Books

A classic I decided to read after walking past Bram Stoker's former house in West London. The first part, in Dracula's castle, is my favourite bit. The middle section felt a bit lengthy and repetitive. Worth reading given how influential it was for the gothic genre.

My parents had the old Jules Verne collection (the big red books with golden pages). I brought a few back to London and read them during garden leave. The pacing is swift and the narrative is full of suspense and humour. The archetype of the adventure novel that transports you to different places. Very relaxing to read. I’m sure the English version does it justice given the style is fairly simple and descriptive.

Read shortly after Around the World in 80 Days. Loved the first few chapters while the mystery is still on. Relaxing in the same way, being immersed under the sea. But at many points it felt like a biology encyclopaedia, with the main character going through lists and lists of fish. I had to skip some of those sections. The story is darker and more mysterious than his other novels, some bits are quite cruel and grim. Impressed by Verne's knowledge of engineering and physics for the time.

Given by my uncle (the author is a friend of a friend). About a guy putting all his efforts into not working and living off the French unemployment scheme forever. Probably one of the funniest books I've read recently. The author is clearly provocative and I wouldn't take everything at face value, but he's a modern poet in his own way. The style is particularly good.

Very fun and easy read. Written in a simple, informal style that feels consistent with Feynman's lecture style (the book is apparently based on recordings of his conversations). A very curious mind with such a pragmatic approach to understanding things. The parts about picking up women in bars felt awkward.

This is a gem. A fairly long read with very rich content. The research behind it is impressive, all the more so given the author has no background in neuroscience. The structure makes it easy to follow. Probably required some simplifications and leaps, but a good introduction to many concepts touching on the human brain and cognition.

A massive standalone book by Damasio (like most readers I loved La Horde du Contrevent). The style alone is an achievement. Damasio creates a whole terminology and uses typography to distinguish between characters. I really enjoyed the first half, and found the second half lengthy. The theme of well-intentioned anarchists against an autocratic state, wanting to live in peace with nature, felt a bit naive and too insistent at times.

Reads with surprising ease. The essential messages are there, and Lenoir's optimism is a bit disarming, but in a good way. A good introduction to concepts that help you understand yourself, very accessible. The philosophical references are solid (Socrates, Diogenes...). Good for me, as I have very limited knowledge of philosophy and its history.

A short but intense read. Two teenagers who've never met, communicating with each other during the recent war in Gaza, one Palestinian and one Israeli. Some parts state the obvious, but it's still touching. And alarming.