Popular Science - FYI or The book of Answers

The book, FYI (Popular Science): 229 Curious Questions Answered by the World's Smartest People is also known by the title The book of Answers.

This enjoyable book answers some off the wall scientific questions in a wide range of categories.   From the fantastic: Could there have been an evolutionary path that would allow the existence of Dragons? to "Can Brain Freeze cause long term brain damage?"

Other questions about humans are answered: "What is the worst sound in the world?  and How do I become a rockstar on the cheap?  Popular Science troubadour, Jonathan Coultan, offers his answer.

The book answers the question.  If you opened up the doors to a Delorian, could you make it fly?

Spoiler alert: No.

Chiron Beta Prime - J. Colton 3 min.

Einstein His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson's comprehensive biography, Einstein: His Life and Universe, covers his scientific discoveries and his personal life.  Recent access to a large volume of personal correspondence allows the reader to obtain a better understanding of the man in each of his environments.

The book works on many levels.  I obtained a better understanding Einstein's exploration of theoretical physics.   The span of research was very wide.  From his papers on Brownian movement he provided strong evidence for the existence of atoms.  His general theory of relativity predicted the gravitational alteration of space time resulting in the curving of beam of light.  World War I and bad weather prevented the first proof during a solar eclipse.  In 1919, a British Brazilian expedition attempted the second photographic proof during that solar eclipse.

The book covers Einstein's personal life, politics, rejection then acceptance of his Jewish heritage during the rise of antisemitism in Nazi Germany. It was interesting to see the evolution of his thoughts from being a strict pacifist to the knowledge that this strategy of unilateral disarmament does not work in the face of a totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

Walter Isaacson - 46 minutes

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Daniel Kahneman's in, Thinking, Fast and Slow describes the differences in two thought processing mechanisms that all humans have.  We have a very fast method of analyzing a situation or a problem (system 1) and a more slow and methodical method of analyzing a problem (system 2).  The first method takes things at face value and often does a couple of mental short cuts. Its great for quickly sizing up a situation and determining that a person is upset with you based on their facial expression. The second method is slower and requires more effort.  It is used for solving complex math problems and maintaining a moral compass. 

In one particular study, students had been given a mentally taxing task.  After this task, half were given a sugar free item to consume and the other were given an item with sugar.   A short time later they were given another mentally taxing task.  The individuals in the sugar free group performed poorly where as the group that ate the sugar did well.  The previous mentally taxing exercise had removed the available stores of glucose and there was no energy available for creative thought.

The book provides a guide to making better decisions.  We can thoughtfully use system 2 as a check for laziness. We can avoid lazy decision making by employing system 2 to prevent incorrect snap judgements.  I've been reading it a chapter at a time to better absorb the material.  This is a very helpful book for individuals wanting to make good decisions and for emergency responders where both systems are needed to achieve the best outcome. 

Fast (system1) and Slow (system 2) - Episode 1 - 3 min.

Fast and slow - Episode 2 - to be continued - 3 min.

 Brain Tricks - 5 minutes

Avoiding decision making mistakes - 7 min. 

Daniel Kahneman's talk at Google - 62 minutes

America Again by Stephen Colbert

He's back.  Stephen Colbert offers up more words of wisdom in his newest tome: America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't.  I listened to this satire as a break halfway through the more serious 13 CD recording of That Used to Be Us by Friedman and Mandelbaum. It was a nice wonky wacky wonky sandwich of thought provoking ideas about current political events. 

The structure of the humor is somewhat predictable and the jokes are paced at a rate similar to a situation comedy at 2 to 3 per minute.  Most jokes are at conservatives expense.  The Colbert character appears to be a fun house mirror image of a Sean Hannity and Glen Beck mashup. 

The  next to last chapter parodying the California lifestyle gave me the most giggles.  Feel free to skip the last chapter where an inebriated Stephen reveals his disappointment with the conservative American experiment. 

 America Again- Stephen Colbert speaks at Google - 10 minutes

America Again - 59 minutes