"Up From Never," a true life story by Joseph N. Sorrentino. He had a rough childhood with many scrapes with the law and failed 4 times to graduate from high school. He eventually saw where his life was headed if he did not change, and decided to get a better education. He went to Harvard Law School where he gave the valedictory address for his graduating class.
Ukridge by PG Wodehouse. I hadn't really ventured out the Blandings/Jeeves/Psmith collections that much. Ukridge may be the funniest book I've ever read. He's also featured in another book 'Love Among the Chickens' - absolutely hilarious.
I am so glad to read this comment. Wodehouse is sublime in all what he wrote - if you end up reading Jeeves series, I would recommend Right Ho, Jeeves and Code of Woosters
I put The Hunchback of Notre-Dame in that category, a pleasure to read from front to back. The association with work made it take me decades to get to some of the books assigned for class in high school, like these. A few were so good that I tried to read Anna Karenina again. Maybe in a few decades more I'll like that one too.
I read Hunchback of Notre Dame around 20 years ago. The ending is until today the only book ever to make me cry. Don't remember much else, probably a good time to pick it up again.
I'm still reading it, but the book Material World by Ed Conway has been very informative and enjoyable to read.
It's a book that I've been looking for for a long time. It explores how different common natural resources are intertwined with one another and their role in our every day lives. It also contains a lot of details about the processes and economics related to their extraction and how they are turned into usable forms.
I finally read the Attack on Titan manga this year. It was incredible and not at all what I was expecting from the trailers.
Lots of unexpected twists to the story, a steady pace of reveals of interesting mysteries, and it seems the entire story was planned out from the start, with things set up at the very beginning that receive a payoff much later.
I also read and really appreciated the Witch Hat Atelier manga. It's kind of like a Harry Potter-style story but with a hard magic system like Brandon Sanderson (once you know it you can look at a picture of the spell and be able to guess what it's supposed to do... also there's a lot of modularity in the system so it feels a bit like programming with functions at times, building up more complex and creative spells from the synthesis of smaller ones).
A lot of the story in the manga seems to be setting up these interesting moral quandaries about how and how much should you help less fortunate people when you have the power/ability/knowledge to do so, but there are restrictions to what you should do and good reasons for those restrictions, and how can you work around those restrictions and still feel good about yourself and feel like you've done enough (even when you know you could be doing more)?
Also should those restrictions be in place in the first place, or are those restrictions ultimately doing more harm than good, and did those who put those restrictions in place do it with good or ill intentions?
It's still ongoing, and probably only about halfway through so far, but it was a really interesting read that I'll definitely go back to just so I can ponder its messages again and again. It also doesn't have an anime yet but it has to be getting one sometime soon, it's too good and the art in the manga is too pretty not to get one.
I'm also about halfway through 20th Century Boys manga and that's a really clever mystery about some sinister things happening in modern day juxtaposed with the protagonist's childhood, and what in his childhood might somehow be related to what's going on in the modern day.
I went in totally blind (just having heard it's really good) and have really enjoyed discovering the secrets of the mysteries (and there's still plenty more to be revealed). It's got a different character art style than most manga as well, and it's pretty refreshing (characters have defined lips, it's weird at first but refreshingly different).
Among all ML books, it’s a really good overview of many concepts connected one to another and spelled out in easy to grasp way
Also „Designing Machine Learning Systems” by Chip Huyen looks really promising and very hands-on (lessons learned by very committed practitioner). It gives actionable tips and provides real life insights. I haven’t finished reading it yet though
I spent the past year reading the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I’m on the last push of the final(seventh) book
It was my first dip into any King books and I’m equal parsers impressed and exhausted with his writing style.
I always assumed he was a horror writer, but after chugging through the series this year I’m excited to dig into his other works(after a short break for sure)
It’s difficult to describe but I found so many parallels between this story and my life that it was eerie to read at times. On top of that, the descriptors he uses in his writing are fascinating. At times the story, especially early on, was confusing and even now, have more questions than answers.
I’d like to take a few years and then come back to the saga and give it another shot.
Until then, if anyone has recommendations on the next books (non-horror please) to dig into, please send them my way!
I really liked "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder". It's very well researched and pieced together from conflicting accounts.
After I was finished I decided to look up the author and found out he wrote "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "The Lost City of Z", both of which I really enjoyed! If you like books like Endurance, Unbroken, or A Land So Strange, you'll dig this one.
I was unexpectedly blown away by a post-apocalyptic book called Wool by Hugh Howey, the first one of the Silo trilogy. Hard to say what did it exactly, just the overall combination of plot, storytelling and pacing. I read (or rather listen to) a lot of fiction and sci-fi specifically, and can't recall the last time I was this much into a book. About to start the second one, and also looking forward to the TV series based on it.
I generally prefer long-form fiction, but very much enjoyed most of the stories in the Triptych books, and they led me to other, similar authors whose work I also enjoy.
