My Book List

This is a list of the last 20 books that I have read (for fun, medical books do not count!) over the past ~3-4 years, along with a little review of each one. If you are interested in the material contained within this blog, these books may be a nice supplement. I have tried to put them in the order that I read them, starting from the Summer of 2001:

1. American Terrorist: Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City Bombing, by Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck

An excellent book revealing the mind of Tim McVeigh. It was interesting for me because a great deal of the book dealt with his life in Western New York, where he grew up ~25 miles away from me. He even graduated high school at Art Park in Lewiston, which is where I graduated as salutatorian. This book should be considered the authoritative source on the entire story of the Oklahoma City Bombing, written by Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck, who worked for the Buffalo News. The book is based upon interviews with Tim McVeigh in prison shortly before he was executed. I finished this book about a week before his execution. I was actually saddened because Tim really seemed like a nice boy growing up until he became messed up from witnessing the Persian Gulf War and subsequently became obsessed with revenge against the U.S. government for the atrocities committed at Waco, Texas. I would highly recommend this book.

2. Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis

This was a great book. The first section is the best, as it deals with a "proof" of sorts of God’s existence, and how he differs from what many people think is his opposite, the Devil. Definitely one of Lewis’s best works of non-fiction.

3. Have Gun Will Travel, by Ronin Ro

This is one of the coolest books I have ever read. It is all about the rise of Death Row Records in the early 1990’s, one of the most powerful rap conglomerates ever. Details the come-up from the early days of N.W.A with Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Mc Ren, and Dr. Dre, who later went on to form Death Row Records with Suge Knight. Along with the superstar rise of Snoop Dogg and many of the Death Row crew, including Snoop’s cousins Daz and RBX, the Lady of Rage, and Kurupt the Kingpin, to the later days when Tupac Shakur joined Death Row after he was released from prison. Ronin Ro witnessed a great deal of this, especially the strong-arm tactics of CEO Suge Knight (a Blood), and his relationship with Snoop and Daz, who were both Crips.

4. Robot: Mere Machine to Transcedent Mind, by Hans Moravec

This book was very interesting, being a futuristic look into the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. Although a little dry in some areas of the book, the best portion included a look into the future, when robots will start to gain intelligence, pattern recognition, and adaptability. Hans Moravec, who is a robotics genius at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, models a timetable based on Moore’s Law, which described the doubling of computational processing power in a certain amount of time. Based upon quantum computing, machines will possess amazing power and, according to this book, will eventually become our mind-children and succeed human beings, subsequently colonizing the universe. He bases the evolution of this process on certain qualities of animals, from insects to lizards and beyond.

5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale, by James South

This book was a little out of my league, but if you enjoy philosophy, it may be cool. It consists of a collection of essays on all different aspects of philosophy, from Socrates to Nietzsche, and how the characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer illustrate the philosophical concepts. I really think you need to be a philosophy major to understand this one.

6. A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking

This is the GREATEST physics book ever written, hands down. This is raw physics for the masses. From Newton to Einstein, quantum mechanics, and the newer string theories, Stephen Hawking’s explanations are easy to understand and very well-written. Hawking, who basically discovered black holes, has Lou Gehrig’s disease, and is confined to an electronic wheelchair, only able to move his eyes. He speaks and writes through a retinal scanner. Despite his limitations, he is an absolute genius, and the concepts detailed in this book will make anyone appreciate the discovery of the amazing physical laws of the universe.

7. Relativity, by Albert Einstein

A book by the greatest genius of all time, explaining the concepts of both special and general relativity. A little hard to understand unless your mind is wide-open and able to visualize tough concepts. Nevertheless, who better to explain relativity than Einstein himself? Here he uses his famous example of the train to illustrate the main points of special relativity, and his classic example of a space elevator equating gravity with acceleration, as outlined by general relativity. All of the pertinent equations are here, but suprisingly, E=mc2 is only mentioned in a little footnote!

