First and four-most was Norman Doidge’s The Brain’s Way of Healing.
Inspirational and a solid mix of anecdote, science, and useful information that you can apply in your everyday life, though it is far from a self-help book. A book about cutting edge neuroscience and the remarkable new therapies that can awaken dormant brain cells. It might even make you cry, from happiness.
In the same vein of helpful science, but requiring quite the well-worth commitment of time and effort, was Gary Taubes Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health.
Taubes explains why we get the often erroneous advice we get (usually a form of sunk cost is to blame) and just how wrong it often is, backing up theory with science and excellent investigative journalism. A quick easy introduction can be found at econtalk.org, where he was interviewed by Russ Roberts:
Gary Taubes, author of Why We Get Fat, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why we get fat and the nature of evidence in a complex system. The current mainstream view is that we get fat because we eat too much and don’t exercise enough. Taubes challenges this seemingly uncontroversial argument with a number of empirical observations, arguing instead that excessive carbohydrate consumption causes obesity. In this conversation he explains how your body reacts to carbohydrates and explains why the mainstream argument of “calories in/calories out” is inadequate for explaining obesity. He also discusses the history of the idea of carbohydrates’ importance tracing it back to German and Austrian nutritionists whose work was ignored after WWII. Roberts ties the discussion to other emergent, complex phenomena such as the economy. The conversation closes with a discussion of the risks of confirmation bias and cherry-picking data to suit one’s pet hypotheses.
This book didn’t exactly change the way I ate, I had already been suspicious of carbs, and way back in the karate days had changed my body composition by going almost Atkins, a change that has persisted to this day. I am now too skinny, after a life of being possibly on the plump (for Ontario standards, which turn out to be pretty darn anorexic) side. But if you have unwanted fat, or know people who do, this book is basically a must. It makes sense of many things you experience in your own body and helps to explain why governments want you to eat so much grain. And for Americans plagued by diabetes, this book should be essential reading.
What is Life, by Addy Pross, was a pleasant surprise and extremely interesting, and moves one from the macro to the micro and back again. His understanding of chemistry is astonishing but the concepts he discusses are for the most part thoroughly explicated, and I thought he did a good job of backing away from the philosophical and sticking with the knowable, but recognizing the inherent questions all answers raise.
The question of how life on Earth (or indeed anywhere else) began is one that has been pondered and debated by scientists, philosophers and the common man throughout history. The title of this book repeats that of an essay written by Erwin Schrödinger in the 1940s. While it is not necessary to have read Schrödinger’s essay to understand this book, anyone interested in the knotty problem of life’s origins should probably take a look.
In Schrödinger’s essay, written before the structure of DNA was known, he tries to relate the macroscopic process of heredity to the quantum worlds of physics and chemistry. In his turn, Addy Pross addresses a related problem – what is it that makes some arrangements of matter ‘alive’? What (in the chemical sense) differentiates living matter from the same set of chemicals in a dead organism, or a piece of inanimate matter that has never been alive?
Pross suggests that there are two aspects to the origin of life problem. The first is historical – how did life actually emerge on Earth just over 4 billion years ago? To this, Pross claims we will almost certainly never find a satisfactory answer. The second, more important, question covers the general chemical principles and processes by which life could emerge, and identifying the driving force behind why it should do so in the first place – seemingly in defiance of the laws of thermodynamics.
And finally, rounding out the top four books that brought science to Xty’s life in 2015, in more ways than one, I am currently listening to, and mostly greatly enjoying Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioural Economics, by Richard Thaler.
Richard H. Thaler has spent his career studying the radical notion that the central agents in the economy are humans—predictable, error-prone individuals. Misbehaving is his arresting, frequently hilarious account of the struggle to bring an academic discipline back down to earth—and change the way we think about economics, ourselves, and our world.
Traditional economics assumes rational actors. Early in his research, Thaler realized these Spock-like automatons were nothing like real people. Whether buying a clock radio, selling basketball tickets, or applying for a mortgage, we all succumb to biases and make decisions that deviate from the standards of rationality assumed by economists. In other words, we misbehave. More importantly, our misbehavior has serious consequences. Dismissed at first by economists as an amusing sideshow, the study of human miscalculations and their effects on markets now drives efforts to make better decisions in our lives, our businesses, and our governments.
