Interpretation of Cats: Understanding the Psychology of Our Feline Companions

Interpretation of Cats: Understanding the Psychology of Our Feline Companions by Claude Béata, translated by David Watson

Cats are not dogs. They are not humans either, but they do have social and mental challenges. This book is from a veterinarian who serves as a kitty psychiatrist. Cats can be very different. They generally like to spend time outside. However, some are homebodies. They need their own safe space. They like people to attend to them at times. At other times they want to be alone. It is difficult to apply experiences from one cat to another. They are both predator and prey. They are quite compex! 

Triumph of the Yuppies: America, the Eighties, and the Creation of an Unequal Nation

Triumph of the Yuppies: America, the Eighties, and the Creation of an Unequal Nation by Tom McGrath

The yuppies came to prominence during the 1980s. The term was not the first one to be used to describe the group, but it was the one that stuck. They sought out money in the corporate world. Yuppies focussed on career first and would work long hours and eschewed starting families. They worse suits and preferred living in the city to the distant suburbs. This led to gentrification and popularity of trendy urban eateries and health clubs. They tended to be socially liberal, yet fiscally conservative. They supported Reagan and led to Democrats pivoting away from New Deal policies. 

The Yuppies were self observant and self deprecating. Marketers would cater to them. Near the end of the 80s, they had run their course. The wall street crash of 1987 was an event that triggered the end. Culture started to turn against the yuppies and they started to raise kids and move out to the suburbs. Since then, history has continued to go through different faces as young people flock to cities to earn huge amount of money, only next time they were casually dressed tech bros.                                                                           

The book is an interesting cultural history, but feels a bit thin.

Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah

Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah by Charles King

Handel's Messiah has become one of the most famous classical works. It's Irish debut at a charity function was very well received. After that, it faded in popularity before it boomed again. The book focuses mostly on the background of the time and characters involved. Handel had leaned into playing for his audience. He took elements of popular opera, but made them accessible in English. Scriptural stories were also understood. Oratorios were an alternative to the high production costs of opera. The book also delves into the history of one of the early stars of his opera. She was a popular actress, but then had a scandalous personal life due to an affair and distance from her playboy husband. Years after things calmed down she was ready to make a comeback with Handel.

Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI

Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI by Anil Ananthaswamy

This book explores the math behind AI. It is rather straightforward, with a lot of vectors. However, it requires some close attention to grok. It seemed to be an interesting topic, bur I didn't feel I came out better understanding it after completing the book.

The Cemetery of Untold Stories

The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez

People in a Dominican Republic village wonder what will happen to the land by the landfill. They think about all sorts of things. However, it was inherited by a writer who decides to use it as a cemetary of untold stories. The untold stories contain many characters that are tied to the history of the Dominican Republic and some of the key characters. The stories are tied together with the "real" people that live in the land. It was originally written in English, though it makes heavy use of Latin American culture.

Land Between the Rivers: A 5,000-Year History of Iraq

Land Between the Rivers: A 5,000-Year History of Iraq by Bartle Bull

This long history of Iraq spent too much time drifting off to wider events in the area. There is a huge description of major religious movements, such as Islam. While that may be nice for context, Iraq was not really involved until it was conquered by Islamic groups. I would have rather read a more concise book of history as it impacted Iraq. 

What's Next Is Now: How to Live Future Ready

What's Next Is Now: How to Live Future Ready by Frederik Pferdt

The author worked as an innovation specialist for Google. The book explores ways we can have a growth mindset and innovate. We should not reject ideas immediately. We should be willing to change our activities and experiences. Instead of looking immediately to "how we can fix this problem", we can instead look at "how can we make this worse". When we disagree try to find a way to agree and explore that. It is fairly normal discussion. The tone makes it feel like it should be read while barefoot in a dark room with incense burning.

When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency

When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency by Anna Zivarts

One third of the residents of the US cannot drive. Our transportation infrastructure is built for drivers, thus disenfranchising a huge section of the population. Often the "solution" is to try to provide ways for them to be driven, rather than provide overall mobility. Young children are expected to be driven by their parents. The elderly are expected to be provided for by a caregiver. Undocumented immigrants are offered driver's licenses. Those that are poor are given subsidies. Those with disabilities are given expensive adaptations to support driving or expected to get others to help them.

