Bookshelf Tour: Science 

Thanks so much!

Happy to oblige! Hopefully you’ll find them as enjoyable as I!

😂😜😂🤣 I suppose I should clarify: compared to literary studies and fiction, I don’t have that much science. Your punchline cracked me up!

Very kind of you to take a moment to say do! It is a pleasure. All my best to you!

I’ve been getting the itch to reread the Holt soon. Speaking of Gibbon’s magnum opus, I just put it on my list of books to read before I turn 40. So-within the next two years.

Ahhhh, music to my ears! I love helping people keep their TBRs at obese levels!

I've always been more of a reader than a collector. If I read a book and I know I'll never read it again, I take it to a used book shop and trade it in. That also helps keep my library pruned down to just the books that are important to me. But--hey--I've got plenty of books aging in a TBR, too! :)

@@LeafbyLeafI have a tiny set of floating shelves so collecting isn't really an option for me. in Ireland we have charity shops instead of thrift or used book shops. There's 3 in my village and they end up taking the majority of what I don't love. Helps not to feel wasteful too.

@@LeafbyLeaf also thank you for the review you gave beyond biocentrism. Mines been sitting in the naughty corner for a while as I debate getting rid of it. Think I'll have to give it another go x

The naughty corner!!! 😂😂😂

Thanks! 😁

I am humbled and honored by such a comment. You are quite welcome.

My pleasure!

Me, too! 🙏👊

I am ur subscriber ☺️

Thank you! 🙏

Thanks! I’ve been wanting to read Susskind. I’ll start with this one.

Well well well-you and I certainly have similar tastes in science! That book on Cantor really hooked me. Lichtenberg, in a Waste Book aphorism, says that math is a great way to stave off madness. Of course, he wrote that a century or so before he could have met Cantor (another Georg).

Thanks! All of these suggestions are going on my recommendations spreadsheet. Really appreciated!

Thank you! I’ll have to check out that NOVA special sometime. I think one reason I really took to GEB is because of my longtime background in software engineering (20 years). Glad you enjoyed the tour!

Whoa! I didn't realize he translated it. I thought he only wrote the introduction.

@@LeafbyLeaf I'm going to have to make a correction to myself. I reread the introduction, and Hofstadter wanted to translate the book, but by the time he asked the author, the translation had already come close to being finished, so he ended up helping with the translation.

Thanks for the encouragement! It’s not so much the complexity as it is my hypochondria! Still-there’s a reason I bought it. I’ve heard The Gene is really good. Thanks again for the push!

Thanks so much! Glad you found me. There’s another tour for literary studies out here too, if you’re interested. And more to come. Thanks for subscribing!

@@LeafbyLeaf oh dont you worry, already watching it as we speak. I look forward to seeing if you bring out any for history/politics in the future. See you around sir take care

Ah, excellent. I’ll definitely be posting history, poetry, essays, theology, journalism, biographies, and a serialization of fiction. I only have two or three political books, but the history crosses over.

Thanks!

It’s coming!

You are so welcome on all counts! It has been a real treat to do this.

Hear! Hear! You are making so many great decision all at once!

@@LeafbyLeaf cool! I'm always looking for that literary (or full mind) blow 🤯🤯 I love consilience

Thanks so much for this recommendation!

I actually went onto the Tufts University web site and got his school email address. After reading Consciousness Explained, I was compelled to email him. And he answered with such a warm and engaging response. Then I sent him some possible errata from another of his books and he thanked me and posted it on his personal web site (where he posts all issues found in his books). Great guy! And thanks for all your kind words!

@@LeafbyLeaf That's encouraging to hear such a public intellectual being so humble and receptive to constructive feedback. Thanks for the response Chris.

Thanks and you’re welcome! Hope I don’t strain the book-buying budget too much. Oh, OK, that was a lie-MAY ALL THE BOOK BUDGETS BE BROKEN!

@@LeafbyLeaf LOL! When it comes to education, budgets can be rearranged to accommodate. =) But we found quite a few on second hand sites. Only one of your books was exceptionally expensive.

