Because Sobel collected numerous materials from Galileo’s own writings (his personal letters and published works), she revealed much about him through this book, not only his keen intellect, but also his wit and tact, his manifold interests and talents, his loving relationship with his devoted daughter, who comforted and sustained him during the trying years of his life. Through the correspondence of his daughter, a nun of the order of […]
Read moreLatest Post
“The Long Tail” by Chris Anderson
Book Summary With the advent of the Internet and new technologies, the means of manufacturing and distributing consumer products (notably music, videos and books) have become so inexpensive and commonly accessible that they are decentralized and diversified to a great extent. Traditional manufactures built around old business models (newspapers, publishers, and music labels) are facing severe competitions from electronic commerce. Consumers, now presented with unlimited choices, no longer gravitate towards […]
Read more“Father Sergius” by Leo Tolstoy
This book should definitely be adapted into movies for the modern viewers, and I fancy there can be at least two different versions, depending on the targeted audience. The R-rated version: The hero is a handsome, passionate prince with an uncontrollable temper, who attracts women everywhere and gets into fights (verbal and physical) with men. There would be plenty of scenes of sexual tension, seduction and violence (with blood spills […]
Read more“An Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” by Benjamin Franklin
“Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day.” A fascinating, inspiring story of how a boy, by industry, frugality, reading and writing, constantly striving to improve himself daily, attending to the service of others and the community, and cultivating meaningful friendships, became a great statesman, entrepreneur and one of the most influential figures in […]
Read more“A Confession” by Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy wrote this book shortly after he finished “Anna Karenina”. He was in his early 50s, in full possession of his mental and physical powers. wealthy, famous and well-respected, and yet he despaired of life so much that he was on the verge of suicide. This state of mind is also partly reflected in the character of Levin in “Anna Karenina”. This book gives a candid, stunning account of the […]
Read more“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy
A good case can be made that this book should be titled Konstantin Levin, not Anna Karenina. Tolstoy described Levin in great detail, his personality, his emotions, his life, and the political, religious and economic environment in Russia as experienced and perceived by him. If it’s true that Tolstoy based Levin on himself, then I must say that I enjoyed the book as his autobiography. As a novel, however, this […]
Read more“Walden” by Henry David Thoreau
[Posted to commemorate the 192nd anniversary of Thoreau’s birthday] A Thought-Provoking And Sobering Essay on Life In this book, Thoreau reflected on the necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter and fuel), while he experimented with building his own shelter in the woods and growing crops himself. He pitied the lives of working men, “buying and selling, and spending their lives like serfs”, expressed a strong desire for adventure, a higher, […]
Read more