What are you reading now? (Chapter 2)

[macdoc]

Why do we look the way we do? What does the human hand have in common with the wing of a fly? Are breasts, sweat glands, and scales connected in some way? To better understand the inner workings of our bodies and to trace the origins of many of today’s most common diseases, we have to turn to unexpected sources: worms, flies, and even fish.

Neil Shubin, a leading paleontologist and professor of anatomy who discovered Tiktaalik–the “missing link” that made headlines around the world in April 2006–tells the story of evolution by tracing the organs of the human body back millions of years, long before the first creatures walked the earth. By examining fossils and DNA, Shubin shows us that our hands actually resemble fish fins, our head is organized like that of a long-extinct jawless fish, and major parts of our genome look and function like those of worms and bacteria.

very well written and explained ...

[JimC]

Sounds right up my alley...

[macdoc]

Was recommended by the Superlative author.

[macdoc]

Had not realized the author of the book is actually the actor that plays in the TV series ( Highly recommended )
I was in Tokyo for a few weeks right around the same time this was set and had been there a number of times before on business so the setting is crazy familiar...lots of memories.

[Tero]

I need to read some fiction as the other books are depressing. So I managed to get three Terry Pratchetts ordered. The local chain store only had one that dealt with soccer.
Also ordered a really beat up used copy of Thief of Time, which I have read before.

[Brian Peacock]

Struggling with Stephen Baxter's latest, Fortress Sol. An author I've always enjoyed, but this feels like a good short story or novella padded out with a lot of repetition and recapitulation.

[macdoc]

Had not realized the author of the book is actually the actor that plays in the TV series ( Highly recommended )

This is incorrect. FWIW

This is a must watch as well as an enjoyable read

[macdoc]

Good so far - quite unique

[macdoc]

Excellent book - second of three

[Sean Hayden]

Living With The Left, Because The Right's Even Worse: and 151 other false dilemmas.

[macdoc]

Finished the third Sue Burke novel in the Semiosis trilogy, Usurpation and on to a standalone by her.

[Sean Hayden]

—saw it at the library, sounded interesting.

[Tero]

I have one of his books. Another similar book is on Failed States.
"Why Nations Fail." Acemoglu and Robisnon.
Quite long historical view. The Spanish getting silver out of South America. The authors call this economy "extractive." It is still used in later empires as well.

[Tero]

From that book. Capitalism in its extreme is extractive.

Their word for the successful state describes politics as inclusive.

[macdoc]

Just delectably wicked