Great news! Which was the expensive one?

@@LeafbyLeaf In Praise of the Music of Language.

That name sounds really familiar. Thanks for this recommendation. Adding it to my short list now!

I've always wanted to read Bohm. Is this recommendation comprehensible to a lay person? Could you also suggest another by Bohm please?

Thanks, Rick!

People have given me a hard time about that one for being fake science, but I don’t care-it’s a thrilling read. Stimulates my Reason and my Imagination. Why should they be mutually exclusive?

@@LeafbyLeaf I agree with you, sometimes you just need some excitement -- even if it may be speculation on the author's part -- to dive deeper into science.

@@LeafbyLeaf I didn't want to say, but I've heard Biocentrism is fake science too. I was told it contains many factual errors about quantum physics. I've never read it so I can't actually comment with certainty. I admit my ignorance!

Leaf, my recommendation is Quantum by Manjit Kumar. It's the true story of how quantum theory was invented/discovered. I have no training in physics but after struggling at first I became enthralled. The writer concentrates primarily on the amazing debates between Einstein and Bohr. But others, like Max Born, Heisenberg, Schroeder, Pauli etc are included. What is so fascinating is he includes the letters/correspondence they sent each other disagreeing and learning along the way. It a tale of intellectual discovery. The ending had me in tears! I also suggest Lee Smolin's Einstein's Unfinished Revolution. Please, if you have time, check this out.

I must try Daniel Dennett. I've heard he is very good. Thankyou for this! What a fantastic channel. It's nice to see someone with an open mind, loving knowledge and the learning experience.

Awesome story! I wonder if he ever got in touch with Andrew Wiles.

My pleasure!

I plan to, probably with poetry next. Need to figure out the logistics with my new camera.

Oh, yes! I've got everything his name is attached to (whether author, editor, forward, introduction, etc.). :)

​@@LeafbyLeaf That's crazy, i have 6 of his books (including the Nagel and Newman's Godel's Proof). Metamagical themas is arriving and i can't wait for it, albeit i only bought it in english (Italian is my native language, and it was not translated). I have really been struck by his genius since when i started reading his masterpiece Geb. I have found in him and in all the thinkers that surround his a bunch of affine Strange Loops :))

I love Metamagical Themas!!!

Thanks! Nothing wrong with that. I argue that it’s best to read a lot of these books later in life.

@@LeafbyLeaf Couldn't agree more!

Thanks for the recommendation!

It’s one of my favorite reference books! I keep it at my desk at work now.

I don't do anything special other than keep the humidity at a minimum. I have a lot of foxed books--but I feel they have character!

I haven't read any of Anton Wilson, but I've read Watts's The Wisdom of Insecurity. I read that one in close proximity to Tolle's The Power of Now. Great books!

Agreed. Love Rovelli!

String theory is not debunked at all, that would imply there was data that doesn't fit the theory, the problem is that there is no data that can be used to prove or debunk the theory at all, and no will come in the near future. Therefore the theory may be called unscientific, if you are a follower of Karl Poppers theory of science. But there is still hope among some theoretical physicist that the theory will develop into something with predictive power. Don't consider this a defence for string theory, its just that the reasons to dismiss string theory are much more complicated than it simply being debunked. For context I am currently studying physics and considering going in to research in string theory, but I don't actually think string theory is any good to be perfectly honest with you, not that I think loop quantum gravity is any better. Edit: grammar (English is my second language, so please excuse me)

@@arthurdoktor Thanks for the very articulate comment. Have you read Lee Smolin's The Trouble with Physics? Or Lee Smolin's other book called Einstein's Unfinished Revolution? They are very good. I don't understand why anyone would want to study String Theory unless it's naked ambition. Careerism. It seems pretty pointless otherwise. What a shame. I'm not happy with Loop Quantum Gravity either.

