Fascinating in Context
348526
This is not actually an accurate description of Zen Buddhism as it applies (now and historically) to Zen Buddhism. But seen as the intellectual journey of a Western man as he surrounds himself with Japanese techniques and philosophy, it is still fascinating.
1005826
--Memory's Ghost should be a blessing for anyone (poet, scientist, or general reader) who wants to understand how memory makes us human. In this easily read, occasionally frightening, singularly fascinating, and stimulating book, the author describes the life of Henry M., who lived nearly forty years without the ability to form new memories.  To help us understand this condition, the author also gives wonderful descriptions of memory, including a short history of memory (natural and cultural), the types of memory, limits on its reliability, and how and why it might have evolved. After reading it you won't take memory for granted again!

--In 1953, long before the miracles of modern pharmaceutical treatments and current neurological understanding, Mr. M. was given surgery to help stop his suffering intractable epileptic seizures, by removing parts of the brain thought to generate the seizures.  Unfortunately, Mr. M.'s surgeon experimentally removed a brain area which "bundled up" the perceptions and symbols of the Total Present Moment and selectively sent them off for storage and future recall.  After the operation, Mr. M. could no longer form long-term memories. He could learn new skills, but could not remember learning them.  He could not recognize people absent for more than a few seconds, even if they were staff who had known him daily for years.  Nevertheless, he clearly retained his humanity.  His pleasant personality and even his happiness remained, his IQ stayed normal, he loved TV and conversation, and his memories and capabilities formed before the surgery seemed intact.  Since the surgeon who performed the maneuver quickly realized removal of this area should never be repeated, since human lab experiments were unikely to duplicate the situation, and since other conditions (like accidents, strokes, or Alzheimer's) would almost certainly never remove such a specific area, Mr. M. has given a unique perspective for what it means to lose this critical part of the brain and mind (indeed, he soon became one of the most referenced patients in medical literature).

--The author provides some vivid background for memory (Note: it is not intended to directly cover "how-to-improve-your-memory" issues and it does not discuss the tremendous bioethical issues this case raises). He gives several vivid and metaphorical descriptions of memory, all intended to show it is an intensely active, ever-changing, evolving process, and not a static representational recording device (like a tape recorder). The author shows human memory offers an incredible richness and dynamic adaptibility which could never be duplicated by a simple data retrieval device.  Memory is not a hard-disc, it's part of a great adventure.

--Of course, a short book with a deep topic will have omissions, but ....

--In summary, I thought this well-written and accessible book was an admirable story both of Mr. M. and of memory -- one of the richest (and most frustrating) parts of our individual and cultural experiences as human beings. It deserves a wide audience.
2969757
A fascinating story about a strange and wonderful person, who followed his own, true self, despite the insanity of those around him. Essad Bey, Lev Nusimbaum, or whatever he was calling himself at any given moment, was a unique person and thinker. Zelig-like, he managed to be in all the hotspots during the times they were hot. One of the things I love about Tom Reiss is his dedication to putting things in context. The context here, though sometimes horrifying and sad, also makes you mourn for what might have been. It also begs the question for the millionth time: why are we humans so stupid?
173744
I read this as part of a book club, and wasn't sure of what to expect.  The subject matter concerns an era before I was born, and I didn't think I'd find much of relevance to me.  The author, however, does a fascinating job of pulling together various threads - from music to literature to the lives of famous individuals and the discoveries of new drugs - to explain how the occult came to influence a generation.  I was amazed to discover so many connections, and the book filled a lot of gaps in my knowledge.
599811
I thought this book provided a fascinating glimpse into the Anasazi people of the American Southwest. The author structured this story in a way that followed the migrations of this cultural group as it followed the capriciously shifting climate. The religious practices, architectural prowess, connections to Mesoamerica, and even warfare of the Anasazi were explored in a balanced and even lyrical way.

Many of the author's adventures in the back country were used in the book to introduce a new facet into the study of the Anasazi, and these passages in particular were poetically written. Child's descriptions of the harsh Southwestern landscapes provided more context into the lives and mindsets of his subjects, which I especially enjoyed.

One complaint I had, and it is a minor one, is that Child's repeatedly referenced various types of Anasazi pottery, using it as a way to track the movements of the ancient populations. I had difficulty telling all this similarly idea river pottery apart. A mini-fieldguide might have been helpful.

