Reviews and Comments

Decided to test out the new e-library that we have available where I live in Finland. I was also thinking of buying this book, but found it in the list of English books available on the platform. Normally all books have been loaned out or reserved, but somehow this one was available for loan.

The book itself does not disappoint, weaving a epic story spanning both north and south America with war, love and family relations.

Listening to the audio book was not the same as if I had read it myself. When listening the progression speed of the story is fixed, while when reading you can speed up or slow down as the story and your reading experience demands.

On a more technical level I found that the energy demand of the e-library app on my phone was quite high, and I had to charge the device several times a day, while I normally only charge it once.

I might still buy the book to re-read when it comes out as a pocket book.

Bought this book from Amazon end of May 2024, and it took several months before it arrived beginning of October, even though the book was supposed to be available during this time when i checked. Apparently Amazon does not value me as a customer any more, which I suppose is fine.

The book itself sounded more interesting than what I found after reading the first four chapters. The book goes into details about what is science and what is not and the history thereof. There is also in dept logical analyze of what constitutes a scientific attitude and how it differs from the myth of a scientific process.

I found the later part of the book much more interesting where examples are used to illustrate the scientific attitude in relation to actual practice, the success story of modern medicine and what is not science including fraud, pseudoscience and charlatans. There is also a chapter with ideas how to apply a scientific attitude to the social sciences that anyone can extrapolate from for their own field of practice.

I would recommend this book to those interested in the philosophy of science. Skimming trough the first chapters can be a valid strategy if the book feels to dull.

Bought this book in a Humble Bundle architecture pack. I have been reading it on my phone as an EPUB while waiting and being somewhere away from my other books.

The content is what it is, mostly somewhat irritatingly familiar and self evident, some places interesting and quite innovative and excellent at other locations. As the book is. related to what I do for work I can not say that it is the most interesting or rewarding, but perhaps useful would be something I could settle for.

One gem is the rant at the end of the book about avoiding selling snake oil and evangelizing technologies. Everything can be made to fit anywhere, but there are constant issues with applying technology and products. Under some conditions the issues can be smaller, while at other times the consequences can be severe. Enthusiasm is understandable, but enhancing the benefits easily leads to downplaying what is bad and the real world is complex. More complex than what a single tool can solve in every situation. Pity this is hidden away towards the very end where most readers will not even make it.

The experience of reading the book on the phone was not all that great. As you anyway tend to carry your phone around with you where you go also the book is near at hand. The figures, figure text and tables are difficult to make sense of. The experience is far of from the paper books I prefer, but I would not have carried the paper book around to read while waiting, neither would any other e-reader device been of any use.

The book is worth reading for information technology architects, developers and even designers. What do I know if even managers would benefit from some of the esoteric knowledge the book has to offer. For others, perhaps not a that great fit. And pick the PDF version, unless like me you wish to read it on the go.

Reading this book included more work than what I expected when I started. This book is not one that you just simply read cover to cover. There are a lot of exercises that readers will have to spend time on to get the full value of what the book has to offer.

The instruction in the book is clear and well written. The book claims that anybody can become better at drawing, and I would agree, as it seems to work for me. It explains how to learn to observe and see in a way that facilitates drawing.

A large part of the book is about finding the right state of mind, which is perhaps what I appreciated the most, as I could be described as more analytical than absorbed into artistry. I'm not sure how much this has actually to do with the human brain and its two halves, but calling the differences Left / Right is as good a name as any, although the reality is probably more complicated. Left or L-mode is more analytical and the active thinking and preconceived ideas prevent observing and drawing objectively. Right or R-mode is more suitable for creating drawings as the analytical thoughts are suspended. Part of the book consists of exercises aimed to enable going into R-mode. There are also lots of more practical information about drawing related skills, mainly focused on drawing portraits. In addition there is a chapter on color and one about improving hand writing.

Although I have read the book I don't think I'm actually finished with it. As the author states as the closing words: "Draw every day".

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in drawing. The down side is that after reading this book you will not have as much time to read any more.