8. Time Travel in Einstein’s Universe: The Physical Possibilities of Travel Through Time, by J. Richard Gott

This is definitely the best book about time travel that I have read so far. Explains how time travel may be possible given relativity theory, quantum mechanics, and string theory. Gives a brief overview of all the theories, but more about their applicability in time travel theory, particular in the use of wormholes for both space and time travel. The author even uses a lot of classic movie references, including Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Back to the Future! Very cool. Also gives many explanations in work-around of the many paradoxes that arise when fathoming the possibility of time travel. Also gives a great explanation of the twin paradox. Definitely a worthwhile read.

9. Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution, by Michael Behe

This book is classic. I remember hearing about it when I was a undergrad student at Grove City College. The interesting part about the book is that Behe, a biochemist, does not use religion at all for his argument against macroevolution as an origin of species. He does maintain that there is an obvious inherent design in the biochemical makeup of living organisms. The main point in refuting evolution is that of irreducible complexity, a theory which points out the fact that in biochemical systems, if any one part of the system is removed, than the system ceases to function. He uses the example of a mouse-trap to illustrate this point. Thus, if evolution were true, multiple simultaneous mutations would have to occur for it to provide to the organism an advantageous ability and then subsequently be passed on to successive generations. For example, a mousetrap would have to develop all of it’s parts simultaneously, or else it would confer no advantage to the trapper if say, the spring came first, then the board several "models" later, and then the cheese several "models" beyond that. Uses tons of examples to illustrate the concept of irreducible complexity, from the clotting cascade to the giraffe’s development of a complex baroreceptor system to regulate blood pressure to it’s head when it leans down to drink water. Awesome stuff! At the end, Behe proposes various non-religious design theories, including Francis Crick’s (of DNA double-helix fame) theory of panspermia, which states that aliens sent the original genetic coding to earth.

10. Ideas & Opinions, by Albert Einstein

Not really a book, but a collection of essays and speeches by Einstein himself on all sorts of subjects, including physics, religion, politics, and culture. Of most interest is his views on the making of the atomic bomb. Definitely an interesting book to learn about another side of Einstein. Can be a little too complex when reading about physics, but it is worthwhile just to read about all of the other subjects that are included, or just to skim around the various essays that are of interest to you.

11. The War on Our Freedoms: Civil Liberties in an Age of Terrorism, by Richard Leone

This book was not that good for somebody who is not well versed in political science. It is a compilation of various essays concerning the gradual destruction of our civil liberties, particularly by the Patriot Act. If anything, should wake some people up out there who believe that the Patriot Act is actually a good thing for the country. It is quite shocking what this particular document allows our government to do, all in the name of liberty.

12. Cuba: From Columbus to Castro and Beyond, by Jaime Suchlicki

This book was a little boring, particularly the beginning. It got much better in it’s description of Cuba in the 20th century, during the reign of Batista and Castro’s revolution. May not be for you, but since I am part Cuban, it is good to know the history of one’s people. Particularly interesting is that Fidel Castro was a hero during the time of his revolution, as Batista was a ruthless dictator. After the U.S. refused to back Castro’s revolution, he sought help from communist Russia, and thus the rest is history. I would love to see a reprint detailing the Bush administration’s crackdown on travel and trade with Cuba, which has sent our relations with this country 20 years back.

13. The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis

One of the only fictional books that I have read in a long long time. Not one of Lewis’s best, but nevertheless is thought-provoking. The concept is interesting enough, detailing a demon’s attempt to tempt a man to stray from God. This is done in a series of letters written from a senior demon, Screwtape, and his nephew, the temptor, named Wormwood. The letter format is very original. A cool work of fiction given the subject matter, and can easily be read in 1 or 2 days as it is very short.

14. The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis

I liked this fictional story a little better than The Screwtape Letters. It details a man’s journey through Heaven and Hell, as he begins his trip with a variety of different personalities on a bus. The imagery used really provokes the imagination. The moral of the story focuses upon a man’s choice in whether he spends eternity with God or Satan. Similar to The Screwtape Letters, it is a very short read.

