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Hi, NF Reader
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VTChEwbecca
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Hey NF reader, welcome!! 
I enjoy science non-fiction, but have had trouble getting into other topics. More specifically, what do you read?
I enjoy science non-fiction, but have had trouble getting into other topics. More specifically, what do you read?
Hi Chewy,
Here are a few of my recent reads...
From Darwin to Hitler by Richard Weikart. This is about the change in European society that took place from 1859, when The Origin of the Species came out, until WWII. Basically, the culture became much more secular as the idea of evolution became more normalized. Human life took on less and less value over the decades, as the academics pointed to Africans, Asians and Aborigines as 'less human.' Weikart, a history professor who is fluent in German, translated a bunch of long-forgotten publications that came out in the latter half of the 19th century and they reveal a stunning amount of racism. His thesis is that over the generations, the society of Germany became more and more accepting of evolution and, as Hitler rose to power, this change made it easy for thousands of average Germans to carry out the dictator's genocidal orders.
Now I know that sounds depressing, but it is really an eye-opening commentary about gradual changes in societies. Weikart can be a bit dry and academic, but the book's new information is a must read, IMHO.
Another is Freakonomics by Leavitt and someone (can't recall the name) but this is much lighter and really engrossing. Basically they make the normally dry subject of economics come alive with vivid (and surprisingly funny) stories about real-life examples of economics in action. One is about the surprising level of business acumen that a Chicago drug dealer has. This is one of the few books that made me laugh out loud.
How about you? What do you like to read?
Here are a few of my recent reads...
From Darwin to Hitler by Richard Weikart. This is about the change in European society that took place from 1859, when The Origin of the Species came out, until WWII. Basically, the culture became much more secular as the idea of evolution became more normalized. Human life took on less and less value over the decades, as the academics pointed to Africans, Asians and Aborigines as 'less human.' Weikart, a history professor who is fluent in German, translated a bunch of long-forgotten publications that came out in the latter half of the 19th century and they reveal a stunning amount of racism. His thesis is that over the generations, the society of Germany became more and more accepting of evolution and, as Hitler rose to power, this change made it easy for thousands of average Germans to carry out the dictator's genocidal orders.
Now I know that sounds depressing, but it is really an eye-opening commentary about gradual changes in societies. Weikart can be a bit dry and academic, but the book's new information is a must read, IMHO.
Another is Freakonomics by Leavitt and someone (can't recall the name) but this is much lighter and really engrossing. Basically they make the normally dry subject of economics come alive with vivid (and surprisingly funny) stories about real-life examples of economics in action. One is about the surprising level of business acumen that a Chicago drug dealer has. This is one of the few books that made me laugh out loud.
How about you? What do you like to read?
VTChEwbecca
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I've heard good things about Freakonomics, but have not read it.
I have most recently read Out of Thin Air by Peter Ward, which looks at the theory that changes in oxygen levels led to the evolution of various body plans. More specifically, in times of low oxygen, a greater diversity of body plans appeared, while during times of high oxygen, a greater diversity of organisms appeared. An interesting read.
Currently, while I am reading Spindle's End, I am also reading The Scientific American Book of Dinosaurs ed Gregory Paul, which is a series of essays about current theories surrounding dinosaurs.
One of my favorite non-fiction books is A Fish Caught in Time by Samantha Weinberg, about the coelacanth...it follows the discovery of the first specimen through current investigations of the fish.
I have most recently read Out of Thin Air by Peter Ward, which looks at the theory that changes in oxygen levels led to the evolution of various body plans. More specifically, in times of low oxygen, a greater diversity of body plans appeared, while during times of high oxygen, a greater diversity of organisms appeared. An interesting read.
Currently, while I am reading Spindle's End, I am also reading The Scientific American Book of Dinosaurs ed Gregory Paul, which is a series of essays about current theories surrounding dinosaurs.
One of my favorite non-fiction books is A Fish Caught in Time by Samantha Weinberg, about the coelacanth...it follows the discovery of the first specimen through current investigations of the fish.