Quirky thoughts from an old man.
Written by Fred Anderson. This is a book about the war that the British and the French fought about North America among other things. Most of what I learned about it was about the important role that the Native Americans played in the war and how heroic they were against insurmountable odds. It also shows how the colonists were starting to have different interests than the British monarchy with regard to taxation, representation, trade and expansion into the west.
Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely (2008)
“One cannot mix social norms and market norms.” If you don’t believe this try to pay for Thanksgiving Dinner at you Mother-in-laws house.
A interesting book that attempts to explain things like why we steal and and why we over value what we have. very thought provoking.
Read more: Books 2
“Before printing the total number of books in Europe was well under one hundred thousand. By 1500, after forty-five years of the printed book, the total has been calculated at nine million.”
Paul Johnson in The Renaissance a Short History.
“Avoid taking advice from someone who gives advice for a living, unless there is a penalty for their advice.”
“In politics the first rule is you are allowed to cheat.”
P. J. O’Rourke
In my library I have nine of P.J. O’Rourke’s books. He was one of the greatest satirists of the twentieth century. Humor is an excellent way of illustrating truth and he was a master. I recommend you read at least one. My favorite is Parliament of Whores.
“Make sure all of your decisions are interesting ones.”
Sid Meier
From Sid Meier’s Memoir. Sid created the computer game Civilization, in my opinion, the best time sink ever invented.
“We think courage is something we are born with but we are wrong.
It’s a tradition we choose to follow…or not.”
From Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday
“When I am writing well, it’s as if nothing is going on at the intellectual level. It is all happening at the emotional level.”
George Saunders, from A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
An over-sized and expensive postcard from the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in Scottsdale. I highly recommend the exhibit. The immersive experience was like seeing the future of art.