15. The Animal World of Albert Schweitzer: Jungle Insights into Reverence for Life, by Albert Schweitzer

Reverence for Life is Albert Schweitzer’s philosophy concerning the relationship between all forms of life, and how we should only harm life if it is absolutely necessary. The book mainly consists of short segments concerning Schweitzer’s encounters with different animals while stationed in Lambarene, Gabon, Africa as a medical doctor. A lot of great stories about life in the jungle, and how the natives also looked at life. Tons of stories about a variety of different animals, including elephants, his pet warthog, chickens, and his dogs. At the end, he details the ethic of Reverence for Life, a world-view which if adopted by mankind would make this world a much better place. In addition to his philanthropy, Schweitzer’s dealings with all forms of life showed what an amazing man he truly was.

16. The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality, by Brian Greene

While not as good as A Brief History of Time, this book could be considered an adjunct. Still a great account of all of the concepts and history concerning classical physics, relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory. Brian Greene’s style is a little more hip and fun than Hawking’s, and a little more in-depth as well. The only problem I have with the book is that it spends a little bit too much time on the string theories (as previously stated, I don’t like string theory that much). I particularly enjoyed his description of Newton’s classical physics. Some areas are easy to understand, yet others are a little difficult, but Greene definitely knows how to reach his target audience. A lot of pop culture is included in his examples (lots of examples involve the Simpsons). Overall, another great book from today’s physics genius himself, Brian Greene.

17. Schrodinger’s Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries, by John Gribbin

This book was a little too complex for my liking. It is not the author’s fault, as quantum mechanics itself is such a contradictory and difficult-to-understand theory in itself (the famous physicist Richard Feynman even stated: "I think it is safe to say that no one understand quantum mechanics"). Gribbin does an OK job of trying to explain this difficult theory, providing all of the necessary background needed to understand the basic concepts. Quite a lot of examples and illustrations are utilized.

18. The Emergence of Everything: How the World Became Complex, by Harold Morowitz

This book was really cool, as it details an account of all of the major "emergent" events since the creation of the universe (28 of them to be exact). He even divides up the emergence of different forms of animal life, from invertebrates to all of the major classes of vertebrates to mammals and humankind. Not just limited to science, the depth here is very broad, and includes the emergence of culture, religion, and technology. The style of writing is engaging, and makes the reader realize how important each emergence was in leading to the next.

19. Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software, by Steven Johnson

This book was really fun, although some areas were not of any interest to me. Johnson’s account of emergent theory is one of the best books on the subject. The best part of the book is the description of the intricacies of ant colonies and of the slime mold, and then advancing to mankind’s utilization of bottom-up systems in the development of intelligent self-learning software (including Amazon.com’s recommendation system). You can tell Johnson is an avid video game player, using many of these examples in his tutorial of emergent theory.

20. Opium: A History, by Martin Booth

This book includes the complete history of opiates and the poppy’s unusual connection to humankind. Interesting is the theory that the opium poppy evolved to produce it’s addictive alkaloids of morphine and codeine in order to ensure it’s own cultivation and propagation by man (and it worked). Everything you ever wanted to know about this plant is included here, from the botany to chemistry to it’s history. Other interesting tidbits include the fact that British people often used to give laudanum to their infants to sooth them, and how opium was really the first medicine to be discovered, often used as a cure-all. Also details the development of heroin, which was first tauted as a cure for morphinism. A large portion of the book deals with opium smoking in China, and how Britain made a fortune by addicting a large portion of the Chinese population through importation of opium via the East India Company. Overall, a very interesting read on one of the most controversial plants on earth.

