A rather overhyped superficial book that summarises the work of others rather than offering much that is original. Nonetheless, it does offer insights into approaches that will bring results (most of the time) in certain situations.
Thursday, 1 February 2001
Saturday, 1 April 2000
Why do buses come in threes?
An enjoyable light read that opens the lid on teh mathematics of everyday life.
One of the examples - which is the best day of the week to buy a lottery ticket for a Saturday lottery?
The answer is Friday - if you buy it earlier in the week you are more likey to be run over by a car (1 in 10m) before you can collect your prize (1 in 14m)!
One of the examples - which is the best day of the week to buy a lottery ticket for a Saturday lottery?
The answer is Friday - if you buy it earlier in the week you are more likey to be run over by a car (1 in 10m) before you can collect your prize (1 in 14m)!
Sex, Drink and Fast Cars - The creation and consumption of images
Stephen Bayley explores the meaning of cars and looks at how these meanings are exploited by designers, advertisers and marketeers.
He looks at how the designs and associated meanings have evolved over the years.
I guarantee you will never look at the other cars in the traffic jam in the same way after reading thi sbook.
He looks at how the designs and associated meanings have evolved over the years.
I guarantee you will never look at the other cars in the traffic jam in the same way after reading thi sbook.
Wednesday, 1 March 2000
Fermat's Last Theorem
Simon Singh writes more of a history of a mathematical puzzle than about the puzzle itself (though he does explain that too in a clear and understandable way)
Unweaving the Rainbow
Richard Dawkins sets out in this book to arge that understanding the origin and evolution of life doesn't mean you have to wonder at it any less.
In fact he makes a very good argument for wondering at the beauty of it even more.
In fact he makes a very good argument for wondering at the beauty of it even more.
Saturday, 8 January 2000
Designing Feedback
A rather obscure book, that focusses in just on the design of management performance measures. You might think you already know all there is to know on teh subject but I am confident that everyone will find something new in here.
In summary the messages are:
Measures should have their origins in customer needs
Measures should provide feedback to all those in the organisation who can make a difference
Measures need to be balanced and appropriate to the level of their audience
Report performance trends as well as externally benchmarked absolute results
In summary the messages are:
Measures should have their origins in customer needs
Measures should provide feedback to all those in the organisation who can make a difference
Measures need to be balanced and appropriate to the level of their audience
Report performance trends as well as externally benchmarked absolute results
Friday, 1 January 1999
How the Mind Works
Steven Pinker explains what the mind is, how it evolved and how it allows us to see, feel, interact and ponder the mysteries of life (such as what the mind is)
A thoughtful and provocative book.
A thoughtful and provocative book.
Monday, 1 June 1998
Brainchildren
A broad range of essays from Dennett. Perhaps not teh best introduction to this great thinker but if you have enjoyed his other works then you will also like this too.
He explores can machines think, what would need to be different if they were to think, and what might such developments look like.
He explores can machines think, what would need to be different if they were to think, and what might such developments look like.
Thursday, 1 May 1997
The Origins of Virtue
Matt Ridley explores how despite being constructed by 'selfish genes' we are built to be social, trustworthy and co-operative.
Why did virture come about?
Why did virture come about?
Saturday, 1 June 1996
How to Write Sales Letters That Sell
I got hold of this book years ago but that doesn't diminish its value. The lessons I learnt here have stuck with me though writing all sorts of documenst that need to get someones attention (and even more importantly get them to DO SOMETHING)
This link is to a newer edition
This link is to a newer edition
Kinds of Minds
Daniel Dennett explores what we know, what we don't know, and what we will probably never know about human and animal minds.
What makes human minds different from those of animals and how did our cognitive process machine evolve to the stage it is now?
What makes human minds different from those of animals and how did our cognitive process machine evolve to the stage it is now?
Monday, 1 January 1996
Thursday, 1 June 1995
Our own worst enemy
A study of human behaviour and how the traits that evolved over millions of years as vital for our survival in the African savannah are causing us great difficulties in modern life.
River out of Eden
Richard Dawkins gives a very readable account, as ever, of some rather abstract issues within evolutionary biology.
How we are all much more closely related to each other than some might care to think. The river of the title is the mitocondrial DNA that flows through teh generations on the maternal side.
How evolution actually works, how it has no purpose and doesn't necessarily select the 'best' organisms, just the best in the environment at the time (on average). In esscence how a blind, simple process of random mutation combined with selective reproduction can explain the wonderful diversity of life we see around us today.
How we are all much more closely related to each other than some might care to think. The river of the title is the mitocondrial DNA that flows through teh generations on the maternal side.
