What I read in November 2020
Dopamine by Mikhail Voloshin, 384p: I love a good hacker story. This one is has D&D references, a HERF gun, nerds playing with secure cameras, bio-engineering, genetics and boats. A fast paced nerdy adventure. Loved it!
The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by OliverBurkeman, 256p: Thoughtful book explaining why being realistic is the way to go. It discusses Stoicism, Buddhism, Eckhart Tolle and the “Little Book of Calm” (“Black Books” TV show reference, anyone?). It's a light read that talks a lot about death. And that's okay!
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King, 320p: It was fascinating to enter the mind of Stephen King. The guy knows how to write good books. It's honest, interesting and to-the-point writing. The first part is a memoir, he talks about his childhood, early inspirations, his first jobs, his family. Then he talks about his trade. It's full of advice, even grammar tips. Take care of your vocabulary, avoid adverbs like the plague and master the elements of style. “You have to read a lot if you want to be a good writer”. So he is the type of person who reads all the time, every time he gets a chance. He goes through 70 or 80 books a year! That's impressive!
Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that. — Stephen King, On Writing. Kindle Edition. pg. 109
So he talks about all the places we can read: during breakfast, having a meal, at the treadmill, waiting in line. And avoid TV. At all costs! Cool to know that he listens to heavy rock music while writing (AC/DC, Metallica). And when he writes, he eliminates all kinds of distraction (even windows, he draws the curtains or pull down the shades). The he explains storytelling, and his reviewing process. A gem of a book!
The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better. — Stephen King, On Writing. Kindle Edition. pg. 213
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By Noisy Deadlines Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.