Well that should keep you busy for today and tomorrow. The fiction review will have to be short. And I must confess that a few books need to be finished, before that review can be complete, one of which is currently sitting on the sail boat, where it reads best: a good friend sent me Passage to Juneau, by Jonathan Raban, and while I am not sure I like the protagonist and he seems to name drop his history rather than introduce the reader to it, it is full of fascinating sea-faring stuff. Joshua Slocum’s Sailing Alone Around the World is absolutely charming and holds up extremely well. The Aubrey/Maturin series, of which Hollywood made but the one movie, Master and Commander, has gotten a little silly as Patrick O’Brian moves away from the historical time line, but as we approach the end of the series, having made it through The Wine Dark Sea, I heartily recommend them, especially in audio and especially if you can get them read by Simon Vance.
Outside of sailing, well mostly, surprise joy was found in Around the World in 80 Days, Dracula, and perhaps inexplicably, I still think about that irritating book Babbitt, and the growth of American conformity that it examines. 20 Gazillion Nonsensical Leagues Under the Sea, however, I can only say is an historic curiosity, and in that vein and taken with a gallon of sea salt, can be approached, but with extreme caution. Likewise The Black Arrow, and especially The Last (thank zeus) of the Mohicans. I think I would have preferred the second to last:
And finally podcasts. What a great resource. Econtalk, Sawbones, Radiolab, My Brother, My Brother and Me, Serial, The Adventure Zone, Trends Like These, Judge John Hodgman, The Ancient World, Doorway to The Hidden World … I am sure there was much more. But a cornucopia of entertainment and information, and I am sure you will be able to find something of interest in the heap. All free from iTunes, but you can always support young comedians if you feel like it …
Have a happy and interesting New Year’s Eve, and don’t be falling for mandatory drinking! Be safe and warm and do no harm, even to yourself.
*I cannot understand why some of the links are displaying oddly. They look fine in preview and do work. First it was Dracula, and I was able to fix it. Now it has spread but the html is the same for both the correct and incorrect, so I am a little stumped and will stump around in the snow with the dog and see if that helps!
Aha … something to do with Project Gutenberg links perchance, as altering Dracula to link to wikipedia has fixed the strike through, if not the colour. For my own sanity’s sake I will tackle this … but after the snow tromp.
And Good Morning. It looks like a lovely day in our beautiful Goldilock’s Zone of a world.
Fresh suet seed stuff out for the birds, and the rescued bird feeder in the back has finally attracted quite a few lovely birds, one of which I have to still identify. A sort of tuxedo looking bird, black on the back and white on the belly, and no, it ain’t a chickadee or a nuthatch. Basement much improved. But man once you start to question the stuff around you it really builds into a bit of a compulsion. Had to keep the lego, however.
Oh dang, that leaves my mental illness comment on the previous page. Oh well, shouting from the mountain tops and hoping to have my words land on fertile soil is clearly a bit of a Mugg’s game.
Not one to overreact, but forewarned is forearmed (but eight armed is silly, as my dad would say):
Areas of particular concern include:
Delaware, including both Delaware Bay and the Atlantic beaches
The western side of Chesapeake Bay, including tidewater inlets and the Norfolk/Newport News metro areas
The Jersey shore, including the south shore of Raritan Bay
Batten down in Virginia!
Oh and thanks Wunderground for the map.
Hello …
Soggy brain. Infection, antibiotics … mood strangely great but coordination and thinking both a little muddy. I described myself as off kilter yesterday morning, and so I am.
Thank Thor (or Frietag) for podcasts and bird feeders outside the living room window. Man … I am hitting a lot of wrong keys …
And banana pancakes …
Beef franks simmering with baked beans, olive oil, worcestershire sauce, tabasco, and pepper. Poor mans grub but i am quite thankful to have it.
Watched a fascinating segment about Italian olive oil on 60 minutes. 90% of the stuff on the shelves of US grocery stores is pure crap.
Now buying California products.
I’ll see if i can find the video.
Wireless speaker needs the dust shaken off.
http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-basics/mafia-olive-oil-on-60-minutes/50203
I love weiners and beans as my dad would call them. He would spilt the hotdogs down the middle and fill them with cheddar cheese and broil them … luxury childhood food at the cottage! We ate what I realise was practical but did me in, a lot of dried soup, at the cottage, and beaners and weans was my favourite escape from soup. Camping too.