How evolution actually works, how it has no purpose and doesn't necessarily select the 'best' organisms, just the best in the environment at the time (on average). In esscence how a blind, simple process of random mutation combined with selective reproduction can explain the wonderful diversity of life we see around us today.
Tuesday, 1 March 1994
Consciousness Explained
Daniel Dennett explores various models of consciousness, the strengths and weknesses of each before moving onto the philosophical conundrums that consciousness throws up.
As always his entertaining literary style makes a book on possibly a technically difficult subject a pleasure to read.
As always his entertaining literary style makes a book on possibly a technically difficult subject a pleasure to read.
Sunday, 1 March 1992
Dawn of a new Millennium
A summary of the chief issues viewed as facing humanity at the turn of the century and how our evolutionary design (as an ape for the African savanna) doesn't equip us very well for them.
Friday, 1 June 1990
Does God Play Dice
A good introductory text on chaos theory and the mathematics of unpredictability.
The book follows the thread of the historical development of the theories and gives numerous real-life examples of studies where apparently complex or random behaviour can be modelled by beautifully simple equations.
The book follows the thread of the historical development of the theories and gives numerous real-life examples of studies where apparently complex or random behaviour can be modelled by beautifully simple equations.
Wednesday, 1 June 1988
The Blind Watchmaker
Richard Dawkins seminal work on the way evolution operates blindly with no purpose and creates the wonderful incredibly diverse world we see around us.
If you read no other book by Dawkins (and many of his later works tend to become more polemical) then you should read this one.
If you read no other book by Dawkins (and many of his later works tend to become more polemical) then you should read this one.
Monday, 1 June 1987
Metamagical Themas
Douglas Hofstader develops his ideas further from Godel, Escher and Bach in this book.
Again he starts from the strange philosphical twists and turns one discovers in self-referential systems and the essays take you on a wonderful 'Alice in Wonderland' journey.
Again he starts from the strange philosphical twists and turns one discovers in self-referential systems and the essays take you on a wonderful 'Alice in Wonderland' journey.
Sunday, 1 June 1986
The Mind's I
What is the mind?, Who am I?, Can Machines think?
A book that is a series of essays and studies on consciousness and what does it mean when I talk about I. Written as a series of self contained chapters that make it ideal to dip in and out of.
Includes the famous essay on What is it like to be a bat and reflections on the interpretation of said essay., amongst many others.
Despite it's age, a fine book and a good introduction to questions of philosophy and consciousness.
A book that is a series of essays and studies on consciousness and what does it mean when I talk about I. Written as a series of self contained chapters that make it ideal to dip in and out of.
Includes the famous essay on What is it like to be a bat and reflections on the interpretation of said essay., amongst many others.
Despite it's age, a fine book and a good introduction to questions of philosophy and consciousness.
Godel, Escher, Bach: An eternal Golden Braid
A book I read many years ago but that started me off on my journey of discovery about consciousness and philosophy. First published in 1979 but still as fresh and relevant today.
Douglas Hofstadter attempts to explore how consciouness can arise in inanimate matter (our brains). Written in the style of Lewis Carol there are actually three books entwined within each other.
Godel: who wrote on the theorem of incompleteness of any logically consistent mathematical system and explored such paradoxes as the liars paraodx - "This statement is false"
Escher: who drew wonderfull self-referential etchings
Bach: who investigated canons and fugues (tunes that are played against themsleves such as three blind mice)
Throughout the book he explores strange loops - where successive jumps up (or down) heirarchical levels eventually bring you back to what appears to be where you started.
If all this doesn't make your head hurt but rather piques your interest then I strongly urge you to read the book, after all it could be the start of a wonderful journey down a rabbit hole from which you might (or might not) reappear.
Note: I own an earlier edition of this book
Douglas Hofstadter attempts to explore how consciouness can arise in inanimate matter (our brains). Written in the style of Lewis Carol there are actually three books entwined within each other.
Godel: who wrote on the theorem of incompleteness of any logically consistent mathematical system and explored such paradoxes as the liars paraodx - "This statement is false"
Escher: who drew wonderfull self-referential etchings
Bach: who investigated canons and fugues (tunes that are played against themsleves such as three blind mice)
Throughout the book he explores strange loops - where successive jumps up (or down) heirarchical levels eventually bring you back to what appears to be where you started.
If all this doesn't make your head hurt but rather piques your interest then I strongly urge you to read the book, after all it could be the start of a wonderful journey down a rabbit hole from which you might (or might not) reappear.
Note: I own an earlier edition of this book
Wednesday, 25 December 1985
Which book of plumbing and central heating
A little outdated now but all you need to know about your plumbing and central heating is here. I received it as a Christmas gift many years ago an dit still deserves a place on my bookshelf (though I must admit I can't remember the last time I actually looked at it)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