Chaos Theory: A Primer Into Sensitivity to Initial Conditions

With all the talk about this crazy weather around the world (yeah, i'm sure global warming doesn't have anything to do with it), it primes the way for me to describe to you the amazing concepts contained within chaos theory. It is in part because of chaos theory that it is so very difficult to accurately predict this weather. Here, I will introduce some of the basic concepts of chaos theory and the butterfly effect.
While describing these systems as "chaotic" makes it seem as if the outcome of a system could never be determined, they can, although it is really hard to do so. Despite our efforts to predict the weather and other chaotic phenomena, these systems are actually deterministic in nature. That is, the outcome (for example, the end result at the end of a specified amount of time, say T=60) is already laid out from the moment the system either started or began to be measured (T=0) based upon the starting conditions as present between physical forces and matter. But these systems are also dynamical. It is because of this that these systems appear random or "chaotic".
Chaos theory can be summed up by reading the title of this article, as one of the most important criteria of chaotic systems is their "sensitivty to initial conditions". This concept is logical yet fascinating. It simply states that changing the starting conditions, however so slightly, can produce dramatic effects in the final outcome of the system. The best example of this is the butterfly effect. This effect demonstrates the power of chaos theory, and the utter importance of the starting conditions. It is said that a butterfly flapping it's wings in South America may ultimately lead to a tornado appearing in North America, whereas if the butterfly did not flap it's wing, no such tornado would occur. In fact, even if the butterfly flaps it's wing just ever so slightly different, the tornado may or may not have occurred. Since the starting condition (T=0) is the butterfly flapping it's wing, that the butterfly fluttered may be said to have "caused" the tornado. Now you see why the weather is so difficult to predict, and why chaos theory is so important in understanding chaotic systems.
When I visited San Diego in December of 2003, I went to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. One of the exhibits demonstrated this aspect of chaos theory just perfectly. A metal pole with a (-) polarity magnet on the end hung from the ceiling. The tip with the magnet floated about 2 feet from the top of a box in the ground. Underneath the top surface of the box were 6 magnets of equal strength and all of (-) polarity, arranged in a hexagonal configuration, with each magnet equidistant from a central point in the middle of the hexagon. The magnet sat directly above this middle point at rest. Since all magnets were of like polarity, and thus would repel each other, the floating magnet would remain at rest as the magnetic fields generated from all of the magnets cancelled each other out. Painted on the top of the box was a circle divided up into 6ths, each slice of the pie with a different color.
The observer of this experiment, myself in this case, would grab the floating magnet and wind up the pendulum by pulling back to a predetermined starting position labeled X. Then, without any force exerted upon the magnet, the magnet is let go. It swings down to the circle and interacts with the magnets below them being repelled in different directions. Eventually, it stops, floating over a specific color. The point is thus: The next time I bring the magnet back to what seemingly is the exact same position as before (X), the result at the end when the pendulum stops may be a different color! This small system is displaying chaotic behavior. Even though I think I'm starting at the same exact position each and every time, if I am in actuality even a milimeter away from where I had started before, in any direction, I may get a different color as an end result. And try and try I did to get the same color even two or three times in a row and it rarely happened. It's due to the fact that the end results are predetermined by extremely precise starting conditions.
Scientifically, these effects can occasionally plunge the confirmation of theories into chaos. It is so important when conducting an experiment to precisely measure the starting conditions when chaos is in the mix. Unfortunately, we are often limited by our technological ability to measure the starting conditions so precisely, and thus, sadly, chaos takes over and the end result is ruined. Imagine an experimental hypothesis we wish to test, but where chaotic effects predominate in this testable system. Say a scientist wants to set the experiment up, and he must place a certain Object A exactly 2.56876 cm away from Object B. However, the "ruler" he uses (or other distance-measuring tool) is only able to measure up to 2.569 cm. If the experimental system is chaotic, the extra 0.00024 cm in between Object A and Object B may cause a totally different result than if he used the correct distance of 2.56876 cm. The experiment may be totally ruined!
This deviation from the "true" answer may be even more far off when considering multiplicative effects upon adding more variables into the system. For example, if we added Objects C and D into the system and they both had to be a precise distance away from Objects A and B, the experimental results may be completely off of the mark.
The infinitesimal plays a role here. I remember thinking when I was very young that no two events could ever be the exact same, because it is impossible for all of the molecules that compose a particular piece of matter to move through the exact same points in space the exact same way. It may appear grossly to look exactly the same to the naked human eye, but on a molecular level, things do not appear like that at all. They appear chaotic, yet deterministic. Luckily, the smaller you go, and more precise the measurement, the more likely you are to know the initial conditions, and thus predict the outcome.
Chaos is everywhere. The stock market, the ecomony, population growth, and the atmosphere are all common chaotic systems. In the example of weather, scientists even go so far as to try to venture inside the middle of a tornado to measure the conditions. If they can place very sensitive equipment to take as precise measurements as possible, using the calculatory abilities of a computer, they can attempt to predict the path of the tornado. Chaos theory can be used in a variety of applications in attempting to solve these types of problems, although we are in the infancy of the calculatory ability needed to accurately predict the weather and stock market. Remember, sensitivity to initial conditions!