I recommend this book to those interested in the history of the Anasazi, aspiring archaeologists, and those enthralled by the cliff dwellings like Chaco and Mesa Verde.
1056318
Author David Jaher helps us individually wrestle with the essential question asking what happens when we die?  Against the historical backdrop of the Jazz Era with meticulous scholarly investigation we are left to draw our own conclusion.  As the head of the non profit Parapsychology Foundation in existence for close to sixty-five years founded by my maternal grandmother, Eileen J. Garrett, herself a world famous medium looking into the complexities of ostensible psychic functioning I had difficulty putting the book down as it is a fascinating read.  Apart from Garrett's own conclusions interacting with Margery and working with many of the book's cast of characters, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Hereward Carrington, Eric Dingwall etal. the author presents both sides of not only the magician's coin as utilized so well by Houdini but manages to also represent the actions and motivations of the various researchers and sitters in an even handed and completely reasonable manner.  Several cases exist in the literature of similar personages as the Witch of Lime Street who deserve examination and similar treatment hopefully in future  by David Jaher as he continues to shed light on a fascinating subject.
4829308
Helmreich's book was a fascinating read for someone like me who grew up in The Bronx during the 1960s and 1970s and then moved away.  His narrative, bolstered by extensive first-hand experiences walking the city along with his understanding of relevant academic literature, was enlightening.  Nice to know how things have improved in many (but not all) neighborhoods.  As other reviewers have pointed out, Helmreich's book is not about buildings, bridges, subways, etc.  There are plenty of good sources for such topics.  Rather, this book deals with people in relation to their neighbors, their environments, and their histories.  Yes, it would be nice if the pictures were larger, and some topics are dwelled upon while others are brushed over, but all in all I found The New York Nobody Knows a really good read.
2899226
Fascinating account in Neegonnwayweedun's (Mr Bellecourt's) own conversational voice. He explains and provides context for events that I vaguely remember hearing about in my younger years. It's worth reading!
3052128
I read this book for an undergraduate sociology course - Introduction to Group Dynamics. This book is well detailed and a page turner. The story takes you into a bizarre world constructed by a clearly emotionally disturbed man, yet the dynamics among the players are surprisingly human. I learned a great deal from this book. I knew about high-media profile groups that wore strange clothing or even committed mass suicide, but the dynamics in a den on that quiet suburban street were eerily similar, simply on a smaller scale. The story is divided into two parts, getting psychologically manipulated into the group, and getting out and recovering after many years of brainwashing. The tone of the first part is dynamic and fascinating. I imagine it might make a good movie. The second part requires more reflection as one is led through her de facto de-programming by a concerned friend. In the end, you realize that many of us might get caught at a point of vulnerability in life, and much of this was "wrong time, wrong place." The mind is a malleable organ subject to influences sometimes beyond our recognition and thus our capacity to examine. This is a good book particularly for a young person to read. Going through the wrong door (as shown on the cover image) can lead to a regrettable loss of time.
971055
Early chapters repeats the latter sections on author's work on early Rome (but read both). Highly readable and encouraging of reading further on classical Rome (including his book on Augustus). Cast of characters and family trees on key figures would be helpful, but perhaps handicapped graphics by Kindle presentation. But first and foremost Everitt makes these figures from the distant past come alive and the politics a reminder of our current age. The reader leaves with a sense that he knows Cicero. The context given is also excellent. Recommend for the casual history lover and fan of political intrigue.
107823
A fascinating, fun "read." The surprise is the history behind jewels that have actually caused major historical events, i. e. the beads that bot Manhattan, or the pearls that opened up Japan to industry after 500 years' isolation. My version was audio, so the reader's voice became a little irritating--too confident and "cute." Another negative is that some of the background history is too lengthly or detailed, but since I am not a history major, it was instructive for me to hear. I don't regret listening to this explication though women may be more taken with it than men.
4852028
Fascinating glimpse of life a thousand years ago in the middle east. Delightful surprises for me included lions roaming the region, hunting with raptors, the state of medicine, and the range of travel. The writer went back and forth from present day Syria to North Africa in an era long before motorized transport. Added bonus, places in the news today crop up including Homs, Damascus, Jerusalem, Cairo, and Baghdad. These were already well established cities even then. Certainly sheds light on how western intervention was regarded back then, and by extension, now.
2144258
More than anything else, this book provides an historical context for the introduction of the theory of evolution.  British naturalists tended to come from higher class families, though not necessarily families of means.  The men described in this book had a passion for knowledge, and endured years of hardship to travel to remote locations in search of specimens.  In some sense, the British navy was responsible for the theory of evolution since it outfitted and fully or partially financed the survey expeditions for three of the journeys described in the book.  Only Wallace went about his work independently, and he was really a businessman as he had to make a living selling specimens.

One thing that becomes clear from this book is the strenuous physical effort required to travel on a ship and then march about various remote and exotic locales in search of new plant and animal specimens.  These naturalists also had to be artists so they could draw anatomical structures during dissection as many specimens could not be preserved.  They were also writers and scientists, documenting their finds and then writing books based on their observations in the field.  These were impressive men.