A better solution would be to steer away from car dependency and allow universal mobility. However, transportation policies that make things a little bit better for drivers make things difficult or impossible for non-drivers. Wide streets with distant crossings make it difficult to cross. This is made worse when there are no sidewalks or safe walking places along the side. Transit systems are often designed by people who don't use them. Schedules and transfer can be difficult, with routes not necessarily going when or where needed. It is treated as generous charity rather than a legitimate means of transit. Sidewalks are often an afterthought. They may be il-maintained or missing altogether. Curb cuts could be missing. Construction may block sections.

This book points out many of the challenges faced by non-drivers. However, it goes a bit to far in the identity politics. Do we really need to focus on the race or ethnicity of non-drivers? It would be better to focus on universal needs rather than narrow the focus to small subgroups. Everyone is young or old at some point in their lives. Many have disabilities or even injuries that limit mobility. Most people have had some time in their lives when it was difficult to make ends meet. These universal experiences could serve as a better point for building this universal coalition. What if we changes the mindset. Instead of accommodating people, we built the infrastructure for them and then accommodated cars? This can enable freedom of mobility for all.

Come and Get It

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid

A writer goes to visit the University of Arkansas. Then things get weird. She interviews some students in a dorm for a book on weddings. However, she ends up being more attracted to the them as people.  Meanwhile, one student (Kennedy) who loved the author's work keeps on missing out on meeting with her or her classes. The RA falls for the writer and has a lesbian affair. They happen to be making out when the Kennedy accidentally cuts her wrist with a pizza cutter kitchen-cleaning conflict with roommates. They all somehow manage to escape guilt, with the writer "patching things up" with money for one of the roommates and the RA. Sometimes it is best for people to stick with others their age. Seemingly small indiscretions can slowly spiral out of hand.

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick

This book takes a balanced view of AI. It is here. It can help us do a lot of powerful things. It will also cause a lot of changes. It can succeed at many complex tasks, yet can stumble at seemingly easy tasks. It likes to please, and will "hallucinate" to provide answers we want. We need to stay involved to make sure it doesn't spin out of control. Education and work will change. We still don't know the limits of AI. Maybe it will get much better. Maybe we are near it's limit now. There can also be many negative and positive outcomes. It will require work to be on the good side.

Every Version of You

Every Version of You by Grace Chan

The physical world has gone to pot. People spend most of their time living in a virtual reality world, Gaia. Their physical body is often in a basic lift-support pod while they spend time in the virtual world. Through a technological breakthrough, people can now "clone" themselves so that they can live full time virtually and dispose of their physical bodies. The book centers around Navin and Tao-Yi. Navin is done with the poor condition of his physical body and is eager to enter the virtual world permanently. Tao-Yi has doubts. She also endures the death of her mother, a real-world hold out. The book explores transhumanism and what it means to be "alive". Hidden beneath the surface is how we can be controlled and willingly surrender rights and abilities.

The Art of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk and Luck

The Art of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk and Luck by David Spiegelhalter

This book was not bad, but I feel I have read a few very similar books before. Uncertainty is a thing in life. We often do a poor job understanding and acting on the true odds. We also need to be make sure we are communicating properly. Sometimes what we may take as expressing a certain probability may be interpreted by the listener as expressing something different. It is also important to update our probabilities as we get more information (Bayesian logic.) We may even need to update the initial odds if that was totally off base. The book was well written and conversational. 

Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity

Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris

The book started with the "race card project". People were asked to send back 6 words describing how they felt about race. Then additional anecdotes were added. The book is a mixed bag that goes on too long. It is interesting how people get wrapped up in some notions about race that were given to them, yet fight against others. White is viewed as a "pure" race, while others are viewed as diluted this purity. It feels society should have moved on from that long ago. There were some cases that talked about how they were the "non-white" race before but are now considered "white". Is talking about race causing the problems with race? After all, race is a social construct. Government classifies people in buckets, so those buckets get an identity. A century ago, people saw themselves as Irish, Italian, etc. Now those are just "white", and there is no box to check to identify as those. Will we get that way with others? There is talk about the US being majority-minority by some date. But hasn't the country been majority-minority for decades if not centuries now? As more mixing takes place people it will make less sense to try to categorize.

Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness

Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness by Carrie Sheffield

The author had an interesting upbringing heavily influenced by her father. He was an accomplished musician, but then felt he had a calling to preach patriotic and religious values. He would travel the country with his family, busking and distributing pamphlets. The kids had various education experiences, from home school, suburban schools and inner-city schools. They were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but outside the mainstream. Her father would eventually go too far in falsely accusing others of malfeasance. She remained faithful in the church until she read some historical information she did not like. That sent her off the deep end and caused her to abandon religion and her moral framework altogether. (It was interesting that her faith was strong enough to handle all the weird behavior in her family, but not enough to withstand reading some history.) She eventually realized the loss and later converted to the Episcopal church.

