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I'd always been a bit intimidated by DFW but Max's biography made him accessible to me. I would have liked a little more about the last few years of Wallace's life, but overall this was a solid biography that gave me new understanding not only of Wallace's all too brief life, but of his writings as well.
If you've been brought up on classical economics, then this book is going to shake up your world a bit. Graeber is an anthropologist working extensively on the origin of money and debt. His conclusions were eye-opening to me and I think help explain a great deal of the current day problems in the world. Even if you don't agree with Graeber, understanding his perspective explains why there are mass demonstrations every time the G8 or the IMF come to town.
This is one of those books that let me know just how ignorant I am. Nasar weaves in and out of stories that explain not only what different personalities thought but how they got there and why they were interested in going there in the first place. I especially liked the chapter on Beatrice Webb (Potter). This is good storytelling and great information.
I had come across the name Lucretius a few times when reading essays by Christopher Hitchens, but I had no real concept of what his epic poem, "On the nature of things," meant to the world. Now, I do, thanks to Stephen Greenblatt who weaves together my favorite things: bibliophiles, history, science and so on into a riveting tale that I am the better for knowing.
Loved it! Steven Johnson's book ties Joseph Priestly to many of the founding minds of our Republic. I very much appreciated reading this account of science (such as it was) and how it was valued by the founding fathers.
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Customer Comments
Daniel Hatch has commented on (16) products.
Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace by D.T. Max
Daniel Hatch, January 2, 2013
I'd always been a bit intimidated by DFW but Max's biography made him accessible to me. I would have liked a little more about the last few years of Wallace's life, but overall this was a solid biography that gave me new understanding not only of Wallace's all too brief life, but of his writings as well.Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber
Daniel Hatch, August 4, 2012
If you've been brought up on classical economics, then this book is going to shake up your world a bit. Graeber is an anthropologist working extensively on the origin of money and debt. His conclusions were eye-opening to me and I think help explain a great deal of the current day problems in the world. Even if you don't agree with Graeber, understanding his perspective explains why there are mass demonstrations every time the G8 or the IMF come to town.Grand Pursuit: The Story of Economic Genius by Sylvia Nasar
Daniel Hatch, January 16, 2012
This is one of those books that let me know just how ignorant I am. Nasar weaves in and out of stories that explain not only what different personalities thought but how they got there and why they were interested in going there in the first place. I especially liked the chapter on Beatrice Webb (Potter). This is good storytelling and great information.The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt
Daniel Hatch, January 2, 2012
I had come across the name Lucretius a few times when reading essays by Christopher Hitchens, but I had no real concept of what his epic poem, "On the nature of things," meant to the world. Now, I do, thanks to Stephen Greenblatt who weaves together my favorite things: bibliophiles, history, science and so on into a riveting tale that I am the better for knowing.The Invention of Air: A Study of Science, Faith, Revolution, and the Birth of America by Steven Johnson
Daniel Hatch, September 27, 2011
Loved it! Steven Johnson's book ties Joseph Priestly to many of the founding minds of our Republic. I very much appreciated reading this account of science (such as it was) and how it was valued by the founding fathers.1-5 of 16next