Books du jour
Another installment of "interesting stuff I am reading"...
The Trial: A History by Sadakat Kadri
...An fascinating history of the judicial trial, from classical times through today, focusing on the roles the trial plays in a society, especially as a morality play. These's solid history here, but the author also is able to bring to life some famous trials throughout history, ranging from Socrates to the Salem witch trials to the war crimes trials of the 20th century. Copious footnotes and citations make this book useful for legal professionals and scholars of the law, but it is also a popular history, accessible to anyone interested in the role of law in society.
Our Inner Ape by Frans De Waal
...The ape house is my favorite exhibit at any zoo; it is just fascinating how, well, human our ape relatives are. In this book, the author, a noted primatologist, shows how the social behavior of the aggressive chimpanzees and the peaceful bonobos mirrors the behavior of human social structures. There are some very interesting depictions of primate society, with its politics, feuds, alliances, fighting, and loving that seems especially insightful if you read this book and then pick up today's newspaper.
Spook by Mary Roach
...Mary Roach's previous book, Stiff (I guess she likes books with titles consisting of a single 5-letter word starting with "S") was an exploration of medical cadavers, and in her new book, she goes a bit further and explores what happens to the human soul after death. The book is a lighthearted, but semi-credulous whirlwind tour through various pseudo-scientific investigations of death, including reincarnation, seances, and electronic communication with the deceased. Along the way we meet all kinds of interesting eccentrics, including scientists who have attempted to weight the human soul (21 grams, if you are curious) and communicate with the dead. Roach treats her subjects with respect, but also seems to revel in the absurd. Her wry sense of humor is apparent throughout, and her book is a great read.
Another installment of "interesting stuff I am reading"...
The Trial: A History by Sadakat Kadri
...An fascinating history of the judicial trial, from classical times through today, focusing on the roles the trial plays in a society, especially as a morality play. These's solid history here, but the author also is able to bring to life some famous trials throughout history, ranging from Socrates to the Salem witch trials to the war crimes trials of the 20th century. Copious footnotes and citations make this book useful for legal professionals and scholars of the law, but it is also a popular history, accessible to anyone interested in the role of law in society.
Our Inner Ape by Frans De Waal
...The ape house is my favorite exhibit at any zoo; it is just fascinating how, well, human our ape relatives are. In this book, the author, a noted primatologist, shows how the social behavior of the aggressive chimpanzees and the peaceful bonobos mirrors the behavior of human social structures. There are some very interesting depictions of primate society, with its politics, feuds, alliances, fighting, and loving that seems especially insightful if you read this book and then pick up today's newspaper.
Spook by Mary Roach
...Mary Roach's previous book, Stiff (I guess she likes books with titles consisting of a single 5-letter word starting with "S") was an exploration of medical cadavers, and in her new book, she goes a bit further and explores what happens to the human soul after death. The book is a lighthearted, but semi-credulous whirlwind tour through various pseudo-scientific investigations of death, including reincarnation, seances, and electronic communication with the deceased. Along the way we meet all kinds of interesting eccentrics, including scientists who have attempted to weight the human soul (21 grams, if you are curious) and communicate with the dead. Roach treats her subjects with respect, but also seems to revel in the absurd. Her wry sense of humor is apparent throughout, and her book is a great read.
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