Book Reviews
Reviews and notes on books I’ve read
Book Reviews
Notes on books I’ve read, organized by topic. Ratings are subjective—a low rating doesn’t mean the book is bad, just that I didn’t find it valuable.
Currently Reading
- Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter
- The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef
Science & Technology
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions — Thomas Kuhn
Rating: 9/10
The classic work on paradigm shifts. Kuhn argues that science doesn’t progress linearly—instead, periods of “normal science” are punctuated by revolutionary changes in worldview. Essential for understanding how science actually works.
The Dream Machine — M. Mitchell Waldrop
Rating: 8/10
A biography of J.C.R. Licklider and the birth of personal computing. Fascinating history of how a small group of visionaries created the computing world we live in.
Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
Rating: 7/10
Summary of Kahneman’s research on cognitive biases. Important ideas, though recent replication failures have undermined some findings. Still worth reading for the framework.
Philosophy & Ideas
The Beginning of Infinity — David Deutsch
Rating: 9/10
A sweeping defense of the power of explanatory knowledge. Deutsch argues that problems are soluble, knowledge is infinite, and human beings have cosmic significance. Ambitious and inspiring.
Reasons and Persons — Derek Parfit
Rating: 8/10
Dense philosophical investigation of personal identity, rationality, and ethics. Changed how I think about what matters. Not an easy read.
Finite and Infinite Games — James Carse
Rating: 7/10
Short, poetic book distinguishing finite games (played to win) from infinite games (played to continue playing). Thought-provoking but sometimes too abstract.
History
The Making of the Atomic Bomb — Richard Rhodes
Rating: 9/10
Definitive history of the Manhattan Project. Rhodes captures both the physics and the human drama. Long but never boring.
SPQR — Mary Beard
Rating: 7/10
History of ancient Rome by a leading classicist. Good overview, though sometimes felt scattered.
Fiction
Ficciones — Jorge Luis Borges
Rating: 9/10
Mind-bending short stories exploring infinity, labyrinths, and the nature of reality. “The Library of Babel” and “Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius” are masterpieces.
Permutation City — Greg Egan
Rating: 8/10
Hard science fiction about digital consciousness and simulated realities. The ideas are more interesting than the characters, but what ideas!