in the book otherwise its going to be a very dull read.

John

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

I always have several on the go at once – some already mentioned.

The Testament, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Lyttleton's Britain (Hilarious ISIHAC introductions), Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cooking, Clarissa Dickson-Wright's Food and more 30's Model Engineers – as much for how the hobby has changed.

LBSC's 1936 Polar Route 250 foot track with tight curves so only suitable for 2 1/2" or small 3 1/2" locos seems quaint in the light of todays large multigauge tracks and some of the craftsmanship in the drawings published (Geo. Gentry) is awe inspiring.

How much aeromodelling and hydroplane racing formed part of the hobby then is interesting as well.

[Simon CollierParticipant @simoncollier74340]

The Coming Plague, by Laurie Garrett. Re-reading as it was published about 1995 and I read it years ago. About emerging diseases, with an emphasis on the emergence of HIV.

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Just got my latest copy of MEW to keep me happy for a short while in between reading through all the Tom Thorne novels by Mark Billingham. Not my normal reading matter but was given the first two Wolf Hall novels a while back and really enjoyed them. Very sad to see the death toll in Italy is now greater than China, this is a year none of us will forget in a hurry.

Doug

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 20/03/2020 00:47:35:

I've two I bought a few weeks ago after hearing them read as Book of the Week on Radio Four – but missing odd episodes. They are:

The Second Sleep – far-future dystopiae are everywhere but Robert Harris' novel is an unusual take on the theme .

Firstly, this is about a young priest being sent to investigate the death of a fellow clergyman in the fictitious but credibly-named village of Axford, evidently near the real Exeter in which some of the events occur.

The Second sleep was the afternoon play on radio four for several days and was a good listen.

Martin P

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Bill Chugg on 19/03/2020 19:32:26:

Dyslexia makes it a tremendous problem for me,so the honest answer is nowt.

Youtube is my saviour, especially the videos by Keith Appleton.

Bill

Same here apart from watching that pompous Mr Appleton

H

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Wow, some seriously interesting recommendations here. I'm on Adam Rutherford's email bulletin and enjoy his radio programmes.

Yesterday I finished 'This is going to hurt' by Adam Kay. Moving to read the last part just as the value of everyone in the NHS is being thrown into such sharp focus.

I read the first chapter of Wolf Hall. It really did feel like being thrown in at the deep end; clearly she strips out almost anything that you can (or she thinks you can) figure out for yourself. I was actually disappointed she translated(ish) the Welsh bits!

Neil

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle(it's a trilogy), and Cryptonomicon will keep you going for ages! Lots of detail about all sorts of things you've never considered is a large part of his style.

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

A lot of earnest stuff so far, and nothing wrong with that, but for something a bit lighter I'm re-reading some of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman books . . . also available as audiobooks on YouTube. One of the most enjoyable ways to learn some 19th century history

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

[This posting has been removed]

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

For light(er) reading I might get back into Michael Moorcock's 'Eternal Champion' books

And I can play Hawkwind and Blue Oyster Cult while I read them.

Neil

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

Exactly: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World

 

but if anyone wanted a recommendation for engineering related book, Either of J.E.Gordon's books

 

Edited By jaCK Hobson on 20/03/2020 16:54:24

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 19/03/2020 17:46:16:

Yesterday I bought a copy of Wolf Hall (it was half the price of the new one, and I reckon I need to read them in order).

I'm sure some of us will be thinking this is a good time to tackle "Au Recherche du Temps Perdue" or "Ulysses" but perhaps there are some better suggestions for filling the hours?

So, what are forum members reading, engineering related or otherwise?

Neil

Hustler…

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

Touching Distance by Graham Hurley.

Fiction, set in Devon.

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Bill Chugg on 20/03/2020 12:21:20:

Posted by Harry Wilkes on 20/03/2020 09:37:33:

Posted by Bill Chugg on 19/03/2020 19:32:26:

Dyslexia makes it a tremendous problem for me,so the honest answer is nowt.