@@georgeliverpudlio1258 I haven't read any of the books you mention by Lee Smolin. (I haven't read any popular science books since I began my university studies. Not that I don't like them, I think a brief history of time is brilliant. It's just when you like math you also want to see it and be able to do the calculations yourself). But from what I gather he has the same issues with string theory that I have. It should be noted that some physicist who has read the book, including Sean Carroll (not a string theorist, but has an excellent podcast in addition to researching) and Joseph Polchinski (famous for his work on string theory, so probably biased), have said that Lee Smolin does a lot of speculation and therefore is more confident in his view point than what is supported. The reason why I personally consider writing my PhD in string theory is that you need a supervisor who is researching in the field I am to study. It's just a lot easier to find people in theoretical physics doing string theory than some other form of quantum gravity. And hopefully the skills I get from research in string theory will be applicable in other areas of theoretical physics, once I get more freedom to choose my particular research area. Hope it makes some sense.

@@arthurdoktor The Trouble With Physics clearly explains the groupthink around String Theory in Universities. I suggest you read it before committing a grave error. I also listen to Sean Carroll's podcast and I'm aware of the quibbles he has with Smolin. Carroll has a nice voice and is always a very good communicator. I've also read two of his books. One was about the Higgs Boson and the other was about philosophy and the Universe. They were very good but limited.

😁😁😁

Wow! thanks! 🙏🏼 Glad you enjoyed the video.

That’s why we have several extinguishers on hand. 😁

@@LeafbyLeaf Great collection 👍🏼

Thanks! I can see that I need to do an updated science section tour. 😁

@@LeafbyLeaf Trying to get into philosophy, but finding the subject slightly abstruse 🤔

Thanks! Yes, I fully admit that I have no qualms with letting my imagination run wild with more speculative "science" books. :)

I get this a lot. I am neurotic about the external condition of my books. I never crack the spine and I rarely take them out in public (I hate reading in public because I need silence). It can make for awkward, wrist-punishing conditions with bigger books, but it's worth it to me. Now, the INSIDE of the books is a different story, as this is where I have a conversation with the book in the margins.

@@LeafbyLeaf 👍

No, I haven't read Lewontin--thanks for these recommendations!

@@LeafbyLeaf Thanks for the reply! And thanks for your wonderful channel and your interesting recommendations. You describe books with clarity and honesty. I've also learned to appreciate writers I wouldn't normally be drawn to. So thanks again, keep up the good work!

Will do! Thanks for the recommendation. I love recommendations. Oh, and I see this is categorized as bacteriology, so I’ll get to really let my hypochondria run wild too!

@@LeafbyLeaf Try and remember that these are all of the people out there working their butts off to keep you safe and doing an amazing job of it actually.

You are absolutely right and that is a solid point. Some of them are in my own family. I am immensely thankful for them. Because I am so lily-livered when it comes to this stuff, it amazes me that there are people with the brains and courage and altruism to stay on the front lines.

:-P

Yeah, Epstein's is one of those books I almost feel like I need to secretively read. I'm interested in all sides, even the ridiculous, but I so risk being categorized as siding with Epstein's views just because the book is on my shelf--which earned me quite a few expletives and nastygrams from a heckler a few months back. For the record, I am not a climate denier. Thanks for maturely and constructively commenting!

@@LeafbyLeaf ya I understand that, I am in climate science and it is always interesting to read what people like Alex (or lomborg, or other similar industry funded non-experts) are saying just to keep track of the current narratives that are being peddled by the denial (inaction is a better word now since they've moved past the denial phase) machine. But as you say, it is at least interesting to see they're rhetoric. You may have already read this, but in my opinion 'Merchants of Doubt' by Naomi Oreskes and Eric Conway is the most important climate change related book that has come out, it is basically the climate change equivalent to 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson, I highly recommend! Awesome collection either way!

Haha! That’s how it goes. I’ve noticed I always get dislikes on “list” videos, which I guess means they would’ve made different selections or something. The dislikers rarely leave comments. For this one it could be that they don’t like science; they think the books I have are lacking; they don’t like the amateur shakiness of the camera; or they don’t like my voice.