Bookish version of pdotb@todon.eu
This link opens in a pop-up window
Content warning spoilers
A gentle romance, with lots of reflection on the interplay of autism and relationships. I particularly appreciated that all the characters were likeable -- I don't always (in fact, perhaps only rarely) have the energy for unpleasant characters.
An unsparing investigation into Spotify’s origins and influence on music, weaving unprecedented reporting with incisive …
Requested this from the library after hearing the author interviewed on Politics Theory Other
Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew Joseph White …
Second AJW book I've DNF'ed. I think there's a lesson in there for me...
Second AJW book I've DNF'ed. I think there's a lesson in there for me...
Maybe it's a 'me problem' but I found this wildly confusing. I sort of muddled my way through to the end, and just about have an idea of what happened, but it was a difficult path to get there.
Maybe it's a 'me problem' but I found this wildly confusing. I sort of muddled my way through to the end, and just about have an idea of what happened, but it was a difficult path to get there.
A smart, incisive take-down of the bogus claims being made about so-called ‘artificial intelligence’, exposing …
I'm not really sure I want to write a review, per se. There's bits I really like, especially the explanation of how LLMs work, and the analogy with T9 I found particularly helpful. I also really liked the description of the groups "AI Doomers" and "AI Boosters", and why it's all bullshit. I think the problem I have is that I'm not really the ideal target audience for the book -- I read "Weapons of Math Destruction" some years ago, and that overlaps pretty heavily chapter 4 of this book, and I even read Weizenbaum's book (a lot of years ago), so I'm familiar with the debates about what (artificial) intelligence is. I think there really is lots of good stuff here, but it's best as a first introduction to the topics of the current AI hype, and I'm not really well suited to judging that.
I'm not really sure I want to write a review, per se. There's bits I really like, especially the explanation of how LLMs work, and the analogy with T9 I found particularly helpful. I also really liked the description of the groups "AI Doomers" and "AI Boosters", and why it's all bullshit. I think the problem I have is that I'm not really the ideal target audience for the book -- I read "Weapons of Math Destruction" some years ago, and that overlaps pretty heavily chapter 4 of this book, and I even read Weizenbaum's book (a lot of years ago), so I'm familiar with the debates about what (artificial) intelligence is. I think there really is lots of good stuff here, but it's best as a first introduction to the topics of the current AI hype, and I'm not really well suited to judging that.
Neoliberals should have seen the end of the Cold War as a total victory—but they …
Interesting book that draws the connections between portions of the neoliberal right and the alt-right/far-right, arguing for connections between many members of the MPS and anti-immigration, race science, and gold-hoarding survivalism. I was going to quote more but the first two were just so grim I felt like I needed a shower. The chapter on gold took an interesting turn into the origins of the AfD that I wasn't aware of.
Interesting book that draws the connections between portions of the neoliberal right and the alt-right/far-right, arguing for connections between many members of the MPS and anti-immigration, race science, and gold-hoarding survivalism. I was going to quote more but the first two were just so grim I felt like I needed a shower. The chapter on gold took an interesting turn into the origins of the AfD that I wasn't aware of.
Content warning Gaza, genocide, canpol
Starts with a quantitative analysis of Canadian media, illustrating both the quantity of reporting on Palestinian and Israeli deaths, as well as the emotiveness of the words chosen. Not a huge surprise that the National Post is the worst, followed by the Globe and Mail, but even the supposedly 'progressive' Toronto Star fares poorly. Much of the rest of the book is accounts of individual journalists' experiences inside newsrooms, facing pushback and stalling when trying to propose stories or changes of emphasis. There's a powerful account of the effects of HRC, including quotes from the major journalists' unions, and also illustrative stories of how the truth can be distorted to create conspiracies. The first chapter mentions Herman's and Chomsky's 'Manufacturing Consent', and it's hard to feel that's not what's going on in Canada.
The story of the land that became Scotland is one of dramatic geological events and …
Starts off strong with coverage of the ice ages and the early habitation of Scotland, and finishes well with the coming of the Romans through to the final Pictish kingdoms around 800. The middle, though, suffered from what I think is quite common in popular prehistories: plenty of conjecture, set off by overly frequent use of 'they must have...' and 'no doubt...'. Still enjoyable, but there were times when I wasn't really sure what I was reading.
Starts off strong with coverage of the ice ages and the early habitation of Scotland, and finishes well with the coming of the Romans through to the final Pictish kingdoms around 800. The middle, though, suffered from what I think is quite common in popular prehistories: plenty of conjecture, set off by overly frequent use of 'they must have...' and 'no doubt...'. Still enjoyable, but there were times when I wasn't really sure what I was reading.
Mostly enjoyable recounting of the rise of TSOM up to the first big split. Interesting to learn more about the Leeds music scene of the time, and discover that the March Violets were contemporaries. The book does drag after a while as it becomes a bit too 'blow by blow' for my liking, and the endless drug references may be accurate but I found them increasingly tiresome.
Unrelated to the content of the book, it's hard to recommend buying it owing to the ongoing Unbound/Boundless, er, situation.
Mostly enjoyable recounting of the rise of TSOM up to the first big split. Interesting to learn more about the Leeds music scene of the time, and discover that the March Violets were contemporaries. The book does drag after a while as it becomes a bit too 'blow by blow' for my liking, and the endless drug references may be accurate but I found them increasingly tiresome.
Unrelated to the content of the book, it's hard to recommend buying it owing to the ongoing Unbound/Boundless, er, situation.
Tremendous overview of the prehistory of Britain and the discipline of archaeology. Very readable. The descriptions of the seven burials are used as a stepping-off point for discussions of, for example, the development of archaeology from a science that tried to reconcile itself with the Bible (including a recent flood), the different approaches to cultural change through 'invasion', and a well-done discussion of sex and gender in burials. Highly recommended.
Tremendous overview of the prehistory of Britain and the discipline of archaeology. Very readable. The descriptions of the seven burials are used as a stepping-off point for discussions of, for example, the development of archaeology from a science that tried to reconcile itself with the Bible (including a recent flood), the different approaches to cultural change through 'invasion', and a well-done discussion of sex and gender in burials. Highly recommended.
As Pierre Poilievre closes in on power, journalist Martin Lukacs reveals the playbook behind his …
Content warning canpol
I wasn't exactly expecting to warm to Poilievre over the course of this book, but this really does lay out just how dangerous he is. I think it did a great job of balancing the span of his career to pack as much as possible into a relatively short book -- just enough of his early life to see where his ideology comes from (perhaps unsurprisingly, it's Milton Friedman all the way) but then greater detail as we approach the present. The book is particularly good on his faux populism -- how he pretends to be on the side of working people, when his policies will absolutely screw us all over. Highly recommended, especially as I'm afraid the threat he poses isn't going away anytime soon.
Grim’s best friend is missing. With the Ember Guard baffled and the list of victims …
Content warning spoilers?
Less cozy than the first book, but still an enjoyable, if short, read
"Polarization" is a word commonly used by everyone from mainstream journalists to the person in …
I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy these -- lots of really interesting essays.
I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy these -- lots of really interesting essays.
Luck is NOT on their side. When a series of bizarre coincidences leaves a man …
Content warning spoilers?
Marred a little by pacing issues, and the fact it ends on a cliffhanger (which necessitates me starting on the second book immediately!), this was a charming read, especially in the way it dealt with Grim's work relationship with Argyle developing into a cozy platonic one.
What happens when we imagine loving the people—and the parts of ourselves—that we do not believe are worthy of love?
…