A Rehash of “A Brief History Of Time” Hawking re-organizes materials from “A Brief History Of Time” in a tree-like, instead of linear, format, explaining complex physics models as clearly as possible without the use of mathematical equations. The theories of the black hole are based on principles of thermodynamics, Einstein’s curved space-time and the holographic principle. The latter states that all the information in a multi-dimensional space can be encoded […]
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“Building The Getty” by Richard Meier
Architect Richard Meier gives a detailed personal account of the building of the Getty Center, one of the most important works of architecture in recent history, which took 13 years to complete and cost one billion dollars. Meier’s design philosophy emphasizes the human scale, freedom of movement, the experience of space and light as one moves around in the building, the relationships between solid and void, between openness and closure, […]
Read more“The Abolition of Man” by C. S. Lewis
A thought-provoking, occasionally humorous essay in defense of traditional values and the emotions associated with them, against nihilism and reductionism. The danger of reductionism, Lewis cautioned, is that, like the basilisk who kills every living thing it sees, reductionist approach tends to break things down to measurable quantities, and in the process lose sight of quality and value. It’s dissecting the Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs. Lewis also made […]
Read more“The Great Divorce” by C. S. Lewis
Lewis takes the readers on a fantasy bus ride from hell to heaven, and describes what he believes to be the fundamental difference between good and evil, and the difference in traits between people in heaven and hell. I like the way Lewis uses imageries to illustrate theological concepts, and the dialogues of his characters are also very entertaining and revealing. During the bus ride, one encounters all sorts of […]
Read more“The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge
This book gives an overview of the recent advances in neuroscience with emphasis on applications to restore brain functions to people who have suffered damages to the brain (caused by diseases, accidents or birth defect). Use it or Lose it The human brain is not rigid, but is constantly adapting to changes in the environment and the brain itself. Brain functions can be strengthened and partly restored through targeted mental […]
Read more“Iliad” by Homer
Great War Epic Imagine camping on a beach on a start-lit night, and as you’re sitting around the camp fire, Homer tells a story of a great war that happened on the very same shore a long, long time ago. There were warriors as numerous as the stars in the heaven and grains of sand on the beach, but the majority of them were doomed to die because of the […]
Read more“The Kreutzer Sonata” by Leo Tolstoy
One of the most controversial and censored works by Tolstoy. By the mouth of a man who killed his wife out of jealousy, Tolstoy launched a scathing attack on society’s views and practices with regard to relationships, sex, marriage and child-raising. He even included many materials from his own life and marriage – Like the man in the story, Tolstoy also showed his wife his “memoir” and suffered intensely from […]
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