Lyricz 2: The Beginning

Biggie's flow and decibel level got nothin' on this incredible cross
between rap and invisible metal.
iron, tin, and aluminum puts a hefty spin on the inside of the dayton rims.
But tim horton's got nothin' on dunkin' donuts let's go nuts,
while we're in the matrix construx
New york better start eating pork cause tv there ain't all mork and mindy like in the windy city.


I want more than the world, I want to twirl the whole universe on it’s axis
To cause epistaxis in every boy and girl.
Toy tax-ees are matchbox but they’re just plain plas-teek.
The mild or the meek, the wild or the bleek,
The child or the weak, neither of them 3.


So deedle-dee-doe-dum, you know i seen yo son,
In the alley of shook ones, you know that he’s wholesome,
2 faces of Gollum are racing to follow ‘em
lacing this hollow gem with medicine,
that’s produced with straight chem by men named Dr. Ken Henderson, Sven Benderman and Ben Flenderstan.
Mend this fence before tonight’s sleep induces and produces late R.E.M.


Being lyrically gifted is spiritually uplifitin’,
I’m clearin’ the dreary sentence which was written,
To inspire future mc’s to inspire or expire sometime between the life-span of honeybees and giant sequoia trees.
These g’s roll D’s, b’s stealing keys,
K’s blastin’ like stingrays’ electricity streams….


Current villages and towns are mad cause their taxes are outrageous like
Rage against the machine taking laxatives and rappin’ backwards.
Attack the one who gives, cause he’s got something to lose,
Steal his shoes and disregard the rules.
Got a ford Taurus that’s blue, transmission just blew,
Just something new to do, what it is no clue….
My friend b’s a jew, that’s my boy, my crew,
He plays craps and blackjack, just wins his money back
Spinnin’ my Cadillac, I’ll feed you similac,
You’ll spit it up in fact......


I chop tons of trees til their chlorophyll
Spills all over Caesar salad lettuce leaves…..
So let us leave, between you and me
We don’t need to start no feeble beef.......


I’m the chief leader in the industry,
Anti-gravity boots cause me to end up on the ceiling.
Oh shoot I’m bleeding!!!
The root of the source is encrypted in morse coding.
Yo I’m floating, rote memory’s what I’m toting.
Compaq’s are compact, so Hewlett-packard’s what I’ve chosen.
Frozen sections of the lone bone fragments
got my stock tradin’ phat, I’ll lock this fadin’ cat,
Into a place that's way way back,
Attach the mosquito trap,
And a dangerous beat to match........


I’m paid on a basis on the base of log10,
Playin’ space invaders & frogger till my computer erases them.
We’re going to space for them.......


Singularity multiplied by 5 is still just strangely one,
Add on a deranged mc, and you virtually got infinity like a million to one.
Subtract him again, and you down back to none.
Divide him in two, and you gonna be easily stunned.
Run speedily to get the doctor, oh you forgot!!
He’s on the floor, bleeding to death did you split him or not?


Like snap I got the power to explode your lawn mower,
With grass and manure floatin’ throughout the entire garden going nowhere.


Traffic is backed up for miles upon miles,
You rushin' like you trying to conquer the british isles,


Your genome maps couldn’t be used as a blueprint for jay-z’s raps.
Slay me perhaps? Never on the haps.
Clever with these raps, careful with those caps.
they blast wit radiofluorescent attacks......


I’m talkin’ in future tense with amazing concentration,
I’m hastily losin’ immense hyperosmolar hydration.
I’m left with H2O in the basement, I’ll lace it with sodium chloride just so you can taste it.
Aldosterone may play a role as to why I must face these tremendous preparations.
Dialysis is provided free by anonymous donations to all of the patient’s.
But I have no patience so I lied to stop it thus erase it.
My kidneys shifted from retroperitoneal to third space so I look like alley mcbeal in a bird cage...