Huh. Maybe I should try it again. I read a lot (https://3e.org/books/) and I found Wool to be so execrably awful I couldn't get last the first 100 pages. Like literally some of the worst writing I'd ever seen.
The 3-body problem trilogy (Rememberance of the Earth's past). My first sci-fi novels ever - the Netflix show sold me and these novels compelled me on a whole new hard sci-fi rabbit hole.
Presumed Innocent (preceeded by the Apple TV show of same name). Murder mystery. Loved it.
Tie-in novels from videogame franchise:
- Deus Ex: Black Light
- Devil May Cry: before the nightmare
I've also started Marvel Comics in anticipation of Fantastic Four and the whole Secret Wars storyline it will build up.
Couldn't finish a single non-fiction this year, but enjoyable so far:
yes, author does explain multiple factors, which impacts a nation's success. Such as institutions, culture, politics, historical events, vicious or virtuous cycles. Etc. It's good book overall.
Feynman Lectures on Physics books. It might just be the right timing for me as I've only recently really started to grasp calculus and linear algebra, but a lot of things are clicking into place as I read.
Turns out he never wrote any books in his life, so merry Christmas everyone, you’ve all read all books written by Feynman. The video puts a pretty convincing argument that most of the stories about him are made up dinner-table entertainment and didn’t happen.
"Drinking Molotov Cocktails with Gandhi" by Mark Boyle. It widened my perspective on the systemic violence of our society. Few books really change my perspective, but this one did.
o the follet valley mysteries by Ian Moore. (Fun crime procedural, with the protagonist being a rather ineffectual unemployed film studies lecturer in france , and a cast of domineering supporting actors)
o Uruly by David Mitchell (A "rollock" through early english monarchy, pointing out the luck, or lack of it, of all the kings and queens)
It's by the better-known-as-an-actor David Mitchell. There's another David Mitchell, whose main profession is author, he must be annoyed that the actor is writing books now..
Wisdom’s Workshop (2016) by James Axtell is a history of the American research university from Medieval times to the present. It's worth reading for anyone in academia or grad school in the US.
Doppelganger by one of the smartest people alive today, Naomi Klein. I don't know how I'd even begin to summarize it, but it cooled a lot of the existential dread I'd been feeling lately about the direction of Western society. might do the same for you if you're in a similar boat.
Frank Ramsey by Cheryl Misak. Kid only lived till 26 and changed the disciplines of Philosophy, Mathematics, and Economics. Ludwig Wittgenstein was reported to have said Ramsey was his only contemporary.
Here's an interesting BBC radio program [0] from 1978 on Ramsey. I came across this years ago and felt inspired to go into research. Of course, this program is a bit out of date and doesn't touch on his pragmatist turn much at all!
Two weeks ago I found John Maynard Keynes's 1951 volume Essays in Biography at Calico Books in Ventura (bookhounds like myself enjoy provenance details like that). He knew Ramsay personally, and one of the essays in the book is dedicated to him. I especially enjoyed the following passage by Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson that Keynes quotes. Dickinson wrote this about Ramsay and also about C P Sanger, an older man who died about the same time:
It does not become a Cambridge man to claim too much for his university, nor am I much tempted to do so. But there is, I think, a certain type, rare, like all good things, which seems associated in some peculiar way with my alma mater. I am thinking of men like Leslie Stephen (the original of Meredith's Vernon Whitford), like Henry Sidgwick, like Maitland, like one who died but the other day with all his promise unfulfilled. It is a type unworldly without being saintly, unambitious without being inactive, warmhearted without being sentimental. Through good report and ill such men work on, following the light of truth as they see it; able to be sceptical without being paralyzed; content to know what is knowable and to reserve judgment on what is not. The world could never be driven by such men, for the springs of action lie deep in ignorance and madness. But it is they who are the beacon in the tempest, and they are more, not less, needed now than ever before. May their succession never fail!
I started The Brothers Karamazov four times through the years, but would quit each time after 50 pages or so. I finally realized that I was repulsed by the story because the father reminded me of the worst aspects of myself. Once I accepted that I was able to read on and finish the book, and now I look upon it as one of my favorite novels.
I would have given up on it early on, but when I was going to Berkeley in the late 1970s, I attended First Presbyterian Church, where Earl Palmer was pastor. He extolled The Brothers Karamazov, Sheldon Vanauken's book A Severe Mercy, and Star Wars from the pulpit. His favorite part of TBK was the Grand Inquisitor chapter; I had to slog through that, but overall found the book quite rewarding, not least of all because it is a window into the Russian soul, which I think remains to this day a different beast than our own.
I have to the Aggressor book series by FX Holden. It's set in the near future with AI, drones, and much more. It is a Tom Clancy-like book about WW3 breaking out over Tawain. Sometimes, I would come out of reading it and be unsure if I was reading the news or a book.
The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets by Thomas R. Cech — This is a standout for me. Spotlight on RNA with interesting historical context of the field.
