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• Current

Type: documentary

Status: neutral

Author: James D. Watson

Tags: science biology autobiography academia

Description: James Watson's autobiography... re the politics of academia as much as the story of hisJames Watson's autobiography... re the politics of academia as much as the story of his attempts at a social life (finally married a young Radcliffe student when he was 40 odd) -- one can just imagine how socially awkward he was/is....

2007-12-27

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: Howard Gardner

Tags: teaching creativity cognitive_science brains

Description: Gardner defines the five cognitive attributes necessary for the future -- the disciplinaryGardner defines the five cognitive attributes necessary for the future -- the disciplinary mind (i.e., mastery of major schools of thought), the synthesizing mind (ability to integrate ideas and communicate them), the creating mind, the respectful mind (appreciating differences among human beings), and the ethical mind (fulfillment of the duties of citizens and workers)....

2007-12-27

  & 3 users

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: now reading

Author: David Weinberger

Tags: internet information complexity information_literacy

Description: Re the history of the ordering of information (including Dewey, etc.) to the internet -- firstRe the history of the ordering of information (including Dewey, etc.) to the internet -- first order, second order, third order.... tagging and virtual organization of information... Nothing earth-shattering for anyone who accepts Web 2.0 and its future, but interesting to read....

2007-08-03

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: John Sutherland

Tags: reading literature novels

Description: A book to skim -- which I did more with an eye to discussions with students in the libraryA book to skim -- which I did more with an eye to discussions with students in the library re reading and how to approach books. A good overall summary of books and their position in society and the components you can analyse....

2007-08-03

  & 1 users

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: Alain de Botton

Tags: art culture architecture houses happiness

Description: Another thought-provoking and enjoyable read from de Botton. Not as good as his book on travelAnother thought-provoking and enjoyable read from de Botton. Not as good as his book on travel or Proust, but still interesting. A meditation on architecture and how the material evokes -- and confirms -- our internal values and philosophy of life....

2007-08-03

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: David Harris

Tags: history iran usa shah

Description: The story of the Iran hostage crisis.... Very interesting....

2007-07-30

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: John Perkins

Tags: economics international global_issues

Description: An account of someone working (undercover) to, in effect, sabotage the economies of other countries,An account of someone working (undercover) to, in effect, sabotage the economies of other countries, while ostensibly helping to "develop" them. Fascinating, though not well written and a bit self-important. Re all those consulting firms who are secretly in cahoots with the CIA, NSA, World Bank, IMF, etc. -- true on one level, not true on all.......

2007-07-30

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: neutral

Author: Sara Davidson

Tags: life aging

Description: Subtitled, Reflections from the Boomer Generation. Davidson is struggling with life afterSubtitled, Reflections from the Boomer Generation. Davidson is struggling with life after fifty and interviews lots of people to find out how they are coping -- in the attempt to help herself. Interesting (as I'm just fifty now), but not really very good. A bit too much navel-gazing.......

2007-07-20

  & 8 users

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: Ben Mezrich

Tags: gambling

Description: Theoretically non-fiction, but written so much like fiction that it actually detracts fromTheoretically non-fiction, but written so much like fiction that it actually detracts from the book. A gripping story nonetheless re the science of winning at blackjack -- and how some bright MIT students, with the help of a professor, set up teams to make money gambling. The winnings were legal, but dangerous in that casinos can legally exclude anyone they don't want winning too much -- and the exclusion methods can be aggressive....

2007-03-18

  & 4 users

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: Michael Lewis

Tags: usa innovation football universities class_system

Description: Fascinating story of a poor black kid who happens to fit the profile of a football team positionFascinating story of a poor black kid who happens to fit the profile of a football team position recently risen in importance. Re the difference between the individual talent/star system and playing as a smart team. How one coach transformed American football. The knock-on affect, down to the high school level. Black vs. white. Poor vs. rich. Instant talent vs. hard work and intelligence. Read it straight through....

2007-01-29