After your rice syrup discovery I would like to think nothing would surprise me. We do eat a fair amount of olive oil and I am not sure where it is from … usually Italian I think. Must go check … and will watch the video. Big fan of healthy fats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7K68GuARf4&list=PLsivMY0UPVaHFDMekqDSx2th2FRVPwN6e
My old pal
was always fond of this album.
Well the deep-cleaning bug had stumbled but got back up, and next thing you know I had emptied the “hardware” drawer in the kitchen. Now slightly more organized, thanks to ziplock baggies, etc., but on the floor as the drawer dries out after a fairly cursory wash. Washed and then today actually ironed old linen from my grannies, and discovered what I can only assume are massive old linen tea towels and these five enormous (like two foot square) fancy white linen pillow cases … can’t imagine where they belonged in either ancestral home. But somehow glorious and I will see if I can get pillow blanks (is that a term?) to put inside them. Old napkins and one slightly stained and probably toast old table cloth. But all went through the washer and dryer, so sturdiness no longer in question. In question is why have and not use? So going to go for use, while performing a minimal purge.
Good morning … feeling still off kilter. Sure to pass soon.
Furnace on the fritz. Diagnosis: need new one. Not enjoying diagnosis.
I will get back to writing … life just gets in the way sometimes. But I am learning to not panic about things and I feel a certain hesitation right now so am simply directing energies elsewhere, as my subconscious wrestles with stuff. And just to whine, I sometimes am simply not so well, like now, and it takes a toll.
But Good Morning … there was a lovely big blue jay on the back yard feeder and once the gazillion starlings went away a nice nuthatch on the front suet. The starlings arrive like a gang but peace has descended and the sun is shining. I am avoiding paper work and money stuff … perhaps I will substitute yoga for coping, Or maybe a nap with a podcast. Need to get feet back under me more than anything.
Nothing like a walk in the sunshine with your puppy (and hubby). Visited the boat and our cucumber frame tarp construct is looking fine, and now cheesy haddock is bubbling in the oven, with roasted potatoes and carrots.
It is amazing how one’s (or my) thoughts can sort of darken when I am more achy, etc. I have been trying quite hard to work on mindfulness and acknowledge but not react to same, and replace them with now thoughts. And cooking is very now. Why past perceived grievances should surface to reenforce feeling unwell is most remarkable and one cannot help but think about chickens and eggs. And I have started to listen to 10% Happier on advice from offspring #1, and so far so very good. Honest accountings of professional hubris and disaster are always refreshing and I am eagerly anticipating his public meltdown.
Okay, that was really yummy.
Haddock au gratin
2 pounds haddock fillets
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup minced onion
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup half-and-half cream
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 teaspoon paprika
I used leek instead of onion and added some white wine to the cheese sauce and used gouda, parmesan and mozzarella because that was what we had. You basically make a cheese sauce by sautéing the leeks in too much butter, add some flour once the leeks are translucent, let the flour cook up, then wine, cream and turn off the heat, stir in the cheese and pour over the fish, which you have salted and peppered and lain in a buttered baking dish. Half an hour at 350. Turning haddock into gold. Buttery like halibut at a third the cost.
Good grey morning.
And another grey morning, but grey weather is warmer weather in the winter, and since I am one of those awful people who fears global cooling much more than global warming, I will take what I can get.
Coincidence? I happen to listen to a fairly silly but entertaining podcast called Bunker Buddies, that I find funny partly because of my brush with prepping and preppers at the swamp, and they happened to mention the year without a summer, just now, after I revealed my dreadful lack of proper modern concern for the warm winter:
(Thanks wiki)
And I know you have all been breathlessly waiting to know what bird (or I should say birds for there were at least a half dozen) I saw the other day at the rescued back yard feeder. Apparently the most common of the junco’s:
The Dark-eyed Junco
Good morning. Time for yoga – it is an ice sheet outside and Mouse will have to wait.
And good afternoon.
Good Afternoon. Chicken turning into stock on the stove, yoga and 10 minute power yoga for the legs (!) done, and now the new peaceful domestic chore of ironing. I do like the sound and smell of ironing. Like vanilla is for some people, it is a return to childhood. And the piles are really dwindling.