The first part of the book detailed a very unique experience. She had a somewhat concilitary view. She acknowledged both the negative and positives of the people involved and explored how their past experiences impacted them. The second half pivoted to her career and faith journey. The pace slowed down and switched from a family history to internal. It felt like two different books (with different audiences) clubbed together.

Goodbye Russia: Rachmaninoff in Exile

Goodbye Russia: Rachmaninoff in Exile by Fiona Maddocks

Rachmaninoff left Russia for the US. He didn't have much interaction with fellow Russian musician Leonard Bernstein. Russians wanted to claim him back later. He did stuff and had family. Honestly, his life in the US did not seem very interesting. 

Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies

Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy

Fathers play some role in nurturing their young. This book explores that by grabbing facts from all across humanity and the animal kingdom. It appears to be reaching for any example it can find, rather than having a coherent narrative. There is still debate over the physical vs. social reasons for men and woman's role in caring for children. There doesn't seem to be any strong conclusion here.

New Deal Law and Order: How the War on Crime Built the Modern Liberal State

New Deal Law and Order: How the War on Crime Built the Modern Liberal State by Anthony Gregory

Crime was really bad in the United States before World War II. Kidnappings, shoot outs and other incidents were common. Part of the New Deal helped encourage law and order. Policies could be somewhat contradictory and reflected the interests of those in charge. Alcohol was legalized to reduce crime. Marijuana was criminalized to reduce crime. Kidnapping penalties were increased. White collar crime was also attacked. Crime fighting also had to deal with political coalitions. Blacks wanted lynching to stop, while white southerners wanted to continue to lynch. The FBI and national crime fighting grew in importance, while states still maintained their jurisdictions. The book covered a lot of crime fighting, but struggled to have a common thesis.

How Finland Survived Stalin: From Winter War to Cold War, 1939-1950

How Finland Survived Stalin: From Winter War to Cold War, 1939-1950 by Kimmo Rentola translated by Richard Robinson

Finland had an odd position during World War II. They were aligned with Germany, but never part of the Axis powers. They fought the Winter War against Russia. German alignment was seen as a necessary defensive measure. Stalin had underestimated the ability of Finnish army and suffered significantly during the hostilities. The Finns paid were willing to pay reparations and cede territory. However, they were not pushovers. They refused to become a Soviet satellite. They maintained their culture and political system. They were one of the few European capitals that was never occupied during the war. Stalin seems to have some respect for the Finns and was willing to let them be. The book was original written in Finnish and relied on many Russian sources that are now locked away again due to the Ukraine war.

Shock Values: Prices and Inflation in American Democracy

Shock Values: Prices and Inflation in American Democracy by Carola Binder

The history of inflation and deflation is riddled with attempts at price controls. From the time of the revolutionary war, price controls were debated and sometimes put into place. Price controls had some impact on stabilization, but also created distortions in the market as well as made winners and losers. A national bank and monetary policy helps provide stability but exchange rates also caused distortions. (especially when values of silver and gold differed.) A strong, independent central bank can provide stability. However, it is difficult for politicians to resist tampering. FDR went to great extents to preserve his price controls. Policies to strengthen unions while controlling prices probably hurt the economy and employment (while benefiting those that kept jobs) Price controls stopped after the end of the war, but were tried again later without much success. People don't like it when things look more expensive and they always try to blame profit taking. Companies will look for an excuse to raise prices. They might be accused of short term high profits even if they don't make up for previous loses. Keeping inflation under control takes work, but does make people happy.

Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society

Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society by Philip K. Howard

The United States has become so wrapped up in blame and liability that the ability to make good decisions has been lost. Organizations make policies and people implement the policies. If something wrong happens, that is seen as a defect in the policy and it must be changed. We must go through long slow processes to get anything done. It is expected that anybody can voice a concern and stop processes. As long as people follow the rule book they are seen as free from liability. This can lead to a bad status quo remaining while preventing much good. Much of the regulatory framework was built in response to what was seen as problematic behavior. However, it has now been carried away to such an extent that bad behavior can hide behind rules.

What is the solution? Give people power and judgement to make decisions. Replace a detailed rule book with principles that must be followed. Let humans make decisions instead of expecting a rule book to do it all. It all makes so much sense. Though to get it to work, we need legal reform. Bad things may happen. An organization should not be held to multi-million dollar legal decisions because the results of something did not end up perfect.