Bonk (What I’ve been Reading)

We have molecular gastronomy, so why not apply science to…other things, as does Mary Roach.  The subtitle is "The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex."  Here is the author’s home page; she also wrote Spook and Stiff, both of which are good.  This isn’t a "how to" book, it is a real popular science book on its topic and I predict it will be successful.

2. The Dawn of Indian Music in the West, by Peter Lavezzoli.  You need to care about the topic, but today this became one of my favorite non-fiction books, ever.  I bought a copy just to express my loyalty to the author.  I’ve said this before, but lack of knowledge of Indian classical music is the biggest gap in the education — and enjoyment — of many many smart people.  This is one very good introduction but it offers much to the veteran as well.

3. How Judges Think,  by Richard A. Posner.  Every sentence in this book is substance, to a remarkable degree.  It’s hard to find a central thread to the argument, but I blame that on the topic rather than on any failing of the author.  After all, judges think in some pretty complicated ways and Posner goes out of his way to minimize the role of conscious theory in judicial behavior.  Content aside (which reflects all of Posner’s usual erudition), anyone interested in non-fiction should take a look at this book.  Just imagine, a text totally stripped of that which is content-less.  Can the reader stand it?