Posted on 07/12/2010 10:39:11 AM PDT by MplsSteve
I have never ready a novel twice in the same year before. Until I read this apocalyptic thriller.
ONE SECOND AFTER
http://www.onesecondafter.com/
a high-altitude nuclear bomb of uncertain origin explodes, unleashing a deadly electromagnetic pulse that instantly disables almost every electrical device in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. Airplanes, most cars, cellphones, refrigerators—all are fried as the country plunges into literal and metaphoric darkness. History professor John Matherson, who lives with his two daughters in a small North Carolina town, soon figures out what has happened. Aided by local officials, Matherson begins to deal with such long-term effects of the disaster as starvation, disease and roving gangs of barbarians.
Started the girl with the dragon tattoo the other day - so far I can say I like it a lot. Obviously a very intricate plot. The Swedish place names are a bit of an obstacle as are some of the leftist leanings of the author, but so far I can can get past both of these.
Jaynes posits that, in prehistory, human beings were basically unconscious as we define consciousness today and in the place of consciousness was an almost uninterrupted monologue received from gods and/or God.
One side of the cerebral hemisphere (the dominant side) was devoted to action and the opposing side was devoted to hearing such voices (such as--or similar to--that as experienced by schizophrenics today). This book also provides a great deal of information on brain structure and operation as backstory to the bicameral premise.
As a quick aside, though this book is academic/scientific in its approach and in no way theological, Jaynes parallels the loss of the bicameral voices and the birth of consciousness with the Bible's fall of man upon eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.
As evidence for his conclusions, Jaynes dissects and carefully parses manuscripts of early man (primarily The Iliad,The Odyssey, the Bible/Old Testament, and The Epic of Gilgamesh) to demonstrated both the lack of and the later emergence of a sense of self.
Let me point out that this is a book not so much to be accepted as true or false or agreed/disagreed with as it is simply an opportunity to enjoy the research and ideas presented by the author on the history of man. It raises so many issues and does so with such care and intelligence that it is a fascinating read (more like a graduate course than a book).
One last point.
This book, like no other save perhaps the Bible, provides a unique perspective of the vast history of mankind. And it shows modern man as quite different from his ancestors and delineates the precise nature of--and provides compelling evidence for--such differences .
As I said, agree with it or disagree...you will still find this book fascinating and truly one of a kind!
Just finished reading “Fevre Dream,” the latest book from Doug Preston & Lincoln Child in the Agent Pendergast series. I’m now reading the third book in a Templar trilogy by Robyn Young, titled “The Fall of the Templars.”
I'm now about a third of the way through "The Illustrious Dead" an epidemiological history of how typhoid halted Napoleon's Russian ambitions.
Interesting.
Plus assorted SciFiction by RAH, David Weber, John Ringo, Stephen Stirling and Eric Flint and others.
Just finsihed flawless about the antwerp diamond robbery, aside from that my favorites robert parker, vince flynn, brad thor, michael crighton, robert crais and stuart woods
Reading “The Other Brain” on the discoveries that fat cells in the brain convey information and “Opium: Uncovering the Politics of the Poppy”, a left-wing, but informative overview Afghani and other problems.
Just ordered the “A History of Christianity in Asia, Vol. 1: Beginnings”, a well regarding history of the Nestorian church in Asia.
1)" Closing of the Muslim Mind" - Reilly; Description of the theological closing of rational inquiry in Islam 9-12th Centuries.
2) "Father of Us All" - Hanson; War Historians and how they illuminate our current world and why intellectuals hate the discipline.
3) "Failure is Not an Option" - Kranz; Legendary NASA Launch Director gives his take on early NASA and especially Apollo 13.
4) "Daring Young Men" - Reeves; The Berlin Airlift and it's effects on History.
I am still reading 1 & 2 but "Closing" is very sobering, especially when you think of the similar efforts within Christianity to close logical inquiry.
#3 is great in having a ring side seat to all of the good & bad of early to mid NASA. Heartbreaking disasters and failures amongst OMG successes. Apollo 1 to 11 to 13 is a story arc that Hollywood would round-file as preposterous.
"Daring" opened my eyes to how unreal history can be at times. The Western Allies, tired and wanting peace find that the Soviet Union just wants EVERYTHING and thinks that pinching off Berlin will be an easy victory. The enormous costs paid to sustain a former enemy capital later paid dividends in battles not pushed to a nuclear limit!
The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman.
This statement in the epilogue rang my bell:
“Mental standstill or stagnation—the maintenance intact by rulers and policy-makers of the ideas the started with is fertile ground for Folly.
In it’s first stage, mental standstill fixes the principles and boundaries governing a political problem.
In the Second Stage, when dissonances and failing function begin to appear, the initial principles rigidify. This is the period when, if wisdom were operative, re-examination and re-thinking and a change of course are possible, but they are as rare as rubies in a backyard. Rigidifying leads to increase of investment and the need to protect egos; policy founded upon error multiplies, never retreats. The greater the investment and more involved in it the sponsor’s ego, the more unacceptable is disengagement.
In the third stage, pursuit of failure enlarges the damages until it causes the fall of Troy, the defection from the Papacy, the loss of a trans-Atlantic empire and the classic humiliation of Vietnam.”
The historic references are from the book’s chapters of events where a government’s(Troy, Britain, Vatican and America) self-interest blinded itself to pursue policies that were contrary to their best interests.
The current Administration and its handlers are heading down similar paths.
Thanks for letting me know. I’m looking forward to starting it once I finish my Vince Flynn book. I usually love Flynn’s books, but this one (Memorial Day) has been rather hard to get through. Maybe I’ve just read too many of the genre this year. Just read Liberty by Coonts last month, which is kind of the same story (terrorists smuggling a nuclear bomb into the US with plans of blowing up important places).
Ah...ok.... Ol’ Rosco live down in Floridy and paints pictures these days....I thought he might have started writing books! take care Lando
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. It’s part biography and part science. Very interesting.
And for pure summer fluff, guilty pleasure reading, “Definitely Dead” by Charlaine Harris.
I just read that last week—in a couple of sittings, actually. It was in the SciFi section of the library, and I usually don’t read that genre, but it was highly recommended by others on FR, so I gave it a shot.
I thought it was funny because dh put in for a job transfer to Asheville :) The book, though, was definitely not funny and I had trouble sleeping Friday night!
Patriot’s History of the United States.
Up to page 350. Just finished the Civil War now into Reconstruction. 600 pages to go.
I manage to read about 5 pages a night in bed.
My wife thinks I’m carzy.
Put “books that are hard to get through” on my list of pet peeves. Since life is short and there are so many good books out there, rationally I think I should just s****-can a book that isn’t doing it for me, but mostly I can usually bring myself to do that. Normally, I feel like I should slog through.
You want a page turner? Read The Politician by Andrew Young about Silk Pony John Edwards. Riveting read. No likable characters. Even more fun for me as a North Carolinian. Empty suit doesn’t even begin to describe Edwards - guy is/was a complete fraud.
I read excerpts a while back. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll add it to my list! My husband read the introduction and first chapter of Karl Rove’s book and said it was a page turner. After he’s done with it, I’m going to read it.
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