Another interesting aspect of the book is that it presents the intrigue and politics of maneuvering through the various scientific bodies of mid 19th century England.  Darwin's armada, his friends and colleagues, were critical to finally bringing the theory of evolution to light.  This was a sea change for science - the old guard of creationist scientists giving way to youthful energy and the strong emergence of empirically based scientific hypotheses.  These few men revolutionized biology.

The book is an interesting and enjoyable read, and highly recommended.
1713
Warren Dotz's "Light of India: A conflagration of Indian matchbox art" is a fascinating little gift or coffee table book. It starts out exploring the origins of the matchbox industry in India, its practical and cultural place in history. From there it branches into an impressive exploration of the art that adorns Indian matchboxes--starting with those imported from other countries, and progressing through those made in India by Indian artists in later years.

While the images themselves are beautiful and fascinating to look at, every bit as fascinating is the discussion that goes with each section. The images on matchboxes changed with the times, reflecting cultural trends, history, politics, national hopes and fears, and more. What started out for me as a fun look at matchbox art became an engrossing read on Indian cultural heroes, Gandhi's work, religious beliefs and iconography, and even Indian wildlife, foods, and architecture.
2387861
This is the story of Dr. John C. Lilly's move from dolphin research to "inner space" research. We read of the strange places we can go to in our head.

The first third of the book concentrates on Lilly's experiments with LSD. The relatively detailed first hand accounts of what a hallucinogenic trip can be like makes fascinating reading for those of us who have never experienced such a brain state. These chapters definitely made the book truly memorable for me and are written in a very engaging style that reveals Lilly's own enthusiasm for the material.

In the mid section Lilly describes his experiences at the Esalen Institute both as a participant and lecturer. This includes sessions with the Gestalt Therapist Fritz Perl and the psycho-masseuse Ida Rolfing. These were truly 'happening' experiences in the sixties, but may be more familiar to twenty first century readers.

The final third of the book covers Lilly's experiences with mystical, physical exercises in an esoteric "school" in Chile. Much time is devoted to describing different psychological "states" classified according to Gurdjeiff's system. I found this section of the book a chore to read, but the events and information were obviously very important to Lilly.
1444035
Interestingly enough, some of the more fascinating parts of Paper, by Mark Kurlansky, are the contextual bits of history in preparation for the information regarding the ostensible subject of the book.  In fact, to be honest, I sometimes found these sections more interesting than its main topic.

Kurlanskys exploration of paper is both wide and deep, ranging back thousands of years, well before the invention of paper. He begins with language, moves to the apparent origination of writing in Sumeria, and then continues with an overview of the development of alphabets and pictographic languages in various civilizations, including China, Egypt, Greece, and Mesoamerica.

When he shifts gears to the recording material, he against starts earlier than paper, discussing its predecessors, papyrus, parchment, and vellum, and a few other lesser known (i.e. non-Western) ones.  He shows how the art of paper making arose in China and then how it was transferred from civilization to civilization, region to region, to Korea, Japan, to Central Asia, to the Islamic empire and then on to Muslim Spain (Andalusia)

As he charts papers evolution Kurlansky frequently warns the reader against what he calls the technological fallacy  the belief that technology changes society. Instead, he argues, society reaches a point where technology is necessitated. It is society that creates or changes technology. With regard to paper, for instance, he makes the point that paper had been in existence for some time before Europe took to it, and it is only when Europes bureaucracy and other elements meant they had a far greater need for recording that they adopted its use.  Beyond its use for writing, he also explores papers many other uses in various cultures, in religion, in Japanese homes, for kites, food wrapping, and so forth. Once paper has spread through most of the world we start to see the technological development:  paper mills, new forms of processing, how trees are lumbered, etc.  He also discusses a movement back toward homemade paper.

As mentioned, often my favorite parts are the contextual history that surrounds all thisthe rise of science in the Islamic Empire for instance, the creation of the library at Alexandria and others. Some of it was familiar, but all well told and the paper/writing aspect gave it a nice sense of direction and focus.  The uses of paper were often interesting as well, but I confess that all the detail surrounding the geographic placement of paper mills and other similar aspects grew a bit tedious, leading to some skimming of those sections.  And I didn't find Kurlanskys writing overall as engaging as in his earlier books Cod or Salt. Despite that, Paper has its moments, and its easy enough to glide through the weaker parts, so Id still recommend it.
2341027
Bryson demonstrates again that he is not just an engaging writer but also can deliver content well worth reading. I found the discussion of the switch from Old English to Middle English to be particularly fascinating. It happened very quickly and if one looks at the history of that time the reasons become clear. There were severe economic problems that had demographic consequences. Many people decided that someplace else was a better place to live than where they happened to be at the time. The result was that speakers of many local dialects of English found themselves mixed together in new circumstances, and a simplified version of English was needed for general communication. The result was the emergence of Middle English.