Contains child abuse and multiple rape scenes.
This was a random bookstore pick. It's bright red and has a nice title; what can I do?
The content is an exhausting sequence of very short descriptions of technological advances. Some of them have indeed to do with cities, some not at all. The descriptions start at the very basics, and that's where they stay. If you've been paying attention in high school I doubt you'll learn much from this book. Sure, so many subjects are touched that you're bound to learn a fun fact or two, but that doesn't make it a worthwhile book. Who would be the intended audience for this?
The content is an exhausting sequence of very short descriptions of technological advances. Some of them have indeed to do with cities, some not at all. The descriptions start at the very basics, and that's where they stay. If you've been paying attention in high school I doubt you'll learn much from this book. Sure, so many subjects are touched that you're bound to learn a fun fact or two, but that doesn't make it a worthwhile book. Who would be the intended audience for this?
Interesting enough overview of an Apollo computer. It gives an overview of the 'OS' of the machine, and where it was used, with lots of details about the various stages of the lunar missions.
For me it could have more examples of actual programs written for the machine, and more details where things went wrong during the missions. But other than that I found it a good comparison to modern systems, mostly to see how core concepts are still the same in modern hardware.
For me it could have more examples of actual programs written for the machine, and more details where things went wrong during the missions. But other than that I found it a good comparison to modern systems, mostly to see how core concepts are still the same in modern hardware.
Some chapters are interesting enough, but not all. Now I only have to figure out an algorithm to have the best chance of reading the good chapters while not having to read all of them...
Not particularly subtle, but fun enough. Could have been a lit less bloody.
This seems to be written for a 5 year old, and occasionally by one. Too many fabulously irrelevant tangents and uninteresting personal stories. There are some good bits, but there is too much bad stuff to wade trough.
I tried a few times the last year and never managed to get into it, always losing the story, but at the 5th or 6th try I now finally managed finish it (there is a 2-page dictionary at the end, which helps). The story is summarized as a mini "Game of Thrones", and Hild itself is all too perfect and wise. Not going to read the second book.
Interviews with lighthousekeepers and their wifes, from around 1975. The books begins with with so called 'land' lights, which enable a relatively normal life for the keepers and their family, and works to the 'tower' lights, which are the massive towers in the middle of the sea, with three man tucked away in for two months at a time. Crazy stuff.
The difference in life and technology between then and now is very interesting to see. Some lights are still paraffin based, never mind the fact that the towers need to be continually occupied to keep working.
All the interviews are transcribed recordings, which needs a bit of time getting used to, but it does give distinct characters, and works well in the end.
The difference in life and technology between then and now is very interesting to see. Some lights are still paraffin based, never mind the fact that the towers need to be continually occupied to keep working.
All the interviews are transcribed recordings, which needs a bit of time getting used to, but it does give distinct characters, and works well in the end.
Interesting impressions of a different era.
It is a good story, and a interesting view of a time we'll never experience again, but the writing really drags along in many places.
