Quick Review - Book #41 - "Cryptocurrency Mining" - by Jeffrey Miller

This book was more of a lark;

What is crypto, and how does it work? How on earth do you 'mine' your own virtual 'money?' What the heck is the even all about?

Mining is essentially solving hyper-complex math problems, which are used to verify blocks in a chain, guaranteeing (as much as possible) the continuity of the security of the code. 

So you are putting energy into math, and getting rewarded for the effort. the result of this reward is a currency 'coin,' that only exists virtually.

So, as long as everyone 'agrees' that this can be used for currency, then it has value. If people and crypto fans decide that is doesn't then it will all collapse like a house of cards. 

Interesting!

New up ---- "The Haunting of Hill House," by Shirley Jackson

Quick Review - Book #40 - "A Story Guide to Vaclav Havel's "The Memorandum"

 When I got this order from the library, I didn't look at the page count, and yes, it is just a small study guide, merely 27 pages or so.

Very interesting to read into The Memorandum, which was one of the first plays staged for Havel. 

The play takes place over 2 days, and in it he describes a company manager, who has been told to learn the 'new language,' which is designed to make communications easier. He cannot get anyone to translate the memo that he has from the new language into a normal language, starting with nobody has the authority, to getting permission, to taking a class on this completely incomprehensible language himself. 

Havel repeats himself many times in the play, or rather, has his characters repeat themselves many times, doing mundane tasks, and the repetition is just because that is what they have to do in a communist society and company. 

The manager works through confusion, a subordinate trying to undermine him at any opportunity, frustrating coworkers, and a general air of confusion, especially that this is not the first time... in fact, this is the way it always seems to be... and resignation, because this is their fate. 

Next up ---- Cryptocurrency Mining

Quick Review - Book #39 - "The Lost Continent" - by Bill Bryson

 This is a re-read.

I was first introduced to Bill Bryson when he published "A Short History of Nearly Everything" in 2003. I then read a bunch of his travel-novellas about his life and travels.

I know that I read this around the same time, and at the time I thought it was a great commentary on middle America and the life there.

Time sure changes things.

I got through the first two chapters, and I was just not interested in reading any more of what he wrote here. It feels like a nonstop put-down of everything in small town America.

The best description of this, I read in another review panning the book on Amazon. I'll quote it "Bill Bryson writes in this book like he is trying to impress his European Friends with how silly he thinks Americans are. "

That is this book on the nose. 

Obviously, I've grown up a bit since I first read it... the book did not age well at all.

Next up--- "A Study Guide to Vaclav Havel's "The Memorandum."

Quick Review - Book #38 - " How Paul Robeson Saved My Life and Other Stories" - by Carl Reiner

Carl Reiner is probably best known for being the originator and writer for "The Dick Van Dyke Show." He certainly had a hit on his hands, with that one!

He's also famous for being the father of Rob Reiner, aka "Meathead," also director extraordinaire, etc.

This is a collection of anecdotes about his life, around the time that he was in the army. As usual, told with his wit, there are nuggets of fun and wisdom in here for just about anyone.

His short stories are just that. Short. Quite a few of them are proper little vignettes on life, with his wit and noticeably dry humor. Some of these are based on his life and travels, others are stories inspired by thoughts he had when he met people, and wondered what they were doing in life. 

Interesting names, interesting situations. This book reads fast, but it doesn't flow from one story to another, so it can seem a little disjointed. 

Next up---- Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent."

Quick Review - Books

 Hi all!

Well, I was doing good, and then life got in my way!

No real excuse; I kept reading, I just got sidetracked and let what I wanted to do get in the way of what I was actually doing.

I've kept up with my reading, I just have not kept up with the blog.

Here is what I have read and the book count so far (with no reviews.) The thing that slowed me down, is that the Jordan Peterson books realistically would require a post per chapter. Honestly, they should be read cover to cover. So.. since I could not come up with a way to condense it... I took my eye off the ball and dropped it. 

Book #22 - "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos" - by Jordan Peterson

Book #23 - "Beyond Order: 12 more Rues For Life" - Jordan Peterson

Book #24 - "Stuntman!" - by Hal Needham

Book #25 - "Facing Reality: Two Truths About Race in America" - Charles Murray

Book #26 - "Keep Moving" - Dick Van Dyke

Book #27 - "Empire of Lies" - Andrew Klavan

Book #28 - "People's Republic" - Kurt Schlichter

Book #29 - "The Split" - Kurt Schlichter

Book #30 - "Crisis" - Kurt Schlichter

Book #31 - "Collapse" - Kurt Schlichter

Book #32 - "Wildfire" - Kurt Schlichter

Book #33 - "Indian Country" - Kurt Schlichter

Book #34 - "Black Ice" - Brad Thor

Book #35 - "Last Exit to Brooklyn" - Hubert Selby Jr. 

Book #36 - "Crazy Dangerous" - Andrew Klavan

Book #37 - "A Matter of Principle" - Conrad Black

So that is a pretty good record!!

This is the tail end of week #40, so I am catching up.

Currently reading - "A Gentleman of Color; a biography of James Forten" - by Julie Winch

and that pretty much catches us up.

Cheers!