“Frog. The Secret Diary of a Paramedic” by Sally Gould (2025)

Ambos. “Life as a paramedic … can be traumatic, gross, dull, hilarious and magical.” A great Australian read. Just finished (from #LibrariesACT)

“A gripping first-hand account of the January 6th, 2021 insurrection from inside the halls of Congress, from origins to aftermath …”

Oath and honor : a memoir and a warning
Liz Cheney, 2023

Great to have long form writing on this. Not dated by subsequent events. Borrowed from #LibrariesACT

“If directionally motivated reasoning is like being a soldier fighting off threatening evidence, accuracy motivated reasoning reasoning is like being a scout forming a map of the strategic landscape.”

“The Scout Mindset:
Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don’t“
by Julia Galef
Lots of helpful concepts.
Borrowed from #LibrariesACT

“On Freedom“ by Timothy Snyder

Although US centric, it is of broader interest. Written at the end of 2023 it is fully relevant in light of subsequent events in US. I don’t share his confidence in a fusion energy future.

Just finished reading. In demand but quick turnaround at #LibrariesACT

It’ll be hard to park close to #Belconnen library for a couple of weeks. #LibrariesACT

Reading "Ms & Mrs Gould" and finding similarities between John Gould and (the much younger) George French Angas in terms of ambition, Queen Adelaide patronage, commercial approach, format, and even appropriation of the works of others.

Angas intended to illustrate #SouthAustralia’s settlements, scenery, First People and any natural history not covered by Gould's "Birds".

Borrowed from #LibrariesACT where it is in high demand. #S_T_Gill #1840s #colonialArt

#Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
Charles #Duhigg (2024)

Duhigg was on #ABCRN some weeks back. I think this is helpful when people converse in good faith. Hard sometimes to discern bad faith. Have you read it?

Just finished reading and borrowed from #LibrariesACT.

Mean streak : a moral vacuum & a multi-billion government shake down

In demand at #LibrariesACT but they have lots of copies to satisfy it.
#Canberra #RickMorton #robodebt

I occasionally post about my reading. (I’m a slow reader.) It’s nearly all non-fiction from #LibrariesACT. I’ll try to thus tag all future posts. Feel free to filter out, follow or also post as you wish.

Assad or we burn the country : how one family's lust for power destroyed Syria
Dagher, Sam (2019)

A recommended read from #LibrariesACT etc

https://librariesact.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/ALLENQ/121859469/1281302,1

Just finished reading a #biography of scientist Alexander von Humboldt (1769 - 1859) by Maren Meinhardt (2018). #LibrariesACT

The final paragraph admits that despite knowing much of what happened, there remain important unanswered questions, and it’s still hard to know the person. This after all is the historical biographer’s quest.

And the biographer’s duty to tell of their journey …

“[Humboldt] winks at us across two centuries, always keeping a bit of himself in reserve, refusing to live up to what might be expected of him by his society - and perhaps even by those who come after him.” #historyOfScience

“Double Nation: A History of Australian Art” (2023) by Ian McLean #LibrariesACT

This was a serendipitous find on display at my local library. I have an interest in #colonialArtAU and this book gave me a much broader insight. (Don’t let the academese of the Introduction put you off as the rest of the book is very accessible.)

It is a sequel to the author’s “Rattling Spears: A History of Indigenous Australian Art” (2016).

#AustralianArt #artHistoryAU #artHistory

A great book on life and work. And if you’re pressed for time in this world, you’ll be delighted how quick it is to read. #LibrariesACT

https://www.timminchin.com/you-dont-have-to-have-a-dream/

If our sense of #purpose is tied up in completing projects or reaching milestones then we may experience some sense of loss after we get there.

In “Midlife: A Philosophical Guide”, #KieranSetiya advocates finding meaning in the *process* of life - in *atelic* activity.

Activities may be telic - with an end point - or atelic - where value is experienced in the doing.

A great little book useful also for later life! Borrowed from #LibrariesACT.

“The Colonial Kangaroo Hunt” by Ken Gelder & Rachael Weaver, 2020. #LibrariesACT

Just finished reading this highly insightful book ranging widely over territories: Aboriginal, settler, history, art, literature, culture, economics. Understandably grim in parts. #historyAU