2021 Q1 Reading Roundup

One quarter of 2021 has passed and it’s time to review my reading habits. In December I set the following goals for the first half of the year:

In the first half of 2021, I’d like to read more books on theory and history of thought. Specifically, I’d like to read about the founding of different Protestant denominations, a history (or histories) of mathematical thinking (generally or in specific veins), and philosophy of technology.

Overall, I’d rate myself an B+ on my overall reading habits for the quarter. Although I am not on track to satisfy my goals within specific topic areas, I read diligently and covered a variety of genres.

Here is my, non-exhaustive list, of what I read in the first quarter of this year with a one or two sentence review:

• Book of Feet: A history of boots and shoes – Joseph Sparkes Hall. Highlights both the inadequacy of English craftsmanship and the state of history writing in 1848. Interesting from a history of history perspective.
• The Data Detective – Tim Harford. Consistently good. Some rules are obvious, but the totality of the framework for considering data is helpful for a world where we must interpret data on a daily basis. Recommended for those who mistrust statistics.
• Yes Chef – Marcus Samuelsson. Interesting throughout. Highlights the incredible, often unforced, sacrifices Samuelsson made to become one of the best-known chefs in the world.
• Taste, Memory: Forgotten Foods, Lost Flavors, and Why They Matter – David Buchanan. The quest for the perfect cider apple. Reads as two separate books, and only one is interesting throughout.
• A Perry Mason Novel – Erle Stanley Gardner. Read to compare with the corresponding HBO series. The novels compare favorably, although I am not sure which one I read last quarter. I read and reread Gardner’s novels frequently.
• The Bombay Boomerang – Franklin W. Dixon. The Grosset & Dunlap Hardy Boys novels hold up well. Although the book isn’t especially sensitive to how it addresses other cultures, an effort was made to introduce readers to the broader world.
• How Carrots Won the Civil War – Rebecca Rupp. Cute. Do not read for any depth of knowledge, but a fun trivia book.
• Mark Twain’s Letters From Hawaii. Dull, racist throughout, and fails to serve as a travel guide or a cultural study.
• Selected Prose of T.S. Eliot (selections). Beautifully written, extreme at points, and uninspiring throughout.
• Foundation- Issac Asimov. It deserves its reputation as one of the best science fiction novels. The lack of plot action serves as an incredible literary device.

I’ve attempted various readings in mathematics; however, none has captured my attention. Instead, I am taking an online course on geometry (and plan to work through calculus) to satisfy my desire to learn more about the history and underpinnings of mathematics.

In the second quarter, I plan to forward my goals set in December by reading more about Church history, one or two books about food, and something that is philosophically challenging.