What Are You Currently Reading?

[kofh2u]

Ayn Rand.
This influencial writer has a following which I would suggest comprises the inteligencia of the Atheistic community.

Her book, "The Virtues of Selfishness" is a primer on arguments against the second greatest command of Christ.

She examines Egoism in a comparison to Altruism.
She makes an argument for the rational virtue of selfishness as an intelligent approach to living with others. This is, of course, in direct opposition to the charity of altruistically living in service to others.

It is difficult reading since the initial premise is short sighted and wrong.

It is intesting, though, to understand how logical and rational everything can be explained, once you ignor that the fundamental idea is incorrect.

The first axiom is that the evil tree of separate and divided selfish, self interest can lead to the good fruit of human survival in the long term future of mankind, as a species.

The relatively long term self interest she espouses also ignors that her laizze faire freedom to serve oneself is the basis for those forces which, through monopoly and force, gradually accumulate the power to take such freedom away for all who foolishly are participating in such a way of life, except that they hold themselves free, of course.

I think of high stakes Poker, winner take all, as the game she defends.

So, reading her elegant and expressive academics is laughable as I image she and I on a talk show, debating publically.

[C. D. Ward]

I'm currently reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: the Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond. It's an history of humanity spanning several thousands of years with an eye to explaining the "ascendency of the West." Fascinating if somewhat tediously written at times. I'd recommend it.

I also just recently finished The Golden Ratio: the Story of PHI, the World's Most Astonishing Number by Mario Livio. An history of the transcendental number PHI (1.6180339887) and including an examination of its ubiquity in nature and art. Also fascinating and exceedingly well-written. Highly recommended. I read it mainly during business flights, and it was the impetus for one of the shortest conversations I've ever had with a fellow passenger:

Seatmate: What's that book about?
Me: It's an history of the number PHI, which is a transcendental number like PI, but which appears over and over again in nature and in art.
Seatmate: Is it interesting?
Me: Very.
Seatmate: Doesn't sound like it. <returns to his People magazine...>

[Jaltus]

Voyage of the Dawn Treader isn't book three.
It goes Magician's Nephew
Horse and His Boy
Lion, Witch....
Prince Caspian
Voyage of Treader
Silver Chair
Last Battle

(or something like that)

That is CS Lewis heresy!

The original ordering, which is what Lewis wanted, is:

Lion, Witch,
Prince Caspian
Voyage
Silver Chair
Horse and His Boy
Magician's Nephew
Last Battle

Once Lewis died, they were "reordered" into an alleged chronological ordering. Unfortunately, key issues are missed when they are read in the wrong order.

[Xavier]

Aye, Namely the development of ASLAN...

It saddens me to have people read them in Narnian Chronological order.

[TheOneAndOnly]

I also just recently finished The Golden Ratio: the Story of PHI, the World's Most Astonishing Number by Mario Livio. An history of the transcendental number PHI (1.6180339887)

To my knowledge Phi has never been proven to be transcendental.

[TheOneAndOnly]

That is CS Lewis heresy!

The original ordering, which is what Lewis wanted, is:

Lion, Witch,
Prince Caspian
Voyage
Silver Chair
Horse and His Boy
Magician's Nephew
Last Battle

Once Lewis died, they were "reordered" into an alleged chronological ordering. Unfortunately, key issues are missed when they are read in the wrong order.

What? I doesn't make any sense in that order. The Magician's Nephew tells you how it all began, why on earth is tat at the end?

[C. D. Ward]

To my knowledge Phi has never been proven to be transcendental.

Ouch. You are correct, I meant irrational, not transcendental...

(glad my math teachers aren't around to see this!)...

[TheOneAndOnly]

In fact phi quite clearly isn't transcendental since it's a root of x^2+x-1=0

[C. D. Ward]

In fact phi quite clearly isn't transcendental since it's a root of x^2+x-1=0

Okay, thanks for rubbing it in...

[BigGrin]

I am currently reading, The Return of The Prodical Son, by Henri J. M. Nouwen, for the third time. I highly recommend this book because it's a great read. A true story about the author's chance encounter with a reproduction of Rembrandt's The Return of The Prodigal Son. He shares his experience and how a simple painting had propelled him into a personal spiritual journey. Awesome and inspiring.

[sylas]

In fact phi quite clearly isn't transcendental since it's a root of x^2+x-1=0

That should be x²-x-1=0.

But you are nearly there. The roots of your equation are -phi and 1/phi

Cheers -- Sylas

[Gabby]

That should be x²-x-1=0.

But you are nearly there. The roots of your equation are -phi and 1/phi

Cheers -- Sylas

mathmatics makes my blood run cold.

[oso diablo]

Currently on the nightstand...

Total Truth, by Nancy Pearcy. Cogent argument for a Christian worldview. Just started this.

The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follet. Came highly recommended, but only 20 pages in so far.

Recently finished...
Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell. Best novel i've read since Peace Like a River (Enger). Probably like nothing you've ever read.

Black/Red/White Trilogy, by Ted Dekker. Not as monumental as the author would suggest, but a very fun & interesting read. Billed as a cross between the Matrix and LOTR, ostensibly telling the Gospel story.

[Xavier]

That should be x²-x-1=0.

But you are nearly there. The roots of your equation are -phi and 1/phi

Cheers -- Sylas

*shudders*

[sylas]

Just finished: Krakatoa: The day the world exploded by Simon Winchester.

This is about the most deadly volcanic eruption in history, 27 August 1883. Very interesting material, filled with all kinds of irrelevant asides and background details of all aspects of the event and its aftermath.

So now I am reading The Neandertals by Erik Trinkaus and Pat Shipman. Only just started, but it looks great so far. What I love about it is that it tells the story of the people involved in the discovery and attempts to understand the Neandertals. Chapter one gives the background in which the first Neadertal remains were found; with a brief introduction to Linnaeus, Cuvier, Lamarck, Saint-Hilaire, Smith, Buckland, Lyell, Sedgewick, Murchison, Darwin, de Perthes, and others; who they were and how they lived and what motivated them. When I have finished I may post a review of some kind.

Cheers -- Sylas