Treat these small documents as if they were your mother.
Their melted onto a chip, they’re unique so there is no other.
Protect it with all of your being, just seeing it’s believing.
Invasive technology is speedin’
Invading our privacy so illogically,
Tragically it’s not hypostrophe.
It’s right on the money,
There’s tight security on my transportation fundin’.
We can take a trip to the east indies right now cause I ain’t procrastinatin’ nothin’......
a blunder at somethin’…..
bet you double or nothin’.
You just lost so you better get truckin’.....


Now, if the plural of louse is lice,
And the plural of mouse is mice,
Then in Utah's house the plural is spice,
Twice as many wifes......


It’s time to access my excess,
And bring my rhyme to texas,
These new specs blast my next hits.....
You knew lex luthor was a p.o.w. in the war with korea….
Did you just hear my acronym, homonym, alliteration and omononopiea?
don’t need no trauma to my cerebellum,
Embellished it a little and now ya momma’s tellin’.....
Oh no, now she’s just yellin’, I’m straight bellin’,
This rubor and calor indicates that I’m swellin’.....


My literary wits, has just shown you five classic elements,
That will make what you spit straight six wit it.
Rhymes so good it’d make E-40 proud,
The crowd screams while I’m rappin’ aloud…
The sun-beams go miles through the clouds,
To reach us through the atmosphere to our towns…
Shinin’ brightly on our eyebrows,
Lightly solar energy isn’t so hard to be found…
Wakin’ me up so I can go to rounds….
Hmmmm……am I talkin’ bout my alarm clock or the heliotrope?
Go to work, see some docs, then barely operate the bronchoscope….
How do I cope? Go back to tonkas and isotopes?
Willy wonka and climbing ropes?


I’ll be an intern soon as I learn the proper term for those 3rd degree burns,
Going through the dermis to make your myocytes twitch and turn,
Now your stomach churns, electrolytes from rhabdomyolysis flood the wigger’s curve.......


This is my plight, I have too many genius qualities,
My theories are unprecedented clearly.
And hip-hop? It’s so dear to me,
Medicine? I shed a tear for thee.....


Miles spent contemplating what life meant.
So mentally ahead, I just said the last line in past tense.
So immense, deeper than thought can even get.
So make amends, defend your Mercedes-benz…
cause soon I’m comin’ by way of sound,
getting’ rid of you loons and clowns.
In the midst of millions of mc’s tryin’ to get the crown,
I emerge the victor, hittin’ the richter scale off kilter,
The realest ese around......


Giraffes prove evolution is absurd when they developed baroreceptors to recoup the blood pressure with vasoconstrictive measures….
Now feel free to applaud at your leasure….
More rhymes than you could tether….
more underground than buried treasure….
Dig me up before I’m lost forever….
Triggonometry too easy to spit,
What I invent? Is from real intelligence....
I’m beyond you’re current state of consciousness,
Not artificial like a cyborg from the future tense.....
Human tissue over a structure made of metal mesh....


There is no interlude, I can spit for eternity….
Are we learning g?
Why not just encourage me?
Poetry is more to me than the 3 bears eatin’ porridge hastily.....


you escaped to the far reaches of the galaxy,
I’ll need a gps to find my way back to you and track you intergallactically.
I must paint spectacular imagery.
Watch this, pigeons appear magically.
Did you see? Then tragically you’re retina’s been cauterized from my bovie.


I’m takin’ ya to whatever’s in between the rights and the lefts,
That’s straight enlightenment goin’ through the L. E. N. S.
So chill before you force me to cause distress.
Is it really physics?
Or somebody playin’ tricks?
Cricket phones are zappin’ waves from Czechoslovakia ten years retrograde.
Then they fade.....


This is my opus, or should I say my opia,
But I’m not near-sighted, I’m just straight dopa-than-ya.
Somatotropin cause my vocal cords to tighten,
Now I can command thunder and lightnin’
I gotta hand it to me, my thoughts are more novel than micheal chrichton.
Call it Maple road or Brighton….
flippin' Java script to bustin’ these clips,
my talents are multinumerous.
I stay true ta this,
Y’all better make room fa this,
Womb to tomb can produce a gruesome doom or bliss......