Youtube is my saviour, especially the videos by Keith Appleton.

Bill

Same here apart from watching that pompous Mr Appleton

H

Another sufferer. It is surprising how common this complaint is.

Agree, he is a bit like that at times, but then, none of us is perfect, and he does know more than me.

Bill

Edited By Bill Chugg on 20/03/2020 12:25:05

Yes another sufferer and I was also left hand so in my early years at school they tried to 'knock' both of them out of me !!!!

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 19/03/2020 17:46:16:

I'm sure some of us will be thinking this is a good time to tackle "Au Recherche du Temps Perdue"…?

Pedant alert: "À la Recherche du Temps Perdu".

Unless perhaps this is the real title of a parody like the parodies "Barry Trotter" and "Bored of the Rings".

What am I reading? Well trying to: my DRO manual, which would have been more intelligible if it had not been translated from Chinese.

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Are there any folk here using a Kindle? We are somewhat starved of reading material here in Namibia, especially in Swakopmund – the local Library is very poor in stock…

Book Stores are likewise very limited – we have two (!) book shops in Swakop, one mostly German, the other very small.

I am considering a Kindle, but feel a little insulted by Amazons 'license' agreement – you may read but not own the book you buy, and Amazon seems to be legally able to revoke your license anytime, and you lose the book(s) you purchased. Not sure what you have to do to have the license revoked..

Also, it seems to me that the book prices on Amazon are quite high?

I hate reading a book on a tablet though – I like to have the book in hand – easy to flip back to refresh on something, etc. And the book smells good…However, I have depleted the Library's stock, both bookshops, and buying paper books from abroad is becoming difficult here.

Any Advice on a Kindle?

Joe

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

 

What am I reading? Well trying to: my DRO manual, which would have been more intelligible if it had not been translated from Chinese.

I think mine is still in Chinese, it does use English words, but makes no sense at all

Edited By duncan webster on 20/03/2020 21:33:53

[egaParticipant @ega]

Joe:

I read Kindle and other ebooks on my Android tablet partly as a disincentive to buying too many print books. If you are serious about a Kindle there is lots of advice available about which model to go for.

I'm in sympathy with your comments about amazon but they are not the only game in town.

Good luck to you and to Africa!

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Posted by Joseph Noci 1 on 20/03/2020 21:32:57:

Are there any folk here using a Kindle?

I have had one since 2013 and have not bought a book yet. There are innumerable older books on there that are totally free, which might assuage your concerns over licensing.

E.g. Mark Twain; all of Dumas' (both of them) works; Shackleton; Conan Doyle; Dickens; Austin; G.K. Chesterton; Hugo.

Something I did not yet see mentioned in this thread is the enormous amount of free material online. The Internet Archive is a good place to start.

A few notables I have found: Foundations of Mechanical Accuracy, Joshua Rose Modern Machine Shop Practice, Skunkworks (Lockheed), Truth, Lies and O-rings (Space Shuttle), Ashley book of Knots.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

We belong to 3 local libraries in 3 counties and at least two of them do e-book loans.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Joseph Noci 1 on 20/03/2020 21:32:57:.

…

Any Advice on a Kindle?

Joe

I dislike Kindle's Terms & Conditions & business model so I bought a Bookeen. Similar to Kindle but more 'open'. I use it with Calibre, which is a free application for managing books: As well as being a reader itself, it can download, manage libraries, upload to a variety of e-readers, and convert between all the common formats.

I haven't found an affordable e-reader that handles non-fiction well. Most technical stuff is in PDF format which can't reformat on tiny ebook screens properly. Specially pictures & diagrams! I found a few big screen PDF readers aimed at the academic market, but they're expensive, with outdated software, and don't display fiction well. If anyone knows of an e-reader good for technical material and fiction, please let me know!

I mention non-fiction because there are a lot of old engineering books on the web. As my workshop's manual methods are close to how industry worked 120 years ago, I find old books more useful than modern ones.

Dave

[Author]

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