What We Are Reading Today: ‘Volcanoes’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Volcanoes’
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Updated 31 May 2023
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Volcanoes’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Volcanoes’

Authors: Richard V. Fisher, Grant Heiken, And Jeffrey Hulen

Whenever a volcano threatens to erupt, scientists and adventurers from around the world flock to the site in response to the irresistible allure of one of nature’s most dangerous and unpredictable phenomena.

In a unique book probing the science and mystery of these fiery features, the authors chronicle not only their geologic behavior but also their profound effect on human life.


What We Are Reading Today: The Lives of Moths

What We Are Reading Today: The Lives of Moths
Updated 03 October 2023
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What We Are Reading Today: The Lives of Moths

What We Are Reading Today: The Lives of Moths

Authors: Andrei Sourakov & Rachel Warren Chadd 

Moths are among the most under appreciated insects on the planet, yet they make up the majority of some 180,000 known species of Lepidoptera.

Filled with striking images, “The Lives of Moths” looks at the remarkable world of these amazing and beautiful creatures.

While butterflies may get more press than moths, Andrei Sourakov and Rachel Warren Chadd reveal that the lopsided attention is unjust.

Moths evolved long before butterflies, and their importance cannot be overestimated.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Earthshaking Science’ by Susan Elizabeth Hough

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Earthshaking Science’ by Susan Elizabeth Hough
Updated 02 October 2023
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Earthshaking Science’ by Susan Elizabeth Hough

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Earthshaking Science’ by Susan Elizabeth Hough

This is the first book to really make sense of the dizzying array of information that has emerged in recent decades about earthquakes.

Susan Hough, a research seismologist in one of North America’s most active earthquake zones and an expert at communicating this complex science to the public, separates fact from fiction.

She fills in many of the blanks that remained after plate tectonics theory, in the 1960s, first gave us a rough idea of just what earthquakes are about.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Of Mice and Men’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Of Mice and Men’
Updated 02 October 2023
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Of Mice and Men’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Of Mice and Men’

“Of Mice and Men” is a novella written by the late John Steinbeck and published in 1937.

The book explores themes of friendship, dreams, loneliness, the human condition, and the inherent cruelty of society.

Set during the Great Depression in the US, the story revolves around two displaced ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, who are seeking employment and a place to call their own.

They form a close friendship, and Milton serves as Small’s guardian, protecting him from the dangers and complexities of the world.

The duo finds work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, where they meet other characters such as Candy, an aging ranch-employee with a missing hand, and Slim, a skilled and respected worker. They also encounter Curley, the boss’ aggressive and insecure son, and his flirtatious wife, who remains unnamed throughout the story.

Small’s mental disability creates tension and conflict throughout the narrative and leads to a tragic incident where ranch workers decide to seek revenge on him. That is when the story really takes off.

“Of Mice and Men” remains a poignant and widely studied work, highlighting the struggles faced by marginalized individuals during the Great Depression era and raising questions about the nature of compassion and the pursuit of happiness.

While Steinbeck’s formal education was not extensive, his experiences, self-study, and immersion in various environments played a significant role in shaping his perspective and informing his writing.

He wrote several other notable novels, including “East of Eden,” “Cannery Row,” “The Grapes of Wrath,” and nonfiction book “Travels with Charley: In Search of America.”

His observations of people, their struggles, and the landscapes they inhabited became integral to his storytelling and contributed to his reputation as one of America’s most influential writers.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Art of the Modern Age’ by Jean-Marie Schaeffer

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Art of the Modern Age’ by Jean-Marie Schaeffer
Updated 01 October 2023
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Art of the Modern Age’ by Jean-Marie Schaeffer

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Art of the Modern Age’ by Jean-Marie Schaeffer

This is a sweeping and provocative work of aesthetic theory: a trenchant critique of the philosophy of art as it developed from the 18th century to the early 20th century, combined with a carefully reasoned plea for a new and more flexible approach to art.

Jean-Marie Schaeffer, one of France’s leading aestheticians, explores the writings of Kant, Schlegel, Novalis, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and Heidegger to show that these diverse thinkers shared a common approach to art, which he calls the “speculative theory.”


What We Are Reading Today: Indonesia: Environment and Development

What We Are Reading Today: Indonesia: Environment and Development
Updated 30 September 2023
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What We Are Reading Today: Indonesia: Environment and Development

What We Are Reading Today: Indonesia: Environment and Development

Author: World Bank Group

Indonesia has achieved remarkable success over the years in stimulating rapid economic growth and reducing widespread poverty. The pace and pattern of development, however, have given rise to increasing concern about the sustainable use of natural resources and the social and economic costs of urban and industrial pollution. 

It says that growth and development over the medium term will depend increasingly on Indonesia’s key natural resources and ecosystems, and the care and efficiency with which they are managed, according to a review on goodreads.com.

The book claims that the growing volume of urban and industrial pollution in the country poses a serious threat both to the improvements in health and human welfare that are central to the long-term goals of development. 

A result of increasing competition for scarce natural resources and growing levels of pollution, environment-related issues of equity and burden sharing will become increasingly important in the years ahead.