I recently re-read this novel from Neal Stephenson on Kindle. I’d originally read this in the summer of 2016 as a holiday read alongside another Stephenson title called Anathem.
Tag: science
Through Fiery Trials
This is the 10th book in David Weber’s “Safehold” series. I’ve been reading these for many years. Although notionally a science fiction series, a lot of the focus is on the historic scientific progression that was required to advance humanity’s weapons technology used on land, sea, and in the air. In that regard, the series starts from a technical base of approximately the late dark ages or early Middle Ages and brings us to a technology level close to the end of the 19th century. Weber shows an incredible amount of historical and scientific knowledge – many of the scenarios and examples in the series could have been lifted from the American Civil War, WW1 and others. There is also a huge religious aspect to the series with schisms and intrigues similar to what happened in Europe in the middle-ages. I’m still enjoying the series and hopefully David Weber will wrap it up soon.
The Matter of Everything
Physicist Suzie Sheehy’s book looks at the history of physics from the perspective of the physicists responsible for the design and construction of some of mankind’s most important experiments.
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
Maintaining posivity while always thinking about the next thing that can kill you. Chris Hadfield exudes humility alongside extreme competence gained from a lifetime of hard work and continuous learning. Read in May 2023.
What do You Care what Other People Think?
Part 2 of Richard Feynman’s bio. Excellent description of the Presidential Commission investigation into the Challenger explosion. Also a very moving account of his wife’s death when he worked at Los Alamos. Read in February 2023.
Of Ants and Dinosaurs
A civilisation of Ants and Dinosaurs living symbiotically. Good fun and perfect sunny day reading from Cixin Liu. Read in May 2021.
The Knowledge
Not suitable for preppers but a good take on the key technologies a budding civilization should focus on if they were trying to recreate the modern world from scratch. From Lewis Dartnell. Read in May 2021.
Universal – A Journey through the Cosmos
“The Inflationary Multiverse”. My head hurts. Professor Brian Cox and Jeff Foreshaw have put together a great book about how scientists have been able to infer the structure of reality. Read in April 2021.