Books

On Books…
I have a critical weakness for buying nonfiction books.  It is virtually impossible for me to enter a bookstore without purchasing at least one (often an armful).  There are books in every room of my house. Obviously, many are unread even though I am a voracious reader. Another vice is that I never get rid of a book.  My spouse periodically implores me to get rid of my high school physics books (and class notes) and thus far I have successfully fended off this unreasonable request 🙂.  I would like to read more fiction…

[First one in each category below is Paul’s favorite, marked by italics.  When more than two links provided, often if not always a specific if not notable review in addition to Amazon.  dk: ]

New and Recent

The Best American Science and Nature Writing (2014) – Rebecca Skloot.
This is an excellent annual book of short stories by prominent scientists and journalist on cutting edge science in the last year, this issue has a great story on the life and research of Jennifer Francis, and her atmospheric jet-stream weirding papers.

Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction – Philip Tetlock and Dan Gardner.
A great book on assessing risk, and on how anybody can train themselves to become much at predictions than blindfolded monkeys throwing darts. Perfect for me in light of my failed vanishing sea ice in 2013 prediction, which deniers love to remind me of :).

The Best American InfoGraphics 2015 – Maria Popova
Do you want to know how to dazzle your audience with amazing graphics and slides. Fantastic. Even has an analysis of the first moves in chess.

———-
As well as:

Believing: The Neuroscience of Fantasies, Fears and Convictions – Michael McGuire
Atmosphere of Hope: Searching for Solutions to the Climate Crisis – Tim Flannery
Not rated at top, likely only because I have not had a chance to read it yet although I did talk to Flannery in Ottawa in October, 2015 at his book launch.

Why Are We Waiting: The logic, urgency, and promise of tackling climate change – Nicholas Stern
Great book for your inner economist. Remember the Stern Reports from a few years ago?

Climate Change

The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth – Tim Flannery
From the guru in OZ. Simply fantastic. What more can I say?

Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet – Mark Lynas
Very sobering and scary. Did I say scary?

As well as:

The Carbon Bubble – Jeff Rubin
Fixing the Sky. The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control – James Fleming
Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller – Jeff Rubin
An Inconvenient Truth – Al Gore
This Changes Everything – Naomi Klein

Others

Language Intelligence – Joseph Romm
Do you want to improve your writing skills with metaphors, rhetoric, vocabulary, etc. This is the book for you. By the founder of the great website Climate Progress.

The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell
A great, comfortable, easily understandable read with deep meaning on abrupt changes, nonlinear systems, falling out of canoes.  Also here.

Tom Clancy fiction
Top 5 of his books; I agree with ranking in link… [1. HFRO 84, 2. C&PD 89, 3. DOH 94, 4. RS 98, 5. B&TD 2000.  Reddit here–useful if not often entertaining.  dk   ]

As well as:

Clive Cussler fiction, favorite is Inca Gold
Alistair Maclean fiction, favorite is Bear Island
History books (WWI, WWII, etc.)

Chess books
Masters of the Chessboard – Reti
Widely regarded as one of the best chess books ever (I own hundreds).

[For more of Paul on chess book, page down in hs Chess section.  Ardent chess players will not fail to do so.  dk]
———- ———-

[Paul’s real love of books is palpable.  Since what he wrote earlier has some slight, but useful differences (author, red), it continues below from October without edits, at this time.  Also serves as useful, printable summary of longer narrative.  We will continue to mention what he is currently reading or have read.  dk]
———-

Recently (Oct 7, 2015) I have been reading ‘The Global Forest: Forty Ways Trees Can Save Us‘, by Diana Beresford-Kroeger. This is fantastic.

Summarized as: ‘10 Trees That Can Save the World is a movement inspired by Canadian environmental visionary Diana Beresford-Kroeger, her book “The Global Forest” and her personal mission to educate 7 billion people about the trees outside their doors. Through a feature film, interactive app, website and more, the movement seeks to create a motivated community of global citizens who will replant the world’s forests and continue to raise awareness and support for the importance of trees in our lives.’
———- ———-

Oct 11, 2015 // ‘This if a very truncated list. I love buying books, and strongly dislike selling any of the books that I have.   I still have all my university textbooks, from years ago. Unfortunately, there is never enough time to read all the books that I buy, and the number seems to always grow bigger. I do not seem to be able to go into any bookstore without buying a few books.

New and Recent
Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction – Philip Tetlock and Dan Gardner
The Best American InfoGraphics 2015 – Maria Popova
Believing: The Neuroscience of Fantasies, Fears and Convictions – Michael McGuire
The Best American Science and Nature Writing – Rebecca Skloot
Atmosphere of Hope: Searching for Solutions to the Climate Crisis – Tim Flannery
Why Are We Waiting: The logic, urgency, and promise of tackling climate change – Nicholas Stern

Climate Change
The Weather Makers – Tim Flannery
An Inconvenient Truth – Al Gore
The Carbon Bubble – Jeff Rubin
Fixing the Sky. The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control – James Fleming
Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller – Jeff Rubin
Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet – Mark Lynas
This Changes Everything – Naomi Klein

Others
Language Intelligence – Joseph Romm
The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell
Tom Clancy fiction
Clive Cussler fiction
History books (WWI, WWII, etc.)
Chess books (hundreds)

**