Possibly the name of this place being asi inadvertently came across it being as I'm very limited and no training in computers except for becoming the victim of having almost any and every account of anything I do online from my phone regarding social media apps banking apps every site I've opened or viewed learning the hard way in almost all instances leading to my accounts getting taken over or accessed followed up by emptying my bank accounts credit cards Etc. perhaps I'll be able to learn a thing or two here reading posts and avoiding similar events from happening again as I'm about to venture into affiliate marketing and with my having become disabled from a back injury leaving physical labor and my job as an auto mechanic no longer an option the Internet appears to be the place that I can actually do something and occupy my hands and mind while offering opportunityd to earn a living however I'm quickly finding out that at great expenses to myself there's more scammers out there than legit places offering to set you up for large profits and only to find out that after you've invested in your initial signing up many lead to endless pages of more costs and fees to actually reach the point of learning and setting up your deal and a slim chance of earning a penny short of handing over thousands more dollars .... NOW TO MY QUESTION FOR ALL YOU SMART PEOPLE HERE IS SNYONE WILLING TO GIVE ME POINTERD ON HOW TO RECOGNIXE WHICH OF THESE PAGES/SITES /SO CALLED BUSINESSES IF THEY HAVE ANY IMITIAL MARKINGS OR SOMETHING TO LOOK FOR TO BE ABLE TO GET S PEEK PAST THE DISPLAY PAGES IN. ORDER TO FIND OUT IF ITS GOING TO GRADUALLY EMPTY MY BANK IN ORDER TO GET STARTED BEFORE I ACTUALLY GIVE IN AND COMMIT TO GIVING THESE VROOKS SNY MONEY FIRST THAT LEADS TO MY BEING BROKE FOR A MONTH UNTIL MY NECT DISABILITY CHECK ??? HELLO PEOPLE MY NAME IS REGINALD VICK A DISABLED AND FORCED EARLY REYIREMENT AUTO MECHANIC AND IM NOT GOID DITTING IDLE AND YHIS TIMES EERE LIVING IN I NOT ONLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO EARN MY OWN LIVING GET OFF THIS LOW INCOME GOVERNMENT PENSION AND STANDBA CHANCE AT DURING BECOMING SELF SUPOORTIVE INVE AGAIN I'VE USED MY LIFE SAVINGS UP ANF TOOK A STYDENT LOAN FOR A SCHOOL COLLEGE ONLINR MARKETING AND MANAFGEMENT COURSE THAT COST 30BTHIUSAND DOLLARS AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MARKETING EXCEPT FOR 4 DAYS IN A YRAR LONG COURSE THAT HAD LESS CONTENT THAN IDVALREADY LEARNED ONLINE FREE READING PEOPLES CONVERSATIONS AND OR GETTING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF SND NOW I JUST FOUND A SERMINGLY HONEST TYPE PLACE OF VERY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE WHEN IT VOMES TO COMPUTERS HOPING TO FIND SOME KNOWLEDGE TO AVOID GETTING SCREWED ANY FURTHRRT IN THIS VENTURE .... ON THAT NOTE IF THIS ACTUALLY POSTS AND IF ANYONE IS WILLING TO SHARE EHAT TO LOOK FFOR IF THERE IS ANY INDICATIRSV TO THAT ALLOW A DNEAK PEEK PAST AND INTO FOLLOWING PAGES FOR UNSEEN UNMENTIONED COST TRAPS PERHAPS USING THAT INCOGNITO MODE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IMMNOT INTERRSTED stealing info from anyone or stealing content anything like that I just would like the ability to keep from being invested and left unable to carry on into a nother venture due to scammers setting me up for failure withntherrbmisleadumg advertising taking away from my limited funds for funding a fair startup project
Summary of a recent post seeking advice about online business scams:
An injured auto mechanic on disability shared their story of repeatedly falling victim to online marketing scams. They spent their savings and took out a $30k student loan for an online marketing course that proved nearly worthless. They're looking to start affiliate marketing to earn a living, but keep encountering sites that demand escalating fees and payments.
Their main question was about how to identify scam sites before investing money - specifically, techniques to look past landing pages to spot hidden fees and requirements. They want to avoid situations where they're stuck waiting for their next disability check after losing money to fraudulent opportunities.
The original poster seemed technically inexperienced but eager to learn legitimate ways to earn income online after their career-ending injury. They've already learned some hard lessons about account security and online fraud.
Would be curious to hear others' suggestions for vetting online business opportunities and avoiding common scams targeting newcomers to digital marketing.
I am sorry what happened to you. I would recommend anyone who wants to retrain to a new career by looking at courses offered by your local community college. They are often taught by people who can help you land your first job in your new career. Good luck and God bless you.
"The latest findings from the World Wide Fund for the Nature’s Living Planet Report come with a stark warning that we may be closing in on a point of no return for nature. Over the last 50 years, wildlife populations have experienced a staggering 73% decline."
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