Bad Science by Ben Goldacre is a book about the misrepresentation and portrayal of Scientific subjects at both the media and national level. As a medic, Goldacre concentrates mainly on the area of Health and how misrepresentations can effect the national discourse and zeitgeist. But he also covers a wide variety of topics. He begins with homoeopathy and alternative medicines, moves onto nutritionists and the claims they make; then lampoons the standards of Science and Research in the Pharmaceutical industry. Finally, he finishes on the […]
Still Foolin’ Em: Billy Crystal at his Best
Comedy is often built on tragedy. Memoirs are a form of literature that often mines a person’s tragedy to create universal feelings in the reader. Billy Crystal’s Still Foolin’ Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys is a brilliant memoir from a supremely funny man. Much like Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up it serves as both a career retrospective piece as well as means for Crystal to show some of the events that shaped the performer we see. My first memory of […]
The Crazy Land of Scientology
After reading Jenna Miscavige Hill’s book about her life in Scientology, Beyond Belief, I was still hungry for more information. Hill’s memoir was a fascinating but personal story and I was interested in a broader look at Scientology. So, I picked up Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief (2013) by Lawrence Wright, after hearing some good things about it. Wright covers a lot of ground with this book, starting with L. Ron Hubbard, his life, his writings, and the beginnings of Scientology. […]
On Race, Revolution, and Vertically-Challenged Corsicans
Alexandre Dumas, father of the famous French novelist, was born into a noble Norman family. He was generally acknowledged to be the strongest man in the French army. He commanded armies, fought on two continents, and successfully invaded Italy. Not only was he personally known to Napoleon, but Napoleon hated his guts. Dumas managed to survive enemy action, prolonged imprisonment, personal betrayal, and the Terror. His was a life of almost picaresque scope and wonder. Oh, and he was also the mixed-race son of a […]
The Second Highest Peak is Harder
If you liked Into Thin Air or have an interest in high altitude climbing this is a good book for you. Ed Viesturs is an accomplished climber; he was on Everest in 1996 during the tragedies described in Into Thin Air. He has climbed all fourteen 8000 meter peaks and unlike many others is still alive. With all of his experience, he brings credibility to his review of 8 different expeditions to summit K2 , including his own. The most interesting of these expeditions are […]
An Essential Guide To Crafting The Ten Minute Play
I used this book to help me write my first ten minute play and found it immensely helpful. Garrison is easy to read and approachable, even for theatre newbies like myself. Read the full review here.